Hey everybody, I know i have asked a similar question a few months ago, and am not trying to repeat it here but I had only a couple answers to my problem at that time so thought maybe someone could provide some more insight now as winter lurks tis just about time to put away my sled and start back to workin on my sedan. My questions are regarding what roof a person could I use that will be a smooth roof and match the curves of a 28 A sedan? I am not a fan of a ribbed roof so am looking for a smooth roof to fill the vacancy. I have been offered a freebie 55 chev roof, would this work, or will it have too much curve in it? Is there something fairly common out there that would work better??? Any help from you guys that have done this before is always appreciated.
Look for a latemodel Volvo wagon. Shouldn't be too hard to find a late 80's,early 90's model cheap. The roof is the right size and smooth.Also available with an optional moon roof.
I think a 55 Chevy sedan or hardtop roof would have too much crown in it. A wagon might not be too bad. I have seen guys use 61-4 Chevy wagon center pieces that match up nice. Also Chevy vans. There's a 63 wagon here in the junkyard here I could go check on for you. One other one I had thought about was similar to the above post. A mid 80's Jetta with a two way power slider. I have seen one stripped down and they aren't really that deep, so you wouldn't lose much interior room even with your wild chop.
The roof from a Dodge Aspen or Plymouth Volare WAGON is about perfect .....it may or may not have trim mldg's,but it is not ribbed. If it did have trim -when removed it leaves about 12 1/8" holes[easy to fix] cause a quick zap weld will fill em with little heat] BUT-if you are not up for welding them- a slight tap of the holes on a block to make a slight depression there then they could be filled with the new Panel Adhesives they are selling,would suffice. The roof panel fits best, turned around -placing it on the model A with the rear [of its original orientation] to the A's front. The problem with a Model A is that it takes a panel that is longer than most 32 34 style cars even...PLUS- most donor car roofs are abot 8" too short as well. Try this and you will see that the down side of filling the small 1/8"holes is a slight inconvenience ,compared to adding length to a different peice...... Here is one installed on a 34 Dodge I did- its even longer than an A roof is.
Howell's Sheetmetal makes an insert really inexpensively... The insert for a coupe is about 90 bucks.. they make one for the sedan, but I don't know what it costs, but it can't be too much more. It may be an aftermarket part, but the're's not much nostalgia in an 80's volvo station wagon... so what's the point? By the time you hunt down a donor car, cut the roof out, and grind all of the paint off you're into it for way more than 90 bucks IMHO. website link below: http://www.fordor.com/
TobyJuarez- If you had read my post -you would find that it was not a Volvo wagon but a readily available Dodge or Plymouth wagon from '77to '80...... Also I can guarantee that you are not even close on that price guess......A sheet of 18 ga/CR is darned close to that amount ,almost every where in the USA,and then he would have LABOR- to roll in the compound radius[a two man job] THEN he'd have to ship it to you.[isn't he in Texas?][ that size peice is likely a truck shipment only] It would then seem like a lot closer to a thousand dollars....... Ya know-IMO-That's whats wrong with reading too many -'STRodder and other books like that-....... There is room in this hobby for folks to do it theirself- rather than the majority of those who have become "Dialup rodders"- who are just too lazy to sand off some paint,cause some place "SELLS ONE"! QUOTE=tobyjuarez]Howell's Sheetmetal makes an insert really inexpensively... The insert for a coupe is about 90 bucks.. they make one for the sedan, but I don't know what it costs, but it can't be too much more. It may be an aftermarket part, but the're's not much nostalgia in an 80's volvo station wagon... so what's the point? By the time you hunt down a donor car, cut the roof out, and grind all of the paint off you're into it for way more than 90 bucks IMHO. website link below: http://www.fordor.com/[/QUOTE]
if you ask me, welding in a piece of tin from a donor late model is one HELL of a lot more "nostalgic" than a freekin ready made piece that someone rolled out in a shop last week and shipped to your door. sometimes it aint about when the part comes from, its about actualy building it yourself and not about knowing where to send a check...
I have never done it, but have been told that a roof out of an old Volkswagon will work good. Like I said I do not have personal experience, just thought I would throw that in. Thanks.
just put one of these in my a this past week ......could use a little more crown in the middle.....but ......once covered with canvas.....you'd probably never notice it..........my local yard had 4 of them in stock ...one with a hole .....i took a battery sawzall and a 3/4 hole saw ..laid the sawzal on its side on the rain gutter ....and cut the skin off in 10 minutes.....no inner stuff to worry about ....
The Corvan is getting to be as hard to find as the Model A in the first place. One of the yards I go to now and then had a '59 Ford wagon someone cut the tin out of the roof, I am sure to go into a Model A or something like that. I seem to remember reading somewhere once that it was also a good fit. But if I am going to hack something up, I'd lean toward the Volvo. Steel's steel.
This is not a sedan but I used a roof off of a early 60's chevy wagon. I cut off enough extra that it would have fit a sedan. Scott
DAMNIT Scott... once again, NICE friggin metal work bro you use 70/30 solder? i'm always blown away by your work
Rev - I've thought about it!!! I figured a rectangular frame would work, then cut a hole in the skin for it. I am planning on just dressing the wood in mine and leavin it off all together for a while - more roadster like
thats what i planned for mine.....as my top was a little beat up before i got it....(damn fork lifts.....) brandon
I used a 1980 Olds station wagon roof. This is the same roof as a malibu, pontiac, or buick wagon of the same years. I believe 1978 through about 83 or so will work. The ridges are the perfect length for an A Sedan.
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