Saving a '40 Coupe, and moving beyond a bad start

Nice job on the trunk corner!

My body is away for some paint corrections this week so I can't help with the requested measurements until next week. If you use the measurement you have requested the measurements you receive may vary a little since you show the arrow at the stainless trim line rather than the actual crease or body line.
I realize getting an accurate measurement at the body line near the trunk might be difficult though. Someone may have to borrow their wife's sewing type soft measuring tape.....

Thanks for the positive comments on my thread too!

Sam

 

Using the body crease instead of trim marking [I used 39 trim on my 40] and using a string for lack of a seamstress tape I get 30" at the front and 29 1/2 " in the back. I measured the back at the rearmost point before fender attachment. Don't know how much help that is.

 

Whether okiedokies tips help you or not you should see his car. The 39 trim is killer on it ! After seeing it I wouldn't have one any other way.

 

Looking good, way to turn it around, the pink 4 door was a surprise.

 

The string is a good idea okiedokie.

 

Thanks for the nice compliment. Hope the measurement helped.

 

Okie... the measurements are very helpful!!! Thanks! Starting on it tonight! Hard to imagine what the body might have looked like w/o help from you all, ...since it would've been the results of a lot of guesses.

Is the 39 trim smooth/wider as opposed to the ribbed 40 trim?

 

39 trim is smoother and slightly narrower than the ribbed 40 trim. Watched a friend install trim on is 39 and the light bulb lit up. It only works on a 40 std though because of the 40 deluxe hood difference. I was tired of cleaning wax out of grooves of 40 trim in the past. The 40 Tudor I am building will be deluxe so back to the toothbrush removing wax residue. I really like the look of the 39 trim best.

 

Henry is smilin'.

 

I cant help you with real measurements, but I have a 10 ft tape measure that is only 1/4 inch wide that I carry in my pocket. It is very flexible and comes in handy for taking these type measurements, and has more graduations than a cloth type tape would. I got started with it by measuring the "rollout" of tires checking for stagger. The first one I bought from Hoosier because I thought it was something special, but after I wore the numbers off the first inch or so, I discovered you can buy them at Home Depot etc. The one I have currently is made by Stanley, but I have had Lufkins also. Like following your build,Good Luck!

 

Okie...is '40 standard and deluxe trim identical? (I've read the hood trim is different?

 

another round of questions: with pictures!

 

Your trunk lid problem actually looks like a rear body problem. The pics make it look like the rear quarter is pushed inward right above the fender.

Solution might be as simple as a little slide-hammer action on the gutter, pulling it outward. Or maybe a combo of that and some work on the lid.

As for the patch panel, I have never seen one that fit "exact". They all need a little massaging. Just use the panel stretcher.

 

Pat
I can offer NOTHING in the way of help.
I can, however, tell you that you have tackled an extremely ambitious project and done an absolutely fabulous job.
Your talent amazes me.
I'm great at engineering stuff, but could never do anything like you are doing.
WELL DONE.
Wish I could see it in person.
Sorry about the initial problem with the seller.
Regards
Jim

 

I agree w/ alchemy about the rear body.

 

Measurement needed on the bottom edge of the qtrs, how long is it on an original car... ? Need to make sure I don't have to shift the running boards fore or aft to meet the rear fenders, which in turn shift the location of the front fenders which then would affect the hood alignment. And from what I've read here aligning the sheet metal on a '39 or '40 is tough enough w/o building in bad alignments/measurements...

... these measurements exist no where else and you guys have helped me bring this pile back to life. It will never be a queen, but I am going to have fun with it!


GOT THE LENGTH! 23 1/2 inches on an original car, the repair panel measured 23 1/8, 3/8 of an inch can be quite a lot when it comes time to aligning sheet metal. Add 3/8" to any body gap and it's very noticeable.

 

qrtrs are in!

Got my engine back from Walt's
and mated it to the 4x4 t5 and the speedway & crazydaddy-o adapters...

from pump pulley to torque-tube bell fittings is 58 inches....

Pic 1 the engine and trans...Pic 2 the hole it all fits into!

,

 

Man that sure looks long....and I thought my OD 3 speed was long...So is that supposed to fit up to your stock style closed drive line?

 

That's no shit!!

 

It now fits the torque tube, but the tube and drive shaft were shortened 12 inches. I'll take better pics of it all when I take the body back off of the frame to do the underneath floor welding and grinding.

Here are a few early pictures of the set-up... with the frame mods .

 

I don't know how I missed your question. 40 std hood side trim is shorter than deluxe which is why the 39 side trim works on a 40 std hood. I sure am in envy of your skills man, gonna be a great 40.

 

Thanks for the pictures. That trans install did require some serious modifications, but worth it in the long run!

 

trial fit ! It goes in quite easy..... without front sheet metal or radiator! If I have trans issues after it's all together it might be quite a different story.

I'll make the floor tunnel over the trans removable, and the bottom of the x-member unbolts, but I still think it's going to be a challenge on the completed car.. will likely have to split the trans and motor in the car and take them out separately.

Also; the floor tunnel will be wider than stock but about the same height, I was worried about the stock front seat not fitting over it but it looks good so far.

The mercury oil pan couldn't fit any better!

 

That nice little flatty should not be able to brake your trans so you will probably not have to worry about removing it anytime soon. You are doing a great job on your coupe and moving right along. Thanks for the updates.

 

ALL of the floors are almost done... phew....

 

Nice job on the floor panels ! The text size on the pictures is kind of small for my old eyes. I don't know what program you are using to insert the text in the photos but the one I used to use would allow you use a larger text so that when you reduced the photo size for publication the text could would be large enough to read.

Yes those bead rollers are fun to play with. I just can't find enough excuses to use mine.

 

Thanks, I will increase the font size next time...

 

Brief update! The body and frame are separated again, the brakes lines run, the gas line run (almost to the carb, I'll put the body back on and then finish it). Still need to seal the floor and drip rail seams. Right now I'm waiting for the exhaust to come before I put the body back on... I just figure it's easier for this old man to add the exhaust standing up rather than the dozens of times I'd have to crawl underneath it and get back to my feet, I'm only 60 but I feel it more and more! I went with the checkerboard firewall again, it's what happens when you wait for parts, you find something else to do, anyways... I figured it'd make a nice background for the black engine...

I also added a picture of my recent purchase (aka: illness) a '47 coe, I think I'll name it "Rusty". That's Dave in the picture, the seller...

 

And here's a pic of what my garage usually looks like... just before it pisses me off so bad I have to stop and clean it just so I can find stuff and walk around! My poor '31 is covered in '40 dust and smootz!

 

Thanks for the update! I can see you have been busy as usual. I know only a very few guys that can keep a an uncluttered shop while they are building a car (I am not one of them) Most super clean shops are actually parking garages.

That transmission install sure looks nice. That COE should make for a fun project. I would like to build one but probably never will. Hope your exhaust drops right into place.