...the hard way... I thought it would be cool to do something with the strips that hide the seam on the back off the roof of a Model A Coupe. So I saved a set of strips out of a Model A Sedan, and I want to try and use them to continue the strips all the way to the sunvisor... First I had to correct the old Chop ( make it symetrical), and cut out the old fillerpanel. ( and lots of Bondo...) I tried to change the curve on one of the Sedan strips, and that looks like its going to work, so I kept on going... Then I cut the roof panel to size width wise + 1/2" extra on each side for the flange. Put the Flange on with my Pullmax, and did the same with the pieces I cut off the side. Now I have something that will clamp the strip. It still needs lots of recontouring, straightening, etc, but I think its going to work... I'll post more once I have some more work done.
soo... this is like fender welting(only metal) or upohlstery piping (only metal)... neat what will actually be the sealing /caulking substance? butyl , silicone ???? just for my own info have you ever filled the roof on 32 sedan..
Please post more when you get further along ! I'm about to that stage of my build. Right now I'm wating for my first all-metal to dry on this body 1930 "A"
Its about a 2" wide strip of sheetmetal that is folded over itself into a T-shape. And contoured to the curve of the backpanel of a 30/31 Model A Sedan. Henry used it to hide the bad fit between the backpanel and the sides. ( I found that out when I shaved those strips off the back of another Model A Coupe roof...) The backpanel/strip/sides are bolted and welded. If they used any sealing, thats probably gone after 80 years or so. So I the primer and paint will have to seal it... Havent filled a '32 Sedan yet. But I've done a 30/31 Model A Sedan.
Interesting concept. On a '31 coupe my brothers and I are working on, I proposed we fill the roof, but roll a joggle around the edge at the same place the normal fabric welt would sit. Then we could terminate those T strips into the back edge of the raised joggle. That way, the car would have the "essence" of the stock fabric, with the solidity of the filled roof. Not sure if my bro's will go for it yet.
I recontoured the T-strips to the curve I wanted, and then I matched the two side panels to them. And then I did the same with the two sides of the roof panel. ( with my Shrinker/Stretcher ) So I had 6 surfaces with the same curve in it.
Then I clamped the side panels to the roof panel, with the T-strip clamped between them. And welded them on the backside ( what will be the inside of the roof.) The heat of welding changed the contour a bit, but I expected that.. I'll have to change it back. Test fit on the car...
I like the concept, normally I hate filled roofs on Model As, most are poorly done and look like a filled roof, I think this one will look right. Good job, lot of work I'm sure but it will be worth it.
When I first saw what you were doing, I thought what are you doing. After looking at it, it looks good. Did you put any shape in the roof panel before hand. How you are you going to transition the roof into the visor or is there going to be another T section across the front?
Some more pics. Sunvisor welded on. Headerpanel welded in ( I didn't use any wood Like it was originally ) Roofskin welded in. The Roof skin is O/A Hammerwelded in. ( Almost completely, I'll do the rest after I hammer it in shape a bit more...) There were some really nasty Mig Welds on this Roof already, and the metal was ground to sliver in places... Not the best pics, my hands were a bit shaky after running the Planishing Hammer...
Looks great Alex. Are those Brookville wheel wells for a '32 roadster/5 window that you installed? Just curious since we may need to put some in the Mordoor to gain some extra clearance. -Ryan
Yeah...( I think they are Brookville, I got them at the Old Ford Store ) I have a set here that I will put in my 5W, if you want to come over and measure them, let me know.
Looks like a lot of work but well worth it. Without some type of insert those seams just kind of end right at the top, never looked right to me. I like this deal better than smoothin them out. Very Kewl.
Those seem to be what we need to gain a little extra clearance, wanna practice splicing some into a lowly fordoor.. -Ryan
It looks like you kept the DRIP rails / channels; did they just get welded back in the stock location? And were they the two piece type?
The Driprails are stock 30/31. They didnt get shaved or taken off, and didn't have to be modified for the Chop. The Roof Panel itself ( the filler panel ) is off a mid '60s Chevy. I liked the curve in it, and it worked out nice because with putting the 4 flanges on, it lost 2" in width. I have used Maveric Roof Skins before to fill Model A Coupe's, but that would have ended up too narrow in this case... Thanks for the nice words guys...
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