Ok, yes, I am a wood-assembling virgin at this point when it comes to Model T's, but I ordered everything I need (I hope) from the Cubels and have finally started to unpack and organize the bits. Now for the questions!!
I want to build the body on the frame instead of separate, but from what I was reading from the Cubels, they suggest starting at the cowl (getting it in place) and then moving onto the sills, inserting them into the cowl. Does that sound like a good plan?
What parts need to be glued as well as screwed together? I was talking with fellow Old Colony members and one suggested marine 2 part epoxy.
Has a good assembly thread been started on this topic yet? Thanks, Chris.
Throw away all the glue. You don't glue any Model T body. It is assembled with screws and some dowels. The body has to flex when on the car and if it can't you will break something.
The wood is not glued any where, it needs to flex or joints will break, I learned from my first mistake. Hope this helps.
Sorry Jack, you type a whole lot faster than I do.
Chris, I used epoxy to seal the wood pieces. I also used 3M Marine adhesive 5200 on the joints. 5200 will make a strong joint but will allow the joint to flex so you don't have failure. This was how "I" did it. Some people will have a problem with it but I wanted to build enough strength and flexiblity for the car to give when it had to.
I started my rewooding at the mounted cowl and worked back. The cowl was the one point I didn't want any change to. By using the cowl it maintained the correct fit of the hood to the radiator.
My biggest fear building my '27 was getting it done and having sticky doors or doors that popped open while bouncing down the road. There is a simple way to adjust the frame for the doors to fit correctly but I would rather not discuss it on the forum. It seems any deviation from what some believe to be correct opens up a session of criticism I don't need.
Chris I have built a 1919 Roadster using the same method you are talking about. I used a kit from Cubels and it worked fine using their method. I completed the restoration on the chassis and built the body on the chassis. I am restoring a 1921 Touring using the same method and its working fine.
I started with the firewall. When you start with the firewall or cowl this gives you a starting point for the sills and everything else.
Bolt the firewall brackets to the body and then bolt on the firewall.
This gives you a reference point on how the body is situated on the frame.
I would reccommend to get your body sills as level on the frame as possible. Then get them in the correct location where they fit up or close to the firewall.
I agree with Don on there is more than one way to get things to fit up and work. I tend to think that some folks have tunnel vision and its hard to accept that there is more than one way to do something and making it work.
Also Chris when assembleing the wood structure kit you have to remember that you will have to make your wood fit the sheet metal here and there. Maybe more or less here and there but it will work. Just curious if is it a closed car or open car your working on.
Good luck and have fun!
Sorry Chris not noticeing its a closed your working on! Using the firewall as a reference point is still the best way I think to start assembling the body.