Henry J firewall help

Hey guys, I am looking for some advice for strengthening my firewall on my 53 Henry J. As I am trying to correct the mistakes of my over enthusiastic teen years, and finish my Car off, I have run into an issue on my firewall. I cut the whole front of the firewall off, and set it back to be flat with the dash. as a result, i have a lot of flex in the front corners. I am planning to gusset the stock body mount to the frame, and reinforce the inside of the firewall with some falt sheet metal, similar to what the factory did around steering column and master cylinder mounts. I am not the greatest fabricator, so any ideas or Pictures would be great.

 

I don't know if this helps, but this is where I'm at now. I think once I get the toeboards and transmission tunnel tied in it will be pretty sturdy.

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Flat sheetmetal will have less strength than sheetemtal with contours, or ribs. You can fill in the missing parts and press in some ribs to strengthen it, of go heavier gauge if ribs aren't an option.
I built mine around the engine and close. Put an offset in the distributor area that really made it all much stronger. I also used 16ga. to further strengthen it.

 

Install a X made of 1/2" square tubing.

 

Maybe you might have enough room on the inside to spot weld hat strips.. and keep the out side clean.. I miss my J already..

 

id like to see from the inside,,how much foot room did you loose,,alot of Js ive seen the move the seat way back from the dash....dont want to do that with mine...

 

Thanks for the input. Now i have some ideas to play with. Bulletproof1, the firewall is flush with the Dash-there is no footroom as the stocker had. I eliminated the back seat, and set the front seat back about 12 inches. There is still enough room to hang my arm out the window.

 

My Henry J has a new firewall fabricated with seams and angles so strength is not a problem. Not much foot room, though.

 

Any reason you guys are moving the engines so far back? I put a blown small block and a big radiator, and only had to set the firewall back 3 inches. Lots of foot room and no seat setback.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=688860

 

I am with Badshifter, I never set an engine back any farther than needed. I like to retain the most foot room as possible. In your case I would use ZZ Ford's idea of a 1/2 or 3/4" square tube structure on the inside, "plug welded" on the engine side, then skin the inside with some light aluminum, leaving a space for some foam sheet insulation sandwiched between, That would make a good support for pedals. This is one I did recently with a Small block Ford, just as a comparison.

 

The setback is the result of teenage dreams. It is one of many mistakes made.

 

That doesn't look too far back from the angle I'm seeing. Looks like your number 1 plug is still over the top of the axle. Just remember that your fire wall doesn't have to be flat all the way across unless you want it to be.