Mary's 40 Ford Coupe

oletrux4evr · Street Rod Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 1063 Location: KS

I found this car in a junkyard in western Kansas where it had been picked clean for untold years. I’d wanted to build one, and the price was right, so we took the trailer back out there and brought it home. The body is solid, except for some metal thinning on the passenger door and the trunk deck. The belly is very good, as is the frame.

Mary will be the owner of this coupe. She has been a great partner in all that I’ve done for years and years, and was alot of help while I was building 'Earl', so this is a little payback.

I have a ZZ4 383 (425hp) for it, and plan to put a stout 350 or 400 tranny behind it. The choice of tranny is not firm……the rear is a Ford 9" posi (trac-loc).

. I am looking forward to your comments and advice during the build.
Ed.

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Garage cleaning....gas powered leaf blowers aren't just for the yard anymore......

Novacaine · Kamakasi Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 7988 Location: texas

super cool.

hope to see more pics of progress...
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“Of course I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong.”

spidergearsman · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:14 pm Post subject:

DUH , YOU SHOULD 'FLATHEAD' IT - AS THEY LOOK OH SO SUPER COOL !
[yet run so crappy ]sarcasm
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G. Allen Pearson · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: Mary's 40 Ford Coupe

JOES66FURY · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:34 pm Post subject:

I have to agree...the chevy engine is not the way to go with a 40 Ford. It is without question one of the most beautiful cars ever made IMO and I think it deserves a ford power plant.......did you happen to score the front fenders and such too? If not are you lookng for steel replacments or fiberglass? Can't wait to see this project move forward...good luck
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The Toad · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject:

ZZ TOp esque paint
one of those Supercharged, aluminum flatheads
http://www.uncommonengineering.com/
and a Muncie M22
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"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
1981 AMC Eagle Kammback Iron Duke
1983 AMC Eagle Wagon 258
1976 AMF Crestliner Crusader 770 135HP Johnson 2 Stroke V4
1984 Honda V65 Saber VF1100
1995 Ford F150 XLT 302

bowtie6872 · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject: Re: Mary's 40 Ford Coupe

Oldsrocket27 · Roller Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 400

i've always wanted to take one of those, and shorten the rear by 6-10 inches, but leave the big bubbly fenders the same length, and have them round over completely in the back and come back to meet the body (if that makes sense) to give it real spacey-look and get rid of that long, stretching end to it. than jack the back up a bit, and drop in either a 289 (or maybe a lincoln v12) or an old buick straight-8, just for the strange factor. three-speed and 9-inch are a must. Very Happy

oletrux4evr · Street Rod Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 1063 Location: KS

Originally I had planned a blown flattie for it, but the cost is pretty high. Then I thought "Ford in a Ford", so a nice 351+ would do. Then my son agreed that his Camaro was cheaper to replace than rebuild, so I ended up with the 383 with no place to put it........the '55 could use it just fine, but I'm not sure if I want to give up the mileage I get with the 355. There may be a 5-speed for the truck in the future but I can't afford to buy that, along with building a nice flattie or Windsor for the 40........decisions, decisions....... Smile

Nothing is welded up yet, so I can still change the plan. Thanks for the input so far. More photos later.

Joe, I did score on a pair of nice fenders and a louvered Deluxe hood! Another guy had a spare set on hand in case his car got hit. I really like the louvers, but I personally prefer the Standard grill over the Deluxe. May have to make a swap then do new louvers.

Ed.
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Garage cleaning....gas powered leaf blowers aren't just for the yard anymore......

JOES66FURY · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:18 am Post subject:

Man, an all steel 40 ford.....what a beautiful thought,red steelies and moons on fat whites and a mile deep black paint and a little roll and tuck...drooool....hell any 40 ford gets me going they are just as sexy stock as they are hot rodded.......a small ford with the right vintage speed parts would be perfect.....you ain't gotta go fast in a fat 40.......man do I envy you right now.....and its pretty rust free ...lucky....I don't have what it takes to take on something like that.....that god for guys that can
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spidergearsman · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject:

every old ford I ever worked on had a small block chevrolet in it
it is a fine tradition
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bowtie6872 · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

I'd like to do a 33 vicky..
with a ecotech turbod 4cyl/stick
it be fast enough on the street..
and different..

i think if he has an engine thats payed for..
use it...

Novacaine · Kamakasi Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 7988 Location: texas

paint FORD on the valve covers.

chop it? channel it? nose it? deck it?

whatever you do, build it quick so you can DRIVE IT!
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“Of course I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong.”

oletrux4evr · Street Rod Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 1063 Location: KS

When I brought the coupe home, I got the frame out from under it and sent it to the sandblaster. I plan on POR-15 for it, with a topcoat of chassis black.
Since I don't have a complete car to work with, I'm going with a bolt-in IFS and rear parallel leaf setup from Chassis Engineering. That will let me bolt it up temporarily, reassemble the car and check wheel centering and other measurements, disassemble the car again, then finish bolting/welding everything in place. Cost is very comparable to a weld-in kit, so I'm happy with that and the flexibility it allows.

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Garage cleaning....gas powered leaf blowers aren't just for the yard anymore......

TransAmLvr · I'm sPesHul Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 8885 Location: VA

Nice project car, man! Sounds like it's going to be bad ass when you're done. Cool

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"The end is never as satisfying as the journey. To have achieved everything but to have done so without integrity and excitement is to have achieved nothing."- unknown