I'm looking at two different 39 ford convertible sedans with some serious rust issues. Either one will be a real chore to bring back. I hate to take a cs out of circulation, but what if I use a Wescott Automotive steel 39 convertible coupe body instead. Might have less work but a more valuable car. I have a good frame and decent front cap assembly from the cs. Couple of questions: Are coupe front clips the same as sedan front clips? Would I actually be looking at more trouble making this conversion? I'd appreciate any thoughts.
are you talking 4 door sedan convert? we fixed one 20 years ago using the bottom half of a reg 4 door sedan tk
I believe that the cowl section for both CS and CC are the same. I have a Wescott bodied convertible (they are all steel reinforced fiberglass) Although they are of high quality (mine has been on the road since 1990) they are not cheap. If you want to go the convertible coupe route they could make you one. I have a CS sedan project car. They are hard to come by,especially not rusted out. I will be installing a new floor and the the quarter panels at the back doors are in need of rust repair. The convertible sedan body style is not the most popular of the 39 Fords but I like it.
It is a huge undertaking no matter what way you do it. Here is a forty convertible that had been put on a 4 door sedan floor pan and the bottom 9" had been repaired poorly. It ended up with one side of the cowl replaced, the entire floor. both quarters, both door skins rockers and the tail pan. I saved the door posts and the area around the top to the trunk. Watch your door gaps and squareness of the body. I had to use coupe quarters and cut them down to fit. I would not want to do that job again. If you don't have the skills or the patience I would pass on it.
Thanks for the relies. Haven't purchased the car, thinking about it and the options available. I'm not old but definitely at the age where I have to evaluate whether I take on projects and what projects they will be. Still have a great 41 ford pickup and 67 mustang to enjoy.
Prone to rust out? My 39 CS was from New York state. It had rust at the junction between the top cowl section and the lower cowl section. My experience with 40 coupe and the the 39 is that the cowl sections tend to be damaged from wrecks our the previous installation of antennas. Convertibles are just prone to have serious rust issues due to the tops rotting away during decades of outside or leaky shed storage. 55Willys had some good advice there and might I add did a beautiful job on that 40 convertible!
I'm reading your posts for the 40 coupe now. I would love to see your CS restoration work. The coupe is a beaut. I like your encouraging words: "Thankyou okiedokie,I hope that the post helps some fellow HAMBER have the confidence to give such a project a try in the future. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/a-40-ford-coupe-for-uncle-mike-build-thread.949053/ THE 39 GUY, OCT 30, 2014"
My convertible sedan project should get underway sometime in 2016. I will probably do a thread on the build. Thanks for the compliments on the 40 coupe. I hope you enjoy reading it and possibly get inspired to to take on one of those 39 Sedan Convertibles.
Even if the convt sedan is rusted it would be a shame to cut it up. Someone out there could bring it back to life if you dont have the talent.
Update on the vehicle. I looked at it this morning and it has bondo on every single panel with very little metal showing. I judged it beyond my skill for resto and passed.
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