Whats the best way to make a roof insert template for my tudor? I am going friday to the salvage yard and try to find a donor roof for my 29 Ford Tudor. Looking for an easy way to make a template to take with me.
Hey, Idea # Two says you take a long, hard look at early-mid eighties GM fullsized sedans. Try the Caddie Fleetwoods & Oldsmobile 98s. S****ey Devils C.C. " It's time for another Tea Party ! ''
Are you doing a welded in insert or just the metal rood insert to cover with vinyl later? Do you want ribs or flat top? It would be best to ask what others have used. The best is to measure the area you want covered but there is no real way to judge the crown needed to match the existing crown of your 2 door other than eye it. You will probably looking at something in a station wagon or SUV. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> <o> </o>
I am going to weld it in. I have the measurements but the crown side to side and front to back is what I was worried about matching. Looking for ribs also. Hope my eyes do a good enough job I guess.
Look for a late 70's AMC Hornet (or Eagle) wagon. I got one cheap ($50 and a beer delivered). The crown is perfect and it drops right in place. Just make sure you take enough of the original with you. The ribs are about 4" - 5" apart and are connected on the back end. It forms kind of a cool reverse scallop. Others that I've seen that look good are late 50's early 60's Plymouth wagons. They're gettin' a little scarce.
A fellow hamber bought one from Howells and it is flat. no crown said it did not work. The only other premade one I found was on ebay for $1800.00. No way.
To answer your actual question, one way to measure/make a template for your roof is take a 2x4 across the roof of yor car and drive nails into it but sticking out so that the heads represent the curve. Sorry for my lousy "paint" drawing.
Another way to use a 2x4 (***uming the crown is less than 4 inches) is to lay the 2x4 across the top, like in Choppintops picture. Use a divider with a pencil and open it from the car top to the bottom of the 2x4 (where the distance is the greatest far left or right side). Then use the divider to trace the crown on to the 2x4. Use a band saw or jig saw to cut out the crown and then you can use the remaining piece to lay on top of whatever you are looking at to see how the crown matches. But, lots of nails sticking out of a board has other uses as well!! Bill
A Buddy of mine did my 29 tudor roof from an early chevy blazer, it has the ribs in the roof, some folks dont like that but it sure stiffens it up. A good donor for a 29 closed cab pickup is a granada sedan roof turned side ways. However there is still a lot of work to do at the front and rear of the roof to get rid of the wood stuff.
Mean junkyard dogs. Rat rodders there looking for street signs for door panels. Other hot rodders there looking at the same roof.
No problem. Been there before and as I was explaining to the toofless guy running the yard what I was trying to do, he p***ed that along too me,,,,,,then overcharged me for the roof
Maybe if I tell them I am going to use if for a sled it will be cheaper. I have No idea what they might charge me.
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