Supercharged 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe

OVERVIEW

This supercharged 1940 Ford Deluxe coupe has covered fewer than 1,200 miles on an entirely new drivetrain centered around a 530-horsepower 383ci Chevrolet stroker V8 backed by a built TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and 9-inch Ford rear axle. Among the upgrades for this road- and race-ready custom rod are a Holley HP-body carburetor, a Weiand 177 Pro Street supercharger, AFR aluminum heads, roller cam, and Hooker aero chamber mufflers. Finished in Deep Plumb Pearl over a two-tone light mauve and cream vinyl interior, this coupe is titled as a 1940 Ford Coupe with a clear Nebraska title in the seller’s name.

EXTERIOR - FEATURES

This 1940 custom Deluxe Coupe was painted in two-stage Deep Plumb Pearl after the all-steel body received customization in the form of a modified roofline, A-pillars, B-pillars, and doors. These modifications, which leave the windshield and rear window unmodified and in stock dimensions, are the design of Sam Foose, who shared his specifications for these customizations with the original builder of this particular vehicle. Exterior features include body-color headlight rings, a beveled windshield, dual sideview mirrors, frenched 1941 Studebaker taillights, a working cowl vent, hidden-bolt smooth chrome bumpers, and a custom dual exhaust system as described below. A brief walk-around video is available for viewing below.

EXTERIOR – WHEELS AND TIRES

Powder-coated 15-inch steel wheels are enhanced with polished aluminum 1949 Ford hubcaps and ribbed beauty rings and are wrapped in brand new Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires in 175/65 up front and Cooper Cobra tires in 235/80 out back, with excellent tread remaining at all four corners.

INTERIOR – FEATURES

The cabin is fitted with a reupholstered front and rear in two-tone light mauve and cream vinyl with a split bench seat, matched door panels, headliner, sun shades, carpeting, and floor mats. Amenities include lap belts, a Vintage Air heating and air conditioning system, a custom wrapped-to-match steering wheel, and a modern stereo system.

INTERIOR – GAUGES

Modern instruments include a 120-mph speedometer surrounded by gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature (not wired), oil pressure, and voltage. An adjustable 8K-rpm tachometer is mounted atop the dash, with additional gauges for mechanical coolant temperature and boost/vacuum beneath the dash and, holding true to "Deluxe" Coupe form, a working clock mounted to the glovebox. The odometer reads 13K miles, which is the total accrued since the first iteration of the street-rod build, though the entire drivetrain and most mechanicals have only 1,200 miles since completion. True mileage on the chassis is unknown.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

The 383ci stroker roller V8 originated as a 350ci small-block Chevrolet and has accrued only 1,200 miles since a performance-oriented, entirely new custom build. It is upgraded with a list of performance parts starting with a Weiand 177 Pro Street supercharger, Air Flow Research (AFR) aluminum heads, a Howards hydraulic roller blower cam, a Holley 750cfm HP-body supercharger carburetor, fully forged rotating assembly - forged pistons, forged rods, forged crank, a MSD electronic ignition, an oversized Canton oil pan, high-volume oil pump, and an ARP-studded four-bolt main block.

The motor has been balanced and dyno-tuned for optimal performance. Output was logged at 530 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, with 500 lb-ft achieved by just 3,000 RPM all the way up to 5,000 RPM before peak horsepower kicks in.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a new heavy duty street torque converter with anti-balloon plates custom built-to-order by Dynamic Converters, a Lokar floor-shifted newly built TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and a new 9-inch Ford rear axle built-to-order by Quick Performance with heavy-duty ¼ inch axle tubes and Strange nodular iron center section with an Eaton Truetrac 3.50-geared limited-slip differential. The new heavy-duty steel drive shaft and new 1350 U-joints along with everything else detailed are engineered to handle the power generated from this performance-built drivetrain.

Additional equipment, most of it all new with the rebuild includes a B&M stacked-plate transmission cooler;  Tuff Stuff alternator; Hitachi high-torque mini starter; Walker Z-series radiator; Stewart water pump; block-hugger headers, collectors, and exhaust, and Hooker aero chamber mufflers. Cold start and engine idle videos are available for viewing below.

UNDERCARRIAGE

The suspension and brakes also received work as part of recent reconditioning. The chassis uses a Mustang II front end with new Eaton Detroit MII springs, new QA1 shock absorbers and all new upper and lower ball joints and tie-rod ends. The rear suspension is a Posies Superslide parallel leaf spring with new Bilstein shocks and new traction/slapper bars. Stopping power comes from power brakes, leveraging discs up front and brand new 11-inch complete drums assemblies from Quick Performance out back. Other recent brake work included replacement of the front pads, new master cylinder with proportioning valves, new front and rear residual valves, new front and rear flex lines and a new Lokar parking brake assembly.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

The paint code for the Deep Plumb Pearl is known and will be provided to the new owner. A California Car Covers custom-fit cover and bag for the cover, as well as build receipts, a dyno report, and photos of the drivetrain build process will be included with the vehicle.