1942 Ford deluxe coupe project

[1942deluxe]

drgoetz, I knew Henry's last car was a 1942 with a 1946 front clip installed. It is not displayed at the Henry Ford but my understanding is they still have it. If you can post a picture of your 42 convertible. We love pictures! The son of the family that owned the dealership in Iowa I bought said he had a new 1942 convertible before he left for WW II. He sent me a picture of his Dad's 42 Mercury demonstrator.

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
update:
John replaced the broken knob on the fresh air cowl vent handle:


Also he replaced the dark gear shift knob with a new buterscotch version:


He also has new rubber for the 42!


Awesome!


Regards,
Chris

[SoCalCoupe]

Originally Posted by sugarmaker

He also has new rubber for the 42!

Awesome!


Regards,
Chris

Those are some styling new tires! Didn't see that coming.

[Mart]

Handsome!

[1942deluxe]

When I started the project, I actually was leaning toward black walls. The wide whites do give it some bling though!

[STEVE O]

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I love those whites! I enjoy every part of your and Chris's restorations progress. Steve

[1942deluxe]

Thanks, Steve, Mart and SoCalCoupe. When I started the car was probably on the borderline of being a parts car, but I felt it deserved better than that. The next steps
are glass and upholstery and to me it will be a pretty viable car then.

[Seth Swoboda]

What brand of tire did you go with? Are they radials or bia ply?

[1942deluxe]

Seth, Coker bias ply tires. Last fall I put a set on my 48 business coupe and they seemed pretty decent. The set on there were my old ones from the 48. They were Columbia brand which I think were made in the 70's. Two of them were worn to the wear bars. The Cokers have a 3" white wall where everything else had a wider whitewall in bias ply tires. Did I read you have a 46 3 passenger coupe and a 47 tudor? Post some pictures if you get time.

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
update:
John is in the process of adding rear bumper guards to his 42. One was installed this afternoon with some adjustments to get it and the bumper better aligned and plumb.


John also got to do some welding, which he said he had not done for many years.
The other bumper guard is in a local chrome shop.


He said the car came from the factory with bumper guards front and rear. These were not in place when he bought the car many years ago. They are going to look good!
Regards,
Chris

[sugarmaker]

Folks.
John has been busy with his 42 Ford. Local glass shop worked his majic on the windows and John did have to take them back and slightly reduced the glass in size to work in the doors:



John has also contracted with local upholstery shop to complete the interior work also.








The door panels:


The wiper arms and blades look awesome!


John picked up another rear fender and a rim for the spare tire also.

Regards,
Chris

[Seth Swoboda]

I'm especially looking forward to the interior work.

[1942deluxe]

Me too, Seth. The material I wanted was backordered for 8 months before I gave up on it. Ended up with something I think will look good but not as original as I hoped. The glass was from Sanders and we ended up having to take 3/16ths off the end. I'm guessing the windshield will need to be modified also. My wife questioned how many fenders I have for the car. She said with the last one you bought I think you have five. I had to think for a minute but I have 5 NOS and one used. I hope she's not doing inventory for the auction after I'm gone!

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Some shots of the 42 Ford John is working on. Here the second bumper guard is installed on the passengers side:




The new package tray starts to take shape, using the old parts as a pattern and he made a cardboard prototype to finish the profile:


The original front cross board is sanded and restained:


Regards,
Chris

[SoCalCoupe]

...

[SoCalCoupe]

Originally Posted by sugarmaker

The new package tray starts to take shape, using the old parts as a pattern and he made a cardboard prototype to finish the profile:
The original front cross board is sanded and restained:

Regards,
Chris

Y'all are doing great; this is my favorite FordBarn project. Please don't take this as a criticism; you're doing everything the way I would do it. Looks like your package shelf is plywood. Don't think there was such a thing as plywood in 1942. Who cares? Right? But the most annoying squeak in my '41 business coupe is the plywood package shelf.


Been under the seat a couple of times to fix it by tightening the screws but it's insufferable after about 60 seconds and the screws lose traction. Next trip under the seat I'll pre-drill the holes for some tapered wood screws. Maybe it will work; maybe it won't. If you guys figure out how to attach this plywood shelf with zero squeak and no upholstery protrusions, well, I'll buy you a Coke.


Brad

[1942deluxe]

SoCalCoupe, the original was tongue and groove and unfortunately warped very badly when the rear window was out for a number of years. The original screws came thru the top to the metal tabs. I had to take a sawzall to it to get it out. It was that tight. Almost an interference fit. The quality of tongue and groove wood I could find locally was horrible so I made the decision to go with plywood. Pepsi for me and Chris doesn't drink but his dog seems to drink a fair amount, ha! There was vinyl on the rear facing portion of the board going across. On my 48 business coupe the shelf is covered by vinyl which may or may not be correct. Probably how I'll go on the 42. By reading one of your other posts we are almost the same age and view these old Fords with the same appreciation.

[fortyonerag]

Loving this thread!

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Since the 42 is slightly stalled for upholstery and glass. What does a fella do? Sure pull a 46 four door out of the hat and start in on that! Go ahead ask him about the "next" project, in the mid 40's! I think it needs its own thread??
Regards,
Chris

[1942deluxe]

Not sure the 46 Fordor is thread worthy yet but maybe I can get Chris to post a few pictures of it for me. Super Deluxe that I bought in Champaign Illinois when I was working as a fire fighter at Willard Airport back in 1991. Sold it to my F.I.L. shortly after. He drove it for a few years and then parked it. Put a battery in and got all the lights working. Kroiled the cylinders and let them soak. Checked and verified I had power to the distributor then installed a Charlie NY rebuilt distributor. It fired up! Will have to see if the smoke clears up after I get the fuel system up to speed. Still a good feeling to have another flathead come back to life.