Technical My Burnt Model A Cab needs a wood kit.

Hey Guys.

I picked up the sad remains of a 30 pickup cab with my 29 Cabriolet Body as a job lot several years ago.

I was looking for both and I got what I though was a good deal at the time. It was a while before I realised the pitted rust and buckled panels on the pickup cab were not from general wear and tear and exposure to the elements but were actually the result of fire.

As you can imagine I was less than impressed, and only have myself to blame for not being more scrutinising at the initial inspection stage. Thankfully I have the equipment to repair most of it but one thing eluding me.

It’s a wood kit, something that is easily sourced if you have deep pockets which I don’t.
I will making my own but without the originals to get patterns from I need to get measurements from somewhere.

 

I am interested in the brace that runs parallel to the rear swage as well as the the three below that the seat attaches to.

 

I need measurements of the thickness of the timber, especially the rear panel that the fabric tacks into. Also the overall dimensions of the centre frame as it’s separate to the others. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

It’s looking increasingly like I will have to estimate the dimensions for these pieces.
I have already made up contour gauges for the piece AWD-1035-5, so with a little work I will have the section made up first.

 

I have a matching cab. The fire made the metal behind AWD-1283-4 swell up on mine. Havent figured out how to shrink the body lines. I do have the new wood. Which measurement do you want? I can measure tomorrow

 

Thanks for ManyOCars for his help - but maybe posting over on the Ford Barn might be an option....

 

I can get you those measurements. I have been doing the same thing but have the remnants of some of the wood to go by. it is a hot rod so we are not that concerned with "perfect" restoration or replication.
built thread here: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/fixing-a-smashed-31-model-a-pickup-cab.1143362/

 

Thanks for the help, this is the piece I need the measurements from. I am not worried about the slight radius, just the thickness.

 

Thank you for those measurements, that will really speed the process along, I will post of some photos of the pieces when I get them made up.

 

I still have the original piece of this that I can measure for you. I still have to remake it also.

 

I believe that back piece is made from three pieces of wood scarfed together. that is how I plan to do it. the gentle arched piece and the two curved sides.

 

The back roof piece is three pieces, the two short end pieces finger jointed to the long center pieces. The mid cab wood, I took some 1/8” metal strip and shaped to to the cab to get any extra little bit of room in the cab.


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View attachment 4595260 That’s interesting, I have managed to shape this as a single piece. It’s just pine but once completed I will be using it as a template to trace onto a piece Cyprus and doing the same thing. Assuming I can’t source any oak.

 

It’s finally ready for trial fitting and final trimming.

 

I think the benefits of doing it in three pieces is; wood conservation, they can be made with smaller dimensional lumber. the corners can be cut with the grain running through the curve. for strength and the nails won't be driven into end grain.

 

That’s a very good point. Is this what you mean ?

 

I have had a bunch of rusty tin...
from many a farmers field... lots were burned...
one ol' koot told me that they burned them because the sunlight through cracked glass might catch them on fire...
afraid it would burn the fields and then burn down the farm...
I was left with some badly buckled tin...

 

After a lot of extra cutting and sanding, I finally got it sitting inside the cab. Sorry for the lousy photos, I will try and get some more in the morning.

 

yep I think so if I am looking at that photo right. I am pretty sure they finger jointed it but any overlap scarf joint with todays modern urethane glues would be strong.
if you look through the thread I posted you will see I ran steel up and over and will be bolting the wood to it. the combination of the wood and steel is really strong.

 

Any extra information or images are greatly appreciated as I have been unable to find any detailed close up images of the roof bow.

 

@chev34ute , down under oak is not so plentiful . We have made several wooden support structures for a few cars now out of old oak bed heads and oak legs and old wardrobes. Granted the bed heads are only 20mm .Finger jointed and laminated where needed. It looks fantastic when stained lightly and sanded to make the grain pop.
Good idea using pine as a pattern, but use harder wood for the final product.

 

I am thinking of using Cyprus as it strong and termite proof.

 

I have had the flu, but will get the measurements when I can.

 

I sold a complete '30 pick up wood kit this spring... wish I had known you needed them then...

 

There’s no rush, especially with the flu.

 

It’s all good, it seems to falling into place so to speak.

 

note the rabbit. I measured from the bolt hole in the bracket to the inside edge of the rabbit . I also measured the distance between the rabbits. the rabbit is for the side piece that runs front to back.