'40 Ford interior kick panels/trunk liner panels

mcgarrett

Well-known member
Is there anyone out there making cardboard kick panels as well as the complete cardboard trunk liner panels for '40 Ford Sedans? The major Early V8 parts sources don't show them in their online catalogs. Appreciate any leads.
Thanks,
Mike in Texas
 
Is there anyone out there making cardboard kick panels as well as the complete cardboard trunk liner panels for '40 Ford Sedans? The major Early V8 parts sources don't show them in their online catalogs. Appreciate any leads.
Thanks,
Mike in Texas

I am not aware of any current suppliers of these pieces. If you have the old ones for patterns, I'd suggest you go to a hobby store (ex: Michael's or Hobby Lobby) and buy the heavy cardboard used for picture framing.
You will not be able to obtain the correct pattern but can deal with that in ways respective of the piece if you should so desire.
 
Kube,
Thanks for the reply. I'll check them out. Upholstery shops might have some heavy cardboard for use in those areas too.
 
Cartouche has the panels, but you would be better off making your own from your old patterns. I didn't have old patterns, so I bought from Cartouche. I'm currently modifying them to get a proper fit. Their cardboard panels are also thinner than the heavy paneling you can get from an upholstery shop or from an upholstery supply vendor. Had I known now what I didn't at the time I would have made my own patterns and got the heavier panel board. Unfortunately Hobby Lobby and Michaels do not have the panel board big enough (length) to make panels for a coupe. It may work fine for a tudor.
 
This what the originals looked like.
 

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The back side.These are from my 40 sedan with 48k original miles.
 

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On our '41 we bought black ABS "hair cell" plastic sheet from McMaster-Carr and cut our own from our originals. Moisure doesnt effect the plastic. Smooth one one side, textured on other, about .090" thick. Can get thicker
 
This what the originals looked like.

Ken, I want to thank you for the very clear photo of a proper closed car kick panel. Many (most?) folks do not realize they kick panels in the closed models had vertically embossed ribs.
I am actually one of the "crazies" that emboss the reproduction panels to replicate the correct appearance.
 
The back side.These are from my 40 sedan with 48k original miles.

This is interesting, at least to me :)
I have never seen numbers on the back of these panels. I believe what you have is quite rare.
My theory? I believe the panels with the numbers were the very top piece of a stack (pallet?) brought to the assembly line for installation. The top piece being numbered for identification / inventory control purposes.

This (again, my theory) would also explain numbers on the partition boards - luggage compartment to passenger compartment, showing up in very few cars.

Thanks for posting this my friend!
 

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Thanks to all for the excellent suggestions! Unfortunately, I don't have any of the panels for the trunk, but I suppose I can make patterns from cheap cardboard and use 1/8" fiberboard as suggested by 47Monarch. Not looking to be concours correct, just want to get rid of the horrible carpet on everything!
Again, I appreciate the great feedback.
Mike in Texas
 
Kube
Would service replacement parts sent to dealers' parts departments have had the part number stenciled on them?
 
Try the wholesale suppliers that cater to the upholstery shops. One here in the St. Louis area is wholesaleusastl.com
You probably need Waterboard. Black in color. Not sure what sizes it comes in. I know some of the out of town suppliers that retail to us out here in antique car land use these folks.
Not sure how a long distance transaction would work but I don’t have any trouble purchasing from them.
They have a multitude of products.
Larry
 
Kube
Would service replacement parts sent to dealers' parts departments have had the part number stenciled on them?

Jay, I really do not know. The trunk liners and cowl kick panels were available through service at least for a few years after 1940 production ceased.
My guess? They would not have numbers on them. Just a guess.
 
I try to look for the latest posts about subjects I am working on to get information. Since all the precut trunk liner companies are gone, I found "yourautotrim.com" out of Mississippi is selling a four pack of 32" x 48" of 2mm black fiber board. the front board I made two pieces with the seem over the vertical wood 3/4 x 2 that is there. I did have the instruction sheet from L-B dated from 1987.
 

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I try to look for the latest posts about subjects I am working on to get information. Since all the precut trunk liner companies are gone, I found "yourautotrim.com" out of Mississippi is selling a four pack of 32" x 48" of 2mm black fiber board. the front board I made two pieces with the seem over the vertical wood 3/4 x 2 that is there. I did have the instruction sheet from L-B dated from 1987.

It appears you are doing a great job with these! Impressive.
It's apparent you don't care if they are concourse correct.
However, just a little FYI.
I have attached two photos that may allow a better "idea" of how the panels appeared and how they were attached.
The partition boards were made from compressed fiber board, perhaps 3/16" thick or so. They did not overlay. Rather, they were installed edge to edge.
The side panels were cardboard just as you are utilizing. They were black and had a distinct pebble grain texture to them.

I hope the photos help.
That stenciled number that appears in one of my photos was kind of an oddity. It is believed the very top piece of the partition boards stacked upon a pallet destined to the assembly line, had the number painted to identify the parts. That one piece on each pallet did make its way into a car. Could've faced forward or backward as the two pieces are identical.

All the cup finishing washers as well as the slotted oval head screws had an S15 finish. That would be very similar to what we know as "antique brass" these days.
 

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I have a lot of respect for the information from people on this site, that is why I am here. I went to the Clayton NY meet last year with a long time Early V8 member who thought I could learn a lot about the restoration of my car. I asked if I could shadow their judging of the cars, they said yes. I saw and heard what they were looking for. I can only use materials that I can find today for my car. To say I don't care if it is not concourse correct is a poor statement, with all due respect.
 
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