Please share you BODY SHEET METAL working tips. Model A coupe if it matters.

So I have a lot of straightening to do. Anyone got some tips for a newb?
Most of what I am worried about is shown in pictures.

 

I would suggest cutting that out and fabbing up a new clean filler insert.
That's a lot of shrinking & straightening. Take off and inch or so, just above the distorted curl and form in a new piece. What kind of tools do you have handy?

 

What is your plan, were these once together or parts fron two different bodies?

 

once together. then cut apart buy a young punk in the eighties without bracing, obviously fucked up, sat for 20 years, and now I am going to rescue it.

 

I've thought about that idea. I'm trying to gain as much knowledge before I ask for his help.

I do have access to a lot of knowledge and experience (old boss is a metal working man), not a lot of body tools, just some cheap hammers and dollies. I do have my own welder, and the desire to learn. I can probably use the english wheel and what ever other tools I need. But I will be expected to do the work myself, even if I'm a newb.

 

Dosent matter about that bit , cause ya going to chop it anyway ??,you will be ok , take ya time ,stand back , think ,ask etc ..........

 

it's already chopped 3 inchs. I'm not taking out anymore.

 

Don't be afraid to take out another 1/2" or so to get rid of that boogered up metal. If you're going to be stubborn about having your chop be exactly 3", then you're making a hard road for yourself if you have never done this before. Good luck!!

 

I'd cut 1/2" more off and lineit up and start welding. Not gonna be an easy job anyway why make it harder?

 

I hear you guys. I guess my feelings are that I already don't want to go any lower than three inches and I feel taking more out is the easy way out. If I take the easy way I won't learn as much doing it. I like a challenge. I hope I am not an idiot for thinking I could do this. I figure I can't make it much worse and if I do. then I can chop it more.

I do appreciate the input.

 

I'd take out that wrinkled up metal, I think you'll get very frustrated very quick trying to straighten that out. No guarantee that it was even cut straight to begin with. Plus a 3 inch chop on a model a doesnt even look like a chop. Heres what I started with, a 28 special coupe with the special part missing.

Lots of measuring, cutting, and fabbing, and the back window from a fordor I ended up with this.

I had to fab up the lower body flange that attaches the roof to the body, and then I chopped it 4 inches.

I kept the back window big to keep the proportions rite once it was cut. Heres where Im at now.

I agree with learning on your project, you just dont have to learn it all at once.

 

I would just take another 1/2 inch out to clean it up. You'll never notice the difference. You could always make a filler piece, but why make it harder on yourself. Besides 3-1/2 inch chop on A is nothing.

 

Guys, I really don't want to cut this thing anymore. 3 inches is already lower than I would have chopped it. I have a pretty specific vision for this car, a slammed chop is not one of them. I'm not trying to be a dick, but I'm not going to learn a damn thing if I just "chop it a little more." I don't know why I am being so stubborn about this.

I do understand that you guys are trying to keep me from getting in over my head. I do appreciate that. I'm not even sure why I am so set on fixing it.

Maybe I should procure a set of cut outs from another chop. cut out the bad and weld in the good?

Gene Winfield's metal working class here I come!

Besides if I REALLY fuck it up. I can always cut off the roof and make it a coupster.....

 

I'll say it again if you don't want to chop it any more. Cut it out the bad piece and fab up a new piece or use your idea and buy some left over cutouts from someone else's chop. (just hope they cut in the exact place you need )
That is going to be your easiest bet.

Then take the pieces you cut out and practice hammering and shrinking them. See it you can duplicate the filler piece so next time you run into this you will be prepared.

Have fun.

N8

 

thanks for the advice. You are right, I going to try making the filler piece vs. finding pieces.

 

Ok. Dick ... here is an idea that many here will hate but will help your first metal job: Trim off the badly stretched piece. Then make a filler piece about an inch or so wider than the amount you removed. Use a cheap HF panel flanger on both sides of the filler ---___--- . Yes, it is way more welding and grinding and yes most don't lap weld a chop, but if you do the laps, it will help fix this car and retain the 3" chop.


our first builds are rarely ever our lifetime favorite car, so don't try to do this job like a pro with 50 years experience.....you will never be happy and quit. Give it your best effort and go with it.

 

dude the only person that will miss that extra 1/2" is the misses! cut it out!

 

Take it to the blaster first so you're working clean metal rather than rust. After that anything is possible.

 

Man look on ebay for chopped pieces....Ive seen alot of sheet metal on there....they usually put unchop your top as a title
Ill pm you if I run accross anymore

 

Good! You will never learn if you don't try. It's not easy but at least trying will get your started down the road of experience.

And follow what Dirty Dug said. Clean that metal up. Your going to be doing a lot of welding on a structural piece and you want as much of it clean as possible.

 

I know you don't want to hear this AGAIN, but taking off another 1/2" is no big deal in the overall scheme of things and will make your life easier. It still isn't going to be a bed of roses if you've never chopped anything before. My first chop was on a turret top, As are cake in comparision. I think everyone is just trying to save you some trouble. Trust us, you will learn PLENTY by taking the easy way out and just trimming those edges.

FWIW, a 4" chop on an A looks proportionately correct to me. Check out Chris Casny's Model A, the DK Mystery coupe, or the Kennedy Model A coupe. Those are all 4" chops and are spot on. They do not look radical. For a radical chop (that still looks good), look up Mark Ford's A coupe. It has a 6" chop, I believe.

 

you're right I am a dick. You'd probably like me even less in person.

Can I ask why you suggest flanging it? would it make it less likely to warp?

I'm not super scared of the sheet metal welding. I CAN weld and I'm not a complete newb at it either. I just haven't done much sheet metal welding. I just have NO clue on working metal with a hammer and dollies.

Oh and I don't quit. I'm really fucking stubborn. I'll just keep working it till i's perfect. I do appreciate the advice.

 

good one.

I do have my own bucket blaster, not sure I trust it or me tonot to warp though. Believe me a visit with a blaster is high on the priorities.

thanks!

thanks

it's okay, I need to be told what I don't want to hear.

I guess I feel like 4 inches is the MAX I would want. I like the three inch because you can tell it's chopped, but not crazy. 4 inches is when I first start to get that feeling of gosh that's low.

 

Ohboy, i am glad you are enthieusastic. Sometimes it is best if you don't know what you are getting into and just focus on the square inch right in front of you. I would get Frank Sargents' book Metal Bumping and get some 18ga metal to practice with. There are many different skills you will have to get very good at if not master including stretching, shrinking, hammer and dolly working and the biggie..welding sheetmetal. There are alot of threads dedicated to this subject alone, do a search for welding sheetmetal or any thread by Johnny Ariel (i hope i spelled his name right) and take some time and go to another site 'AllMetalShaping' and you'll find in-depth discussions by master metal shapers on how to do what you are about to do and they're eager to share knowledge and help those who truely want to learn.
Have fun, oj

 

First clean the rust off of both sides at least where you are going to weld.
Then go to "All Metalshaping" on the web.
You will need oxy acet aircraft torch and some small pneumatic angle gringers.
Just cut the two sides dead parallel, brace, tack and finish weld.
Then planish till smooth.
Simple, right?
Mike Rouse

 

I'm skipping to the end after post 15. A few things come to mind. First is that 3.5 inches is no way a "slammed roof" chop. I have a coupe at 4" and have researched more than a hundred different chopped cars running similar set-ups I can say that assuredly. Numero two, I'm thinking there may be a few HAMBers willing to give (or sell at a modest price) the remnants of what was chopped out of their cars.

Perhaps my stuff is still in Chris's pile of scrap at Salt Flats Speed Shop, you may want to PM him and see if he can hook you up.

 

thanks for the lead. I know it's not slammed but if I chop it anymore my pompadour won't fit..................

 

You may need to chop that a half inch too!

 

I don't know. I wouldn't want my cuffs to be longer than my hair. Maybe I should raise the roof....... Phone booth model A.

btw

all metal shapers = awesome. I wish I had found that earlier.

 

thanks OJ.