Body Tools

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Body Tools
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 05:46 pm:

Is it too much to split down panels during a restoration for cleaning and for straightening? I am working on the trunk lid, and I would like to separate the body skin from the liner.

Are there tools that can be used to peel the clip of the body panel back enough to remove the liner--without too much damage to either?

Dennis.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Iffrig on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 06:48 pm:

I guess it would depend on how they are put together.
I am not familiar with the construction. If they are spot welded you can use one of these:

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-3-8in-double-ended-spot-weld-cutter.html

Herb


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 07:05 pm:

What I see--specifically on my trunk lid is a mechanical (crimp) lock--that is what I was calling a "clip". There are a few rivets, as well, but that should not be difficult to remove (might be harder to find replacements).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 07:06 pm:

Dennis, What year? What Model? Any Pictures? We can help! To answer your question directly... Most likely yes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 07:20 pm:

I will get some pictures in a little while--dinner calls. The car is a 1927 doctor's coupe.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john kuehn on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 07:29 pm:

I used a sharp standard drill bit to separate the panels in a 5 piece back low cowl touring.
You can carefully drill from the inside and seperate them that way. Just be careful and only remove just enough of the spotweld.
After you drill away most of the spotwld you can use a small screwdriver and pop the panels apart.
Also insert a thin screwdriver between the seams to get pressure between them and as you are drilling they will pop apart that way also.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Travis E. Towle on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 07:46 pm:

it is a lot of work to do but worth it on a great restoration just be sure to weld through prime before putting back together


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 07:54 pm:

I don't see any spot welds. I have three pictures, below that show examples of the crimp and also the rivets. I would drill out the rivets.

file

file

file


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 08:18 pm:

I don't see any pictures. I wouldn't remove the panel unless you intend to replace it. Knowing the model and year would help.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Stephenson, Logan, Oh on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 09:31 pm:

The panel is not only spot welded. It is crimped on, much like a modern door skin. If you separate the panels you will likely damage the outer skin. I wouldn't remove it if I could avoid it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep NZ on Saturday, June 09, 2012 - 11:22 pm:

Have seen people cut the crimp right on the outside edge and weld them back together but i do not see enough rust to warrant doing so in those pictures. In this case it might be too much work and the result of welding them back together would make them worse than leaving them in one piece.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Sunday, June 10, 2012 - 09:37 am:

Thanks, all.

I think I know my answer--move on...get'r done.

Dennis.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Sunday, June 10, 2012 - 09:37 am:

Thanks, all.

I think I know my answer--move on...get'r done.

Dennis.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Sunday, June 10, 2012 - 02:32 pm:

There are a lot of lids out there that have been painstakingly restored and are still not as good as yours is now.

Wire-wheel it, sand, prime or spray/brush some Rustoleum or Zero-Rust on it and move on..\Good original lids are HARD to find.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john kuehn on Sunday, June 10, 2012 - 04:24 pm:

Now that you have pictures I would leave well enough alone. By the looks of the pics if there is a dent or minor misalighment you might could bump it carefully out. I would not try to seperate the metal pieces but brush or mildly bead blast and prime it.
There are quite a few restored T's out there that have have metal dents in them worse than that.
If you look closely at some original unrestored cars that are in good shape you can see that things werent always 'perfect' from the factory.
A nice restored Model T these days is probably nicer than one that rolled off the assembly line in Fords Model T heyday.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Sunday, June 10, 2012 - 06:26 pm:

I appreciate the advice. I had stopped my restoration for about two years, because I realized that I can do better than I had originally thought. That and job problems...I'm FINALLY back at it.

Regarding the idea of separating sheets, I was thinking in terms of the dirt and junk in between the two sheets, and also there is damage inflicted by (I think the person who started the restoration. I thought I could correct the errors, and I was thinking that I could learn to better work the metal. These things are not that urgent.

Again, thanks for the advice and the moral support.

Dennis.


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