1930 Model A Roof

[jnex]

Hello looking for suggestions on how to complete roof on a 1930 Model A Tuder with 4 inch chop.
Should I fill it in with wood or steel and if wood where can I get the templates to complete.

Also wondering about interior seats what is the best and easiest fit for front and rear.

[Don Shillady]

A complete treatment of the chop of a Model-A Tudor ('29) is given in "How to Build a Hot Rod Model A Ford" by Dennis Parks, MBI Publishing 2001, available from Amazon.com for about $20. It is complete with pictures and discussion.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[38racing]

I made a pattern of the curve at the rear of top opening. I fit wood pieces at the rear where top meets rear panel. Adjusted pattern to be 1/4 inch lower.I then made the cross struts from 2 pieces of flat steel, the bottom one remaining flat and the upper one curved to the pattern. Clamped around the pattern and to a straight, strong steel piece I welded the top and bottom piece with a few uprights pieces of the same flat steel. Struts are bolted to side roof panel lip. My plan is to tap the steel struts to #10 for holding down but now I just used #8 machine bolts to bolt a piece of 1/4 mahogany plywood into the opening. Started at the back and worked forward. Mahogany took double curve with coaxing plus I steam ironed as I went along. In hindsight I discovered there was 1/8 inch available which would have curved easier. At the front I found it was a tough go and maybe strut curves were out a bit so I replaced front 2 struts with one in the middle of where they would have gone. I made the front header from would so routed a rabbet in it for the plywood to fit into. This is an amateur job I admit but I am on a low budget project. Plan is to smooth out and cover with material .Some headroom loss with the flat interior surface but I have no chop.

[jnex]

Sound like a cool easy way to complete the roof do you have any pictures.
Joe

[Dave Severson]

Before you make any cuts on the car, put some X-braces in the car, at least two going from left to right so that the bottom portion of the car doesn't move around on you when you cut the roof off. I usually use 1" square tubing tack welded to the inside of the body. On an A I would reccomend one between the rear of the door jambs, and another just aft of the side window openings. Chopping an A is not that difficult as most everything moves straight down. Also, make a cardboard template of the section you are cutting out so that your cuts are the same from side to side.

[38racing]

Just to clarify , is the 4 inch chop already done?
As for seats I have the buckets from a 94 cavalier 2dr. had to refab brackets on driver side to make it fit. Have the middle seat of a dodge caravan as rear seat. Took it off it's frame and have it sitting on angle iron cross pieces that bolt to 2xn rect tubing which sits on the side subrails. All this in progress , not done