I made the 15 hour trip yesterday to snag this solid '31 Ford tudor banger that has been partially converted into a hot rod. The body is really nice, some rot under the rear seat but the other usual spots are A-OK. The doors shut real nice too, always a bonus I appreciate. Looks like the car was last on the road in '70 and has had some period work done including seat upholstery in a funky fabric, a handmade quilt as a batting layer under the roof, and a respray or two. The seller I bought it from lowered the car and installed juice brakes up front, along with new rubber and wire wheels. He installed a custom 4 into 1 header, Burns downdraft intake manifold and a Stromberg 81 with scoop. It also came with a box of parts to convert the rear to juice brakes along with some other goodies i'll find handy. The plan on this one is to leave the body as is, keep the fenders and make it a nice comfortable ride. Nothing to make it a challenge to use, getting older isn't doing me any favors so i'm going to be nice to myself. Comfy seats, easy steering, leg room, etc... The late '31 roadster i've been working on in another thread is a tight fit for me so I wanted a car with more space and some cargo carrying ability. I've been snagging some parts for a bit in preparation of it's arrival: '40 steering wheel, '32 truck dash, gauges, some sealed beam headlights, steel wheels, etc... Phase one is to get the juice brakes finished, swap in some '40's steel wheels, do some cosmetics in and out and make it a reliable banger. Phase two is an engine swap with a 59A flathead i've got for just such a purpose, '32 fuel tank and a luggage rack at the back.
Preservation? Those seat covers would work for me. Whatever, it will make fun for you. Nice score****
Thanks! I was glad to add it to the stable. The seats look better than they are in the pics... The driver seat nearly bottoms out when you sit in it, it needs to be redone to support a human, lol. The interior is a mix of cardboard panels and peg board in so-so condition. I'm going to pull it all out and clean real good. I don't know if I will repanel it or not.
That’s a great ride. Finish the brakes and keep it running then modify things as you can. Please keep updates with pictures coming.
It's great, it already has everything I need to do to mine, enjoy it and many miles with it. Greetings Harald
Bangers are fun, can't argue that! If I didn't already have the '31 roadster with a Model B engine going in it i'd leave the banger in this one... Gotta put that flathead V8 into something
understand, I've been offered a was running 36 flatty & my mind has been going crazy trying to work out where to put it
It's been so darn cold this winter I've only been in the shop a few times... Traditionally once we get through February the cold starts to take it easy, i'll move the Tudor into the shop then and get to work on it. I was looking the car over good today and coming up with a more detailed action plan. I've seen it run so I know it's got a decent engine, I'm going to pull it, degrease it, and paint it. Easier than trying to do it in the frame and it will give me the chance to put new motor mounts in. While it's out i'll do the firewall as well and install new lacing on the cowl and radiator shell. I'll go through the carb, clean the oil pan, and check on the clutch too while it's out. Some of the goodies i've collected for the project include a nice set of BLC headlights that match the Tudor pretty good, no need to repaint. I'll swap out the Model A taillight with a mid 30's one, and I found one of those safety stop light accessoires to install. I've always wanted to try and get one working, it will be interesting to do the install. I've got this green slag shifter knob for the car i'll install after I bend the shifter to my liking. The repro '40 steering wheel is nice, I found a decent deal on a 17" one which is fine since I don't want to make things tougher to steer. For the dropped headlight bar already in place I snagged a vintage CA plate and topper. Also for the front I found this radiator apron someone customized, though it was kinda neat. I'll redo it in semi gloss black and track down some mounting hardware for it.
The plan gets even more solid. I would never have thought to use pegboard for the interior- makes me wonder why someone else did. Luan plywood underlay all day long, but pegboard? That’s up there with aluminum diamond plate. That car deserves a bit more respect than that. Will redoing those seats get you to the comfort level you seek, or will we see a change? I am looking forward to the incorporation of the items ***embled thus far, this is going to be cool.
Yeah, I'm not sure what was going on with that pegboard. Must have been a "this is what i've got" thing, it's coming out. The p***enger side kick panel and rear panel are pegboard, the drivers side kickboard is not perforated, and there is no board on the driver's side rear. Both doors have non perforated board. I'll rip out all of it and start over, probably leave the back open and just do the kickboards and doors. The seats will be ok when I get done with them, they're just lacking a proper redo. I plan on covering them in some vintage canvas or maybe use some old USMC blankets that have a grey blue green color.
I can't say but he sure had a fetish for that material, lol. The car was last on the road in 1970, from the looks of it they just used what they had to keep it going.
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