1940 Chevy Coupe resurrection

This is my first post- and initial foray back in the hobby.

The story begins in 1994 with a 13 year old pimple faced boy going to a summer camp in my dad's 1965 Chevelle Malibu convertible, where a camp counselor saw the car and asked around who owned it. By end of the week I struck a conversation with him and found out he had a 1940 Chevy business coupe he wanted to sell, possibly to my dad he inquired. I told him "THAT'S GONNA BE MINE!" He laughed but little did he know my dad and I were looking for a father & son project. A month afterwards, exchanging phone calls and letters- my dad towed the car off his property with me grinning from ear to ear. It was definitely one of most memorable days of my life.

I started off pretty stupidly quickly taking off pieces and thrashing through the car and shortly lost interest (actually got overwhelmed) because it wasn't the same as the Revell and Monogram model cars I pieced together at that time. Not only that, my dad encouraged me to get a junker VW bug as a daily driver when I approached my driving age at 16 years old. I got carried away and went deep into the vintage air cooled VW hobby where I was stuck for past 15 years.

Fast forward to today, I am going into 32 years old and already raising 2 young daughters (3 and 6), busy with home ownership, 1956 VW RHD ragtop and 1965 VW Bus in tow but guess what? I still have my first car- that 1940 Chevy coupe I had dragged along but badly neglected.

This time around I am more determined to start and FINISH this project for once and all.

I will definitely need your support and some kind of motivation to continue this project. My dad keeps on asking me whats up with my coupe and I dread telling "not much" as he is approaching the age where time isn't a luxury. I want to finish this and take him a ride in it, even if he isn't there wrenching with me (he lives 600 miles away in So Cal while I'm here in the Nor Cal).

Here I go....

One of first things I did back then was look up for a ch***is kit, Keep in mind I wanted to keep it all CHEVY. I couldn't stand the idea of adding Ford components on a Chevy, let alone Chevy components on Ford's but that's how it goes in the rodding world.

At that time there was Butch's Rod Shop who offered a complete ch***is kit using all Chevy Parts. Luckily I had the original knee action IFS on it, so I had the dropped spindles and springs kit including '70 Camaro 11" vented disc brake conversion with steering conversion (using 3 link system from GM saginaw non power steering box). QUESTION: I would like to know if anyone currently has the same kit on their cars nowadays? I cant find such kit available- is it because everyone is using the Mustang kits now? They were made from FatMan Fabrications- I do have the kit and it is still in their boxes (NOS) however with some surface rust and storage wear. I intend to utilize them but hopefully without any issues as it was sitting in storage since 1996.

I hope I can find someone here who has similar kit or experience working on the ch***is kit supplied by Butch's Rod Shop as the shop closed down years ago- I contacted the new folks who took over, currently renamed Butch's Cool Stuff but they do not offer such kits anymore except for dropped spindle kit. I unfortunately had some of the instructions and paperwork missing (some deteriorated due to age and storage conditions) hopefully I can get some help or support here on the HAMB...

I cant seem to upload pictures because the "security token" is missing? working on uploading pictures asap

 

Hopefully Pictures work this time

 

more pictures

 

DeafPowered,

What a great story and a great introduction. I look forward to following your build. Please keep us updated with news and pictures once you get underway. Welcome to the HAMB.

Thor

 

That is a great story and I will be watching this build. Best to you and yours!

 

Good luck, looks like a fun project. I still have my first car as well, a VW bug I have owned since I was 14. I was also big into the aircooled crowd for awhile.

 

Thanks Thor1, Chevy54man & JoeyP.... it will be quite a mess for me to clean up (imagine cleaning up a 13 year old's mess, albeit your own mess that you havent cleaned up after years!!)

I just secured a 61" 12 bolt axle off a 69 nova that I plan to use on this project because I want to keep it all GM, as originally planned. I do have the rear suspension kit from Butch's Rod Shop as well- posies superslide springs, including sway bar and axle mounting kit for 12 bolt already. I will post up pictures as soon I pick up the rear end by July. I have 3.31 gears for it ready to be installed, hopefully anyone have any expertise with this?

I'd like to use artillery wheels on bias ply wheels for a vintage resto-rod look. Not sure about sizing and backspacking too? I like the big n little look possibly 15x5 up front & 15x7 out back? Anyone??

It wont be too customized as I like to retain the original look as much as possible with 70's GM underpinnings, perhaps some kind of muscle car drivetrain/ handling, if possible.

 

I noticed looking through this site, not much of 1940 Chevy's. They seem to be rare or uncommon because they aren't as popular? I know 40 Ford's are the preferred choice a**** rodders but any other reason?

 

Quick question, looking through my boxes of the ch***is kit supplied by Butch's Rod Shop- this one perplexed me... can't find any paperwork or instructions for this- anyone have any idea? I will have to piece around and check where or what it is for... ugh!

 

Great story and car. Really hits home as I'm 35 andI got my first car (a 1940 Chevy coupe) when I was 12. My uncle gave the project to me since he had kids. My dream to let him do a nasty burnout in it will never be realized as he p***ed away suddenly a few years ago. Still have the car and, like you, I WILL finish it. I'm subscribing to this thread for inspiration of my own...

 

WANTED:


PAIR OF RUNNINGBOARDS- mine was too rusted out and ditched it when I was 13- wish i didnt but it was too far gone, i dont see any original reproductions other than the smoothie running boards? I prefer the original design but may resort to the smoothie ones if I cant find any? I have seen the reproduction rubber mats for the running boards but not the metal itself. Anyone know? Thanks in advance

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27748

 

WOW... thanks for sharing your story. Am sorry that he p***ed on before you could finish but you know he is definitely there in spirit regardless. Let's finish our project and do a burnout- heck I'll do one for your uncle when time comes! Do you have any pictures of your 40? I dont see much of the 40 Chevys, they are not common. Looking forward to seeing your project- it takes a major push and to be honest, my wife's not pretty happy about me starting it given the stuff I have to do around the house but you know... Im just sick to stomach the fact its sitting there doing nothing and TIME IS NOT A LUXURY. You live only once, JUST DO IT. Hopefully my wife's sanity will be in one piece by then!

 

Yes I contacted the guy there by the name of Terry and he will try his best to ***ist me with whatever he has now. I checked his site and he does have some of the parts but the major issue I need help with right now is the disc brake conversion kit (which isnt available on his site currently or elsewhere). Thanks!!

 

https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/shop/...g+board&year=All&dept=Car&searchtype=FT&Go=Go

 

correct me if I'm wrong? for the '40 mats they only supply the rubber but not metal backing. i will give them a call and see. Wont hurt to try! Thanks...

 

Great story, cool you kept the car. Before I tried to piece together random parts I would lay everything out like it was going to go on the car that will give you an idea of what you have, where it goes and what you need.
Don't get discouraged, keep plugging away this will be a great car to see done. It looks like a super solid place to start.

 

Yes that's what I am doing now and I am pretty sure some odds and ends were missing (like bolts and nuts) but that is not a big deal, just want to make sure everything is put together correctly.

Here's a picture of my dad and his ride.

 

"Yes that's what I am doing now and I am pretty sure some odds and ends were missing (like bolts and nuts) but that is not a big deal, just want to make sure everything is put together correctly."
.
.When I removed and diss***embled the front clip from my 40 chevy coupe, I took a lot of high resolution photos to aid in putting it all back together in the right order. If you need them when you ***emble yours, send a PM and I'd be happy to send them to you.
My 40 coupe is one I regret selling off but I had to sell to finance my 34 ford coupe project.

 

Nice coupe! Please send me any pictures you have, that would be be very helpful much appreciated! I'll send you a PM as well. It looks like a mustang II front end there? Nice wheel combo.... did you ever finish it or sold it as unfinished project?? Thanks for sharing.

 

OEM steel running boards are in short supply and to my knowledge no-one has reproduced accurate steel boards. There are correctly shaped f-gl*** smoothies available - Superior gl*** maybe - and I see steel smoothies on eBay from time to time but the edges are straight, not curved from end to end. I have a pair of f-gl*** smooth boards on my convert - they've been on it for 25 years or so and i long ago forgot where I got them. I gl***ed in a curved piece of conduit on the botton outside edge to give them some egde strength and reshaped the rear edge to fit to the back fenders.

Your stoch front end with new kingpins, bushings etc will work fine. Someone still makes a kit to add telescoping shocks. It's not too difficult to adapt a 525 steering box or a full time GM power box for cross steer.

Charlie

 

Darrill, this is Butch, founder, owner & operator of Butch's Rod Shop from 1975-1999 Dayton Ohio. I am still affiliated with Butch's Cool Stuff in Tipp City Ohio and Terry, that runs "BCS" contacted me about your emails. I will do everything I can to get you a copy of all the Instruction sheets for all the kits in the '40 Chevy Ch***is Package you purchased from me back in 1994. By the way, that metal bracket you showed is the 2-pc bolt-on frame mount for the GM Saginaw Steering kit we made that is part of the package. ECI made the front Disc Brake kit that we always sold for the '40 to '48 Chevy's. They still make this kit today. Anyway, after Terry returns from the "Back to the 50's" show in St Paul, we will start getting the info you need together for you. And, maybe because you were only 13 when I talked to you back then, but I specifically remember your name!

 

What a surprise on a Sunday morning! Great news to see you still actively involved in the hobby & business as well much appreciated even more for checking in my thread- I didn't even expect that!

I received a note from Terry about the back to 50's event and I look forward to get any resources avail when you guys get back. For the car itself, some parts need replacement due to age/wear so I have to backtrack a bit for some parts number and some information

Also about the metal bracket, I did notice the 3 bolt pattern corresponding with the steering box itself in which you were right- I finally put it under the frame and it all slid in- perfect. Many thanks for pointing that out!

Glad to know about the ECI kit being around I'll check into the info for some replacement parts (bearings, seals etc) & ***embly diagrams- and check if they have such rear disc kits for 12 bolt axle

awesome progress- hope to post up some worthy pictures of progress pretty soon as I will be picking up the rear end next week so that will be a major boost in getting the ch***is on all 4 wheels.

 

Wanted to update you all with the progress.

I managed to get all the necessary do***entations thanks to Terry, those were very helpful in sorting out the mess I had.

I also had the parts sandblasted and cleaned up before painting them black. I already started on the mocking up and test fitting. The hunt is on for a 350/700r4 ASAP.

Once I am done cutting off suspension tabs on the CKD 12 bolt rear end from a '70 Monte Carlo I will install and make sure everything lines up. Once that is done I will finally know what rim size to go with and what backspacing.

Here are some photos so far:
Original Knee Action Suspension (with 2 1/2" drop spindles & 2" drop springs)
Painting:

Blasting
[/IMG]
Test Fitting


Cutting off the tabs


Will keep you posted, probably next time I post we may have wheels

 

Oh yeah, about the running boards I think I found a place in Georgia that claimed that they hand formed the metal boards from flat stock to identical factory specs and vulcanized them. I am checking them out if they indeed are the real deal & share with you the results. They aren't cheap though- $800 for the pair outright.

 

Looks like my garage did once ,only neater.
my story is similar to yours except I started at 32. Although it was my project only ,my Dad helped with stripping the paint for me. After 13 years of doing nothing much to it my Dad p***ed away and never saw it finished. It took another 21 years to get r done.
Glad you are doing it while dad can still see it done. Looks great.

 

Nice looking coupe. I've had a few 40 chevys through the years. My Dad was in love with them and it rubbed off I guess. Here is a link to a 40 chevy picture thread.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=648420
This is the last car my Dad built. He died of cancer 18 years ago (seems like yesterday) and I have it now.

This is a sedan he built backi in the mid 1980's. It had running boards like you were talking about. They were made in Argentina like many other rubber parts. They looked so so. The rubber had a texture to it. Not smooth like the originals. He did the chop, paint, body and frame. It was a very nice car.

This one is my first hotrod. It was very fast, and alot of fun!! Dad and I put this together the summer of 1987. I had alot of fun with this car!!

I never could hook it up, but it still ran in the 13's in the quarter through exhaust on street tires. Always wanted to put slicks on it, and I almost did. One of my buddies was going to let me use his slicks but someone pulled right out in front of me a week before I had a chance.


I still have the car. I fixed the frame and have another front clip on it. Just needs a drive train.... I have a sedan delivery too but that's a big project.....

There's a few 40 chevys out there. They are roomy comfortable cars that don't weigh alot and have very good weight distribution front to rear. If you want a set of stock running boards pm me. I have to look but I might have an extra set.
Jeff

 

Here's some updates. Hit a snag with the ECI brake conversion kit spacer/adapter. I forgot that the original knee action front spindles had different spindle cone diameters on each sides… the replacement spacers I got from ECI were same on both sides which couldnt fit on one side, but the other side was completed. Waiting on word back from them

See photo for reference:

REAR AXLES ground down & mocked up w/ sway war kit




FRONT END MOCKED UP




OLD SPACERS (installed over 15 years ago)


NEW vs OLD

 

Great story DeafPower! My father built hot rods as I was growing up. Thirty years ago he bought me (9 at the time) a roughed up, 55 Chevy Bel Air. I drove it to high school in the early 90's with a 235/muncie 4 speed. Rebuilt the car a couple of times since college and now take my boys to car shows in it. I have a new project car now and looking at getting my oldest son (12) his first car soon.

Nice to see you working on the old Chevy, keep the progress pics coming!

 

Cool story! Good luck on the second time around. I look forward to seeing your progress.