Hot Rods 30/31 Model A Roadster measurement needed/body reinforcement ideas welcome too

I am working on a 30/31 A roadster body and need a measurement for the distance between RH and LH door jam pillars above the latch, center to center the top small bolt holes for the wood in the jam. white dots on the bolts in the pics, center to center. I also could use any tips /ideas on reinforcing the A roadster structure. I have it sitting on an A frame so the subframe is where it's supposed to be. Thx so much for your input!

 

I would use a reproduction wood kit to reinforce it. It will hold everything where it should be.

 

Thank you

 

Anyone with a 30/31 roadster and a tape measure out there in HAMB?

 

Don't worry as much about the width as about the fit. Get the construction done on the cowl and the doors fit to the cowl. Make sure the cowl is square (diagonals from the left side to right side are equal). Make sure the doors have equal twist. Then adjust everything on the rear of the body until the doors fit (making sure the rear of the door opening is "square" also. Make sure you are happy with the flow of the reveal line from the cowl through the doors and quarter. Thats the width you want!

I would recommend adding steel square tubing (3/4" minimum, 1" if it will fit) to the quarters similar to what we do on our 1932 fiberglass roadster bodies. The keys are a hoop from the top of the doors around the cockpit, a strainer hoop from the floor behind the seat to the top hoop about where the top mounts, and making a boxed "B" pillar from the top hoop to the floor. The cowl mostly needs extra structure where the "rams horn" windshield mounts attach to the cowl sides, that could stand to be boxed in better. Add the reinforcing AFTER the body is fit to the chassis, grille, hood, fenders, and splash aprons and the doors are in acceptable alignment.

Also make sure the floor crossmembers are in good condition, because the frame is inboard of the outside of the body sags can happen. To really help the system, add an outrigger bracket on the frame to attach the B post to.

 

Here's a video Matt did on reinforcing a roadster:

 

Great advice , thank you very much Mr Wescott. Thx Joe for the headsup as well...Matt does great work and lucky for us he posts so many vids.

 

I still wouldn't mind someone giving me a measurement so I have a baseline for bracing, assembly before I dismantle this body. Anyone? Thx

 

I too have this question.
How much distance between the B-Pillar tops?
I’m working on a late ’31 Phaeton but believe that Roadsters and Phaetons share similar front doors and cowls.

+1 This...


I remade/replaced the bottom 3 inches all the way around and its on sedan aftermarket sub rails.
I’m moving the seat back on back 8 inches and don’t have every thing locked in yet.
So your numbers may vary.
I don’t have your white dots on my B pillars but got it narrowed down to 48 an3/4 to 49 inches between the tops to get my door gaping the ball park.

Hope this helps.

 

Mine was 50 inches when I just measured it center of screw hole to center of screw hole.

 

Thank you so much everyone...really helps me out a lot with a "baseline" .