How to mimic Falcon character lines?

How could one mimic the Falcon character lines to make a pickup bed? In other words, I want to make a smaller bed that will match the door. How difficult of a sheetmetal job might it be?

 

Are you making a stepside Ranchero? Why wouldn't you use Falcon quarter panel or door skins, which would have exactly the right contours?

 

No, I'm making a narrow Ranchero. "It's a part of my small car fantasy". Yeah, a door skin would be good to start with.

 

Oh, they made Falcon pickups in Australia?

 

Hmmm, it looks like that AU Ranchero uses a Fordor front door. Maybe that's why it has the extra girth to the B-pillar.

 

Yep. Still do.

 

More

 

Here's a late model Falcon Ute

 

What would it take to do this from scratch?

 

Early Falcon Ranchero's were produced, therefore exist..I don't understand why you would fabricate one..maybe I'm missing something here.

 

Fab skills

 

I'm working on a smaller, narrower, lighter single-seater version.

 

Shouldn't you be commenting on Youtube videos?

 

I've gotta see pictures of this!!!

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!

 

Sheetmetal workers?

 

Buy an Aussie one and adapt it.

There's some major compound curves working in opposite directions in that sheetmetal. It could definitely be done but you'd need some impressive skills and probably a few tools too

 

Ha ha- I've already got an American one, but at this point I've decided not to slice and dice it.

Really? I would say the door doesn't have compound curves, if I have a good understanding of the term.

 

How does one remove the door skins?

 

Look at the way the rear of the quarter panel drops away. Then there's the fairly sharp character line and the inward scallop that turns back into an outward bulge. If you can fold that all up out of a flat piece of tin, then you probably didn't need to ask in the first place. Keep us informed of your progress if you decide to go that way.

 

Honestly there are a million different ways to answer that question. If your unsure A typed play by play will be of little use to you. Do you have fab skills? If you can weld but have no clue how to work sheet why not use common sence to the best of your abilitys and pull it off in a bunch of foot long sections. Its not a very hard shape you'd be making. Check out some other threads and adopt their methods to your project...Then...mud

 

I don't want or need the quarter panel curve in the longitudinal direction.

 

Would a decent sheetmetal and/or hot rod shop be able to knock something like this out in a 4-foot length?

Is there anything I could do using a door as a guide for shaping the sheetmetal? Maybe do two thinner pieces of steel, then double them up. Or, the same thickness but in aluminum.

 

Hoe kay- lemmie see if I got this straight- you wanna build Falconesque quarters on a smaller scale complete with all the character/swage lines?

One way would be to section wagon, Rancho, 2dr or 4dr quarters to the scale of your project. To build these from sheet would require the use/skill of a PullMax type machine, a larger scale beading/swaging machine, perhaps an e wheel or power hammer. Shaping and cutting smaller pieces of sheet, by hand tools, and fitting them to say, 1/4 rod in the form of a buck would all be possibilities. Any and all of the above possibilities would require medium to major experience in metalshaping, welding & body & fender repair skills.

Please prove all of us clueless by starting & building this project

" Humpty Dumpty was pushed "

 

Why do some people seem to get bent out of shape when questions are asked about doing something that's relatively difficult? Aint that what we're on this here DISCUSSION forum for? If you can't do it already, just pack it in? There are no alternatives? I've tried nothing and it hasn't worked?

 

Try a 2" wide x 18 gauge strip and bend it to follow that contour. Then try it in a 4' wide piece.

You could make it out of fiberglass over a foam form. Compound curves are of little concern that way.
Shaping the foam board is easy.

To remove the door skin, grind on the folded edge until you go thru, pop it off on three sides. Gotta punt on the top window edge. Pick a spot and cut it.

 

I could get really close on the first try , putting that contour in post #25 into a 4' piece of 20-18 gauge as long as the panel and details were straight. Probably in less than a few hours.
I'm sure someone local to you could do it too.

Really close isn't exact . Exact is possible and more time consuming - time=money right?

 

Yep, I'm looking for "that'll do", not perfection.