VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 new guy here

my dad and I are currently restoring a 1940 chevy 2dr sedan. We have opted to restore it instead of street rodding it. The car drove well before we tore it completely down. we have since sand blasted the frame and painted it, currently redoing the entire braking system ans fuel system, the engine is being restored to its glory and the trans gear box was rebuilt. i'm currently looking for sheet metal like floors,rockers, mounts etc. The only problem i'm running into is the chev of the 40's only lists 1941 chevy's now, is there a difference between the 40 and 41 sedan? parts look similar. any thoughts?

http://www.emsautomotive.com/
try this site dj, ems will have what you'll need.
also "obsolite chevy parts" on the web has the sheet metal that you looking for.
did you try "the filling station".

bubbatom

There are differences between those years. I think you will find that the EMS floors are really made for hotrodding as they are flat except for the grooves pressed in. Classic to Current make floor pans that look authentic but are not exact. I used them for the front of my 38.

DJ88,

This recommendation may not sit well with you but here goes:

Having just gone through the pains and expense of having the floor pans and rockers redone on my 1941 project, I would not do that again. The floor and rocker work it added up to the following:

$500.00? or so from COTF and Filling Station for pans and rockers.

$1,700.00 first body shop.

$17,000 second body shop (which got it done right)

Accordingly, I recommend that you use the current car for parts. Get you another body that doesn't need all that body work, i.e., floor pans and rockers.

Cars from the west coast and Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, ID and Wyoming and CO are usually pretty solid. Not all, but that is generally where the better stuff is.

You'll save time and money in the long run. I also recommend a copue, convertible, station wagon or business coupe over a 2 door or 4 door. And a Special Deluxe over a Master Deluxe.

It is, of course, your call. Good luck with it.

Charlie

So the big question comes down to whether you can cut and weld the parts in or have to have it done. If you can do it yourself, the cost of the panels isn't prohibitive. And, while the other models are nice and not as common, if you have a 2-door sedan, go with it. That's what I'm working on now, too.

You said the car drove well so I would guess some of the floor is worth saving. Use patch panels to fill in the bad spots, if you can weld good, if not good place to learn. I was able to save most of my 41's floor, the center hump was good.

thanks everyone for your help. I can weld, the rockers and floor braces are shot. I would rather keep this body, if i wanted a business coupe or vert i would have bought one. I like this one because there aren't as many around as the business coupe or vert. I dont mind the challenge. Ems has most of what i need. I'll post some pics of the before and during for everyone.

Sounds like you made the right choice and are gonna have fun with your Dad. Looking forward to the pictures.

I haven't seen the floor braces for sale but I think some kind of standard metal would do. The edges of the floor are available as inner rockers. There are a lot of versions out there that are not great but if you get the EMS inners and outers they will fit together to give a pretty solid structure.

I shot video of the replacement of my 1941 2 door sedan passenger side rocker panel, front passenger floor, and cowl. Send me a PM if you would like a copy.

Good luck, Mike

P.S. This is not an easy fix. It will take a lot of time and patience if you have not done this type of body work before, especially if you don't want it to show.

Please put the topic of your post in your heading ie. (1940 rocker panel replacement). It makes it easier for others to help you and to locate your post in our index. Good luck with your project we hope we can help you through your restoration. Having 2 generations working on a project is extra special. A lot of us are very envious.