Name: Edward LeBlanc
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1931 Ford Tudor
Built By: Homebuilt
Engine Details: Ford Racing M6007-A351 R, roller rockers, roller cam, roller lifters; displacement 351 cid, 385 hp, 377 lb-ft of torque; 16-inch SPAL cooling fan; GM 100-amp chrome alternator; Sanden 508 chrome R134 air conditioner compressor; Ford Racing valve covers; Holley 770-cfm Street Avenger carburetor; K&N air cleaner; Ford Racing ignition wires; Sanderson ceramic-coated headers; Powermaster gear reduction starter; Borla stainless steel exhaust/mufflers
Transmission: TREMEC five-speed manual TR-3550; Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop stainless steel shifter; Ford King Cobra clutch; aluminum Inland Driveline driveshaft
Chassis and Suspension Details: Ford original frame; modifications: boxed, Z’d, narrowed, new crossmembers; Ford 9-inch rearend; 3.50:1 ratio, 31-spline axles, posi traction; rear shocks/springs: Aldan eagle polished aluminum with adjustable firmness and ride height; chrome coilover springs, polished stainless steel four-bar and Panhard bar; rear brakes: Wilwood four-piston polished aluminum calipers with 12-inch vented rotors; front suspension: Heidts Super Ride with polished stainless steel A-arms, narrowed ¾ inch; front shocks/springs: Aldan Eagle polished aluminum with adjustable firmness and ride height/chrome coilover springs; front brakes: Wilwood four-piston polished aluminum calipers with 11-inch vented rotors; Total Cost Involved power dual reservoir master cylinder; stainless steel chassis plumbing; Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering; Rock Valley stainless steel 1932 style, polished stainless steel spreader bar
Wheels & Tires: Billet Specialties 16×8, BFGoodrich 275/50-16 (rear); Billet Specialties 15×7, BFGoodrich 205/50-15 (front)
Interior Details: Steel 1932 Brookville Roadster dashboard; custom lower dash panel by Kugel’s Komponents; Auto Meter antique gauges, beige with black chrome bezels; Secret Audio sound system with 10-disc CD player, Pioneer speakers; Vintage Air A/C; Painless Performance Products wiring system; Flaming River polished stainless steel steering wheel with tilt, turn signals, and four-way flashers/Mullins chrome four-spoke leather; Bob Drake stainless steel mirrors; Tea’s seats, upholstery by Elegance Auto interiors, Mark Lopez, Katzkin Leather, color Ash, German square weave carpet, dark gray
Body and Paint Details: U.S. Radiator Optima Core; bodywork by Cypress Auto Body; PPG single-stage black by Tom Rodriquez; Sparton horn; Brattons stainless steel bumpers; modifications: 1932 gas tank, wheeltubs, 1929 windshield frame, 1-inch-widened rear fenders, steel filled roof
Miles Driven in a Year: 200
Favorite Shows to Attend: In & Out Thursday, Twilight Cruise, Grand National Roadster Show
Any Awards: Best of Show at Ruby’s, Legends and Fabulous Fords Forever, Hot Rod Magazine Sept. ’20, Hagerty Drivers Club Feb. ’21
Background on the Car: When I was young my father had a 1939 Ford business coupe and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. My uncle had a 1931 Model A pickup. My older brother had a two-wheel chopper and a three-wheel chopper. It seems like someone in the family was constantly working on a motorized project. We grew up racing go-karts and quarter midgets and wrenching on anything with an engine.
Now that my son is getting a little older I wanted to do a father-and-son project, so I bought a field find 1931 Ford Tudor sedan in 1998. We bought it in Colorado and shipped it to California. It had the usual rust and mice living everywhere. It was all-original, including the engine, transmission, lights, bumpers, and seats. It ended up being a three-generation project: me, my father, and my son. The project renewed the bond I had with my father when I was young. My wife even contributed by buying parts for my birthday and Christmas over the years.
Since it was going to be a hot rod, we began to remove anything that was not going to be used on the car. The original frame was sandblasted, narrowed, boxed and Z’d with new crossmembers installed. A Ford 351 race engine with roller cam, roller rockers, and roller lifters replaced the old four-cylinder. Sanderson headers and Borla stainless steel exhaust complement the new engine. A five-speed TREMEC transmission and a King Cobra clutch replace the original two-speed. The brakes were upgraded to Wilwood four-piston on all four wheels. Heidts stainless steel suspension was installed front and rear with Aldan Eagle adjustable coilover shocks. A 9-inch Ford rearend with posi-traction completed the suspension.
The exterior was painted with black single-stage PPG paint to give it the depth and shine I was looking for. The interior includes Katzkin leather, A/C, power windows, tilt steering column, wool carpet, and a remote-control stereo system.
