Need some help. My next step in the 'A' sedan is to replace/fill the rain gutter tack strips above the windows. I would like to continue the shape of the vertical molding line that leads into the tack strip at the upper back corner of the windows. Does anyone have any tips on fab'n replacement strips? Thought about using the HF beadroller but none of the dies are the right shape and I don't have access to a lathe? Any thoughts?
Just ideas, I haven't done either... Find a sacraficial van and cut the van away from the drip rail maybe? (cut the whole side area out of the top and then cut the roof away from the rail so the rail isn't screwed up.) or 3/8 or 1/2" square tubing with one side cut off?
Good idea on the 1/2" tubing. It would be easy to bend to shape and I could get both sides from 1 pc of tubing. Thanks Any other ideas?
Hey, Ya might try hittin a sheet metal shop that has a beader....... Cut a templet from thin masonite to include all changes ya want in the swage line to blend with the panel line above the windows, have them made up in non galvinized sheet and weld in. This should be a no brainer for any sheet- metal worker in a pro shop, and probably not big bucks. Bending tube is not a bad way ta go, but ya can spend a lot of time cuttin pie sections and weld- in if the panel changes shape much. If money is tight, tubing or cut down panels off a donor vehicle will work. good luck,
A, I can tellya DONT buy the alluminum **** the A catalogs sell. I bought some, and threw it anyway. What I endded up doing is going to a sheet metal shop. having the bend me a .5x.5x.5 gutter, then tacking one end, and hacking grooves in the backside until it met the contour of me coupe body. Then filled it, and welded it on. It dont look like the english rolled OEM, but it looks like it belongs. So far no one has even noticed they are OEM.
i went to home depot and bought some unistrut for hanging conduit cut it in two, ground off the galvenizing bent it around a old ford brake shoe, welded em on looks factory and was real cheap.
I used 3/4x1/8 flat strap steel. Cut and bend to shape, then weld it top and bottom. Once welded, it looks just like the body reveal. Small skim coat finished it off.. I really wish I would not have done it though...Looking back, I like the stock top better...Course, it was 10 years ago...what the hell did I know??? PS. Yes, this is the same damn pic of my car... -Abone.
Ive always just welded in a peice of appropriate width flat 1/8" bar stock Then weld a 5/16" cold roll rod to that.......about 25 feet of welding on each side! Insane but it cure the "bald" look of smoothing over the drip rails.
Excellent tips... Flamedabone: Your ride is what I was thinking of in planning the gutter fill project. For some reason your car speaks to me. Choprods: How do you use the 5/16" cold roll rod? Is it used to create an edge? Thanks
I used a piece of 3/8" angle iron. Bend it to the contour ,and weld it on, and finish. It looks like a '32 drip rail. With a steel top,it eliminates the ugly stock canvas'wrapped' top. Sparky
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