"Problem areas" on a 40 Ford?

Hey Guys:

I'm looking for some help from experienced 40 Ford owners on what I should be looking for with regard to "problem areas" on the body of a 40 Coupe or Tudor Sedan. I've heard comments on the tool box area in the trunk but, are there other areas that are prone to having rust problems in even a good condition original car?

OK, I should explain that with a name like "earlymopar" why I'm looking at or interested in an "early Ford". I like and have always enjoyed many types of cars, in particular Fords. I rebuilt a flathead V-8 in "Ag-Power" cl*** in high school when I was 17 and have always thought the engine was pretty neat. I have wanted to own a car with a flathead ever since. I'm 58 now.

Thanks, EM

 

I owned a coupe with a good original body and the areas that rusted on mine( it was a NE car ) were the tool tray / rear panel under the trunk and the drip rails.

 

Look at the tool tray, drip rails, quarters behind doors ,(lower edge rustout) and the frame in the same area. Anything can be fixed but it's easier to start with a clean one.
Lots of Luck

 

Lower frontdoor posts in the hinge area is a common problem from what I hear.

 

Drip rails and the frame where the rear of x-member meets frame rail .The rear body panel and toolbox are almost a given.If you end up buying the rear panel and toolbox,get them from Drake.They fit the best.

 

'40 Fords are prone to rust out in pretty much the same places as any '30's-'40s car--floor pans, trunk floor, lower cowl where the fenders bolt up, where the A pillar/ hinge post meets the floor pan, tool tray, lower rear panel below the deck lid. Most cars of that period rusted in the same places. The big thing you have to watch on these cars is the frame. They are bad to rust where the back legs of the X member meet the side rails just ahead of the arch over the rear axle.

 

a 283 fits nicely under the hood

 

look up "zibo" he has a thread where he pretty much saved one from the grave...

edit: found it
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335174&highlight=zibo+40

 

the one I just did had minor issues at the bottom of the front door posts and in the quarter's between the door and fender well. package tray and floor were good.

 

Mine had bad rust in the frame in front of the rear end and same area of the X member. That was a job to fix, the rest is sheet metal and a lot easier to fix. 40's are great and worth fixing in almost any condition. Your skill level and depth of your pockets are the biggest determining factor here. Heck I think you can build a new one now from Bob Drake!! Its hard to hid the rust on them so just crawl all over and under it front to back and go from there.

 

pffft

 

If you can, check the inside of the doors at the lower hinge area, too. Even doors that look really good from the outside are usually bad on the inside, not just from rust, but flexing will take its toll.

 

check fenders around the wheel openings. They are often cracked/repaired poorly after 70 years of shnit and abuse.

 

.....Like every problem with fords during the 30's and early 40's....the tool tray and floor pans rusted out.....

 

Where the rear fenders bolt unto the body, the welting when old holds water and moisture, rusting out the body and fender, body is a very complex area to repair as most spots on a forty are. The body also cracks on the B pillar area where the body character line is.

 

Wow. A heck of a lot of great feedback and details guys. Thanks much. As said by some of you, the rust out areas seems to be much the same as other cars of the era. What surprises me are the comments about the frame by the "X" brace or cross member. Is there some aspect of the design in that area that really traps moisture?

 

If the car comes from the rust belt, expect to find rust almost everywhere on the car. Floors, rockers, floor braces, seams, behind trim etc, etc. Even a nice looking car 60-70 yrs. old can have big, giant rust holes filled up with whatever and painted over. So, just be wary, look it over real good, and take some magnets.

 

Yep. seen em rust completly in half.

 

Never owned one but the last one I worked on wast rusted on the trunk and the mounting area @ the toe boards.

 

This area is good for collecting mud and grime,and it doesn't fall out.

 

thanks for the info guys, a bunch of us are heading to southern okiehoma saturday to buy me an original '40 standard tudor sedan field car and I was wondering what to look for.

 

Problem area?

Hang'n the front end is always fun!