‘40 2 door sedan

[tgreen03]

Have an opportunity to purchase an all original Ford with 32,834 miles, but it has that 60 in it! Do I buy?????

[pistonbroke]

Condition and price and what you want are the king of what a person buys. Tim

[Kube]

Originally Posted by tgreen03

Have an opportunity to purchase an all original Ford with 32,834 miles, but it has that 60 in it! Do I buy?????

Of course, this is all about what you desire and if it's in the price range you are willing to accept.
If your car was IDENTICAL in every way to another with the one exception, the other has the 85, devalue the 60HP car by about $4000.
Keep in mind that the 60HP is one heck of a weak engine. Good for around town, I'd not even consider getting it on the highway or even a long steep hill.

[19Fordy]

My personal opinion is that after the novelty and newness of owning your newly acquired 60HP Ford wears off, you will wish you had bought the more desirable higher horsepower version. Performance will be disappointing.

GOOGLE: "1940 Ford Sedan for sale" and lots of stuff comes up.

There's a good looking 40 sedan on ebay right now for $20K or best offer. Don't buy anything unless you see it in person and drive it.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/36471870390...Bk9SR7DI9-K-Yw

[tubman]

Put an Olds Rocket in it and make a hot rod. Then you can clean the "60" up, mount it on a stand in your shop and you'll have one hell of a conversation piece. (Basically I'm agreeing with the rest of these guys.)

[Kube]

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For comparison, I'd sold a tudor about five years ago. It was VERY high point restoration with a factory installed Mercury engine. Yes, documented. I fought to get $24k.
Values on these have NOT gone up in the past five years. Not at all...

[47topless]

There is a good reason that this car is so low mileage. No fun to drive. These 60 HP engines are great for boats and midget racers but not so much in a full-size sedan.
I agree with the Olds Rocket transplant idea. That would be a marvelous car and very fun to drive and show.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 47topless

There is a good reason that this car is so low mileage. No fun to drive. These 60 HP engines are great for boats and midget racers but not so much in a full-size sedan.
I agree with the Olds Rocket transplant idea. That would be a marvelous car and very fun to drive and show.

I had a '46 Ford convertible with a Rocket under the hood. Very cool car but kinda scary as it was so powerful. Too powerful in my opinion for the stock Ford chassis.

[tgreen03]

Thank you all for the replies. I’m leaning towards not buying it now. Just wanted something I had in my senior year and thought it would be cool, but I’m too old for engine swaps, thanks again!

[fortyfords]

If it's a clean car, I would buy it, an engine change is not hard on a 40, I have never even taken the hood off for engine changes; that's how easy they are. I would think it wouldn't even cost a lot to have someone change it for you. But, it has too be bought at a reasonable price too if an engine change is in the future. Of course I may make it sound easier because I have all the equipment to do an engine change.

[38 coupe]

What do you plan to do with the car? If you are driving around a small town and going to the burger stand the 60 may be ok. If you live in hilly area or want to drive long distance then 60 will be a bit weak. There is a local member with a 60 hp 37 pickup with the factory 4.44 rear gears and a Mitchell overdrive. He drive the truck on tour and does alright in the flatlands of the Texas coastal plain.

[TJ]

Continue to shop around as there are many '40 tudors out there. Most have the 85 hp flathead. You won' t be happy with the 60.

[Seth Swoboda]

Also keep in mind that the 60 hp came with a tube axle (front axle). If you were to put a 85hp V8 in it you might not want the front tube axle.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

Also keep in mind that the 60 hp came with a tube axle (front axle). If you were to put a 85hp V8 in it you might not want the front tube axle.

This. Tube axle and 3.5" wheels. 3.5" wheels will net you $1,500 if they are nice and the a nice tube axle another $500-600 if it's nice as well.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

Also keep in mind that the 60 hp came with a tube axle (front axle). If you were to put a 85hp V8 in it you might not want the front tube axle.

Not necessarily Seth.
In fact, some 85HP cars came with a factory installed tube axle.

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by Kube

Not necessarily Seth.
In fact, some 85HP cars came with a factory installed tube axle.

I did not realize this. Would the 85 hp axle be better since it is heavier construction? I don't think I would want the tube axle with a 85 hp engine. What are your thoughts?

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

I did not realize this. Would the 85 hp axle be better since it is heavier construction? I don't think I would want the tube axle with a 85 hp engine. What are your thoughts?

Seth,

These Ford tube axles were often used for Hemi powered gassers, etc. in the 50's-60's. Those Hemis are a lot heavier than a 85 hp flathead.

[farmertom]

47topless,yeah and there are 2or3 people putting the 60hp flatheads in motorcycle chassis.my son and i have been going to the davenport ia. labor day motorcycle swap meet. Tom.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

I did not realize this. Would the 85 hp axle be better since it is heavier construction? I don't think I would want the tube axle with a 85 hp engine. What are your thoughts?

Seth, in my opinion, for what that is worth, I'd think the tube axle would be plenty strong on today's roads.
By 1940, the tube axles were for the most part being phased out. They were supposed to be used up on the 60HP cars. However, when I was researching for my book, I found ample evidence they were pretty much "used up" regardless of model.

[JHFORD51]

I had a V8-60 in a 38 STD Tudor a few years ago; it was about like driving a Model A as far as power and acceleration goes. You have to wind it up pretty good in second before hitting third, just not much grunt like a normal 85HP in a 37-40 Ford.