Projects What would you do? 1940 Chevy

What would you do with a 1940 Chevy 2 door sedan? It is a project I am considering and would appreciate any ideas, opinions, images.
At this point it is in stock condition with no motor, 3 spd trans, 4:11 closed driveline.

 

This was the idea I had for mine before i sold it. Simple -straight forward. Small block, s10 chassis, a little candy red with some fire and drive it like you stole it.

 

There are a zillion ways to go but my two favorites are:

1. Hot Rod - BBC or blown SBC, Turbo 400. I think a 6-71 blower and carbs will fit under the stock hood. Tub the rears and stuff big tires under the back. Gas mileage? We don't need no stinkin' gas mileage!

2. Cruiser - mildly built SBC, 700R4, quiet exhaust, lots of insulation inside, good interior. I think the current ride height is perfect for that.

The good thing about these cars is parts are everywhere.

 

traditional bomb style lowrider!!!!!!!!! hell yes, lower it a bit and slap some wide whites a fulton visor and fender skirts on her and roll chollo style!

 

what he said^

 

I like 'em about 4 inches off the ground personally. Build it to drive- it would make a great family car if you've got one to haul around. I thought I had some pictures but I guess not...

 

Get the wheels tucked in the fenders even out the patina and roll it.

 

235, dual 1 3/4 in straight pipes, three carbs! I'm with you there until I realize I'm an old white guy living in Santa Cruz, CA
Maybe the 235, lower it with wide whites and roll?

 

Im with this guy too!!! Who cares what you look like! Its all about the ride mane!!!!!

 

What are the options for lowering the front end on this car. It has the original style IFS and I have no $ to go aftermarket.

 

Unfortunately, you're going to need a little money to do it right. My car has the same front end as yours... I've researched the options, so here are my findings...

1. Dropped uprights from fatman fabrications. By the time you buy the uprights, steering arms, you'll be in it for almost $600. I think it only drops it 2.5 inches.

2. Mustang II. Depending on if you can weld or not, this will affect the cost. I cannot weld, so I'm using a Chassis Engineering bolt-in crossmember. They cost around $600, but weld in ones are cheaper. It will sit low and drive great. I figure I can do this for 1.5-2k hopefully, including new front tires.

3. Nova/camaro clip. I didn't even look at this option because they are too wide, and most early chevys that have them look like crap. I said MOST. I'm sure there are some nice ones out there.

I'm saving up for the mustang II option because it'll not only lower the car a bunch but it will drive and handle much better.

 

235, split headers, 2 inch pipe, bias ply white walls, and drive it!

 

bomb.

 

In retrospect, it would be easier to leave in high in the front and drop the rear, and make it a Bomb or tail dragger like the others have said....... HORALE!!!

 

yeah- pro street it.. Or not.

that was basically the first thought that popped in my head when I saw the pics.. Some of my Mexican car friends around here call me the "cholo gringo" haha..

 

Touch up the paint. Drop it. Put in a hopped up 235 with all the vintage goodies. Blackwall tires with stock color rims. Maybe just beauty rings. Kind of sinister looking!

 

it's your car, the easiest is to drop another six in it to lower it drill out the rivets on the lower control arms drop the reinforcement plate add a spacer and bolt it back together,
if it's going to see highway use do like biltfercomfort said sbc 700r4 and shiny paint

 

dido

 

I kinda like this idea.

 

235 OR 261, split exhaust, performance regrind cam, dual holly 94s, pocket the A-arms drop the back for a tail dragger, claen up the engine bay real nice, tuck n roll interior. TAILDRAGGER! Be cool to do a westergaard treatment to it

 

Me 3

 

You never said if you even like the car. If its a car to get you into the sport, don't get to deep $$$ into it. If you love it, make it yours.

 

Keep the center of the grille and fill in the sides with sheet metal. Photoshop people?

 

Forget the slow 235's,drop in a 302 GMC 6 .Bolts up to anything a 235 will ,just 1-1/2 inches longer.

 

If it was mine.
I would appreciate it for what it is, One of prettiest cars Chevrolet ever built. A car that is 70 years old. When that car was new the Civil War had been over 75 years, FDR was in the Whitehouse, Hitler was in Germany, a war raged in Europe, Britain stood alone against Germany, a good portion of rural America had no electricity and the United States was in the final days of the Great Depression.
If it was a rusted up hulk in a field somewhere I'd say cut , lower ect. ect., but all this car needs is an engine and some TLC to wake it up.
Since the engine is gone, I recommend a 1955-1962 235 it is a direct drop in. You may have to use the fan from a 216. It is my favorite Chevy engine for one of my favorite cars. You can add dual pipes and carbs later. Change nothing just repair.
Stock height, stock 16s with wide whites, new paint, black would look stately, or almost gangsterish. The Al Capone, Lucky Luciana gangster not gangsta. Heck you could even spray the whole thing OD green put a big white star on the door and USAAF down the hood.
Not every car made before 1960 has to be slammed in da weeds and equipped with a SBC.
Simple answer, If it is not broken do not fix it.

 

just like that man my buddy had 1 with quad headlights and mitch at powerandnoise.com drew that one up and they started too build it but it never got finished just a cool idea too play with

 

bomb!!!!!!

 

stock body, extra black and extra shiney, low with a rake, MustangII, 5 spokes, blackwalls, sbc, 700R4, 4W disc brakes. black insides on original seats, stock dash, some sort of rare accessory steering wheel.

the old sixes are cool in other peoples cars, but I likes me a V8.

 

What's your paint job and age got to do with it, or have I been living away from the USA too long? Such inconsequential stuff never did (when I was young and considered a huero loco) and probably wouldn't stop me from building a bomb, today.

Your other alternative might be a '40s era taildragger custom. No matter what you do, you've got a really nicely styled car to start with.

 

Do a thorough search of '40 Chevy's pics. Once you "feel" it, you will know what style you will go with. Everyone here has their own opinion/interpretaton, I will include mine (only because you asked)..I would go with the SBC, and GM auto of your choice, MII frt end, late model rear end, dark burgandy, dark blue, dark green, or black, with white rolled and pleated interior, low with nice rake, black tires with chrome wheels and spider caps. You have to own your idea for the build. Looks like a great project to me, do it your way.