REBUILDING my 40 ford

[don long]

I made the commitment to work on my 40 sedan delivery until it is back on the road again. Paul my friend that worked on the Corvette is also committed to coming over every Monday and Tuesday until we have it back on the street again.

I bought this car several years ago and this is what it looked like.

1e by don long, on Flickr

untitled17 by don long, on Flickr

untitled19 by don long, on Flickr

untitled29 by don long, on Flickr

untitled23 by don long, on Flickr


It was a show winner, On the way home from a car show one evening, a buddy was following me and noticed that we were blowing white smoke from the right side of the engine.
He mentioned it to me when we got home and asked if he could look into it in the morning.
The next night when I got home from work he had the entire car torn apart.
The front fenders, grille and hood were off the car
. The engine was out and apart spread all over the garage.

 

[don long]

His concern was not the motor but the rusted out frame that the car was driving on. We decided that it was totally unsafe to go another mile with the car in that condition. We started the next day to pull the frame out of the car and as long as we are going to work on the car we might as well sand blast it to find out what the body may look like. The car came apart and the body went to the sand blaster to be stripped down. Unfortunately we failed to take pictures of the work.

The first shot I have is of the body back from the blaster

2 by don long, on Flickr

3 by don long, on Flickr

5 by don long, on Flickr

Because the frame was so badly eaten away by the rust, the decision was made to get a custom frame built for the car.
I contacted TCI a frame and suspension company and ordered a complete frame package including ALL the suspension and the project stopped there until the frame was ready. THe company was getting ready to be a vendor at a Good Guy car show in Del Mar Ca. and wanted to know if I would mind if they took my frame and put it on display at the show. They suggested that they would have it powder coated for me for letting them show the frame.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

So, I'm guessing he didn't / couldn't put it back together?

 

[don long]

The only shot I have of the frame is after the body was back on it and the car is here at my new garage some 10 years later

7 by don long, on Flickr

And that brings us up to date with this project. Before putting the body back on the frame I cut the floor panels out of the car along with the left rocker panel

10 by don long, on Flickr

The frame was made to hold an LS motor and 6 speed trans

17 by don long, on Flickr

The car is now in my shop and I've started working on the left rocker panel

15 by don long, on Flickr

19 by don long, on Flickr

 

[don long]

So, I'm guessing he didn't / couldn't put it back together?

Capt
The frame was so eaten up that we had no choice but to take the car further apart and we were building his 64 Chevelle and my blue 69 mustang at the time so our time was short for working on the sedan delivery.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have a '40. Look for it in my threads.

 

[Bill Bowman]

Don:

Always enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing. P.S., Cab over is looking good too.

 

[Bighead38]

I love 40 fords.

 

[larry4406]

WOW!

Here I am looking at the before pictures thinking that looks sweet!

Good catch on the frame.

 

[royce]

I sure do like seeing your work Don,
Thanks some more.

Royce

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

I'm sure this thread will be as good as your others, subscribed.

 

[don long]

I have a '40. Look for it in my threads.

I'll be looking for it Thanks for the heads up

Don:

Always enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing. P.S., Cab over is looking good too.

Thanks Bill
The COE is begging for some attention

I love 40 fords.

Me too Bighead
I've always wanted a coupe

WOW!

Here I am looking at the before pictures thinking that looks sweet!

Good catch on the frame.

Thanks Larry

We were very lucky that we didn't fall apart while driving the car

I sure do like seeing your work Don,
Thanks some more.

Royce

Nice to have you on board again Royce

I'm sure this thread will be as good as your others, subscribed.

Shadow
I'll try hard not to disappoint


Thank you all for looking in

Don

 

[don long]

When we ordered the frame we asked for a 4" tubed rear end and we got it.
Now I will have to enlarge the rear wheel wells.

I cut the wells off the car to weld in a 4" section

2019-09-09 09.55.03 by don long, on Flickr

2015-05-01 13.20.05 by don long, on Flickr

The frame wasn't built to handle the 6 speed trans so I had to modify the trans X member a bit by removing some metal along side the trans.

2019-09-30 15.03.58 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-30 15.04.34 by don long, on Flickr

 

[HOTFR8]

Great to see some progress having seen this in the work shop when I visited back in August.

View media item 96201View media item 96200I'll share a couple of the photos I took at the time.

 

[Kevkx125]

Don love the project!!, please don't put a LS in it. Do it justice and put what belongs a ford motor.

 

[DustCollectors Rock]

So amazing! I always love looking at old cars from the past.
From the looks of the pics, the exterior looked to be in pretty good condition.

 

[rattle_snake]

Always loved the 40 sedan delivery body. Given your other projects I'm sure it will be fantastic when complete. Keep up the good work!

 

[TimeWarpF100]

Another one to watch! Thanks for sharing!

 

[zmotorsports]

Subscribed for another kool build.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I'm in for a good thread! I always look forward to seeing the bodywork of your projects.

 

[iajonesy]

As always, I'm in for the duration. Don's builds are always a joy to follow.

Mike

 

[don long]

Great to see some progress having seen this in the work shop when I visited back in August.

View media item 96201View media item 96200I'll share a couple of the photos I took at the time.

Thanks Simon
I'm glad you were able to catch a couple shots to share

Don love the project!!, please don't put a LS in it. Do it justice and put what belongs a ford motor.

Sorry Kev
That's what the frame was built around and the only ford motor I have is the 429 under the hood of the COE

So amazing! I always love looking at old cars from the past.
From the looks of the pics, the exterior looked to be in pretty good condition.

Thanks Dusty
When I bought the car on Ebay It looked like a very nice build and the body upper is sound but the floor and frame looked like swiss cheese.

Always loved the 40 sedan delivery body. Given your other projects I'm sure it will be fantastic when complete. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Rattle snake
It won't be a quick build but it will get done

Another one to watch! Thanks for sharing!

Time warp
It's nice to have you on board. I tried reading thru your thread but lost my place about page 125 very interesting work over there.

Subscribed for another kool build.

Thanks for tagging along "Z"

I'm in for a good thread! I always look forward to seeing the bodywork of your projects.

Thanks Bigblue
I am looking forward to doing the body work that's the part I know best lol

As always, I'm in for the duration. Don's builds are always a joy to follow.

Mike

That's nice to know Jonesy

 

[HOTFR8]

Thanks Simon
I'm glad you were able to catch a couple shots to share

It will be nice to see this project at completion, specialy if it has the same finish and ride as the Vette.

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: when you tore this apart it looked great if I recall correctly. Of course you knew what needed to be fixed or upgraded so I’m following along on another of your great threads now that I see you have one about this old panel truck.

 

[don long]

It will be nice to see this project at completion, specialy if it has the same finish and ride as the Vette.

Simon
I certainly hope so.

Don: when you tore this apart it looked great if I recall correctly. Of course you knew what needed to be fixed or upgraded so I’m following along on another of your great threads now that I see you have one about this old panel truck.

Welcome aboard Drives
Yes the car looked very good when we took it apart but it was just cosmetic the bottom of the car was gone.

 

[don long]

Today I received some long awaited parts and went to work getting the new parts ready to install

The floors were rusted out badly and I needed to start rebuilding them.
I started by ordering new rocker panels and extensions and they arrived today in the mail.

2019-10-10 16.19.50 by don long, on Flickr

The parts came with no holes for the mountings so I first had to drill holes and weld nuts into the rockers

2019-10-10 16.20.23 by don long, on Flickr

2019-10-10 16.18.04 by don long, on Flickr

Then install the rockers into the body of the car.

2019-10-10 16.16.31 by don long, on Flickr

.

 

[Tim Kennedy]

Mr. Long:
Though from the pics it appears we are approx. close to the same age -- anyone with the talent/time/equipment to do what you are doing deserves to be called Mr.
That being said -- any chance you could tell me more about the trailer the blasted body is on? Can't tell if you put a mobile 4 post lift on the trailer or are the stabilizers part of the trailer? Pics are always appreciated - thanks for any info

 

[don long]

Mr. Long:
Though from the pics it appears we are approx. close to the same age -- anyone with the talent/time/equipment to do what you are doing deserves to be called Mr.
That being said -- any chance you could tell me more about the trailer the blasted body is on? Can't tell if you put a mobile 4 post lift on the trailer or are the stabilizers part of the trailer? Pics are always appreciated - thanks for any info

Thank you Tim
I'm 71 years young and feeling it most days
The trailer in question is a 24' flat trailer with a 4 post lift welded to the bed of the trailer
Here is the only picture I can find with the trailer in full use (I know it's a little dark but it's all I have)

2 (2) by don long, on Flickr

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: I bet that double decker trailer and that pair of cars was a cool site for those to see in your part of the world. did you use it that way often and did you need to get it licensed as a commercial vehicle? also was it you driving the car to the top or did you have a spot to load it that wasn't so steep?

good to see you are still spending a little time to work on the old panel truck which is amazing cause you are going to car shows (and winning awards) and also painting signs, jacks and your other cool projects.

71 years YOUNG is right!!

carry on sir or MR LONG.

 

[don long]

Don: I bet that double decker trailer and that pair of cars was a cool site for those to see in your part of the world. did you use it that way often and did you need to get it licensed as a commercial vehicle? also was it you driving the car to the top or did you have a spot to load it that wasn't so steep?

good to see you are still spending a little time to work on the old panel truck which is amazing cause you are going to car shows (and winning awards) and also painting signs, jacks and your other cool projects.

71 years YOUNG is right!!

carry on sir or MR LONG.

Drives Just call me Don
That was the only time I have loaded that trailer with 2 cars. I bought it that way and failed to explain how it works to the DMV so it's just registered as a regular trailer.

The trailer has a 10 ton winch welded to its frame and a big battery mounted in the front box so loading the trailer with 2 cars is not an issue.

I'm planning to get the floor welded into the panel tomorrow so wish me luck.

Paul, the guy that spent all the time working with me on the Vette is going to help me get the sedan delivery on the road this year. And that is a great motivator to git r dun

 

[drivesitfar]

DON it is!!!

I'm happy to hear Paul is helping you again and even though you were doing a great job on this 1940 Ford Panel truck i'm sure having him around helping will be a good thing.

I know Luck isn't as much a factor with your work, but here's some LUCK just because we all need a little (or a lot at times).

enjoy your day

 

[don long]

Thanks for the wish of a little luck cause I need it lol

Paul is a great friend and we enjoy sharing time together. We went to the car show together and he was as happy as me when the Vette was chosen for the trophy.

Today I didn't get as much QST as I would have liked but I did spend a couple of hours making a patch panel and getting it welded to the car after welding the rocker panel into place.

2019-10-14 15.56.11 by don long, on Flickr

2019-10-14 15.56.21 by don long, on Flickr

2019-10-14 16.43.33 by don long, on Flickr

.

 

[Kevkx125]

Nice work DON!!! You got skill "POPS"

 

[PugetDude]

Don,
Subscribed to your build thread (again)
really like the fiberglass work on the Vette; looking forward to following your metalwork on this one.

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: looks great from my chair and sending a bit more luck while i'm here.

enjoy your day probably in shorts while it's pouring rain and 50's here.

cheers and i'm still drinking a ton of Moroccan green ice tea.

 

[don long]

Thanks guys
Maybe I'll be able to spend a little time on the car tomorrow afternoon after getting the party garage ready for another party this week end.

 

[WarrenJ]

Great progress. Looking forward to following.

 

[don long]

Great progress. Looking forward to following.

Warren
Thanks for joining in. I hope to get some time in on the car this week

 

[isb cornbinder]

Eaton M90 supercharger on a C69A Ford Flathead V8.
I have always liked '40 Deluxe Fords. I have owned this '40 since 1984

 

[don long]

Well guys
This project just hit the back burner as I have gotten involved building my western town across from the party garage.
I will get back on it in a couple of weeks

Don