Having been purchased at a swap meet, this 1940 Ford pickup went from helpless to powerful show queen in the span of two years.
Potential
Cleverly named 40 Shades of Grey, this 1940 Ford Pickup was purchased back in 2016 by Chris and Angela Church in Portland, practically nothing more than a rolling shell. The couple found the Ford missing a drivetrain, and covered in dreadful John Deere flat black tractor paint rolling on orange wheels. Where many see a truck beyond saving, Chris saw potential.
Photos: Fuel Curve
Project Kick-Off
Having purchased the truck at the Portland International Raceway Fall Swap Meet, the new owners immediately went to work giving the old Ford new life. Things got kicked off with the body modifications. The goal was always a clean and seamless hot rod look. Numerous subtle upgrades have been implemented to help achieve the target aesthetic.
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Body Work
Cosmetic efforts include getting rid of the drip rails and cowl vent, replacing the rear windshield with one from a '52 Ford F1, swapping the windshield with a one-piece, and transplanting headlights from a '39. The bumpers and rear pan were removed in the modification process, and the fuel filler was rerouted through the tailgate. PPG Porsche Sport Classic Grey graces the exterior, accented by black and carbon fiber trim all around.
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Dream Cabin
The cabin has to be the most impressive part of this build. The 1940 Ford's interior has been given a thorough update and turned into a modern vehicle in the process. The Church Built Customs dashboard features Dakota Digital gauges and a modern infotainment system, built into a custom center console. The TMI bucket seats have received beautiful Orlando Orange top-grain coach leather, matching the look of the rest of the interior space.
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Chassis
Ride quality was an important factor. A pair of repo ’40 frame rails were customized for this particular application. At the front, 40 Shades of Grey features a No Limit IFS with dropped spindles and RideTech shocks. At the rear, a heavy-duty four-link suspension is at work. And Slam Specialties SS8 airbags supplement the suspension at all four corners.
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Supercharged LS3 Power
And that brings us to what hides under the hood. Here we find an LS3 V8 motor with forced induction courtesy of a Whipple supercharger. With the help of aftermarket headers and an exhaust system, the unit is capable of producing a massive 935 horsepower.
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Driving 40 Shades of Grey
The power is sent down to the rear wheels via 4L80E transmission from A-1 Performance Transmission, through a QA1 carbon fiber driveshaft and a narrowed Moser rear end. The final point of contact with the pavement are the Toyo Proxes R888R tires that are wrapped around American Racing wheels. Deceleration duties fall on the shoulders of Wilwood brakes at each corner.
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For help with the service of your truck, check out the how-to section of Ford-Trucks.com
