i'm looking for someone to fabricate a trunk lid for my 37 packard coupe. i have spent an incredible amount of time trying to source the original part on the phone, internet, junkyards, packard clubs, etc. in about 3-4 months of searching i have found one ****py rusted old POS for $1000 plus shipping across country. (and have had a bunch of guys have laugh out loud at me over the phone!) so i'm basically looking for someone who is good with an english wheel and is near LA (where the car is) it is a big piece and is curved in both directions so i feel like it will take an experienced metal beater! any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks. i'm not filthy rich, but am willing to pay for quality work.
http://lazzemetalshaping.com/ Take this guys cl*** and learn some new tricks, than make this piece as a cl*** project in the the time he allows for your own project, and the good thing about is Lazze himself will help ya.
unfortunately i don't have the time for a cl***, small business and a kid leaves almost enough time to sleep! looks great though!
Do you have a lid now, or do you need the whole thing? Just asking, sometimes if you have a bad lid, it could be re-skinned. Whoever you have build it, they will need a buck or something to build the skin to. So you might want to make or create the buck, so they don't have to. They will need to determine the surface information from something.
It would really help if you can find someone to let you take profiles off of a good piece. Your panel beater can describe how to do it right. X2 re re-skinning, the frame and bracing is more than half the work. Building from scratch will cost a lot of $$$$$
i have heard of guys using the frame and bracing from a hood or trunk of a different car... is this crazy talk? should i build the frame and bracing from scratch?
Did you try the want ads here? Building a trunk from scratch is not super easy. What are you going for? Is this a custom or a restoration? A restoration would require the parts to be more exacting in terms of form and structure. Check out Hollywood Hot Rods in burbank 818 842 6900... i don't think hes there anymore but chrisp here who helped build the ruby deluxe built the entire trunk from scratch, maybe get in touch with him for some help/info. Either way i'm sure Troy has someone down there that can do it.
If the frame and bracing were similar, it could work. My guess in your case it wouldn't. You need to find another car like yours that you can get enough profiles off of to build the skin. After you get a skin that will fit the contour, you can build the inner structure later. The adventure that you are embarking on, is probably going to be costly. I would still be looking for another lid, even if you have to repair it. A lid that is dented, damaged or rusted out at the bottom would be easier to fix that starting with nothing. The skin could be pulled off of the door and repaired. With the skin off the inner structure could be repaired as well.
Yea, I met Bobby at the G.N.R.S. about a month ago, and all I can say is that guy is super talented and super nice. I think he is your go to man for metal shaping.
thanks everyone. i'll post a want ad now inkmunky and yeah, i know troy, i'll ask him about it. fordcragar, got you... yeah, i would love to find a damaged lid to repair but the only i have found so far is $1K + est $400 - $600 shipping. would you say that building one from scratch would be more expensive than $1500 (ish) plus repairs ($500-ish) $2K? Hot Rod Michelle thanks! i sent bobby an e-mail.
I think you might well end up with more then $2,000 invested if you take the car with a big hole in it and want a trunk lid made if you do most of the preplanning making patterns, as much as making a tubular inner structure that hinges and latches... someone skinning that will not be a huge deal price or time wise. I'd imagine someone whos proficient with an English wheel would be able to make a skin for you in a day or so.... but your still likely looking at $500+ good luck Zach
Like Zach said, most of the cost is going to be determined by how much you can do and if whoever builds it works with you. Check back with me we might be able to find someone from MetalMeet.com or Yahoo Metalshaping that would be interested in helping you. I'll send you a PM and we can talk off line.
well, sheesh. maybe i'll bite the bullet and buy the rusty original lid and have it re-skinned maybe shorten the bottom a little (where the rust lives). man, you'd think i was building a 75 year old custom luxury car the way i'm getting taxed. thanks for all of the suggestions. -MICHAEL
How about Race Car Factory in Irwindale, CA.? They must have someone who does the English Wheel. Just an idea. Tom
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