1940 Ford car "Y" Bracket question

[19Fordy]

Does the "Y" Bracket that bolts to the front cross member and inside the inner fender panels (at the top) set the correct height of the front clip? I am asking this as I wonder if the inner fender panels are suppose to be resting on the top of the frame rails or raised up a little bit. I am also thinking this would make for a closer fit of the grille to the front of the hood. Car is 40 ford DeLuxe.

[Fourdy]

Having read (sure you have too) fine articles on alignment of the 40 front end, I find it a little perplexing to apply. The yoke restricts movement and can screw up the bumper brackets to fender hole alignment. Then you have the fender to cowl bolts. Awww but I will try the process again when I replace my engine later this year.
Fourdy

[Kube]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Does the "Y" Bracket that bolts to the front cross member and inside the inner fender panels (at the top) set the correct height of the front clip? I am asking this as I wonder if the inner fender panels are suppose to be resting on the top of the frame rails or raised up a little bit. I am also thinking this would make for a closer fit of the grille to the front of the hood. Car is 40 ford DeLuxe.

Does the bracket set the correct height? If you are one extremely lucky boy it does. Otherwise, it simply holds the fenders in place. I am certain 99.9% of the time, that does not equate to "correct" height.
The inner fenders should NOT ride on the top of the frame rail(s).
As you no doubt realize, aligning the front sheet metal on a '40 Ford is a task that commands both skill and patience.
I have had to modify that cross brace to allow for a the front fenders to fit the way I demand. That in itself can take hours so the modification can never be detected.
By the way, 1939 inner fender panels had a small "L" bracket welded to the very forward - bottom end. There were two holes in each bracket that were utilized to subsequently bolt the panel to the frame. A redesign early in 1940 eliminated the bracket but there remained two small holes in the inner fender panel. Those particular holes were the "location" of the welds.
Later in 1940, those holes in the inner fender panel were eliminated altogether.