Recycled 40 Ford Woodie

My name is Jeff Yeagle and I am 34, so I guess that I will soon join the “not so Young Rodder ranks”.

My days are spent teaching High School Technology Education classes (but most people still call it “shop”).
Each day my goal is to inspire my students through my lessons in drafting, animation, machining, woodwork, and metal shaping.
This is the LONG story of my latest hotrod. “The Recycled 40 Ford Woodie” is a name I coined when considering the current “green movement” and the fact that the majority of the parts of the car were “recycled”.
The Recycled 40 Ford Woodie is the culmination of many months of collecting parts, a great deal of time researching Ford’s construction methods, help from some good friends, a supportive wife, and a lot of luck.
I managed to finish the Woodie during the summer of 2009, only a few weeks after my 34th birthday. I did all the work, with the exception of the exhaust system, alignment, and glass cutting. The project was completed during a 22-month period.
Some parts of the car were “spare” parts I had saved from the construction of my 1940 Ford convertible sedan. The most important part of the car, the wood, came from another restoration project. Although the wood does have some minor issues, I realized this would be the only way I could ever own a Woodie Wagon.
The car is suspended on all four corners by air ride. The front suspension is based around an aftermarket Mustang II cross member, while the rear is a custom installation of Chevy truck trailing arms.
Power is by the way of a Hot 350 Chevy topped with an aftermarket TBI style fuel injection system; the transmission is an overdrive unit.
The car has been on the road about 4 months and I have logged almost 2500 miles with it. 

The Beginning
Friday, July 6, 2007
		My interest in 1940 Fords began innocently enough….   As a kid fresh out of college in the winter of 1998, my future father in law mentioned that his neighbor had an old Ford in the garage.   The price was right, and within weeks I owned a 1940 Ford 4 door sedan.
The car was completed just days prior to My wedding day and, in 2003 we had the opportunity to take a 6 week vacation with the car traveling 10000 + miles through 15 different states. From day one we have generally enjoyed every minute of time behind the wheel and traveling in the car.   Although other cars have come and gone, we’ve made the decision that this one is a “KEEPER”
		Through the first 10 years of owning the 40, as we have come to call it, I made a habit of collecting spare parts. As time passed, my spares turned into a garage full of extras and in the summer of 2007 I decided it was time to start putting some of these pieces together. This is what those parts looked like in July of 2007.

Wood, Found at Hershey 2007

Friday, October 12, 2007

This year Hershey was all about good luck. (2007)

A 40 Ford Woodie is at the top of my “most wanted” cars.
This past fall, at the National AACA fall meet (Hershey!) I overcame another hurdle in owning one.
This wood is actually a “take off” by a restoration shop in New England. It’s not “good enough” for a 100-point car.

However, I think it will be perfect for my project because I want to build something that I will not be afraid to use.
I missed the opportunity to buy this wood in August. But (W) at Hershey I managed to make it happen.
Not sure if I have stopped smiling since.
One point of interest is the JOMA “mirror thermometer” that came in a box of “spare parts” with the wood. This is significant because my other 40 Ford sports a pair of these mirrors, and I have sought after them for quite some time.

		Pushing my luck further on my second day at Hershey (in the pouring down rain) I found the correct spare tire carrier with the all-important O1A part number. Its shape indicated that it was for a Woodie. And it fit perfectly. Better yet. It was ONLY $5.00 The last photo shows the tire holder installed.

OH NO! these things
are expensive

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Soon after purchasing the wood I learned just how expensive this project was about to become.

Door latches for 38 – 40 ford Woodie are specific to Woodie Wagon.. and I only had ONE (thanks to Junior!)
worse yet.. one Woodie door latch had just sold for almost 600.00 on eBay motors!
Through some careful sniping, I managed to get the 3 other latches, thank goodness for auctionzip!

Holey COWL!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

While working to locate door latches, I sent an email off to Mr. Dick Spadaro

Dick confirmed that latches were of the least of my worries. As 38-40 Ford Woodie rear fenders are specific to Woodie wagons.
Worse yet, I had the wrong COWL. (As Woodie cowls are unique to wagons as well)

		Fortunately, Early in November my friends Bryan (Tokyo), Kevin (MAZ) and I had planned to head to a “yard” we had heard about..   It was there that I stumbled on the remains of a 1939 Ford DELUXE Woodie cowl.
Although it was in terrible condition. I have been able (so far) to graft it onto my other cowl and it appears it will work out well….
		In addition I had the good fortune to spot this seat frame, which is also for a 38 – 40 Ford Woodie: