| gwistrup | -- 12-10-2022 @ 3:19 PM |
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I may have the opportunity to obtain a 1939 Deluxe 4 door convertible that supposedly just needs assembly. The major components have been rebuilt and the body parts and frame have been painted. Most of the parts to complete the restoration have been purchased. I have not seen the car yet to confirm if this is true or not. What are the best resources for information on assembly? It sounds like I have a big puzzle to solve. I have never driven a vintage Ford before. What is its comfortable cruising speed? Would an overdrive unit be a good idea? Who would you recommend for purchasing parts? I would like to make this car as correct as possible within reason. Is there literature that has information on part numbers, colors, and fabrics? Thank you, Gil This message was edited by gwistrup on 12-10-22 @ 3:23 PM
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| trjford8 | -- 12-10-2022 @ 4:42 PM |
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Welcome to the Early Ford V-8 world. I'm assuming you have joined the Early Ford V-8 Club. If not then you should join to get the V-8 Times magazine. $35/year and it's a bargain. If you have already joined then we welcome you. First I would suggest you purchase the V-8 Club's 38-39 book which you can purchase from the On-Line Store. It will give you a lot of information to help with your potential restoration. In regards to cruising speed a comfortable speed, depending on the rear end ratio ,would be 55-60 MPH. There are overdrives for these cars. There is the Columbia rear end which is an authorized accessory for the 39 Ford and then there is the Mitch*ll overdrive which is an aftermarket OD. As for purchasing parts You can check the Links section of this site and there are many vendors who advertise in the V-8 Times magazine. The convertible sedan is a unique/rare Ford, so you want to make sure all the parts are there with the car. Things like complete top bows(metal and wood), the door garnish moldings, the correct seats, all the windows and window mechanisms, and if you are lucky maybe the prior owner has the upholstery kit and top kit. The frame and running gear are all standard to the passenger cars. Hopefully all the running gear has been rebuilt. Be sure to see if they have receipts for the work and also make sure there is the proper ownership documents that match with the frame number. The number can be located on the top left fame rail anywhere from the steering box mount to the front crossmember. Come back here with more questions if you need to ask them. This message was edited by trjford8 on 12-10-22 @ 4:44 PM
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| ford38v8 | -- 12-10-2022 @ 6:19 PM |
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Times 2 everything Tom (above) said. He's hit on every major consideration important to your potential purchase. Not quite as important, but worthy of consideration also, you are not purchasing a car, you are purchasing a basket of parts, valued at considerably less than a car. Alan
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| 1931 Flamingo | -- 12-11-2022 @ 7:02 AM |
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Good luck ! ! C&G Ford and/or 3rd Gen Auto for parts. Paul in CT
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| 3w2 | -- 12-11-2022 @ 10:42 AM |
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Good parts are becoming increasingly scarce and therefore more expensive. That is even more the case with parts unique to a single body type such as a convertible sedan. I would go further than those who have posted above and advise that unless you have had previous hands-on experience with a '39 convertible sedan, find a fellow hobbyist who has had that experience and arrange for a mutually convenient time for you both to thoroughly examine everything in person and in doing so make a list of what is missing or needs to be replaced. A '39 convertible sedan is very handsome car, perhaps the most handsome of any Ford of that body type (in my opinion), but putting one back together can be discouraging if you are missing too many unique parts.
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| CharlieStephens | -- 12-11-2022 @ 11:23 AM |
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Mr. gwistrup, The first thing you should do is put your general location in your profile. You never know how many comments/answers depend on your location. Talk with your local DMV about registering the car BEFORE you hand over any money. As soon as you buy the car GET IT INTO YOUR NAME! If there are any problems with the paperwork you want to know it BEFORE you invest any money. If you invest any money you will probably not get it back if it turns out that the car was stolen 2 owners back. Another benefit to getting the paperwork done immediately is that if anything goes bad you can still find the seller and he probably won't have spent your money on something else. When you register the car you state (again, where are you?) will probably tax it based on either the amount paid (keep the paperwork) or their estimate of its value. Their estimate of the cars value (hopefully) will be at the lowest when you first get it. In California (again, where are you?) you might consider using YOM (Year Of Manufacture) license plates. Also in California (again, where are you?) you can place the vehicle on "Non Operational" status and not pay annual fees until the car is finished and licensed for the road. Best of luck, I like the car. How about a few pictures? Charlie Stephens
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| roadster36 | -- 12-11-2022 @ 3:29 PM |
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Make sure you get all the hard parts that are for the convert only. I have done several '38,'39,and '40 converts and if you are missing parts they are hard to come by. Convertible top mechamisms, some interior parts, etc. are tough to find. When looking at a pile of parts it would be easy to not notice missing items. Good luck and have fun with it.
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| gwistrup | -- 12-11-2022 @ 4:23 PM |
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Thank you for the helpful information. I was hoping to be able to see the car this weekend but it didn't happen. Thank you for reminding me that a pile of parts has a different value form a running driving automobile. I hope the seller also understands that. I live in Central New York. I will post pictures when I finally can get to see the car. Gil
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| trjford8 | -- 12-12-2022 @ 7:31 AM |
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Many great V-8ers live in New York. If you had a club roster it would be easy to make contact to see if they might go with you to examine the car. A second set of eyes can see many things you may miss.
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| v8er | -- 12-12-2022 @ 7:54 AM |
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Your Private Message feature is disabled. Please activate Private Messages so that you can receive them.
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| gwistrup | -- 12-12-2022 @ 6:19 PM |
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I just figured out how to edit my profile. I have fixed it now. Thanks.
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| gwistrup | -- 12-18-2022 @ 12:10 PM |
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I finally had a chance to look at the 1939 Ford convertible sedan. It looks like the garage where it was stored was very damp and put surface rust on the suspension and driveline components. The body and the rest of the parts that were not on the floor look OK. Supposedly the rest of the parts to assemble the car are at the owners's house along with the registration and paperwork to put it back on the road. Now that I have a good idea of what is there and what needs to be done, I am excited to take on this project. There will be plenty of questions. Thanks, Gil
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| 1934 Ford | -- 12-27-2022 @ 1:40 PM |
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Looks like an interesting project. What comes into question was why was the chassis not painted before the body when it would have been easier? Looks like he did a nice job on the body though. The joy of completeting a project like that is wonderful, but it is a big job. Keep us posted, as we can enjoy your project along with you. Keep your V8 Times close by along with the 38-39 Restoration Book. Join you local V8 Region and make friends with other V8 guys. You an learn from other mistakes. Welcome to the Early Ford V8 world. 1934 Ford's since 1972
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| gwistrup | -- 12-29-2022 @ 11:35 AM |
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I was told that the body was not removed from the frame because he was worried that it would foul up all of the door gaps. The mechanicals were refurbished but none of the suspension was painted. If I do purchase this vehicle, I will clean up the frame the best I can and paint it with the body still attached. I will remove the suspension, clean it, and paint it. I have a lift so the frame cleaning and painting won't be too bad. I followed your advise and purchased the '38-'39 Ford book. After reading some of it, I have some more questions. What sheen of black is "Black Enamel"? Is it gloss, semi gloss, satin or flat black? What is equivalent to Air Dry Chassis Black Enamel? I would assume that there is information somewhere on paint codes from the main paint manufacturers such as PPG, Axalta, R&M, ect. for the interior colors such as Zephyr Beige, Oyster Gray, Leather Brown, etc. I hope I can work an acceptable deal to make this project happen. Thank you for help, Gil
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| RAK402 | -- 12-31-2022 @ 9:21 AM |
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I took my rear view mirror, which still had original Zephyr Beige on it (and in very good shape, under the mounting bracket, and had it matched at a local paint shop.
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| gwistrup | -- 12-31-2022 @ 10:24 AM |
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Good point. The cameras they have to match paint are very accurate if you have a good sample.
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| Jerry_Woods | -- 01-21-2023 @ 7:31 AM |
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There are several resources available for information on assembly of a 1939 Ford Deluxe 4 door convertible. One of the best places to start is with online forums dedicated to vintage Ford vehicles, where you can connect with experienced enthusiasts who can provide guidance and advice. The Ford Barn and the Ford V8 Forum are both popular options. Another good resource is the Ford Service Manual for the 1939 model year, which can be found online or purchased through a vintage car parts supplier. This manual will provide detailed instructions for assembly and maintenance of the car. The comfortable cruising speed for a 1939 Ford Deluxe 4 door convertible would likely be around 55-60 mph, depending on the condition of the engine and transmission. Adding an overdrive unit can increase the top speed and improve fuel efficiency, but it may not be an entirely period-correct addition. When it comes to purchasing parts, it is recommended to consult with a reputable vintage car parts supplier such as Mac's Antique Auto Parts, Snyders Antique Auto, or Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts. These companies specialize in supplying authentic and high-quality parts for classic Ford vehicles. There are several literature resources that can provide information on part numbers, colors, and fabrics for a 1939 Ford Deluxe 4 door convertible. The Ford Shop Manual, the Ford Body parts catalog, and the Ford Chassis parts catalog are all excellent sources of information. Additionally, you can refer to original Ford factory assembly manuals, which can be found online or purchased through a vintage car parts supplier.
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| gwistrup | -- 01-22-2023 @ 1:50 PM |
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I had a chance to go back to visit the car yesterday and look through the boxes of parts. I have located about 60% of the items needed to put it together. I was also encouraged to find out that the engine turns over smoothly and it has been rebuilt with no run time on it. The next stop on the parts scavenger hunt is in the owner's basement. Things are looking up that this project might actually happen. I have joined the club and purchased the 1938-39 Ford book. Some service and assembly manuals are on my list.
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| ford38v8 | -- 01-22-2023 @ 11:24 PM |
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Gil, I would encourage you to read as many threads as pertinent to all models of '39 Fords, as well as for all Convertible Sedans, both here and on the Ford Barn. You'll learn many answers to questions you haven't as yet asked. You'll not find more experienced V8ers than on these two forums, but be aware that not every poster will agree with each other, so it's on you to determine truth from rumor. Lastly, it would add tremendously to your knowledge if you volunteer as a Novice Judge at an Early Ford V8 National Meet. Alan
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| gwistrup | -- 01-23-2023 @ 10:20 AM |
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I am amazed how passionate people are about these cars. I hope to make some connections with members of my local chapter of EFV8. I will check the schedule to see if there are any national events that are close to me (central NY). I would love to tag along with the judges. I am a retired college professor and I have always said, "knowledge is something they can't take away from you".
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| ford38v8 | -- 01-23-2023 @ 1:51 PM |
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Gil, So glad to read that you'll be getting together with club members. As good as forums like this can be, there is no comparison to hands on and face to face learning. This coming June is the Grand National in Dearborn Michigan, less than 500 miles from you. Check it out on this website under Coming Events. This is the 60th anniversary of the Club, and it happens once every 5 years. I guarantee that you'll see more Early Fords than you've seen in your lifetime. In the registration, be sure to check the box to volunteer as a Novice Judge in the 1939 Ford category, as there is no "tagging along" with the Judges unless you are one of them. Alan
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