Projects 40 Ford Sedan "The Varmit" IS DONE! Successfully completed a Reliability Run

Nice. How long til it moves?

 

Diff looks good Dan,
Them ol banjos ant to bad once you do a fue of them...

 

Thank guys, @Roothawg , I'm hoping to go for a maiden voyage around the block by summer at the latest.

All that's left to do that is: Battery mount, fuel pump and fuel lines, brake lines, evaluate the radiator, alternator and mount, fan, wiring, mount throttle pedal.... and I'm sure a lot of little things that I'm not thinking about.

 

Perfect hot rod!! My 4 year-old grandson was sitting in my '39 coupe yesterday. wanted to know which lever makes it go!! Keep it a family thing and don't use the rent money on the car!!LOL

 

What plans for the battery mount do you have, Dan? I hope to start soon on the exact swap you are doing now. I hav been told the battery has to be moved, but I have seen many photo's of an installed SBC into a 40 ford that shows the battery in the stock location. what gives?

 

I'm sure you might get a battery in there, but it's probably a tight fit and doesn't look great. Most guys put them in the trunk, but I'm researching putting it under the right front fender apron hanging off the frame. Oldscrounger here on the hamb puts his batteries on the many 40's he's built in this location. I'm not a fabricator, but speedway and other places sell bolt on/weld on battery trays that would bolt to the side of the frame rail.

 

I'm going to buy this most likely:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-In-Battery-Box,5334.html
To hang under the right front fender.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the speedway unit! It sure beats the price of the MR.40's unit Old Scrounger mentioned to me. Scroll down after opening link to find battery box:
http://www.mr40s.com/mr.-40-s-stuff.html
He told me the use of this box will inhibit right turning radius. How about enlargening the trunk tool box and keeping the battery out of the trunk that way?

 

I'm running a 500/525 16" Firestone in the front of mine. I haven't measured it but it shouldn't get in the way of that small of a tire. I really need to order the one from Speedway and figure it all out. For $35 bux it's not a big risk.

I've seen that Mr 40 unit, they're sure proud of it for $119.

My trunk floor is trashed, and I don't plan on replacing the tool tray, I'm just going to cut and bead roll a flat piece of steel for the entire floor to keep costs down. I think you'd be fine putting it in the trunk, I just want to try under the fender.

 

Sounds good. I don't think the shop truck will be done in 2015. I'll just chip away at it.

 

@504640 I bought a speedway mount, looks like it will be fine with a little trimming. I have pics from olscrounger in my inbox of a frame battery mount.

 

I might trim it a little around the mounting points, but other than that it'll work fine. I'll put jumper access points on the inner fender under the hood for easy access.


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Thanks for the post, Dan. I can see you will have plenty of room with the skinny tires. How wide of a rim do you have the 500/525,s mounted on? The under hood jumper access points is a great idea. Can you give me a part number for the right hand rear dump ramhorn you have mounted on the drivers side for steering box clearance? I check my gearing. I, too, have the 378.s. so I'll be going for a 31 inch tall tire also. Thanks for the help, Richard

 

Here's the part number in the pic. There are probably several part numbers for these. They came originally on 67-72 Chevy trucks as well as early Novas right side. I would've liked to have one without the air pump ports, but it was free. You don't absolutely need one if these, weedeater streetrods makes a pipe that snakes around the box for a regular center dump manifolds, and of course block hugger headers will work too. I wanted to do it this way because that was the 'back in the day' solution to this problem. I'm not a hardcore trad guy, but I like little details like this. @504640

Also, the wheels are stock 40-48 16x4. In retrospect I might should've bought a 550 tire for the front. But I won't know that for sure until it's all together.


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Just a thinking out loud here, but what if you hit some road trash or had a blow out? Would it take out the battery?

 

@Roothawg It's hard to tell from the angle of this pic, but the tray is several inches above the scrub line. I guess flapping rubber could be a problem. It might end up the the trunk.


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Dan--batt mount looks good. I found that if not mounted right, tire would hit on hard right turn. I also make a piece that goes on the front of the batt box and covers it up to the inner fender panel then cut the orig splash shield and attach to the box--mine is above scrub line. Last 3 40's have used a batt box we made. I have not used a Mr40 since they went to stainless at a higher price. The battery I use is shorter than normal-get it from Napa-may have sent you the number-Want a pic of Under fender??-let me know.
Have also used a stock 40 batt box under the hood on a few-raised it up and used the same batt mentioned above with a hotronics kill switch on the underside of the box-works but a little tight.

 

olscrounger I would like to see some pictures of your inner fender battery box and splash shield combo. I have always run a trunk mounted battery in my cars but if one can be mounted safely and somewhat conveniently in this forward location I would consider it.

 

@olscrounger You've already sent me a bunch of pics of your under picture battery mount, they're very helpful thanks!


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I did the mount in the fender as well on mine. After Tim recommended it too. I used the same box from Speedway but shortened it by cutting a couple inches out of it and welding it back together. It works very well no tire rub or any other problems.

 

Sounds like you have plenty of tried and true experience here, so I say go for it. Also, if you still need some exhaust manifold coating, let me know.

 

Yeah, I'll have to remember to bring them up with me next time I'm up your way... I have no confidence in the VHT.

 

@Russco What are the dimensions of the battery you used? Or better yet, do you have a part #?

 

Dan --I think I sent you a napa number for the one I use--it is shorter that most in height and length too-can get with terminals std or reversed. Have done many with this size battery.
Looked at your pic again--the battery mentioned is short enough to go under the body piece that protrudes out above the frame.

 

Been busy running brake lines. I'm using a 68 mustang drum drum master cylinder (built in residual valves) with a Chassis Engineering adapter. I also got a better trans that has been recently rebuilt from my uncle.. Switched that out with the original trans from this car since it's an unknown (#'s on the title match the trans #'s) I also ran rear brake lines, installed Drake shock mounts, spring and Tardel 2" shackles. I can't wait to put this back in the car to free up garage floor space and to see how it will sit in the rear.





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If you are not happy with the air injector port "hex heads" sticking out just remove them & put in 1/8" pipe plugs, cut them flush with the manifold, stake around the O.D. of the plug, grind them off a little and they will hardly be noticed especially with the inner fender aprons in place this is no a close up but that manifold did have the ports in them but I ground them smooth & used Eastwood high temp SS spray ly be noticeable

 

Dan great work on the 40! You're getting really close. I see you know Gene. He's a great guy with a lot of knowledge!

 

Early Chevelle exaust manifolds clear stock 40 steering box also they dump behind steering box. I have had them on my 40 since the late 60's never had a problem.

 

I got some cash for Christmas, decided to buy a grille. This is not a Drake grille, but the center piece, chin and upper support are Drake items. The side pieces are stamped and welded together. There is an Argentina stamp on the top, but these are nicer than other Argentina repos that I've seen. And, they bolt up nicely to Drake/stock chin, support and center piece. A guy from Kentucky sells these on eBay a lot cheaper than a Drake grille. For the price, I'm happy with it. My only complaint is that you can see that the back support brace is running uphill on the driver's side, but that can be easily fixed.




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Nice. It's one piece at a time…...