1940 Dodge sedan

Dodge

1940

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Mods

-265 cu in motor instead of 218, same flathead block.
-Triple motorcycle carburetors.
-Dual shorty 3 in 1 exhaust manifolds.
-Increased compression.
-Custom ground cam with 30 deg more duration.
-12v electrical system with msd ignition.
-Lightened flywheel with larger truck clutch.
-1950 Plymouth overdrive transmission.
-Front disc brakes from 98 Ford Explorer, calipers from same with custom brackets.
-Rear 8.8 axle and brakes from a 99 Mustang GT.
-Dual circuit Willwood master cylinder on custom bracket.
-Custom dashbord using Autometer gages and a GPS speedo projecting a Head#039;s up display.
-Touch screen radio with rear view camera and bluetooth in the glove box, steering wheel mount remote, hinge mounted to give access to remaining space behind it in the glove box.

Build story

I always wanted a prewar car but never was at the right place and right time before.
This one a quite solid body but was non functional, this I could fix.
I did not know much about flatheads but found out that this particular one had been quite common in industrial applications up until the 70s and that they also had been hot rodded extensively back in the day.
So I was able to find a 265 cu in engine out of a portable water pump and start from there.
The triple carb intake is actually made by a guy who is the grand son of the guy who was the plant director of the Chrysler factory in Winsor Ontario where they made those engines.
The cam was ground at a local shop using an Audi racing pattern wich had duration and lift numbers I was looking for.
Driving it like this showed the obvious limitation of the 4 wheels drum brakes !!
So I started searching for compatible discs replacement and found that Ford had the same wheel bolt pattern with the ones coming from the Explorer models being the largest I could fit under 15 inch wheels.
So I ordered new parts from Rockauto, the disc were bolt on once the drum rivet#039;s had been ground off and I made brackets to hold the calipers.
It was a huge improvement but now I wanted better brakes in the rear too. Again Ford for the wheel bolt pattern, this time from a Mustang for the right track.
All this time I drove it as much as I could and the non working original dash and complete lack of sound system was getting on my nerves.
So I made a custom dash using Atometer gages on a custom cut aluminum plate and added a glove box mounted touch screen radio.
It also quite early on became obvious that the stronger motor needed higher gearing.
I was lucky to find an optional 1950-51 Plymouth overdrive transmission wich is a bolt on for my car, it allowed me to keep the column shift wich I think is part of the car#039;s character.
The dual circuit master cylinder is more of a safety item but in retrospect it also works better.
The triple Honda motorcycle carburetors are recent additions that completely cured the problems of the impossible to jet properly but period correct Carter carburetors. They made it behave like a modern engine !
The steering mounted audio control is nice to have since the head unit is in the glovebox.

The plan with this car is to drive it extensively this summer and probably next year, make a coast to coast road trip Canada going US returning or vice versa.

I hope you like it, people#039;s from all age and backgrounds reactions to it when I drive are overwhelmingly positive.

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