1940 Ford V8-60 Conversion to 85hp Build

[ctaulbert]

Hopefully, this isn't too much of a hot rod for the Ford Barn.....if so, I apologize in advance.

We picked up this V8-60 powered '40 standard tudor from Dick Spadaro late last year. The car is completely original, except for a repaint on the fenders sometime in the '70s. The odometer showed shy of 53,000 miles, probably due to the V8-60 and 4.44 R&P combination. The cool part about it was that the car was owned by the same family from new, until 2007. It was purchased from Wharton Motors in Lebanon, OH.

Here are some pictures from how it arrived from Dick:

[ctaulbert]

I had Eaton Detroit Spring dearch the springs to help lower the car. I also swapped the tube axle up front for a dropped tube axle that was slightly narrower to prevent tire rubbing during turns (plus I'm saving the tube axle for a future project). I added Chassis Engineering's shock and anti-roll bar kit to the front.

For the rear, I pulled the entire axle out for a Columbia unit I purchased. It ironically came from '40 tudor sedan that was modernized. I opened up the trans and did an inspection, which everything looked good. Before sliding the axle under the car, I put one of Danny Burrough's torque tube seals on it.

The V8-60 engine came out and was replaced with a H&H built 284 cubic inch stroker motor. It's covered in Navarro speed equipment, and is fed by three English strombergs.

[ctaulbert]

Here's the car finished up. I've got about 100 miles on it last week after getting it road worthy. Everything seems to be working great. I hope to get some more shakedown miles on it, because we're setting out for a roadtrip to Austin, TX next month in the car.

[black forty]

You did alright! now get ready for miles of smiles!!

[~~Walts37~~]

WoW very nice ride indeed ya done good
~~Walts37~~

[3738]

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Very nice.

So who gets that V8-60 ?

[ctaulbert]

Originally Posted by 3738

Very nice.

So who gets that V8-60 ?

It went to a guy near Madison, WI....I believe that it's going to be powering a motorcycle now.

[russcc]

Don't miss the moonshine festival with that rig. They will love it there in Dawsonville.

[Russ/40]

Wow, that was a real time capsule you started with. Love the end result.

[skidmarks]

Did it come with the 60hp rims? Or did they get swapped before the purchase?

[ctaulbert]

Originally Posted by skidmarks

Did it come with the 60hp rims? Or did they get swapped before the purchase?

It still had the tube axle, and 3 1/2" wide wheels (which are still on the car).

[Bassman/NZ]

Ya did good!

[nobey]

Thats a nice little Ford, bet it sounds gooooooood.

[296 V8]

Nice 40 ... well done Cory

[ctaulbert]

Originally Posted by nobey

Thats a nice little Ford, bet it sounds gooooooood.

Here's a link to a youtube video of the car running a coupe weeks back. It's actually pretty quiet inside the car, but has a nice sounds outside.....

http://youtu.be/KHPjxj-JZXo

Originally Posted by 296 V8

Nice 40 ... well done Cory

Thanks Greg - I'll be sending the tube axle that came out of the car your way this summer.

[mike42]

Hey Cory sweet ride ! Nice work for sure. What do you think of the front shock conversion kit ? Had to install and do you see a ride difference ?

Your old seats look like mine. Where did you get the wild seat covers ?

Your ride looks nice.

Thx......Mike

[Mart]

Nice job - the mods make it really usable.

Plus your V8 steering wheel badge is the right way up!

Mart.

[skidmarks]

Originally Posted by ctaulbert

It still had the tube axle, and 3 1/2" wide wheels (which are still on the car).

Cool they didn't get picked off like a lot of pieces do

The tube axle is interesting because most people think they were 37 only. I have one that came out of a 39 coupe. But the original 37 60hp sedan I got has a I beam axle. Not to say things get changed over the years.

Cool car and I perfer the way it looks now

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Beautifull car Cory. Did you use the Scat 4-1/8 stroker crank. If so how hard was it to balance with you pistons and rods? I used a 4in. Scat a couple of yr's ago and it was almost impossable to balance. Walt

[joel]

How could you not enjoy that? great job!

[ctaulbert]

Originally Posted by mike42

Hey Cory sweet ride ! Nice work for sure. What do you think of the front shock conversion kit ? Had to install and do you see a ride difference ?

Your old seats look like mine. Where did you get the wild seat covers ?

Your ride looks nice.

Thx......Mike

The front shock kit is all bolt on, so it was a piece of cake to install. The rear kit is a little harder since there isn't a bolt on lower shock mount.....I'm not considering the stock Ford bolt on mount, since it lays the shock over at a pretty big angle. My Columbia had lower shock mounts, similar to a P&J weld on mount, already on the tube. Luckily, the spacing worked out well so I could use them.

But to sum it up, the car rides great with the tube shocks.

Also, the '40 had a plaid seat cover on the rear seat when we got it. I pulled the cover, and the mohair is perfect under it (it must've been put on when the car was near new). The front seat wasn't covered, and had a split where the driver sits. I thought about getting a LeBaron Bonney cover for the front, but was concerned it wouldn't entirely match the color and pattern of the original rear. I found a thread over on the HAMB about plaid covers that led me to Ken Weinstein at 716-689-6888. He has 1000's of original covers, so I got a matching pair to put on the seats.

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

Beautifull car Cory. Did you use the Scat 4-1/8 stroker crank. If so how hard was it to balance with you pistons and rods? I used a 4in. Scat a couple of yr's ago and it was almost impossable to balance. Walt

This is my second 4 1/8" stroker motor from H&H with the Scat crank. Mike hasn't had balance issues with the cranks he's been receiving, but I know he checks the rotating assembly balance on all of his motors.

[NealinCA]

Looks and sounds great Cory...any CA trips planned this year?

Neal

[Ol' Ron]

Really nice sound. I'm working on a 294 with 3 97's and tuning for mileage. I'll post what I find out. Beautiful car.
The 40 is one of my favorites.
Well done.

[LuckyFordGuy]

Looks nice great little looking ford Rog. Mn

[Joe AZ]

Awesome job.......thanks for posting.
Joe

[ctaulbert]

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Originally Posted by NealinCA

Looks and sounds great Cory...any CA trips planned this year?

Neal

I don't think we have anything planned in CA this year Neal...though I'd like to. I do have a week of vacation set aside just in case the opportunity comes up.

[mike42]

Cory thx for the info. Great stuff for sure.

Ike

[Henry/Kokomo]

Great looking - and sounding - ride. Loved the "1940's correct" wire lacing. Didn't know you could still get lacing twine. Enjoy!!!

[lynnb]

Cory, very nice car. I am getting ready to do a similar swap in my 31 Tudor. Wanted to keep it simple, but after seeing your engine, mouth started watering. Would it be rude to ask ballpark what that whole conversion cost approximately, and how much did you do yourself? Thanks!

[hotcoupe]

that is a good way to assemble a wiring harness, especially if done correctly. there is a lot of good information here http://www.dairiki.org/hammond/cable-lacing-howto/
hope this helps.
tom

[Henry/Kokomo]

hotcoupe - Interesting article. I spent a number of years with the Bell System and had the opportunity to see lots of beautifully laced wire. If I could find a source of waxed lacing twine, I'd be really tempted to re-do my under hood wiring that way.

[ctaulbert]

Originally Posted by lynnb

Cory, very nice car. I am getting ready to do a similar swap in my 31 Tudor. Wanted to keep it simple, but after seeing your engine, mouth started watering. Would it be rude to ask ballpark what that whole conversion cost approximately, and how much did you do yourself? Thanks!

If you're just asking about the engine, H&H charges around $9,500 for a complete 284 stroker motor (complete from starter to carbs). Of course, less radical motors are less. I think their stock rebuilds are around $5,000. This is my second 284 stroker motor, and love the performance of it. We put 6,000 miles on our roadster last summer without a hitch.

Originally Posted by Henry/Kokomo

hotcoupe - Interesting article. I spent a number of years with the Bell System and had the opportunity to see lots of beautifully laced wire. If I could find a source of waxed lacing twine, I'd be really tempted to re-do my under hood wiring that way.

Henry - I get the waxed lacing string from Restoration Supply Company. I prefer the Ivory color, but they have some other options.

[hotcoupe]

henry/kokmo and others, lots of very INTERESTING reading and source of lacing string and supplies here: http://www.tessco.com/yts/resourcece...lacing-FAQ.pdf

[ctaulbert]

I had a driveshaft bearing develop some play (and vibration) a couple weeks ago, so I picked up a new middle bearing and front bearing from Spadaro and just finished up the replacement last week. While I had the car in the air, I got the ride height down about another inch....and I'm pretty happy where it sits now (and rides great).

[V8COOPMAN]

Somehow, I haven't heard whether or not the car made the trip to The Round-up and back. Really like that sedan! DD

[ctaulbert]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Somehow, I haven't heard whether or not the car made the trip to The Round-up and back. Really like that sedan! DD

It didn't make it. The Friday before we left, I was driving the car all day (in an attempt to get more shakedown miles on it) when the driveshaft bearing/vibration issue developed. We didn't have time to get it repaired in time, so we took our roadster down instead.

Looks like the '40 will make it for next year....

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by ctaulbert

It didn't make it. The Friday before we left, I was driving the car all day (in an attempt to get more shakedown miles on it) when the driveshaft bearing/vibration issue developed. We didn't have time to get it repaired in time, so we took our roadster down instead.

Looks like the '40 will make it for next year....

Well, the roadster ain't too shabby either, especially for a back-up ride. Shtuff happens! Good you caught the bearing on home turf rather than the alternative...you tried hard! DD