Interest in new restoration project thread?

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 40ford

Kube,that looks almost like a dual exhaust cut-out some time long ago!I know my 40 had duals on it some time or another and the drivers side has been motified for exhaust.

If I recall correctly, nearly every 39 - 40 I have ever restored has had damage to that brace.
I always figured it was some "backyard hack" to install a replacement exhaust. You know... why do it right when it's so much easier to hack out a chunk of the brace?

[Ol' Ron]

Go for it, one of my favorite cars. I did a repaint in Black laquer, some new glass 37 DeSota bumpers etc. Nice car, sold it for 600 bucks, Raising a family, added another mouth.

[mhsprecher]

Thanks for taking the time to do a thread. A lot of work is involved in putting one together. It is like writing a book, but with very short chapters.

[funrunr]

Kube, Do you do all the restoration yourself? Example being for instance; the horns, generators and windings, rebuilding the clocks and parts like that? Where do you draw the line?
Once again, thanks for bringing us along.
Mark

[Kube]

Originally Posted by funrunr

Kube, Do you do all the restoration yourself? Example being for instance; the horns, generators and windings, rebuilding the clocks and parts like that? Where do you draw the line?
Once again, thanks for bringing us along.
Mark

Good morning Mark.

I do most of the work. However, some things are simply out of my hands.
Plating and most machining come to mind.

I used to be able to do the engine machining when employed as a tool maker. Unfortunately, after I'd retired, I'd lost access to the necessary machines.
Clocks you ask? More often than not, they simply need to be cleaned and lightly oiled.
I do rebuild the horns myself as well as generators, starters, transmissions, differentials, etc.
I now send my distributors, some fuel pumps and carburetors out to Charlie Schwendler. I used to do my own but find the minimal cost (of Charlie's work) along with the high quality, well, I just figure it is no longer worth my time / efforts to do them any longer.
I don't mount my tires or cut my own glass.

[V8COOPMAN]

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No doubt, Kubarth ("Kube") surely has restored an appreciable number of '39s and '40s over the last several years. I really don't understand how he is able to complete each in the seemingly-short time that he usually spends completing one. Of all the cars Mike has done over the years and has had judged, I've only managed to scrutinize two of his earlier restorations...the little blue coupe that shows in his avatar, and that now-infamous blue '40 Convert (with accompanying drink holder) that eventually ended-up selling out of the Dingman Collection for a reported $165K several years back. I remember Mike saying that that car judged ONLY 999 points, and that because of a 1-point deduction for two tiny pits in one of the rear axle housings. I honestly believe that the blue avatar coupe must surely be one of his favorites as Mike sold that coupe to someone in the northeast I believe, only to re-purchase it at a later date. I understand that he eventually sold it a second time, and have since heard that he would really like to have it back AGAIN. Almost kind of comical! But my whole point here is to express my thoughts about the extent of the detail and workmanship that Mike puts into these jewels by bringing attention to a couple of oft-overlooked and frequently forgotten areas for restoration. On the two "Kubarth" '40s that I'm familiar with above, you could look down past the roll-up windows in the doors and notice the result of what must have been some painstaking effort to make the insides and bottoms of those doors look just as pristine and finished as the paint on the fenders. Not only were the door innards a work of art, but the underside and rear of the instrument panel area along with the upper, inside of the dash (firewall) were finished every bit as nicely as any other part of the interior that shows in plain view. The guy seems to have this 1940 Ford restoration process about down to a science. I think that Mike really must be, by his own admission, one of those seriously-afflicted OCD types, as he seems to be the consummate artisan, always paying the utmost of attention to the minute details that make any "Kubarth Restoration" a significant work of note. DD

[Kube]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

No doubt, Kubarth ("Kube") surely has restored an appreciable number of '39s and '40s over the last several years. I really don't understand how he is able to complete each in the seemingly-short time that he usually spends completing one. Of all the cars Mike has done over the years and has had judged, I've only managed to scrutinize two of his earlier restorations...the little blue coupe that shows in his avatar, and that now-infamous blue '40 Convert (with accompanying drink holder) that eventually ended-up selling out of the Dingman Collection for a reported $165K several years back. I remember Mike saying that that car judged ONLY 999 points, and that because of a 1-point deduction for two tiny pits in one of the rear axle housings. I honestly believe that the blue avatar coupe must surely be one of his favorites as Mike sold that coupe to someone in the northeast I believe, only to re-purchase it at a later date. I understand that he eventually sold it a second time, and have since heard that he would really like to have it back AGAIN. Almost kind of comical! But my whole point here is to express my thoughts about the extent of the detail and workmanship that Mike puts into these jewels by bringing attention to a couple of oft-overlooked and frequently forgotten areas for restoration. On the two "Kubarth" '40s that I'm familiar with above, you could look down past the roll-up windows in the doors and notice the result of what must have been some painstaking effort to make the insides and bottoms of those doors look just as pristine and finished as the paint on the fenders. Not only were the door innards a work of art, but the underside and rear of the instrument panel area along with the upper, inside of the dash (firewall) were finished every bit as nicely as any other part of the interior that shows in plain view. The guy seems to have this 1940 Ford restoration process about down to a science. I think that Mike really must be, by his own admission, one of those seriously-afflicted OCD types, as he seems to be the consummate artisan, always paying the utmost of attention to the minute details that make any "Kubarth Restoration" a significant work of note. DD

Yep, just a tad OCD.
Your words are too kind and undeserved.
Thank you. I appreciate your comments.

I'm blushing

[Planojc]

Looking forward to seeing what you do on your lunch hour.

[DavidG]

Mike,


A detour, but I wanted you to know that you are not alone.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Mike,


A detour, but I wanted you to know that you are not alone.

Wow! I'd like to think great minds think alike but there is only one great mind at work here - yours.
So, I'll chalk this up to coincidence. Very cool Dave. Thanks for sharing!

What's your frame going to end up under?

[Willi_D]

Nice ..wish I had more free Time & Garage space to work on mine..

[35fordtn]

Mike, Nice work! those frames sure are a pain to sand all the little crevices to remove the pitting, as you know. Assembly seems to be the easy part on a Early Ford V-8, but the sanding, blocking and paint related tasks are where he work really is in my opinion.

On a side note, what brand primer do you use? Also what about paint?

If you have never checked out Tamco Paint, I would recommend it highly as it seems to out surpass the PPG counterparts. I would bet most everything I own that that beautiful frame David posted a photo of was done with Tamco Products.

Hat's off to you, and excellent work!

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

Mike, Nice work! those frames sure are a pain to sand all the little crevices to remove the pitting, as you know. Assembly seems to be the easy part on a Early Ford V-8, but the sanding, blocking and paint related tasks are where he work really is in my opinion.

On a side note, what brand primer do you use? Also what about paint?

If you have never checked out Tamco Paint, I would recommend it highly as it seems to out surpass the PPG counterparts. I would bet most everything I own that that beautiful frame David posted a photo of was done with Tamco Products.

Hat's off to you, and excellent work!

Hey Michael,
You are of course correct in regard to the task of sanding these frames. I could check my notes but off the top of my head, I'd say I have well over 100 hours in this frame to date.
And to think this was a nice frame to begin with!

I've been using ChromaBase primer and Nason Ful-Thane color for years upon years.
Cost is reasonable and it has proven to last very well for years upon years.
I doubt I'll change but appreciate your advice. This stuff has worked so well, for so very long... plus, I know just how to handle it.

[DavidG]

Mike,

Under these things, but there is a fundamental difference in that what you show is your handiwork and in my photos, the handiwork is that of a couple of long-time good friends who happen to be world-class painters and paint preparers. My role is researcher, parts finder, and final assembler where the devil in the details.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Mike,


Under these things.

My gosh man! Good for you!

Ya know, you'd made a comment in an earlier post that "I am not alone".
You are correct but beyond you and I, well, we might be alone
I've had more than one person suggest that you and I are the only two remaining doing this type of (read OCD) work.

Here's a photo of the inside of the cab on that '40 PU I'd recently completed.
I ask you: How many guys (other than the two of us) that block out the interiors?

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Kube

How many guys (other than the two of us) that block out the interiors?

This is but one example of what I was talking about in Post #99. DD

[35fordtn]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Mike,

Under these things, but there is a fundamental difference in that what you show is your handiwork and in my photos, the handiwork is that of a couple of long-time good friends who happen to be world-class painters and paint preparers. My role is researcher, parts finder, and final assembler where the devil in the details.

David, you indeed have the best painters I’ve ever in my extremely inexperienced short life have encountered. One of your painters has thought me more in short conversations in the last two years about painting than I had ever learned before. Take that and add it to your extensive research and patience in correctly assembling them, and you get the final results that are typical of yours or Kubes cars in the fact that they are the best there is in the world of early v-8’s

[35fordtn]

Mike, as with anything when you find something that works, stick with it! Out of curiosity do you use Nason on the sheet metal as well?

I haven’t sprayed much DuPont products other than some chromabase (base coat) as it’s hard to find around here. I assume Nason is a DuPont product?

Again excellent work in a world where most frames receive krylon from walmart!

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

Mike, as with anything when you find something that works, stick with it! Out of curiosity do you use Nason on the sheet metal as well?

I haven’t sprayed much DuPont products other than some chromabase (base coat) as it’s hard to find around here. I assume Nason is a DuPont product?

Again excellent work in a world where most frames receive krylon from walmart!

Michael,
The Nason is simply that - Nason. No affiliation with DuPont that I am aware of.

I've been using DuPont Chromabase on the sheet metal for the last six cars or so. Typically four coats of color and three or four coats of clear. I figure on sanding off one coat of clear prior to buffing.
I have learned to manage the ChromaBase fairly well and have grown comfortable with it.

[DavidG]

Mike,


Re. the '40 p.u.; super duper!