Smooth Decklid panel for '51 Ford

[DrDano]

I've seen some smooth decklid skins for early 30's Fords around and was wondering if anyone here knew of a source for one for a shoebox '51 Ford. I'm wanting to smooth mine out and was curious if someone made a similar panel for my car. Thanks!

[Curt Six]

I can't picture a stock '51, but I've got a '49 and my guess is they're the same (tag right in the middle of the trunk). I don't know of a source to just buy the panel, but I would think it would be pretty easy to form that mild contour from a flat piece of sheet metal.

Another option would be to look at the contour across the top of the deck lid and see if it matches up with the back of it. If so, grab a junk yard lid and cut a patch. Sounds like a shitload of work though...starting from scratch sounds easiest to me. Good luck!
Curt

[DrDano]

The 51 is pretty much the same on the outside as a 49 or 50, but have the hinges on the inside. Yes, it does have the indentation for the plate and looks really ugly in my opinion. The problem I see is that if a guy wanted to use a straight piece of steel he would need something to make the compound curve both horizontally and vertically to match the curve coming down from the top of the decklid. Hmm...mayhaps I just need to find a good metalworker who can bend me up a panel that I can just weld in after cutting the skin off mine.

[bradberry00]

isn't Wyotech in Laramie? If so go over there and have them fab you something up....they will probably do it for free or nearly free because it will give the students some hands on experience. Am I right or wrong?

[old beet]

Make a cardboard template of the curve, take it to nearest wreckin yard, I'm sure ya can find a like shape in a roof...instant patch panel......OLDBEET

[geemann51]

I actually just slit mine at the top of the indentation and hammer and dollied it out. At that point, I had a bead laid out with the welder and smoothed it out with a grinder and topped it off with a little bondo. Looks real good and is was real simple.

[Cannibal]

Just hammer and dolly the crease out and fill it
My lid was already bumped at the handle
try this

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=198657&page=8& view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=1

[DrDano]

Gee, I take it you removed the inner structure on the inside so you could access the backside of the skin with your dolly? Sounds like a decent idea, just take the indentation out.

Cannibal, your car looks to be nearly the ideantical cut job that I did on mine. Looks great, what color are you going to shoot it? Post some pix when you get it shot.

Brad, yes Wyotech is here. Most work done at the school is usually something you have to wait a long time for. A lot of the students have their own projects that they work on, which is what I would be doing if I was going to school there. I contacted the school about punching some louvers on my hood about a year ago and after numerous calls and no replies I took my hood elsewhere to be punched.

Thanks for all of your ideas, I think I might just remove the inner structure right behind the indentation and hammer it out slowly.