I've used the search function and found several threads about the differences between the two but I still dont think the op's or I got the answers they were looking for. I understand that roadster quarters are longer than coupe quarters but where exactly can the differences be found? I bought a 30/31 roadster body recently with the back half cut off (cut basically down the middle of the rear wheel well). The reason I bought it was A: the doors are and floor are basically perfect and B: I had a crusty pair of coupe quarters I figured I could use as patches. Now I know it's not a bolt on fix and I'm not afraid to cut and weld but how hard would it be to graft the coupe quarters onto what's left of the roadster quarters to make it passable? I know I would be better off buying repop roadster quarters but if I had that kind of money i would just buy a good bead roller, shrinker stretcher and english wheel so i could make my own anyway. Does anybody out there have both a roadster amd coupe to post pictures and some relevant measurements? Thanks in advance.
Roadster doors are shorter. The roadster added length is from the door to the wheelhouse. I can’t remember about the length from the wheelhouse back but trunk lids are supposed to swap. So it probably possible to use part of the coupe qtr. The bead/style line where the coupe sail panel starts is different. Possible to graft from below the roadster belt line back. (Going off memory)
http://www.motormayhem.net/model-a-ford-reference-page/body-specifications/ This might help and a bump for the smarter folks to chime in
There is a simple solution and you just mentioned in your opening thread. If you have the front half of the roadster quarter panels and rough coupe quarter panels you should graft one to the other. This is actually quite easy with the right paper patterns. You will need two. One for the roadster quarter and one for the coupe quarter. You use magnets to hold the patterns down and cut out the centre to allow for the crown in the panels, the patterns are reversible so can be used on both sides. When cutting the patterns this should be done between the swages so that the patterns will lock into the quarter panels and not around it.
The next step is to take the take the roadster quarter panels and measure out from the b pillars to make identical cuts on both sides. Once these have been made, place the roadster pattern over the top, secure it with magnets, especially over the cut edge. Then get a nail and run it along the edge back and forth until you get an imprint of the cutting line. Then re cut the paper pattern along the imprint. This paper pattern is then placed over the coupe paper pattern and slid into place until both are perfectly aligned. The the cut line of the roadster pattern is traced over the coupe paper pattern and the coupe paper pattern is cut accordingly. The newly cut coupe patterns are then placed over the coupe quarter panels and marked out for cutting accordingly. Basically you are wanting to butt weld the panels together. I did something similar for the 29 Roadster quarter panel I got last year when I had to make a patch panel up for it.
coupe and roadster are different cars, '28- '29 and '30- '31... '30-'31 coupe beltline bead is in a different spot [L to R] than roadster from the trunk lid and down..., thought i could graft them on... i could not...
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