Tech...making a deck lid ...cool shrinking tool

I made this one in much the same way only without your cool tool; I just beat it with a hammer. Instead of flat 18 Ga. steel, I used the hood metal from a '97 Mitsu*****i which already had a compound curve in it. The Mitsu*****i hood crown matched the T trunk lid opening fairly closely.

pigpen


...and to top it off, the rice burner hood came out of the local car shysters dumpster, for free.

 

Cool tech...When I try to think up stuff like this I just fall asleep.

 

Very nice!!

 

For the torch -- could that be a propane or mapp handheld? I don't have a oxy/acet. setup. ???

 

Long as you still have a steering wheel......

Great Tech Clark, I'm looking to be doing this myself soon, hell with Pigpens suggestion I should even be able to pick up some free pre-crowned sheetmetal to have a play with, off to the shop for some cheap vicegrip replicas.

 

I wonder how well the Mr Kelly's shrinker disc would work with the patented ClarkCrimpertm?

I don't have a choice about being a cheap ***.

 

Myoldbuick...the problem with most propane units is they tey spread the heat out too much. We heated a very small area.

Pigpen...I'm with you. I've cut up a lot of doors roofs and etc just for the right crown.

Fossil...like Pigpen said or with a lot of work. You can hammer a crown in. make a grid on the metal. Hammer on dolly streching the metal in that grid pattern. Trick is stretching it evenly. It worked for me once.

Burger...Torch and a little patience. I've also used an old brake drum with a peice of tubing welded to it. Then used a torch to help it around.

Lullabell...i was just waiting for you to lend it to me....permanetly

Thanks for all the compliments. We should have taken pics today when Jr made garnish moulding for the T and I used an air chissel (hammer form) to make patch panels for the doors. No time for pics today.
Clark

 

looks good clark,
ive seen a couple other people with vice grips like that too.
is this gona be done for detroit?

Zach

 

That's cool...thanks!

 

Yeh Detroit is the goal for this car. It goes to upohlstry in two weeks.

Then we start on a top secret project for the Showdown
Clark

 

i wish i had one of them

 

Looking good Clark. I'll need to get up there before it goes in for it's duds.

 

clark said in his first post that the decklid has a 1/4 in hem on the edge, my lancaster shrinker would not like that.

clark , thanks for posting this,i`ve been tuck shrinking for a few years now and never would have thought that a hem could be shrunk.

gary

 

I need to build a deck lid for my 31 model a and this looks like as good a way as any to do it now all I have to do is do it

 

Clark way to break out the ingenuity, you never cease to amaze us.

BTW I heard about your new emblems getting made up, you got to unviel those!!!!

 

You are my hero Clark

 

I know this is an old *** thread, but is gotta be one of the most informative ones ive seen yet!

Made my tool today.

 

CLARK What a great idea about the Vice grip shrinker.I like making my own tools.The young guys at work get a kick out of some of my home made tools.I will have to try your idea.OH YEA nice T coupe!