a friend of mine has been looking to start on a model-A type project but he doesnt have a ton of money to pour into a body. so i agreed to build him a roadster pick-up cab pretty cheap. we decided something a little bigger then stock would be better so i used alot of the dimensions from my newest coupe/roadster and went from there basically i started with closed car 28/29 cowl posts. then i built a tubular framework to the dimensions of the cab. 2x1 at the top and the rest 3/4x3/4 but i left the top and bottom tubing spaced out 1/8 inch. i then made pan like skins that fit between all the tubing curved them all to match...rolled some beads in the back and all of a sudden we had a cab. the top and bottom tubing represents the top and bottom body line like on a roadster its pretty simple but it has the look he was after...no working doors but i put seams in the sides to simulate the seperation and if he ever wants down the road it'll be simple to split it at the seams and make a door to fit...its all welded on the inside so cutting apart will be easy well thats about it...im not sure if my explination makes sence but i figured i would share anyways as its a pretty cheap route to having a roadster pick-up zach
thats one of the best home make RPU bodies i've seen.... great job...and even more,great job on simplifing it for us ,'normal',guys...haha..
Mission acomplished. I don't know how fast you work but He's got a rust free start. In short order he should be driving around the block.
That helps give me ideas for converting my Murray Fordor to an RPU. That's the one that's supposed to have all of the body supported on a wood framework, except that all of the wood is rotted away. How did you bend the square tubing? Definitely one for the archives -- THANKS! .
thanks guys just bent the tubing by hammering it over an open space....i used a 5lb sledge with a short handle and the end of an old press table stood on its side...hammer away....flipp it and hammer more if you go too far zach
it's all mine suckas!! (zach told me to say that.) but seriously. it looks even better in person, so thanks alot zach and hopefully i can make this into a worthy car since you were nice enough to help me out. i'll be sure to post pictures as the project gets rolling.
zach, what are you two planning for a windshield? it doesn't look like it'll take the stock stanchions. anyway, i like your idea a lot. thanks, ed
burger, actually the project is pretty much mine from here on out. (once i pay him and bring it home that is) but to answer your question, i have no idea yet
thanks, the cab corners are just 3/4 box tubing....the rear side piece wraps around about 3/4 inch and then the rear pannel butts against it....so it can be finish welded and ground smooth or ground and a little bondo to be smoothand show no seam i dont have any other pic's as its in the bed of the truck (mobile storage shed!) heres one but not a close up zach
burger heres the windsheild im working on for my roadster/coupe with the same cowl posts...your right it doesnt work out with stock roadster parts but its easy enough to just make things zach
That is a nice looking "home made" cab. Reminds me of the 32 R/P done by a guy in England that was in American Rodder or Rodders Digest in the 80's or so. I'll dig up them up and post latter. Earl
G'day Zach, Great job on the body, well done. From memory, on your roadster, you built that bomber seat, did you have some more photo's of it, or did you do a 'build' type thread of it? keen to do something similar for our HA/GR cars over here in Australia.... Cheers, Drewfus
the bomber seats were a bit of a pain...i never did a build up or anything...i'm still not done with them actually...trying to find some sort of P shaped extruded aluminum to be able to rivet on for the edging...they're pretty simple really though...i ended up buying a used and beat up original seat and somewhat copied the dimensions...then made it all out of aluminum...the hand buck rivets are an awful pain..but they sure look nice. theres a seat on e-bay right now for buy it now $500...maybe get that and just copy? let me know if i can help though...i dont have alot of pics but i could take some more if you wanted my e-mail is hotrodav8@aol.com zach
SUHRsc do you have any measurements of the tub you built? I got a 28-29 cowl in a stash of parts I bought. Your did a great job on your rpu. Thanks for your help. Toby.
I missed this first time around too. Cool Zach! Here's our rpu we are building at the shop. Started life as a 1910 Oakland. It will be a roller at the Pileup...
thats awsome I have a 28-29 cowl. i was going to buy doors and build the rest. But after seeing this who needs doors I would probly leave it bare aluminum and rivet the panels together. That way no one will think it's fiberglass. You should do a step by step build on this.
Here's the pics on the Oakland and there's still alot to do yet in the last 5 days before the Pileup! One month ago, it was just a pile of cast off parts from around the shop, and then we stumbled across the Oakland cowl and doors. This was all done in off hours/late nights and Sundays.
i like it thats kinda simmilar to the a i'm wornking on but not really i started with a 30/31 cowl and the back 1/2 of a 2 dr cdan with the roof cut off and no doors so i deleted the door space and a bout 4 more inchs and am butting the back 1/2 to the cowl ala petes golden shower sko
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