removing a 350 from a 40 Ford truck

did some work on a guys 1940 Ford pick up. stock body, MII front, parrallel leaves out back 350/350. nice truck.

told me the motor was making a terrible noise. come to find out the flywheel cover was loose on the transmission. which got me to thinking about how I would get the motor out if it was indeed making a terrible noise.

looks pretty tight in there. is it easier to remove the front sheetmetal or is it more work to remove the sheetmetal than to finagle the motor out with the fenders/grille in place?

I'd probably take the trans out with the motor.. of course I won't actually be removing this motor, but looking at it got me to thinking what would be the best way to go about it.

 

Have you heard of occams razor?

 

gee thanks, that helps a lot.

 

want to save yourself a ton of grief and cursing....take off the front clip...can be done with the front sheetmetal on, but sweet baby blue eyed jesus its really tight!

 

Sheet metal is easy to remove. It is only bolted to the cowl in two places and at the running boards unless someone has drill some extra holes down the cowl. Depending on how it was done up front, it may have been done with a bracket to the inner fenders to the frame or with the original cross brace which usually can not be used with a MII. Take it all in one piece and leave the hood on. The only other things that comes to mind is the front bumpers and radiator. I usually put a plug in the headlight wires for future removals.

 

Way easier to take the front clip off my '38. Your '40 isn't that much different. If the sheet metal alignment is good now I'd suggest drilling a few 3/32" alignment holes in incon****uous spots before you take the front end off. They'll give you an opportunity to get it back closer than just trying to bolt it all together without them.

 

Take the grill and radiator out, should give enough room to get it out.

 

that's what I figured. I couldn't imagine getting that motor out with the fenders in the way like that. gonna put spark plugs in it here sometime soon, that looks like a pain in the *** as well.

this has been painted fairly recently, I wouldn't want to scratch up the new paint on the way out.

 

you can remove/install a 350/350 into a `40 ford with the front fenders and grille on. just remove the radiator and hood. done it MANY times