Hi all, so I picked up a 1940 Ford standard coupe a few weeks ago and I’ve been doing tons of reading and research on some projects I’ve already started. Let’s just say I have more questions than answers. This site has been great. I’m looking for this book but can’t seem to find it anyplace. If anyone knows where I can find a copy please lmk. Also, any other good books/resources for a 40 restoration would be great! Thanks.
Here is a good one for the 1940 Ford coupe that you may find some valuable information. A 40 Ford Coupe For Uncle Mike Build Thread by Sam Profit The 39 Guy. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/a-40-ford-coupe-for-uncle-mike-build-thread.949053/ It really is hard to find one comprehensive book on 1940 Fords with the details that would be handy. The Early Ford V8 club has been promising a new 1940 book for a long long time but nothing yet. It is hard to find details on window channels and window seals etc. There are some good parts drawings in Van Pelts Sales site. Scroll through the different categories and save the drawings in your computer. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_partsdrawings_links.htm There are some good articles on the HAMB with respect to aligning all the firewall forward with the hood, fenders etc..
That book is somewhat helpful; but was done years ago with black and white photos that don't show a lot of detail. "Kube" on Fordbarn is in the process of writing a new book but is busy with other projects... so it'll be awhile. I'd head over to the 'barn and check out his restoration threads; lots of good stuff there.
I have the book and went digging for it. The book has a lot of photos on what different parts of the car should look like and descriptions of the finishes. As warbird1 said it does not show a lot of detail and is geared more to a verbal description of what parts of the car should look for if it is being judged on originality. As a nuts and bolts guide to restoring anything it does not exist in this book. I bought the Street Rodder Guide to Building A '40 Ford and it had nothing that was of ***istance to a '40 project owner. Information on the 1940 Ford is like a a drop of mercury that fell from 10 ft. Little smidgens and nuggets everywhere but not one that a person could call a true bible on putting a 1940 Ford back together. I found original cars for sale that were original and have a lot of photos of every detail on the car that would help with restoring or just details that help make a good driver if one bought a project. There some extremely knowledgeable on the HAMB with building and restoring 40 Fords. The HAMB support for 40 Ford builders is excellent. The Fordbarn has a lot as recommended with great ***istance from "Kube". Kube has been saying for a while that he is getting close to the end of creating a book. He has done a lot of good threads and responses on the Fordbarn. He is will offer guidance & information to questions posed on the 40. He is knowledgeable and strips the cars to nothing and puts them back together that are Pebble Beach quality. I thought if he did a detailed book as if one was looking over his shoulder and he described the process that it would become an amazing book. He stays very busy so it could be a while. One suggestion I have is start a directory for a 1940 Ford then put some directories in it similar to this and squirrel away every nugget you find in a relative folder. It is easy to go to file save as "web page, complete" and capture everything in article of interest so it can be viewed offline inside your computer. That way information is filed away in such a way that a person can find it again.
^^^This-I have ac***ulated a lot of misc 40 info over the years and have taken pics of orig ***ys before taking apart-all in a file
You were one that I had thought of as being a deep well of knowledge on the 1940's that is always there when someone needs help. I know that I have your detailed description of how to re***emble the hood fenders and grille along with other good posts.
That book may be available at the Early Ford V8 Museum in Auburn Indiana. I’ve bought reference books when I visited there in the past.
Thanks for all of the comments. I got a copy of the book coming my way thanks to another H.A.M.B. member. I already found lots of info on the net but need to start my own database as some of you guys suggest. It’s a lot of research and reading - but that’s part of the fun, right? Like mining for gold. I’m new here and this forum has been awesome. Thanks again.
The problem is that the book from the club is being updated and not yet released. Anything you find is going to be the old version and you should get a big discount on it. Charlie Stephens.
The V-8 Ford Club has books available for '32, '33-'34, '35-'36, '37, '38-'39, '41-'48, '49-'51 and '52-'53. They are mostly geared for restorations, but are a wealth of information.
There is an amazing amount of information on the HAMB and searches usually will find those threads. Sometimes I will do a Google search started with "HAMB then the key words" that I am looking for. It gives a more comprehensive search and may get what you are looking for if you cannot find it with a search in the HAMB. If you don't find what you are looking for then the post question and someone will lean in. Here is an excellent thread on piecing together a 39 Mercury that is very relevant for doing floors and body repairs as one may with a Ford. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1939-mercury-build.981440/
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