Who's built a Model A Woodie?

Hey Folks,

I just purchased a A ch***is and though I will probably go with a Tudor body I am thinking crazy thoughts of building a my own Tudor Woodie.

I've found a couple of pics on the HAMB some look pretty basic and has me thinking "I could do that"

So who has built there own woodie and do you have some pics of the construction and list of resources you could share.

Thanks in advance
TBone

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-64109.html

 

I did do a little thinking on it,even grab a few photos for ideas off the net,but ended up building a roadster. Here the photo I liked best when hunting ideas of a woody.
I liked the style,but with "A" cowl

 

Brings back memories - thinking about the Woodies I've had in the past. Haven't had a Woodie in years.

 

Wodies aren't that hard to build IF you have the woodworking skills and tools, and a basic knowledge of the wood bodied automobile.

The most important areas of the woodie construction are:
1. Choosing the right wood(s).
2. Reinforcement bracketry.
3. Wood joints.
4. Wood finishing.

There is a book "Vintage Station Wagon Shop Service" that is available that would give you a good look at woodie construction, maintenance and preservation.

 

Building the body and finishing it is not that difficult. Reinforcing it for the rigors of driving it on the street can be more of a problem. Woodies have some serious bracketry that ties the body framework into the frame. Sure it can and has been done many times. Just do some research on the steel structural parts of the body that holds the wood together and securely anchors it to the frame. Building a plywood box on a plywood floor and bolting it to the frame ain't going to get it. IMHO



This is a nice home made one. Notice how the wood curves under at the bottom. Harder to do than Henry's original.

 

I am almost done with building this one... Used wine barrel staves for the
Construction pics here: http://sites.google.com/site/zinwudy/

oak

 

I've built a Chevy Woodie, but the woodwork is similar. Here's the link to my build-up pictures: http://public.fotki.com/29woodie/1929_chevrolet_wood/
You can get plans at the National Woodie Club http://www.nationalwoodieclub.com/membership.htm
It's a great club with lots of people willing to help.
Let me know if I can answer any specific questions.

 

so Hey Tbone69..whats going on with this? any progress or did you decide steel?

 

Great job, you can sure tell you have way more woodworking experience than I...

 

Once you get the top finished you'll have a topnotch piece there. Leaving the top flat rather than tapered up and back with the "inside of a canoe" structure above your head inside is the biggest design mistake home-built woodies have.

 

Haven't built a woodie. But the topic really interests me (I'm a longtime woodworker) and I've been collecting info on woodie construction. Thank you garybayless and 29woodie for the links you provided to your build albums. Both are great. I particularly like that barrel-stave build.

Pasadenahotrod and tommy both emphasized the importance of securely joining the wood body to the frame. In another thread here, I found a link--www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/Martin/vehicles/6446--to yet another woodie build album. There are several photos in it that clearly show the frame brackets used on the '46 Ford to join body to frame.

BS

 

Thanks, I have not finished the top yet. That is only a tar roofing paint for seal. Still have the padding and vinyl to put on...
http://picasaweb.google.com/garybayless/Woodie272010?feat=email#5435521882678986002

 

Stole this from another thread.

 

Can't hardly believe this post has gone on for a few months without a ****** moment.

 

ive gotten a model a woody,

 

I am building one loosely based on a 1932 Ford roadster. I have the body mostly framed up and am almost ready to start skinning it. It is going to be and open boattail roadster the outside will look like one of those old mahogany hull lake boats. regards Rusty_bits (Mark)

 

I would like to do one just gotta finish the others first!!

 

OK Jeff, so what's the latest progress? Last I saw, the frame was rolling, but the rest was cut in two and being sold off. I was hoping you hadn't gotten discouraged. Any pics of how you repaired the frame?

With 9' or so of snow on the ground, you sould have lots of time in the shop.

 

I just seen this post, I really like woodies

 

I really like this body style

 

I'm putting one together. Glad to know I'm not the only one on here getting splinters!
Mine's based on a real deal '31 Woodie cowl, but none of the other brackets or bits were there when I got it. Plan on doing a chopped 2 door high boy. Kind of like the Spruce Deuce, but not in the dirt. I think the pic Dana Barlow posted is of the Spruce pre-***embly (any more out there Dana?)
Definitely going with a metal subfloor and door frames. Still working on how to connect to the tailgate frame and over the front seat (door to door) without it looking like a roll cage.
Let me know if you want a shot of the original Woodie hinges. They're just plates that have tabs that slide in where the regular hinges go, then piano style hinges on the outer edge that fasten to the door. Wouldn't be too hard to fab up from scratch.

 

Here's a link to mine. http://photobucket.com/oldstang. Good luck

 

Me too...just not first thing in the morning when I have to pee really bad.

 

lol..

 

Woodies are just plain cool. Gotta love that woodwork on the headliner!

 

I've thought about building one. Always liked them. Where do you get plans or basic measurements. Since I was a Millwork carpenter for a long time and still have my equip,it sounds interesting.