THE GAP, 1912, FENDER , SPLASH APRON...

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: THE GAP, 1912, FENDER , SPLASH APRON...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg sarky K on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - 11:48 pm:

Can anyone tell me how to resolve this gap?

I have tried several types of original and rootlieb splash aprons and they all leave this gap on my 1912 Torpedo. I have also tried both original and rootlieb fenders as well but still the gap. No combination seems to work. It almost seems that here is not enough splash apron or not enough fender.

I do not have this gap on my other, unrestored, 1912 Torpedo so I assume it should not be there.


This fender /splash apron fitting really has been the most frustrating part of the restoration. Any advice , greatly appreciated.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roy palmer on Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 07:15 am:

What a pain.I have the same problem.Can't figure it out


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Chantrell - Adelaide, Australia on Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 08:00 am:

Looks like the running board is too long or probably the valance is the wrong shape. Are any parts reproductions? What is the fit like at the front? No, the gap should not be there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg sarky K on Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 08:20 am:

This is the front fender. I have tried all combinations of original and repro. The running boards are all repros.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 11:46 am:

Did someone cut a notch in the fender? Does your other 12 have the same notch in the fender?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kohnke Rebabbitting on Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 12:32 pm:

I have Rootlieb's for my 1914 Roadster, and they did the same thing. Then I got hold of a Factory real good used set.

The Rootlieb's are NOT made the same, by a long ways.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By a john wright on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 - 09:46 pm:

Here's the gap on my 12 Torpedo. Pardon the color. 12 fender


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dale Peterson on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 - 09:59 pm:

You said yourself, the one constant with all the attempts to fit; the reproduction running board.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 07:22 am:

Greg,

Since you have an unrestored car there that does not have the problem, you possess the perfect comparison tool. Can you not look at both and tell what is different?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg sarky K on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 10:35 am:

Yes, Royce, I do have the other Torpedo. Here is the photo. It does fit but it’s difficult to see what the difference is in the fenders and running board and splash aprons. Although this unrestored torpedo does have the bulge apron which I have been told is incorrect even though the car is an early 12 very close to your 12 serial number.


So I have all combos of fenders, running boards and all styles of aprons. Both original and repros. None of the combos worked and eliminated the gap on the front or the rear for that matter.


So I decided to call Rootlieb. I spoke to Byron who said he fabricates all the fenders, aprons and running boards. He had heard these problems before.


This is what I was told.

He said about the repros. He said the early repros, (my dad bought the fenders aprons and running boards from Rootlieb in the early 80’s) do not fit that well. He said they were made then by looking at some “originals” then copied. They were NOT done to factory drawings, which I found to be strange.


He then told me that the problem is 90 percent splash apron, 10 percent fender. He also said that the new aprons, especially, fit far better than the old repros. I then asked him if the new ones were made from factory drawings and he said NO. I found this strange also. He said they were done by originals again but by “better” originals.

I had my doubts but even though I had at least a dozen original and repro sets of aprons, I ordered the new repros.


The new repros were better with respect to the rear. They closed up the gap and matched the curve of the fender nicely.

But I still had the gap in the front as I have shown. Well frustrated once again I let it go and tackled it the next day. I was able to close the gap but only if I moved the running board a little up the curve of the fender and then pulled the splash apron in and the fender a bit to the rear.

That works but now the that lip on the fender that encases the piece of wood with the running board shows a bit below the running board and the angle of the fender and running board is off by a half an inch or so. I don’t know how that can be resolved other than cutting down the length of the running boards (which are the same length as the originals).

So all in all unless I can remedy that portion that shows below the running board it’s not a perfect solution but it closes the gap.




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roy palmer on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 02:50 pm:

You mean to say that Rootlieb is making all these sheet metal parts and not using Ford drawings?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg sarky K on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 03:17 pm:

That's what I was told by Rootlieb. So I guess they just eyeball and measure? I don't know . Thought it seems odd.

You always see the Regans,Andersons,etc. of the hobby stating that their parts were produced using factory drawings and specs. That's why I thought it was kind of shocking that Rootlieb,who makes physically large parts, told me that they do not use factory drawings. .


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roy palmer on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 07:48 pm:

So Rootlieb just eyeballs and measures? It doesn't take drawings to get it right?

Didn't really think you could do it that way but they have been in business for some time now..


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