1952-59 Ford Rusted Out Trunk

I pretty sure that there are no reproduction panels (at least I can't find any) for the 54 trunk that has rusted out, so what have you done to fix this problem? What have you used and how? Thanking you in advance.

 

I have a 2-door parts car sitting in front of my shop that has a very good trunk floor in it.

 

I got some 20 ga sheetmetal and welded it in after putting some beads in it on my friends bead roller.I eliminated the spare tire well as its gonna b a kustom anyway.I used my Hoibart 140 mig.

 

Thanks guys, that is what I figured, either a parts car or fit sheet metal. 10bucks, your a little to far to use a whole car, but if you cut the floor out, what would you charge for the piece? Shipping would kill it too, probably.

 

Mine is OK but I will have to replace mine in my 50 Ford . I am going to do away with the spare tire hole and just cut out the bad and make a pattern on cardboard for new one . I have a bead roller to roll some beads to make it stronger . Then I will just weld it in . They make one for my 50 Ford but way cheaper to make one yourself , if you have the tools to do it or maybe a friend can help.
If you don't have a bead roller . get a piece of hard wood from someone that has a fireplace , make a notch/cutout in the log about 6-12" long . Now draw the lines where you need to make a roll on the sheet metal then take another piece of word about 4-6" long and make a rounded edge on it about the width of the bead roller , now just use a mallet or hammer and start beating the wood on the line you made on the sheet metal . Just go back and forth till you get the pattern you want . That is the poor mans bead roller . You can also use the round end of a ball peen hammer , lay on the line on the sheet metal and use another hammer to hit it slowly . DON'T try to do it with one hit . It will work !

Jim

 

Thanks Jim, by the way MAC's has trunk panels for 50 Fords.

 

OK thanks ! I know Macs and some other places have them and most come from EMS . I try to make what I can for the enjoyment of doing as much as I can by myself ! I am far from the best metal man but when I can save some money by making it myself I will . It's always nice to be able to tell people that I made that part myself and most will understand what it means to make and build the car yourself . Anyone with deep pockets can by a car and show it off but all they can say is they know where the gas goes ! But it takes someone with their own hands to build a car by theirself with lots of pride . There are some pieces that is very hard for me to make so I usually buy those . I am on a couple metal making forums and they are very helpful and if anyone has been to the Jalopy Showdown in Pa. then you know who many of them are . They are the ones that do the metal shaping under the pavilion .
They also have a section on the sites where they tell you how to make many tools that will save you some money too .

Anyway it's not that hard to make a flat piece for a floor or trunk . Just remember if you screw it in or overlap the piece and weld it in , just make to use seam sealer on both sides so water doesn't get trapped in side and start rusting again .

Jim

 

Patriot, I'll be stepping out till the the weekend but I'll check it out when I get back and let you know.