Are there any mfg. that build 26-27 body sides?

[Roothawg]

Just another stupid idea I am toying with.
Just wondering if anyone stamps out the body sides for the 26-27 in steel?

[Roothawg]

anyone?

[SamIyam]

Nope.
Nobody makes them...

What's your idea?
Sam.

[Roothawg]

Wife is wanting to build her own car. I figured if I could find the panels she could "assemble" her own car. She's wanting to do the paint and all.I figured it might be easier for her first build.

[Curly]

I thought the gasser/grocery getter was her thing? Did you create a monster? Next thing ya know you'll head for the garage and she'll have your tools all arranged in an a certain way so that she can find 'em when she needs 'em.

I was jealous when you said your wife wanted the gasser project...thought to self , "Hell can't even get my wife to look INSIDE the garage and yours is going to build a car!" but after deeper thought maybe its a good thing she doesn't get interested and invade my space!!!

I am now confused but I've been here before!

Oh yeah....I searched High and low for repop 26-27 sides and the best I could come up with was patch panels for along the bottom from Mac's.

If you are intersted in 23-25 roadster sides Snyder's has them for $725.00 each add the back panel for another $200.00 and you've got a metal T-bucket for $1650.00! OUCH

[just steve]

How 'bout door skins? I picked up the front half of a '27 T touring body up north this last weekend, but need a couple of doors. I did find 3 '23 touring doors (and the back half of a 23 touring to match) , but they're substantially different.

So far haven't been able to locate repro ones . . . might just have to make the damn things.

Anyone? Anyone?

Steve.

[Roothawg]

The wagon/gasser project is too much for her. The car has extensive rust in the floor panels. I figure I could steer her in the right direction but still let her build if I had new pieces that weren't gonna hafta be fabricated.

[hammeredabone]

Root,
These 26-27 bodies don't have a lot of crown in them. If you could fab one of those English wheels that Fat Cat did the plans for and a cheapy beadroller, you two could probably fab a body up without too much difficulty. Use tubing for the inner bracing.Cost for materials should be about $50 factoring in some for mistakes.

[Assdragger]

Root, I`ve got 3 coupes right now,I`m going to get another one on Saturday...for the doors, and I`ve got a line on three more! I`m going to build 1 coupe and 1 roadster...someday! After I pic and pull all the stuff I want I`ll have enough crap left over to piece together another roadster body minus doors. Let me know if your interested and I`ll send you some pic`s of the lil jewels. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Roothawg]

If I had an English wheel I might attempt someting like that. I was hoping that I could buy most pieces and score a cowl. That wouldn't leave a whole lot. I would build the inside of the frame out of 1" round tubing.

[Unkl Ian]

Teach her how to weld. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[286merc]

Ironhunter built that oversize English wheel last year just to do door skins and deck lids for the 3 26-7 coupe bodies he got from Rocky. Dont know if he has had time lately; when I was down to see him in June nothing had been done.

I built Enjenjoes smaller version and made up cowl patch panels as well as for around the rear belt line. Came out nice after a bit of practice. Then the Henrob made the rest easy.

[doodlebug]

Root,
If you just want the cut off tourer/modified look do what hammered said (buy a cowl and doors is easier), the sides are simple curves), but a rounder roadster rear looks nicer. (yeah I know, my opinion)

Hey Assdragger,
If Root is not after roadster rear corners or you wind up with a spare set (anybody?), I'd be interested. I've got a cowl, doors and a line on a line on a rear, but no seat section.

I can't find new. I have another car to copy, but it is a very tight compound curve, and I don't think I'm up to the task. It was hard enough fixing the cowl and doors.

Has anybody built those roadstr seat corners or know of anything else that could be cut up to suit (hood, guard, etc)?

Sorry to hijack your post Root.

[Assdragger]

Everything I have, or may aquire is coupe stuff. I was thinking along the lines of the Golden rod coupe turned roadster. I`ll be clearing house after I get everything I need. It`ll take some work but a guy could make a roadster with the leftovers..minus doors.

[JimC]

You have mail.

[Roothawg]

Got it Jim. Thanks

[beatnik]

[ QUOTE ]
Wife is wanting to build her own car. I figured if I could find the panels she could "assemble" her own car. She's wanting to do the paint and all.I figured it might be easier for her first build.

[/ QUOTE ]


That's the coolest thing I've heard in a while. Now tell us she wants a sick Gasser too.

[manyolcars]

I went to visit a guy in Sawyer Oklahoma today who has the back of a nice 26 tudor and a large part of a T pickup and lots of other stuff.

[Mo Junk]

Roothawg, I am also building a 26'-27' lakes modified. I haven't been able to locate any reproduction panels. Here's what I'm doing.I have the front half of a touring(usable cowl and doors and good structural members). The middle panels in between the front and rear doors were ruined. I don't have an english wheel. Enstead I am using door skins from 47-53 Chev./GMC pickups to make the panels. These door skins have a slight curvature front to rear and a nice curve top to bottom. You could use them to make door skins also. Even if the truck doors are rusted out at the bottom, the section you need would still be useable. For the rear of the body I am using the steel front seat back from a 33'-34' Ford 4 dr. It has nice lines, curves, and is the right width for the T body. Also, it was free. I considered not having a rear of the body but just using two steel bucket seats out of old school buses. If you take a look at the drivers seats they look like the old aircraft seats. They have nice lines, curves, etc. Most are the same design so putting together a pair wouldn't be a problem. Front seats from a 38 chev sedan are similar once you get all the material removed. Just wanted to offer some ideas. Hope it helps. Sam

[HotRodMicky]

Get a cowl and inner door structure.That is what i used to build my body.I did everything you see on the pic that is in bare metal and also the turtle deck.
Michael

[Roothawg]

Man, I swear I saw some for sale somewhere. It was an old wood and brass T dealer.
The catch was the doors weren't functional. I wish I could remember whose catalog it was.

I picked it up at the pre-war swap meet at Chickasha.

[Roothawg]

Manyolcars, are they for sale?

[SimonSez]

I also picked up a 26/27 Cowl and subframe but not much else. Wonder where the big pile of Model T backs is ??

Front doors are pretty rare over here, but I found 3 rear tourer doors at a swapmeet for $50.

The hinge spacing is the same as the front doors so they will bolt on to the cowl. They need to be shortened about 1/2" at the bottom and have the dog leg (for the rear guard) filled, but it will be easier than building some from scratch.

Model T Haven have some patch panels, including the lower 6 inches behind the doors.

They also have a few used parts including some front doors.

http://modelthaven.com/npsmu.html

http://modelthaven.com/npsmn.html

[Roothawg]

bttt

[gowjobs]

Rootlieb makes a bunch of the body kits for early (brass era) T's, but few parts beyond hoods and front fenders for the '26-'27. Would she consider a speedster? Just a thought.

[TV]

I can tell you guys that the turtle decks are very hard to find.You can buy a deck lid{not much good though}and lower panel,as well as top panel,but no one makes the rear quarters. I had to buy all old crap and repair for my BV 27 If you look in Himmings you should be able to find the parts.--TV http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Roothawg]

I may build the decklid out of round pipe and skin it.

[fab32]

If your interested in some work, Ron Covel did a series of articles in Street Rodder on making a turtle deck for a T. He made his from aluminum (easier to form) but said in the article one could be made from steel (just more work). I think the articles are from a couple of years ago.
I've been looking for a '27 turtle deck for years and have had no luck. I've even found a couple of bodys but the decks are long gone.

Frank

[smittyshotrods]

What is the deal with '26-'27 T stuff. There should be tons of this stuff around. I also have a '26 T coupe and I am looking for some decent doors but no luck. The ones I find are usually in about the same shape as the ones I have and they want big bucks for them. Damn maybe I should part my shit out!

[Southfork]

26/27 T roadsters are about my favorite body, so I have learned lot's about them over the years. 26/27 turtles and doors are getting pricier, but my experience is that there are still lots of them out there... at least in this part of the country. I didn't believe that when I was younger, but the older I get, the easier it is to find that stuff. Go figure.

One has to be careful, however, because most turtles you find tend to partially disappear when they are sandblasted or dipped. A friend of mine bought one out of Kansas that supposedly had only surface rust, but it turned to swiss cheese upon blasting. He then bought another one out of Nebraska ---same thing, even though no rust-through was evident when he bought them. The last turtle deck he bought, he didn't try to remove the surface rust from. But now patina is good.

Roadster doors are not all that hard to find if you use the Internet to go shopping. Quarters and original deck lids seem to be the hardest to find, and the quarters ALWAYS need patching. I've been looking for years for some more modern car body parts/panels to use in fabbing 26 roadster body quarters (panels behind the doors) from scratch. So far haven't found the right metal panels to get an exact duplicate, but I keep looking. One day I'll figure it out. Fortunately, I've got quarters for all my 26/27 projects except one.

Oh, yea, on about one third of the 26/27 roadster bodies you find around here, the metal body subfames have been cut off at the rear of the cab. That's usually and indication of a prior life as a rod. The 26/27 turtle and/or pickup bed both need that subframe, so it always complicates a project if the rear subframe is missing. You have to go search one out in that case, and it aint easy to get anybody to part out a roadster body if they've got even an incomplete one. They always want to build it or sell it as complete as possible.

[Dirk]

Hot Rod Micky, do you have any other photos. I have a nice cowl and doors. Did you use an english wheel or wood bucks? Looks great!

Any insight would be appreciated.

[HotRodMicky]

Hi Dirk,
for the turtle deck i used a wood buck to form the metal over.I used an english wheel, but door skins and for a VW beetle make good T skins too.For the other parts use VW beetle fender and roof metal....
Michael