Projects 26 T Roadster Pick Up build Thread

One really appreciates the spring loaded door strap now and see how tidy it is when the door is closed, absolutely brilliant.

 

After much head scratching on what to do with the side panels and the curved body I made a plan and went ahead.

The rear panel was a problem as I just wanted to line the body behind the seats and have absolutely no room for clips of any kind.

So after much fabrication and welding in of the support structure for the side panels I got out the heat gun.

I heated and bent the ABS side panels to the shape of the body and the rear panel is held in place by the side panels which overlap the rear panel a small amount.

Next I'll put the seats back in and figure out small arm - elbow rests to go beside the seats.

So now I have all of the interior panels made and ready for upholstery later on. Larry

 

You just cant do wrong, Larry. Nice!! JW

 

Nice work Larry, I'm at the same stage on my 46. Funny thing, I've been following this build for years and just realized you're in Edmonton too. Finally a Hamb build that I may get to see in person when it's done!


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Very nice work Larry and just another example of your skills.

 

Great idea!

 

Nice looking! Attention to detail is outstanding!

 

Digging it.

 

Arm rests. There isn't much room for them however there is enough.

So, how do you make a pair of armrests?

A paper pattern of the basic shape and then a couple of pieces of ratty old 2x4 lumber.
1/4" coupling nuts with retainer washers tacked to them to mount them on the side panels and then glue the 2 pieces together.

Cut out with the band saw and shaped on the belt sander, there you have it, a pair of armrests.

They will be covered with upholstery vinyl later.
I'll post a picture once I mount them.
Larry

 

That is nice. I'll remember that.

 

Arm rests are done and installed on the side panels.
I glued a second layer of ABS plastic to the back of the panels so that where the armrests attach is now 1/4" thick.
Mounted them with fender washers and the 1/4" machine screws.

They are going to work great,a comfortable place to rest my arm
Larry.

 

Larry,

I've been subscribed to this thread since the very first post you made. I think I've read every post you've made at least twice and most more than that.

I know absolutely nothing about upholstery, so please forgive me if my questions are basic stuff that most folks already know. I like the plastic you're using.

1: what are the clips you're using?
2. where do you get them?
3. how do they work?
4. how do you cover the plastic panels?
5. what are you going to use to cover them?

b-t-w: if I missed the answers to these questions in your earlier posts I'm sorry.

 

Hi, glad you are enjoying my adventure.
The ABS sheet is 1/8" textured one side.
The clips are Ford panel clips

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Door_Trim_Panel_Fastener_Ford_p/a10780.htm

You can see that they slip into the 1/8" ABS plastic panels through a 1/2" hole placed so that the pointed part lines up with the 17/64" holes for mounting the panel.

You will notice that once I had the panel popped into place I marked the clips location and removed the panel.
I then riveted them in place to the panel with short 1/8"pop rivets.
That keeps them in place and make it a whole lot easier to line up the panel clips with the holes and then give the panel a smack with your hand at each clip to pop it into place.

I'm going to stitch up some vinyl the same material as my seats are done in and with the same 2" pleats.
Probably a combo of some pleats and some smooth sections once I figure a pattern out.
A thin layer of upholstery smoothing foam and then fold the vinyl over the panel edges and secure with a good spray adhesive like 3m Super 77.

Hope that gives you an idea.
Larry.

 

Thanx. Very, very cool.

When I asked I was thinking of my '26 T (half of a touring) that I'm collecting parts for.

However, now that I see what you did I'm wondering about using this for a headliner in Clarence (see avatar), How close do these clips need to be in order to be stable?

 

Larry I would avoid any of the aerosol adhesives. They all seem to fail after a while and pretty much every upholster I have talked to has told me that they are a waste of money. I took an empty gallon can to Trevor Browns and they poured off some of their good quality upholstery adhesive for pretty cheap and it works way better than any of the spray stuff I have tried.

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Thanks for the tip, I will do the same. Don't want what I end up doing coming apart down the line.
Larry

 

I'm not sure how they would work for a headliner since they were designed as door panel clips. It would depend on the material in the headliner.
I think if the weight was too much that they might let go. They hold really well on the side and door panels but are relatively easy to pop out to remove the panels.
I'm thinking at most 8" apart.
You could ask if anyone here has used them on a headliner panel.
Larry.

 

Sent a small bit of time while doing other shop duties and took a little soap stone and laid out the interior pattern on the ABS panels.
Also bought all of the vinyl,the same as the seats. Got a really good price on it.
Probably going to buy a lower priced upholstery machine and have at it eventually.
Lots to do before then.

 

Do you really think your going to use arm rests? I can tell you from 9 years experience in a 26 T mod Theres no room for arm rests, except putting you arm on top of the door(plus it looks way Kooler)

 

Actually yes I will use them. They're positioned perfectly and there is room for them.
They will get used when the top of the body isn't available for instance when I have the top on.

My buddy has them in his T and they are nice to have.

 

Although a different style and color, I ran the same number of pleats. I thought you would like to see an actual interior pic to better see the scale.

 

This piece is from a Corvette.

 

Small details. Side mirrors I ordered from Brookville roadsters.
Welded bungs into the windshield posts.
The mirrors will be handy when I have the top on.

 

Looks pretty good in the photo, like a little grinding and no filler needed.

 

Thanks for using those mirrors as im thinking of the very same ones, just not sure of the longer arm items but that's what will be fitted now. They do look very cool. JW

 

They are listed on Brookville's site as the 32 chopped post mirror.
They look simple and clean and fit quite well into the T windshield posts.
https://brookvilleroadster.com/store/mirrors/32-chopped-post-mirror/

 

Hey Jeremy, just one word of advice (and I'm sure Larry will concur) if you hang your arm on the door while driving the shorter mirror arm will give you a great view of your own arm, not much of who's behind you. Mounting it higher may help.

 

The position of the silly one I have on there now is fin, just too small and not cool. Will go with the longer on both sides. JW

 

That's true Eric. I mounted them high enough to just see over and past my arm.
I can just see the tip of my elbow in the mirror.
I'm more concerned with being able to use them with the top on than without.

In that case my arm won't be in the way.

I'm sitting here in the car now (doing my best to try not making Y Block sounds )

The seating position I have tailored for me is amazingly comfortable for such a small car.
I can rest my arm on the top of the body, or another option is the armrest which allows me to rest my elbow and hold the steering wheel in what I anticipate will be very nice for driving.
Can't wait

 

Oh go ahead, make those noises and post a video!

"Screeeeeeech.... waaaaah, chirp, WAAAAAAAAH!!!...."