The Ford Barn

1939Deluxesedan · 06-20-2020, 03:43 PM

Hi everyone. I am Chris. I'm glad I found this board. I just recently acquired a 1939 Ford Deluxe convertible. I have hundreds of questions. First let me tell you about my 39. It appears to have had a body off restoration at some point. Someone put a lot of care and work. Then, like a red headed stepchild, it was abandoned. Left out in the weather for at least 20 years. It had a tarp over it. A good tarp, but still, its a convertible with no rag top! What a shame, but for me, its golden. I got a really good deal, but a lot of work ahead for me. Its my retirement project. Lots of rust, but with the exception of the trunk floor, pretty solid. I've got the steering to operate and greased. It was rusted in place. It has what I believe to be the original flat head V8. The 85hp. The motor was locked up, but with the help of lots of marvel mystery oil, and blaster, i was able to work it a little loose. Over a period of weeks I finally got complete rotation. Last weekend I was able to drop a battery in it and spin it over!
Some one has converted it to 12 volts. At least it had a 12 volt battery in it. Negative ground. I jumpered the solenoid to get it to turn over. The starter button doesn't seem to work. I read on here about a positive ground. When connected correctly, the fan should spin over in a clock wise fashion from the perspective of me facing the radiator? Right?
Where is the headlight switch? Mine has a vertically mounted switch over by the right side of the dash. It that it? Mine is frozen, and won't move. Someone installed a Mallory ignition. I hope it makes fire. Carburetor needs to be rebuilt/ I didn't see anyway to remove the gas tank. It looks like access is from the top, after the body is removed, so I plan to blow out the line and clean it as best I can, then put a good filter on the line. The brake master cylender cap could not be removed so I removed the master cylinder. Imagine my surprise when I got it out in the sun it says "Lockheed" on the side. I read this was the first year for hydraulic brakes, and the Lockheed aircraft helped with the design. Maybe mine in original. The piston is frozen in place. I think I'll just put a replacement. My priorities are to get the engine to run. Get the brakes to work, and take her for a spin!
Jumping ahead, the convertible top seems a big concern. Most of the frame is there. The bows are about rotten. I have the glass window from the original. I'm looking at restored 39;s on youtube. there's a piece that fits between the front and back glass, about 6 inches wide that goes from the door top to where the convertible top starts. I think its removable. May be called a pillar post. I don't have one. I can't find one, or even a picture of one. There is a support rod that supports the rag top. Is it partof that assembly? I don't have the post or the rods, and can't find any info on it.
So I got some serious work ahead. That's okay. I have time. Not even retired yet. I put a few pictures up on my album and will post more when I figure out how to.
Sorry if this is a little long. Thanks for your time. Have a great father's day.

06-20-2020, 03:43 PM	#1
1939Deluxesedan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 49	New Member Hi everyone. I am Chris. I'm glad I found this board. I just recently acquired a 1939 Ford Deluxe convertible. I have hundreds of questions. First let me tell you about my 39. It appears to have had a body off restoration at some point. Someone put a lot of care and work. Then, like a red headed stepchild, it was abandoned. Left out in the weather for at least 20 years. It had a tarp over it. A good tarp, but still, its a convertible with no rag top! What a shame, but for me, its golden. I got a really good deal, but a lot of work ahead for me. Its my retirement project. Lots of rust, but with the exception of the trunk floor, pretty solid. I've got the steering to operate and greased. It was rusted in place. It has what I believe to be the original flat head V8. The 85hp. The motor was locked up, but with the help of lots of marvel mystery oil, and blaster, i was able to work it a little loose. Over a period of weeks I finally got complete rotation. Last weekend I was able to drop a battery in it and spin it over! Some one has converted it to 12 volts. At least it had a 12 volt battery in it. Negative ground. I jumpered the solenoid to get it to turn over. The starter button doesn't seem to work. I read on here about a positive ground. When connected correctly, the fan should spin over in a clock wise fashion from the perspective of me facing the radiator? Right? Where is the headlight switch? Mine has a vertically mounted switch over by the right side of the dash. It that it? Mine is frozen, and won't move. Someone installed a Mallory ignition. I hope it makes fire. Carburetor needs to be rebuilt/ I didn't see anyway to remove the gas tank. It looks like access is from the top, after the body is removed, so I plan to blow out the line and clean it as best I can, then put a good filter on the line. The brake master cylender cap could not be removed so I removed the master cylinder. Imagine my surprise when I got it out in the sun it says "Lockheed" on the side. I read this was the first year for hydraulic brakes, and the Lockheed aircraft helped with the design. Maybe mine in original. The piston is frozen in place. I think I'll just put a replacement. My priorities are to get the engine to run. Get the brakes to work, and take her for a spin! Jumping ahead, the convertible top seems a big concern. Most of the frame is there. The bows are about rotten. I have the glass window from the original. I'm looking at restored 39;s on youtube. there's a piece that fits between the front and back glass, about 6 inches wide that goes from the door top to where the convertible top starts. I think its removable. May be called a pillar post. I don't have one. I can't find one, or even a picture of one. There is a support rod that supports the rag top. Is it partof that assembly? I don't have the post or the rods, and can't find any info on it. So I got some serious work ahead. That's okay. I have time. Not even retired yet. I put a few pictures up on my album and will post more when I figure out how to. Sorry if this is a little long. Thanks for your time. Have a great father's day.