Newbie here!

[fishingsfirst]

I have added a few pictures but I can’t tell you how I did it. The pictures show the frame underneath really clean and body are good. I feel so bad for not being able to show how clean the car is. I’m looking to buy a 1947 2 door Tudor Sedan. I found one for sale but it is a little bit of a distance from me. Pictures show the body looks good, floors are good but trunk floor isn’t. The dilemma I have is there is a clicking sound that I can hear. Owner said it is from the fuel pump towards the back of the engine. Does this make any sense to all of you? Picking everyone’s brain, is it a decent car? It seems that the asking price is fair at $6200. I might say that the interior needs some work. Thanks everyone in advance in giving some advice if it worth the drive to get a better look at it. He says it drives well.

 

[tubman]

How far is "a little bit of distance"? It doesn't seem like much when you state it that way.

Looking at a car in person is almost mandatory. If you have a friend who knows anything about things like this, it sounds like an opportunity for a "road trip".

 

[leon bee]

Last car I wanted was 360 miles away, didn't buy it but had a nice road trip wondering why anyone would misrepresent a car so badly. A little click wouldn't bother me, I fix stuff.

 

[fishingsfirst]

Its only a couple hundred miles so a day trip would be fine. I would never buy unseen. I believe it is better than just a driver car.

 

[fishingsfirst]

Could the clicking be a loose fuel pump if that makes sense. I never have seen a flat head V8 in person. I still wonder if it’s a decent car. Thanks.

 

[ford38v8]

I would question the fuel pump under the hood. An electric fuel pump would make a clicking sound, but under the hood would not be an ideal location for an electric pump. I haven’t seen a noisy mechanical pump, but nevertheless, a running car at that price is certainly worthy of a 200 mile day trip. I’d say if the body is fairly straight, you might have a winner, but take a friend with you that may offer a perspective unseen by you alone.

 

[TJ]

ford38V8 makes a good suggestion. Take a knowledgeable friend with you for a second set of eyes. That person may see things that you miss in your excitement to buy the car. The clicking noise under the hood could be a valve tappet problem. Lots of these 46-48 Tudors out there so choose wisely.

 

[Seth Swoboda]

Why not ask the seller for pictures? Then you can share them with us. It's also a good idea to go look if you are still interested after they send you photos. TJ is correct, '47 Tudors are plentiful and their prices are affordable. I have a '47 Ford.

 

[Als48]

A stuck valve could make that tapping sound, possibly. That might be an easy fix. What's your location? Maybe someone could help you decide.

Al Hook

 

[rockfla]

It might ALSO help for you to list where you are located, there "might" just be someone who has posted on here that lives close to you and "could" maybe help.

 

[deuce_roadster]

If you go look at it in person, take one of those stethoscopes with a probe on it and you can quickly identify where the sound is coming from if it is the engine. You can even narrow it down to which lifter is too loose if that is the problem by going along the top of the heads above the spark plugs if it is only 1. Good luck.

 

[fishingsfirst]

Posted a couple pics

 

[petehoovie]

Posted a couple pics

Air Cleaner will stop Big Rocks...

 

[fishingsfirst]

Posted a couple pics

 

[TJ]

In looking at the photos it definitely has the wrong front seats in it. I also suspect there may be a lot of rust between the fenders and the body. It's also obvious the gauges (especially the speedometer) are probably not useable. If it was me I would pass on this one and find something a lot better for a little more money.

 

[fishingsfirst]

I realized the seats aren’t right and the seam at the fender looks like a good spot for rust. I also know that this model isn’t a very desirable car. Unfortunately at this time my financial doesn’t look good for something better. I actually have an atv with a plow and for 3K and my atv a deal could be made.

 

[fishingsfirst]

I did post a couple pictures.

 

[TJ]

I totally understand your desire for an old Ford. Had my first Model A at 14. The advice you get here is from guys who have been in the hobby for many years and we have all learned to be patient. Not sure what your skill level is working on old cars, but if you can't work on them yourself then paying someone else can get real expensive. The car you are looking at is not going anywhere soon. I would sit back and keep looking as old car prices, especially project cars, have been dropping in price.

 

[cas3]

Worse cars have been fixed. Small rust patches can be done for free if have or develop the skill level to do it. One trouble area on these cars is where the center X member for the frame meets up with the outer frame rails. They get doubled up there and tend to hold dirt and moisture to rust out bad. This is a hard thing to fix proper. Check that out when you see it

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Most "ticking noises" that I have heard with older flatheads tend to be due to lifter noise. That doesn't mean it is catastrophic - just something to know.

There is no real way to know what condition the engine is truly in unless you can really check it out, can do a compression test, can see if it doesn't overheat or have an obvious blown head gasket, etc.. It may need rebuilding . . . sooner or later - no real way to know.

You will roll the dice when it comes to mechanical condition of the engine, transmission, rear end, clutch, brakes, etc.. Sometimes we get lucky . . . most times it takes a lot of work to restore them to really sound/safe mechanical shape. Be mentally prepared for the journey . . .

If you like the car, can work a trade deal, might be worth a trip to find out. One really needs to look a car over to feel comfortable with what you're buying. In the end, only you can decide if it is worth the price and if you'll be happy with the purchase.

Hopefully you have mechanical skills, tools and a place to work on it . . . as paying current shop rates to go through the car (mechanically) would cause you to spend far too much money on it. Plan to put a lot of sweat equity in it - hopefully you enjoy this type of work. If you don't or can't do much of it yourself . . . then don't take the plunge.

Cars like this are not investments, you buy them because you love them, want to work on them and plan to spend a lot of time and whatever $$$ you can afford on them.

We're all in this as a hobby - not to make money or believe that we will "get our money back" someday in the future. You'll spend twice as much as you believe and 2 to 3 times the time you anticipate . . .