Projects 1931 Ford Roadster Help.

Folks,

I need a couple of questions answered if someone with a 31 roadster can take a few minutes.

The previous owner of my 31 roadster body had it set up with a louvered rumble style trunk lid. They did not install the proper stops and the lid was allowed to lay against the tail light panel when the trunk lid was opened all the way. This created two problems. First is that it bowed the tail light panel so that it sort of bulges out in the center and down away from the lower body line between the trunk lid and panel. Second is that doing this repeatedly has sort of put a flat spot across the width of the trunk lid between a row of louvres. My questions are does anyone know if the tail light panel is supposed to be flat going straight across it from quarter panel to quarter panel or is it supposed to have a gentle radius to it? Mine is definitely curved but I suspect it is from the rumble lid laying on it. Also any suggestions as to how to raise the mildly flattened area across the lid would be appreciated.

I have included a couple of pictures if they help explain this at all. Appreciate any help!

Gordon

 

The tail panel is supposed to have a gentle arch to it. It should match the back arched edge of the lid. Your lid has a very slight arch doesn't it?

 

Alchemy,

I believe it does, but having been laid back against the tail light panel too often has sort of put a flat area about 4 inches wide right across the lid about 4 or 5 louvres up from the bottom, so I can't tell if it is supposed to be curved some, flat, curved a lot, or whatever. Same issue with the tail light panel. Appreciate any help or ideas.

Gordon

 

I'm pretty sure that the rear panel is not flat, and has a slight arch to it. Honestly it looks fine to me.

 

Thanks Nick. I will see if I can get a shot with the trunk lid on the body to explain what I am seeing as an issue.

Gordon

 

You are missing part of the inner panel that has two rubber stops and the latch on it.It keeps the trunk lid from dropping inside the body. The rubber stop goes in the large hole on the left side, you can also see the slight arch to the panel below the trunk lid.

 

Gomez I think his is set up as a rumble lid.

 

Alchemy you are correct mine is a rumble lid. I have picked up the missing parts/stops already but before I put everything back in the car I wanted to see if I need to straighten the tail light panel first, and then pull out the flat spot in the trunk lid. I will put the trunk lid on the car and get a better shot of the area I am talking about. Thanks!

Gordon

 

There is another curved piece( like a third of a circle)all the way in the back that attaches to the panel UNDER the decklid, and the subframe.This keeps the lower panel ridged.It all ties in with the triangular gusset and hinge strut( and rain gutter) at the bottom of the rumble lid opening.If you get a model A catalog(Mac's or Snyders)or go on-line, and go into the sheetmetal section, you will see all the related parts and how they go together.Picture shows curved piece in correct position, other panels are just "in storage". Sorry the picture isn't better- may look better full-screen.Also been thinking about your decklid- Not a cheap part, and with the inner panel,access is limited.You might be better off taking it to a good body shop if you're not able to do it yourself( I can make a bad ding worse real quick with some of my best ideas!) I'd bet an oldtimer with metal insight(and not a gallon of mud) could make that like new--Good Luck, let us know how you make out.

 

oops, didn't read that the first time, mine was a rumble seat I converted to a trunk. There is a curved panel that goes where the trunk latch is and ties to the rear of the floor, Mike Bowling's picture shows it. There are two stops that mount to the floor the lid rest against in the open position. They are in Snyders catalog,.

 

These guys are onto it - the panels are deceptive in that the tail light panel and the trunk lid both have a gentle left to right curve and a front to back curve.

Given the deckled is louvered and rear access is limited (***uming it has an original / repro style inner panel on it) then I would seriously consider taking it to one of the paint less dent removal guys and have them roll the flat spot into a gentle curve that looks right to the eye. As I understand it those guys don't hit the panel with hammers they use leavers and rollers to "push" panels back into shape and can get their tools into very tight spaces.

Far more likely they can get it into shape for you than a traditional panel beater.

PS My daily driver had serious hail damage the paint less dent removal guys repaired the whole car without removing any external body panels and did not repaint the car - after they finished it looked brand new.

 

Had similar problem with my coupe, tail panels do have a very slight curve to them . Not sure if dent less repair is meant for your type of repair ,it's usually done to repair dings.