Technical 1926 Model T Ford Roadster Sub Rails "Help Needed"

Hey Guys. l picked up these panels over NYE with the intention of creating my own Roadster body.

 

I already have a cowl and doorsand the idea is for me to use the other panels as patterns to create new one ones out of steel. Everything from the cowl back will be new incuding the doors.

 

The reason i am fabricating all the panels is beacuse its virtually impossible to find these original panels here in Australia, the second reason is i dont have the funds to purchase a fibreglass body, nor do i want one. One thing i do have is the equipment and resources to fabricate a body from flat steel. This is the Model A Roadster body i have been working on.

 

There was a picture here on the H.A.M.B. where they took the front half of a T roadster and graphed on the back half of a model A sport coupe rear quarters.

 

The most important foundation for any project as extensive as this is to have a solid set of subrails. I constructed these ones out of 1x1 and 2x1 Rectangular Hollow Steel, while much cheaper than reproduction sub rails , RHS based sub rails are actually much stronger as well.

 

I will be constructing the subrails for the Model T Roadster using the same material. The subrails shown above will be used as a jig for the Model T ones.

 

So the only thing holding me back is a lack of measurements.

 

I found these images courtesy of google but i have been unable to source any of the sub rails on their own.

 

Did you try the Wescott Model T frame drawing. Frame measurements and a scale to work off of for the subrail.

scale to

 

Using Gridpaper i was better able to illustrate the measurements i require.

 

Thanks for the feeback but im actually building the body to sit on a Model A frame as its more rigid and will offer more leg room.

 

This measurement is perhaps the most important. Its the distance between the rear crossmember and the middle crossmember, the centre tub fastens to.

 

The other important measurent is the distance between the left front corner and right rear corner taken from the inside. This will insure a square frame.

 

The overall length taken along the centre.

 

The final one is the width of the middle and second last cross members.

 

Try the below, let me know if I missed the mark. There is pics of the sub frame in the thumbnails, excuse the mess. All measurements in imperial, sorry. 1926 Model T roadster body.

edit: I'll get overall in a little bit, just noticed that

 

Not sure if this helps or not, I saved this a long time ago

 

Depending on what style build you're aiming at, you might want to consider shortening the deck a little to get shorter wheelbase and better proportions. Also, you don't need a full cowl. Subframes were often cut away or discarded entirely.

 

Navarro's T

 

Thanks for that.

 

The subframe shown here is for roadster pickup, not the same as coupe

 

The T mentioned was a roadster, otherwise I wouldn't have jumped in.

I still owe you overall! 88.5" from front to outside, on a 1926 roadster body.