I have been looking for a nice model A coupe body for a while. I've notice a fair amount of the ones I have looked at have stress fractures around where the roof meets the body. Obviously anything this old is going to need some metal work. Is this something that I should be concerned with? Is it a hard area to repair? I obviously want to buy the best body for the money. I'm thinking I may just need to save up some more cash and buy a nicer body to start with, ($5000 range) But at that point I might as well fork out the cash and buy a restored stocker. Than just strip it of it's fenders, drop it, add juice brakes and soup up the banger. I don't know. I'd hate to destroy a virgin, but part of me kinda likes the idea....I guess I've just got money in my pocket burning a hole...
What are you planning to do to the body when you get it? Put it on a frame and your done? If you are planning on reinforcing or replacing the wood, you should have a strong body when you are done. These things were made of metal and wood and designed to flex. If the metal is fatigued then you’ll have to repair it.
I don't know what the guys doing these cars today will say. But those cars were real flexible by design and it was normal for bodys and fenders to crack(and frames) The old timers would cut a piece to back up the crack and braze it in to strenghten it. Then it would crack someplace else. I see nothing wrong with welding broken sheet metal now. And we don't have the same kinda roads that did that type of damage anymore (dirt and gravel) Frank
i looked at alot of cars before i bought mine and i bought a stocker that had been restored 20 years ago.but after i got it home and had it sandblasted i realized i had pasted up better cars.after all the work ive done to this car im almost convenced you can fix just about any of them it just takes time and practice. it's just steel.you can do it!!!
The Jalopy Journal
