Well after cleaning up that seam that rusted out where the top and sides meet, I was bummed that my measurements were off, about 1/8-3/16. They woulda been right if I had measured it from the vertical window post, but then I think the rain gutter line woulda been off. So oh well that's why the rusty body huh! Its ok i'm a "tigger" and need the practice! yeah... Rusty Ford steel is great to weld with once its clean too. Thank the hot rod gods for the Miller DynAsty!! Like I said earlier, the seam where the top and sides meet, the gutter line, was really rusty. After taking out the old sealant tape and rust, it compressed alot. I think thats what created the change measurements, cause the rust expanded that area more than I realized. But this part lined up kinda like the clouds parting on a rainy day and the sun blinding your eyes so I had to sit down... TP
I did this photoshop some time ago.. I'm wondering the same thing... why not looks soo good to me. (Mine is mildy sectioned as well)
As Rikster states ( and cleatus) the 40 has some bulbousness to it. I actually kinda like the curviness, and am just trying to reduce it, kinda like a breast reduction not a mastectomy! Most chops replace those crazy curves of a 40 and smooth it out. The idea is to use the most minimal amount of bondo if needed and not replace ford steel. I don't have an english wheel (yet) and definitely not gonna pound something out symmetrically! (or strips of sheetmetal either) My metal finishing won't be as perfect as on Djangos/HotRodChassis chop but good enough for this car. The rear quarter window to me is also a focal point and this kinda chop makes it smaller lengthwise and uses the stock curves as well. When Rikster posted his hardtopped versions on the art contest,I flipped! But just not for this project! TP
This is why I wish I'd done more prep work squaring up the body. For some reason the rear window center is about 1/4 inch off. The outsides are also not symmetrical. I have no idea why one side was wider than the other, maybe the fords weren't as perfect I guess, or the dent that was on that rear quarter changed the curvature? not sure but the top part measures the same and the bottom part is wider on the left. This was the first mockup of the windshield too. Again I cut about 1/4 inch too much out of the center. Thinking I could compress it and tack it, this one is a little more sloped. On the corners you can see the stretch cuts. This will be the hardest part since its so round and needs some pounding. TP
Please leave the 40 alone, it has perfect proportions as it is. I have a 40 deluxe coupe and a 39 tudor. a sacralidge to chop a 40 coupe or sedan
If i'm lucky i'd like to have a stockish hot rod 40 wartime style, and then a radical one, not as crazy as bluto's, but something more race. I'd love to take out a tuner/mustang/tall truck with this rusty thing! I know lotsa HAMBers like the taildraggers but thats definitely not my style, though they're cool to look at. TP
Well that top rear pic was just a mockup, with clamps holding it together. After attaching the side pieces (see the tacks on the rain gutter) I slid it around to match the gutter line. Surprisingly it only took one slit on the drivers side Yeah I messed up here cause the cut overhang. For some reason I had clamped it using the window center as the true center, but it wasn't and by the time I figured it out I'd already trimmed it there. So when it was readjusted got another gap...it came out ok though... and 3 slits on the passenger side. According to this curve measure tool, the curves are almost exact, but almost = 2 slits! Than used some of the old cutouts to change the rear window corner. Here it is more obvious how the one side needed a bigger patch. Also moved the bottom center. Now they're symmetrical! strange. TP
Hey I heard you know how to paint over rust! I'll drop it off at your place when its ready, just don't drive it I wanna drive it back! TP
So I read through the whole thread, and am wondering if you are going to build the hull into something or just practicing on it? Are you still going to cut the green coupe? Very smart to practice...not everyone has that luxury, a fact proven by all the Carson tops running around...
Well the idea is to make a frame and get it running. The time frame is up in the air, but i've been known to thrash something together! At first I was considering a HAMB-unfriendly setup, well actually maybe HAMBworthy with a s10 frontend or something similar;0 but a friend might throw an original style frame my way which will change the plan9! Regardless if I can keep chipping away at it, it beats television, whoring and hard drinking! .... So a 7/16 sliver had to be added to the windshield center. Fortunately the cast-offs weren't thrown out so it wasn't difficult. It eased the tension on the top though and made the corners alot easier. The door jamb was so rusted out that the pieces literally fell off during the initial cutting. It made it alot easier actually cause I could focus on the body not the supports, and then weld in the inner jamb once the body/windshield frame was straight. since they were kinda arc'd anyway they had to be conformed to the new curve. it was a pain in the ass but it was less work then anticipated. take a look at the bottom left corner, thats some nasty bodywork I don't know why that was like that. TP
TP... good job man. it'd look good atop a set of mid 30's ford rails is there any door jamb left? my 34 coupe had its jambs cut out long ago and will need to either find genuine ford parts .....or.... while at Jimmy White's a couple months back i saw a cut down 34 three window where he had built his own out of square tube and after market suicide hinges. looked real nice... i took some pics, if you are looking for ideas ill send them your way.
Looks like you're having fun with the Rust Bucket and no real loss if it comes out goofy, so what the hell. (and so far it looks OK) BUT, I would never, ever condone cutting a decent 39-40 as I still have yet to see one that looks better than what Henry did (including all the ones on here). Some of them look OK, maybe even good, but not BETTER than Henry's version. JMHO
I guess I can grab that Navarro 3 pot intake against the fence at your old shop then. By the way, saw some pics while browsing the net a couple of days ago, looks real good! Ken
thats funny! hey by the way hows your coupe project(s)! ++++ Oh yeah did I tell you guys that the door hinges had disentegrated? (along with the door bottoms...) dang back in a minit... TP
Someday i'd like to invest in a foot controled shrinker/stretcher, (or have NealinCA rig one up like his!) The jamb area would be a good starter project for that tool, since its just a stretch-curved right angle. Oh yeah Ken, that I musta missed that goin to the scrapper! TP
So first the door had to be tacked in, fortunately the bracing was close enough so the top was cut off and trimmed to fit. The angle started at the hinge. so a little sliver had to be added. Than somehow a piece of the curve matched almost perfectly. I'll still have to add some to make the gap right, but its pretty close. I'm happy with the profile! TP
Before you guy start talking all kinds of shit about this one. It's a surviver that was chopped and customized WAY back in the day...pretty famous! Here's a side shot. It's an acquired taste...
that red one rickster posted is great,,,,beautiful proportions.. its tricky,,,BUT can look good nice work so far
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