It’s not that I don’t enjoy the challenge of trying to figure the shape created by the cross-section of a cone as it’s intersected by a slope of x degrees so I can cut the right size & shape hole without having to scrap a piece I’ve just spent hours cutting, bending, and fitting into place (i.e. a transmission tunnel meeting the front floorboard), but yesterday I was contemplating why I might concern myself with working on areas that nobody else will notice.

The reason for repairing a significantly structural piece like a body mount is relatively obvious, but the only real reason for making the indent and pressed hole match an original on a part that will sit behind and beneath the inner wheel well of a non-restoration vehicle is simply for the joy one receives from taking pride in their work.

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Considering all the prep work I did on the floor and trans tunnel last week,  I really thought I was going to get a lot further than I did today. I can’t blame anybody but myself. I mean, who really cares if the seam between the front of the trans tunnel and the floor is overlapped 1/4″ and hammer formed? It takes considerable time to stretch an outside radius this much without tearing the metal. Why not just weld it and be done with it? The guy driving it sure isn’t going to see it from where he’s sitting. There’s even going to be an engine and transmission in there eventually and nobody but nobody is going to see up under here.

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 After getting the windshield flange made and installed in the cab it was time to make a windshield to put into the flange.

 The glass is cut from a ’91 Dodge ram van windshield of the full size variety.  I picked this windshield for several reasons.  The biggest reason was that it was available.

 Actually I spent a couple of hours wandering around the used auto parts emporium with a tape measure looking for a windshield that was big enough and had enough curve to look right.  I also wanted one that wasn’t cracked, picky person that I am.

 In order to transfer the shape of the windshield opening accurately I made a wooden windshield for a pattern.  I carefully marked the pattern so that I could tell which way was up and which was the front.

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I did a little more on the firewall and got it tacked in place this morning

and cut and trimed some of the front floor pieces.

I obviously have more trimming to go before welding everything together.

I ended-up stopping here due to some questions raised about the build, but things are beginning to take shape.

Now that the chop is done on the ’40 we’ve been granted the pleasure of getting the body squared and securely mounted to the frame; and replacing the firewall, floor, and trans tunnel. Afterall, the best reward for a job well done is more work… and we’ve got it. Don’t look for a video since this i’s nowhere near as exciting to watch , but IMHO is much more important than a chop job.

It was told to me that a previous owner had run a Caddy motor under this body when it sat on a different frame and did the following for clearance reasons. I took a few pictures before I got started:

I’ve accepted the job making all this into a sturdy foundation on which the owner can pursue building his dream… my part of which now entails mounting this ’40 body onto a modified ’39 frame.  Continue Reading »