sheet metal help

All you sheel metal guy's and metal worker's. What is the best way to make the beltline on a 27 T coupe. Just got my body media blasted,and all kind's of pin holes in it plan on replacing the hole back window belt line. I have never done any replacing of the belt line.Thank's.........PINCHER

 

A picture would make this easier. If a series of a lot of pinholes in an area that is difficult to just weld in a replacenemt patch, you may be able to fill in the area from the backside with a thick coating of epoxy. Sand what squeezes through and refinish accordingly. May not be the best way, just one way.

 

Thank's for the reply, I am not one to put bondo in hole's,or epoxy.Would rather replace it with good STEEL. If it is worth doing,might as well do it right......PINCHER

 

if you can get your hands on a sheet metal brake, you can make a bead by putting metal in, clamp it down, bend up about 30degrees , then let arm down .with sheet still clamped down pull down on sheet metal by hand. release clamp, rotate sheet[don't flip] push it in to desired width of bead, force clamp down, bend about 30 degrees let arm down ,pull down sheet till level. not a perfect bead but decent. with practice they come out pretty good. i built the whole back half of a roadster pickup this way.

 

Thank's tb 33 anda 3rd. I will give it a try,make's sence. Thank's again.....PINCHER

 

Cut a small section out and send to someone with a Pullmax. quick tooling is cheap and they can send you a replacement beltline to match with as much length and width as you need.
If you need a phone number for someone...
give me a call
george 303 847 9980

 

braze it up?

 

X2. Seems to be a viable solution. Metal is metal, it does not have to be steel.

 

Take George up on the offer. He is correct that the pullmax is the best way to make the part. You will also need to make a pattern of the curve along the panel since it doesn't look like it is straight.

 

If I understand what you are replacing that is not straight accross, it has a curve to it. So making one on a brake would be straight. Just a thought.

 

In a pinch you could use a 2x4. Im serious. If you can access the inside of the beltline take a piece of wood and shave it to fit inside the belt. Then take your new steel and wrap it around the wood in a U, put it in a sheet metal brake. Make your bends where the radius starts on each side. If you do this right you'll have a flat panel. Then trim it and weld it on.

I made these doors in one piece using this method. I took my time and everything worked first try.

 

Or buy one of these
http://www.eastwood.com/magnetic-hole-plug-welding-tool-not-for-gas-welde.html

 

If you are in Saginaw Tx. you are close to me. I can run a piece for you on my Pullmax. I just need a profile of the beltline.

 

Thank's for all the info everyone. GOOD IDEA GEORGE,AND TIM. I live in Saginaw Mich. Tim.If i cannot find someone up here with a pullmax i might send you a piece of the contour of the beltline. And yes it doe's have a curve to it.I have a friend that does industrial steel fab.word i have never asked him if he has one. Thank's again everyone........PINCHER

 

Wow.... what an amazing offer.

 

There was a FANTASTIC tech article several months ago about making and using home made draw dies to form rain gutters for a Ford. It was all done with simple tooling and a comealong to pull it through if memory serves .
That was a two-piece/ two step process to make those complex bends and I imagine it would be a LOT easier to make a realtively simple beltline profile. I need to create some belt lines eventually and I plan on making my own draw dies thanks to that tech article. Just a thought, in case you can't come up with a Pullmax.

 

Here is one I did.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195622&highlight=rust+repair

 

I have a pullmax and a planishing hammer, yoder and english wheel if you need something made......and i live in saginaw