1946 Ford Fordor project

[1942deluxe]

While I'm in upholstery and glass jail on the 42 Deluxe coupe I decided to pull my late father in law's (now mine) Fordor in the garage. He bought the car from me back in 1991 when I was living in downstate Illinois. He drove it some and then parked it in the garage in the 1990's. Before our ownership it was repainted and upholstered. Found a receipt from 1984 for 4 new tires so I'm guessing the work was done in the early 1980's. So far I've replaced the fuel pump and installed a rebuilt distributor, both done by Charlie Schwendler. I replaced the battery cables and battery. It runs! Smoked pretty bad at first but that seems to be dissipating. Next steps are to clean up the fuel system and rebuild the brakes. When Chris has time I'll have him post some pictures.

[Seth Swoboda]

Who is making the uphostery for your '42? Will you be using authentic materials or something else?

[1942deluxe]

Seth, what I wanted on the 42 was somewhat close to the original patterns. Waited 7-8 months and it never came off back order. Ended up settling for something that will look "period" but not as original as I would've liked. When I got the car I think I checked Lebaron Bonney and as I recall they only made a kit for the Super deluxe but not the Deluxe. Not sure who my upholstery guy's supplier is but I'll try to find out for you. I do know he is fighting to get material.

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Finally got to load John's pictures of his 1946 Ford four door project. Sorry my picture quality is not the best.






Regards,
Chris

[SoCalCoupe]

Only 3 pictures but it looks like you've really got something to work with there. Looking forward to seeing and reading more about this!

[sugarmaker]

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Folks we will get some additional details posted on the 46. Just that it is tucked away safely in John's garage, and we are miles apart. ( About 2)
Regards,
Chris

[sugarmaker]

Just had a minute:
Engine bay on the 46:


Regards,
Chris

[flatford8]

John, I have a Super Deluxe parts car. It looks a lot like yours. Same trim on the outside. Do you know the difference between the Deluxe and Super Deluxe? Is it just on the interior? That’s going to be another nice looking car.........Mark

[corvette8n]

That’s a pretty clean project to begin with, have fun.

[1942deluxe]

Mark, the differences are mainly in the interior although there is supposed to be a Deluxe emblem on the grille bars. The SD has an emblem on the drivers fender. Deluxe has a horn button instead of a horn ring. Two ashtrays instead of one. Gauges do not use the painted on numbers and are similar to 1942 but with a dark background. Upholstery was "plainer". Clock was also standard on the Super Deluxe. There was a book called "Closing the years of tradition" on the 46-48 Fords that gives a lot of information on the 46-8's. I think the Early Ford V8 foundation has it and it appears on Ebay sometimes.

[1942deluxe]

Pulled the rear hubs and drums off. Refresh my memory, please. Long shoe goes to the front along with the larger diameter of the wheel cylinder? Whoever did the brakes put the short shoe to the front on both sides. When I did the 42 brakes, they hedged their bets and did one with the short to the front and the other long.

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Stopped at the office (big Irene's little dinor in Albion) on our way to John's to look at brakes with him. The car had a locked up right rear brake drum. My guess is by the time we get there he will have it off. That is pretty typical. He is very persistent! We looked at a leaky fuel pump to carb line and determined the outlet on the pump was not good shape. He replaced the top with one from another pump and had it going in short order. Will try to get some pictures today.
Regards,
Chris

[N8IWS]

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

Pulled the rear hubs and drums off. Refresh my memory, please. Long shoe goes to the front along with the larger diameter of the wheel cylinder? Whoever did the brakes put the short shoe to the front on both sides. When I did the 42 brakes, they hedged their bets and did one with the short to the front and the other long.

It sounds right. In my 40 plus career as a mechanic, short shoe goes forward to apply pressure first to transfer the leverage to the long shoe.

[rustythumb]

if lockheed, long to the front!

[Bruce_MO]

Just asking… is that color “modern blue”? It sure looks like the color of my original ‘46 Mercury.

I’m going to be doing bodywork and paint soon, and I want to go back to the original color. I have a couple painted items (spare tire bracket in trunk, etc) that are not faded and weathered, and they are a deeper blue. But the weathered areas look just like this 4-door.

[1942deluxe]

Bruce_MO, it's a gun metal gray. I think the car may have been black as that's what the wheels are and they were supposed to be body color. Todays project was removing the front wheels for a brake inspection. Not happy with any of the drums. Need to see if anybody can turn them in the local area or start searching. Rustythumb, that's what I found doing a search for the 1939-48's. 49 up short shoe to the front if I understand correctly.

[mhsprecher]

The long shoe goes on the front, from what I have seen. I just did the brakes on my 39 Deluxe and long was in the front. Makes sense from me from a physics standpoint as the weight will transfer to the front under braking. I don't have my shop manual with me to check.

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Having some difficulty loading pictures, see if these work? Not sure why they seem to be a little large?












Regards,
Chris

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
John is into the brakes on this 46. All drums off. inspection and pulling retailing rings and inside seals. Drums will be turned, clean up, then new shoes, wheel cylinders and maybe lines. stay tuned as he brings this car back on line.
Regards,
Chris

[Honda]

Nice old 1946 Ford you have there!