shoebox patch panels where to start first?

My 1950 shoebox needs floors and braces, rockers, quarters, and truck floor. Where should i start? the trunk floor seems to be bolted to the quarters is this called a quater panel brace, i found this part online at mac's auto parts but no pic so i'm not shure if this is what i need. Any help would be great. thanks

 

before you start buying stuff check out metalmeet.com and allmetalshaping.com you can make very nice panels with very simple tools i will never buy a floor pan agen most of the time you can make your own panels just as fast as you can fit one that you paid to much for

 

ems is an alliance member..

 

sounds like you got a typical shoebox. all rust in the same places. my advice would be before you start to cut out anything, get the body as squared up as possible by getting the door gaps as even all around as you can. then weld in some bracing from side to side at the b-pillars, and front to back from the a-pillar to the b-pillar. if the body flexes at all while the rockers or floors are cut loose you'll have a hard time getting everything to line up again. plenty of panels available if you can't make your own. try ems, shoeboxford.com or macsautoparts.com. good luck, jersey mike

 

I would first get the car on level ground sitting with all 4 tires aired up. Then get a replacement body mount kit and proceed to do your panel replacement while the body is still on on the frame. You can brace and remove the body later for underside detailing on a rotisserie once you complete panel replacement and know the body is square. There are many war stories, at least on the tri-5 Chevy forums about cars that have all they're replacement metal welded in while off the frame that wind up being way out of wack once placed on the original chassis again. Also make note of the placement and number of body shims placed under the original body mount biscuits to help get you in the ball park upon body reassembly. This is the correct way on a 55-57 Chevy. Can't imagina a Ford would be any different.

 

Thanks guys i think i will do the trunk floor first so the body no longer is resting on the frame in the rear that will help suport the rest of the body.

 

be sure and brace it well if you have to take the flor pan completely out

 

I fab and sell a few sheet metal parts also. I don't have all of them on my new website yet but most I have listed on ebay. Mac's Auto Parts and Shoebox Ford carries most but not all of my stuff. PM me or contact me through my website if I can be of any help.

http://www.classicbodyworks1.com

 

Start with the easiest repairs first, then as you gain knowledge the harder ones will become easier.

 

I have started in the trunk and moved forward and made all the panel by my self
and don't cut out to mutch so you are deforamting the body

 

start on the outside of the car first, make the doors, trunklid fit the car, then do floors last, if you need to make a adjustment it will be easy and not seen.

try emsautomotive.com or call kim 216-541-4585

 

With it needing so many panels it may be cheaper to buy a solid body shell and either swap them out or use it for a donor for the panels. Watch eBay.

 

let me understand this the car#1 is very rusty, patch panels may cost to much??? so buy another car#2 with a good body and cut the panels off the good car#2 and put the panels on the bad car#1

 

I would the solid body.

 

Shoeboxes aren't expensive cars, it may be possible to buy a sedan with solid floors etc. for less money than to buy all of the EMS panels. In fact in this market, it should be easy if you are willing to travel a bit and keep an eye on eBay and Craigslist. A non-runner, perhaps wreck-damaged or stripped as a parts car already, with a good shell, shouldn't sell for a whole lot more than scrap money.

However I also suggested using the more solid body shell as the starting point, as well, if you'd read the entire post. It's up to the builder to decide which option is best.

Now if I'm restoring say a '57 DeSoto convertible, I have no other real choice, people cut up one car to save another all the time. I don't understand why it seems like an alien concept.

Hell, I've seen solid shoebox convertible projects for sale so cheap it makes it literally pointless to try to fix a badly rotted example. You can't put quarters, rockers, lower doors, and floors in a car for under $1500.

 

Hey,Barnes - just get your car straight and aligned first, and you'll be fine. The convertible in the avitar was a rusty car ( from Mn, even) which needed quarters, floor and braces, trunk, rockers, etc. I made some panels and bought some from EMS (overall had good luck with them - just don't try to return anything - their customer service sucks). I started with floor and structure first, then trunk. And Rusty NY - next shoebox convert you see for under $1500 , let me know - I haven't seen one for 30 years !

 

I found this site the other day:http://57rustbucket.com/index.htm scroll to bottom and crack open a cold one. It'll take you a while to get through all the photos and explainations. Very good site.

it pretty much covers everything, in brutal honesty, on what to do, and what not to do. What works, what didn't...