A Facebook friend posted a picture of a 26-27 tudor body with a Hickory tree that must be 15 to 20 inches in diameter growing through the inside of the body. Despite being outdoors for God knows how long, the body appears to be rust out free and has good driver's door but no passenger's door. I don't know if he would let me cut down the tree to get the body, so short of taking a sawzall and cutting the body sills behind the cowl, does any one have any other suggestions?
Terry,
You have a choice, cut the tree or cut the body. A tree service could remove the tree without damaging the body. Most anyone that can do body work could weld a body back together if cut it to remove it without disturbing the tree.
Jim
Just my thought. It must take about forty years to grow a tree like that. If it were me, a couple hours would weld the body back together nicely. I think the '26/'27 tudor body is mostly steel construction. Earlier ones are all wood frame like my '24 coupe, as are the improved era fordors. I may be wrong, but I think the improved tudor is mostly steel frame except for the top wood.
There also may be rivets holding the front pillar to the sills and top frame that could be easily drilled or chiseled out to take the body apart. That would probably be the best way.
Do you think he will let you return it to the road?
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Oh, good. -You were talking about a car body.
I would cut down the tree and make some new spokes with it. Then remove the body and finish the car and wheels.
I agree with Dave, you could also make the wood kit out of the tree too
God is still making trees but Ford ain't making any more "T's"
I suppose you could get a crane to lift the tree and then cut it off and lift up without damage to the body. However, it is a curiosity to have a tree through the body. 26-27 Tudors are not a rare body style, so you will need to sift through ideas and costs. Do you need the tree removed if the body were not there? If so, cut the tree. If you like the tree but want the body removed, cut the body off. There still might be useable parts which you could sell. If it costs more to cut the tree than to buy another body, and it is not in an inconvenient place, leave it as is. I have a neighbor about a mile from here who has several old car and truck bodies rusting in the yard. A touring body is used for a planter. It is considered "yard art"
Norm
Was that a picture that was going around awhile back were a fellow clipped part of the top, took off right door and slid the body around the tree? Kind of an eye catcher.
Tim, I haven't asked my friend, but he knows that I am T crazy, so I don't think he would post a picture of a car he doesn't own. It appears to be just missing the passenger door. Driver's door and cowl vent are there for sure.