Has anyone cut the cowl, at the lower bead, and reformed it to get the cowl to "flow"? Kinda like a '32-34? Not talking about getting it to sit on top of the frame.... Say ya had the body mounted on a '32 frame, channeled @ 5" and ya wanted to get the cowl line to mimick the frame bead....a real gradual bend. How would ya do it? If the bottom of the cowl was cut off @ 1-2" above the bead, do ya think the piece could be curved in a shrinker, considering the bead in the cutoff piece? Or would it just deform more due to the bead?
metalshapes has. Think he said he (purposefully) set the gap and started the weld at the A pillar, then as he worked and as the weld cooled it pulled the panel right into place. This is all from memory of a conversation a couple of years ago at the HAMB drags. I've also seen a '32 cowl patch used there.
So, it was cut straight off, then a curve cut into the cowl, and then the piece was welded on and the cooling of the weld "pulled" the piece along the curve? Sound right? Hmmmm......how much "curve" can this method create I wonder? Considering that the bead in the panel being curved is working against ya..... What I'm planning, in my head, is not a '32 frame, but a curved frame at the cowl, like a Z but more graceful, and having the body match that, when channelled....
Can someone post a picture of what your talking about. I am interested to see hot this would work. Kevin Lee would about posting one of those beautiful photos with the red cut marks drawn in.
I don't know for sure. It was me listening in on a conversation Alex was having with someone else about this subject. So I shouldn't speak for him.
I just angled a Model A patch panel to follow the line of the frame, looked at using '32 patches but the radius of the curve was to tight because the body hangs over the frame on the '32 changing it's starting point at the door. Zat make sense?
Here's what I mean Jeff.....the red line would be the new curvature of the cowl bead. That makes sense Dug.....may be easiest to just reweld the panel on at an angle....just want to avoid the sharp angle at the "bend"..... Is the cowl bead @ the same width between a Model A and a '32? I may be over thinkin' this....making a new piece from scratch may be the easiest?
Not would that line follow through past the doors towards the back much like a '32? Because I don't know if it would achieve the same effect that a '32 has because the lower rockers are able to follow the frame if it did not. I like the idea though, and I would like to see in person.
You that is one of those details that are on a '32 that I guess I really never noticed. It all adds to the total package of why '32's look so good. I will have to check my Chevy today and see if it's the same as a model "A". It's a really good idea if you have the talent to pull it off......and I do not.
Oh...that's makes sense Ian! Sounds easy enough, forming a new bead into the exsisting metal...no welding!..... Cut it below though, as the metal will pull up once ya start forming a new bead into the cowl....and a new flange is made along the lower edge... I just used a '32 frame as an example.....the curve may be more or less, depending on the "S" in the frame....thought it would look nice with the cowl matching (hiding?) the frame in that area on a low rod, rather than the 90* at the cowl. Thanks for the ideas guys!
Alright. That looks completely different than what I was thinking of and what Alex was talking about. This was a very gentle curve starting at the A pillar and continuing out to the cowl. That looks more like what Nimrod did with his T pickup build a few years ago.
Do ya think it'll look good? Being how the rest of a Model A body is flat? Maybe there's a reason I haven't seen it done..... Could always put the cutout piece back in stock if it looked bad I suppose....
I was thinking of channeling my A 1" over the '32 frame and then ease the lower cowl line up to the frame top, just as you mentioned, but with less channel. I really think it would look good. The 5" channel might be too dramatic though. Pretty easy to mock up though, yes?
I really don't have a good side shot. But this B400 is actually a Model A with 32 lower body patch panels.
There was a '32 5 window that was built in the mid '50's that was channeled the width of the frame and ran a fill set of fenders. I can't find the picture right now but that's what he did to the cowl. He also raised the rear wheel bead so he could run the stock fender. The top was chopped and dropped down into the body a couple of inches. Sounds hokie but the car was really pretty cool. I think it was from Pa. or NJ. Ron
The European version of the 32 Ford got modified in oct 1933 (produced untill 1935). It has something like the modification you mention? Here is a picture of mine:
Hey, This would be a very easy piece for someone with a beadroller to make up. Trying to form a bead in the side of the existing cowl wouldn't be a very easy way to acomplish this task, however. One could even hammer- form a bead in sheetstock and weld that in, as well. S****ey Devils C.C. "Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"
Originally Posted by Bib Overalls I really don't have a good side shot. But this B400 is actually a Model A with 32 lower body patch panels. The rod was built by a retired firefighter from Alabama. I saw it at the Goodguys Nashville show earlier this year. Here is a link to my pictures from the show. There are several pictures of this outstanding ride. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ratpoison/sets/72157605891074685/
I have seen '36 patch panels used on a model a. Ask mel he just did it and it looks awesome. I wish I had some pictures to show you.
hi josh, i just made a set of dies for making model a patch panels on my homemade p-max . i could make those if you made a template of the bend on the upper side of the bead. gary
dam thanks for sharing. that car is bad ***. thats one of the top cars i want a 32 3window, 32 roadster,343windowor a "A" or "B" 400
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