Woodn't have it any other way,

Posted by Glen Weilbaker on September 09, 1998 at 07:36:38

In Reply to: Wood Woes
posted by TR on September 08, 1998 at 18:37:43

TR,
Before you send in the whole batch, you need to take in consideration of a few things.
First your Lady has aged, meaning she as settled, squished body pads, contorted panels etc.
The top wood you yank out has also changed, ever notice the floors in a wood house dip between the supports?
More than likely the new wood kits is made from samples from an existing car and not from engineering drawings. The better kits are made from existing drawings.
Another thing O'Henry did is a lot of hand tweaking, the car in front of and in back of is not the same as the middle one.
I've replaced a few wood tops, try a 24 T fordor but that's a whole nuther story, what I have found is the top sinks pushing out the sides and at the same the pads under the body are compressed just from age and wear so the sheet metal takes on a set. The best why to fit is to align the body on a straight frame, doors and hood also, then clamp the top in place, no screws just clamps, every clamp in the county will be enlisted.I've actually found the kits to be generous which is good, easier to trim than to add. Now when everything is satisfactory meaning the top and the body door hood alignment, retweaking may be necessary, drill holes and screw tight all the joints.
Marco has given you some great advice about ground up, I may add that it is a very big job and may take a few years. Did you get the car to tool around in? If so just bring her up snuff and not worry about some of the nit picky details of a restoration.
By the way, I get my wood from Snyder's and Bratton's
Good luck,
GW