I found a picture of a '40 top frame half way down but it is different. 40 was the first year for a hyd opperated top and the front header is a solid piece like you would espect to see. I may have an original Ford parts manual for this car. I'll look today. Tom
Yes, the front header is wood, `37 to `39 worked just like you have said. In `40 they went to what we see today, the top folding back.
The body manual I have only goes back to 1944 so no picture. Sorry. I have ch***is/engine and front sheet metal, grilles lights ect. back to 1938 if you would need any pictures in those areas though.
Yoy can buy new wood bows. The top does fold in to the center there should be a knurled knob over each door gl***, loosen these and pull the top in toward the center of the seat. It is better if someone helps. I noticed it has one '40 Deluxe headlight and the other is original. I have some pics of my top braces if you would like to see them. It has been my life lonf ambition to come across a barn find, I'm 64 so I guess I had better hurry the hell up.
I keep looki ng at the top irons and i can't figure out why they cut them off at the front and put those pieces of angle on the ends. I don't see any evidence of the original hold downs over the windshield. The top well is completely gone. Maybe the top did not go into the well. This might explain why the boot snaps are so far back. I am curious.
Butch/1 - thanks for the info. This top has had some tack welding on the pivots to have it always be up. I just looked at the center pivot over the seat and I saw where the hinge is threaded for that knob. I want to make the top functional again, so I'll need to pick up a header board and the hinges that attach to it. Do you know the place that has the wood? The car came with '40 headlights, but I plan on putting '39s back in it. That one bucket is actually a '37 I had laying around, so it's not the right shape for the deluxe opening.
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