VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1940 rear rock guard panel?

Checking out the '40 today I noticed that it has a panel under the rear of the car where the body curves under. I can't see this on any of the pictures I've looked at with bumpers on the cars, and the few I've seen without bumpers, the panel was missing. Is this a stock part? It connects on both sides of the car at the lower fender bolt and has an indented place for the tail pipe. Unfortunately someone added a tow hitch to the car and cut this panel with a torch and bent up pretty badly.

From the various info. that I have all 1940 cars came equipped with this stone deflector. I know you seldom see them on cars these days. Most probably got torn off through the years.
Years ago I did find a new one in a dealers old stock area.

Is this the part?


Don

Yeah, that'd be it! Thanks. I'll have to cut mine to get it off, because when they installed the hitch, they cut a hole in it with a torch, stuck the hitch brace through the panel and then welded it to the frame. Looks like it would have been neater and easier to just bend it up in the middle instead.

Richard,

In addition to bolting to the fenders on either side there are also 5- 1/4" bolts that bolt down thru the bottom of the tool tray & down thru the rock guard. 1/4 - 20 round head machine screws & hex nuts.

Thanks. Mine is just held on by the ends and the trailer hitch. When I pull it apart for touch up and paint, I'll figure how to redo it a little more solid. I'm planning to leave the hitch on it, so I'll will modify the gaurd to hang where it belongs. I like to have a hitch on my vehicles; might have to tow a little camper to live in at events.

Richard,

I told you 1/4" - 20 hex nuts - that is incorrect they are actually 1/4-20 square cage nuts spot welded to the rock guard.