Thread: 1931 Model A Coupe

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Gotta love it!

Much patience, big skills, many hours!!!
Did you use all - original wood, or did you have to replace any?

As said earlier, thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much for the kind words guys! This is going to be my last full build, and I'm in no hurry to get it done.

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This shows the "good" firewall in for body integrity. I repaired the body edges
where the firewall attaches, and filled all the old spot weld holes. I wanted it
removable so I used 1/4" 20 nuts spaced like the ones across the top to attach
to the car. I have plans for this area in the future.
Rich

Amazing process! Great to see one being saved that was pretty far gone!

t-top havoc, I replace all the wood with new except for the lower door jam
piece. The upper piece by the quarter window I replaced so I could weld
inside when I chopped the top.

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In the previous pic everything looked O.K., but the roof panels did not fit right.
A close look will show the body is now sitting on the frame, and the frame is clamped to the jig. This is many weeks later after repairing the front mounts by the lower cowl, and fitting all the wood blocks for the rest of the body mounts. The visor does not fit well, and is very flimsy.

Rich

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I wanted to add some support to the visor (they start to flutter at 120mph) so I made up a piece of 16 ga to fit against the upper windshield panel. There are 1/4" 20 nuts
welded to the backside, and the wood is relieved so it lays flat.
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Heres the finished support which is not visible when the car is at ride height.
Rich

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I have had the wood in, and out of the car many, many times sanding shaping
trying to make things fit right! I have finally commited to welding the visor to the top.
There are steps in the panels where they meet the visor which I hammered flat, and slit the top to make them meet correctly.
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Here I have ground everything down, but cannot get to the backside to metal finish.
I have a cure for that.
Rich

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Been awhile since Iv'e done any leading! I have seen too many Model A's with
cracks in this area so no bondo.
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Ready to work it.
Rich

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Heres the finished area.
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I had repaired all the cracks in the top opening, now I welded the area at the
Tee moulding area, and a little lead to cover it. I also ground the Tee moulding
back about a 1/2" to clear future vinyl top trim.
Rich

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I decided I did not want chicken wire, or a steel insert. I like the look of the
fabric top. Here I'm making the pattern for 1/4" oak paneling.
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Of course it will not lay flat, but I'll fix that.
Rich

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I soaked it in water, clamped it, and let dry in place.
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Heres the finished piece after staining, and polyurathane.
Rich

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I tapered the leading edge for a smooth transition for the top install.
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This shows the the side panel relationship.
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I may not install a headliner!
Rich

Leave the headliner out, that's pretty.

Slinging lead, now that's old school.

Thanks for the comments guys, and I'll probably never puy a headliner in it Firebird.

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I started cutting all the window frames.

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All done, welds ground, sand blasted ready for etch prime.

Rich

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Started replacing the rear panels, none of the reveal would line up with the originals so
I replaced a bigger piece than I had planned on. I wrapped the bottom edge around
the sub frame like the originals.

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Here I'm beating the snot out of the patch panel to make the reveal line match
the one on the car.