Projects 39 Ford Conv build (update 5/8/25)

Moving back to work on the body, I cut the bottoms off of both quarters front area to get to some rot that needed cut out and fixed.

 

My pics may be a bit out of order but I sandblasted these areas and got started on the repairs. I bought a pair of reproduction rockers, however they were not long enough on the rear to take care of the problems back there. They also didn’t really have the right inset where they step inward in the b pillar area. So I cut along the top edge and removed enough material to increase the offset and welded them back up.

 

After getting the rockers tacked in place it was time to move rearward and fabricate the rest of the rocker between the b pillar and the rear wheel well.

 

Using string lines across the rockers to make sure we’re still good and square, I’m not too unhappy with the results so far.

 

Now on to making the patches for the b pillar areas that needed replacing.

 

Fabbed up some pieces for the front side of that same area and welded them in.

 

My wife bought me a rear body repair panel for Christmas, so I started prepping for fit by bolting up the rear fenders. I was lucky enough to get an NOS right rear fender with the car when I bought it, but will have to straighten up and repair the left rear. The prior owner thought he had an NOS left rear, but as it turns out, it is for a 38 club coupe I believe.

 

Even though the left rear fender looks like it lost a fight with a pick hammer, it is really solid, so I can’t be too upset about that. Lol

 

You are doing some very nice work there. Thanks for posting so we can all see how you are going about repairing all that rust.

 

Thank you sir. I’m going to leave the tail panel off until I can catch a warmer day so I can roll it outside and finish blasting the inside of the body. That will make it easier to get (most of) the sand out before I attack those repairs. I’ve had this thing since 2012 and back then thought I’d have put some miles on it by now. Lol.

 

You sir are very courageous! Very cool skills you possess, thanks for taking us along! 60 Special

 

All of that looks strikingly familiar!! Great work Ron.

 

Thanks! I know you’ve been there, done that. I’ve definitely gained some insight by watching your processes in these areas.

 

I’ve been trying to work on several areas at the same time as time will permit. Gonna dump several pics to update my progress. First off, cutting out the rotted rear inner panel across the back of the body and making some patch pieces to fix that. Lotsa shape there so I had to make the repair in several pieces.

 

Next area of work was where a prior owner removed the rumble lid handle and brazed and leaded in holes, added holes for a license plate and old hollywood light. It was a mess because they left the inner structure in place. No way to straighten it up short of just cutting it out and making a patch panel for it. It’s good though, because it will allow me to reach inside and hammer and dolly out the dents above it and also across the tail pan after I weld it in. I will put the patch in last but I’m waiting on favorable weather to finish sandblasting the inside of the body. With the tail pan off, it will be easier to get the sand blowed out.

 

I also had some serious issues with the center floor section. Since I added upper bars to triangulate the banjo rear, the tunnel needed widening back there for clearance. I cut out the old section and made up a flange in the size required to clear the bars. I’ll make the remaining floor section later after sandblasting is done.

 

I’ve also been plugging all the forty five holes in the firewall for a fresh start. Lol

 

More

 

After getting the rest of the paint off the sail panel/quarter tops, I opted to melt out the factory lead on the seams. This may have been a mistake, but as some of lead was cracked, I had no way of knowing what kind of condition the base metal was in underneath it all. Turns out it wasn’t rusty, but was the absolute crudest panel fitment on a car I’d ever seen. It’s hard for pictures to do it the injustice it deserves. Lol. I’ll probably end up cutting a good portion of it out and making the gaps in steel after the body is back on the frame. I might mention that this is body #19 of the Conv Coupes for 39, so maybe they just didn’t have everything ironed out yet.

 

Beautiful work.

 

Really nice work!!!

 

You're really doing that car justice...nice work.

 

Great work you're doing.

 

Wow Ron...Nice work and excellent progress! Much of what you're dealing with looks strikingly familiar! Your helper looks to be doing a great job and seems to be well invested in the project.

 

Thanks a bunch. Yeah, he’s 11 years old and really getting into it. I had posted some pics on FB of him taking the paint off the rest of the body and a fella saw them and hired him to take the paint off of his off topic car (65 Mustang) that I have here at the shop. He just finished that and bought a used four wheeler to flip with the money he made.(with a little help from me) lol. He’s an exceptional kid and I’m proud that he will work.

 

You can get new "outrigger body mounts at Joes Antique auto in Massachusetts I believe.

 

I just found this thread and read it all. Very nice work that you've done. As I was going through the chassis pages I saw some familiar thinking in trans mounts, wishbone and rear open drive conversion. I used similar concepts in my pickup but not nearly as well fabbed as you have done. I always liked the '39 convertible and I love yours.

 

Thanks for the kind words. Don't sell yourself short. I've been following your truck build and you are doing some very nice work. Ron

 

Great work.

 

Ive worked with some amazing fabricators at GE for the last 30 plus years and in the car restoration shop i own... BUT YOU guys continually shock me with the skills that you have and do it at home in your garage/shop!!!! TALENTED and GIFTED is all i can say...Continue on please... I drove my uncles 40' TUDOR in high school..!!!!!!