Reference for a '32 Ford 5 Window.

A little over a week ago I went and picked up my '32 5 Window body from fatabone who was cool enough to bring it back from Illinois for me after purchasing from Plowboy a couple months ago. Once I got my first look at it in person I realized that this was going to be a bigger project then anticipated.

Basically the bottom ten inches are gone and the two rear quarters are shot after being cut off and screwed back on. Those are the things that I knew about so that was not a big deal but the braces and such are pretty much gone too. Inner door panels????? Gone!!!

I really don't expect to really start on that car for some time, but I would like to get an understanding of the bracing and subrails in a '32 5 window as well as just exactly what pieces are needed to put this thing back together.

I have a new Roadster quarter but need the bracing and rain gutters which I think can be ordered from Brookville. Is everything from braces to sub floors the same in a roadster???? What did you guys do about inner door panels and bracing there??? I tried pouring over TRJ's 1932 issue where they featured the '32 3 window Delux in bare metal. I figure that the inner door panels would be close besides the fact that they hinge from the opposite side.

So I am asking for all the images that you guys have that will help. Build pics where the bracing is available to see, subfloor reconstruction, inner door ideas, etc. Show me anything that you think is helpful when building a 5 window. I will pretty much need from the belt line down but I wouldn't mind seeing everything if it pertains to a total build as far as body goes. Also where is the best place to start, subrails???

Tricks, Ideas, Tools, Suppliers, etc is welcomed!!!

 

All the panels on a 3 window are unique in shape and style. The inner structure of a roadster is closer.
There have been a couple of articles recently in magazines showing channeling 5 window coupes or rust repair. Both in R&C I think.

 

Pics! We want PICS!

 

Cool I'll start digging back in my filed issues.

I refuse.

 

join the club... ...the "beat to **** 32 club".


I just made rear sills on my 32 coupster, and need to do the fronts as soon as I get a stock firewall. My car was not all that rusty, but I have never seen one more cut up...all **** mods like suicide doors that never worked, channeling with no bother to align things...it was (is) a mess.

Inner doors are not rocket science, they are quite simple in design.

My car is converting to a cabriolet, and I am using 31 Dodge inner doors, regulators and latches.

 

I haven't started taking my 5 window apart for the rebuild nor have I removed any of the interior but as soon as I do I will try and take photos of anything ya need to see,, HRP

 

I was wondering about this. I realize that it's my car and I really never plan on getting rid of it unless my family needs it but I was wondering if people took parts from other cars to build these things. I just figured that it was taboo and I would get hammered for asking. Sort of like the "if you don't have money to do it right then get rid of it" mentality.

Cool to know that you a getting things off others.

 

Ha! same thing I'm doing with mine! how wierd is that. never seen one done like this before and you are right in CT?? whereabouts??

mine had the windshield posts cut off and tubing welded around the top of the interior with the doors welded shut. it was channeled over model A rails at some point with a fibergl***ed in plywood floor. it now sports newly fabricated windshield posts, stock floors, and opening doors. BTW, what did you do for an upper door hinge?? no such thing as a quality repop hinge that matches the ford lower???

 

What I,m doing right now is what BOB reccomended and I think Zack also...

To get the dimensions square ....

I put my 5w onto the original frame....with original firewall....and original rear fenders....

This is looking like a real good way to align everything, square it and...and begin patching the lower 8....

By doing this its seems that the placement of the body realitive to the frame, ends up close to stock and from there you can begin to get a feel for where the subs will sit....

The rear rumble supports and trunk gutters seem to be close enough for me....from roadster to 5w....

3w no way...

probbally sounds vague but like I said before your more than welcome to the pieces after im done with repairs

just hope no one gets the frame before you start....you did say its going to be awhile.

 

Your best bet is to find a local one to make patterns from for fitment of patch panels. I put mine on roadster subrails and they differed to my body, and didn;t fit the original frame. Once I had them fit to the frame I pretty much lowered the body down onto the subrails and braced at stock dimensions with angle iron, then started building the braces and pillars back to where they needed to be
Having a pair of rear fenders would help along with a stock firewall to sort of hold the body right... also tacking the doors in place would be a benefit to holding it square.

Really I think finding a good solid original one locally is the best thing to do to get the feel for it all.

Heres some pics I have saved here at work...

 

Holy ****!! Thanks everyone this info is helping a lot!! Zach, the images are exactly what I was hoping for. Keep it coming!!

 

Don't know if any of these will help....Fabian Valdez shot these when he rebuilt my 5 window....

 

did you get the new '32 book(s)?
I haven't yet but they sound like a real good investment

I gave up and got rid of mine for a roadster again, So I don't have much more in the line of progress photos for you.

Good luck!

 

The Horror!!!











Like I said I have a Brookville roadster quarter coming down as we speak from Detroit that I bought off ebay a couple weeks ago. I got this whole quarter for $280 so I think I am not completely gone. It looks like there is zero rust on it but a slight discoloration which I am hoping was not a fire but we'll see this wednesday.

Thanks everyone.

 

Here is all I have ... a photo of the drivers side inner door.
I would get some more photos for you but the 5W is full of junk.





It belongs to a friend ... and has sit like this for years



At least is it INSIDE ... and NOT ... rotting down.

 

Well J.J. atleast you have garnish mouldings!

 

Cool Deuce Roadster, that shot of the inner door was one I am hoping to get more of. It actually doesn't look too bad as far as fabricating something that is close as far as looks and function.

 

As noted above, a pair of fenders and a firewall will give you a big start to jigging the thing up. Both attach to body and frame....looks like you have just enough flange to hold a couple bolts of one fender to start with...
Roadster parts are closely related...I think B pillar location in rail is one difference. I believe everything BETWEEN the rails is identical, rails are close. You have a fair amount of door structure, so doors can serve as templates for the curvature of the sagging body.

 

Hahaha!!! That's what I thought. I might have to sell those to buy some patch panels though. I know it's pretty rough but like I said, it can take as long as it wants because I am in no hurry. I figure 5 years to get the body back to it's fighting weight. Little at a time so I don't get overwhelmed. I just want to make sure I know what I need so I can keep my eyes peeled for parts.

 

At least the cowl vent and the roof are not filled !

 

Oh I forgot to mention the other quarter is hanging in my garage right now so I have that too. Same condition as the other though.

 

Always the diplomat....hey Zack....

J.J. as always man...your more than welcome to come here and see the door on mine....make some patterns or just for a visiual....my doors are good...

Your not going to have to fix a bad chop....

 

JJ, any thoughts on selling that body

that roof would look *****ing on top of my body!

 

If I ever saw a candidate for new Brookville quarters and subrail/floor, you've got one. That car is crying out for a solid foundation. I'd save my pennies and see if you can order an ***embled subrail/floor and start mocking up from there.

Stock 32 door inners have a lot of arch to them, making room for the winders. Flat stock with some ribs probably won't cut it. Look for some stock parts if you plan on using 32 winders.

 

Thanks dude, one of my wishes for this summer has been to come out and hang and check out what you have going on out east but life has been getting in the way. I should definitely get out there before fall though and I really appreciate the offer. Who knows what the two of us knuckleheads can accomplish in a weekend.

 

looks like a fun project, dont worry, youll get her back in shape, just dont rush anything, and spend what you have to on the parts you need to have!

JEFF

 

Hey Jeffery , I will bring my truck to the Iron Lords club house wednesday and haul that thing off for you, no charge , anything to help a brother out.

 

I look forward to it....

Sakowski was over yesterday and it dawned on me that I need to get out more and meet some other hambrs in the area....

good people....fall, winter and spring rule here....well get up

 

That aint tooooo bad man. I mean, fixing the bottom of the cowl aint a biggy, get some better doors or fix those...again, no biggy and get some roadster quarters (I think they look sweet on coupes) and your coming right along. Once you start doing that and get it off the ground were it's falling into itself it'll start looking like a real car. Garnish moldings are a HUGE plus.

Heres my 33 the day I got it (only when I first saw it there was no rear end under it), and the second pic is what it is now. Amazing what some work/mock up will do. Get the rust fixed, get it on a frame and it'll come together

 

Cool!! I am pretty excited. I never have surprises..well except that time I spotted the adam's apple on the stripper for my birthday.