MTFCA Forum

I’m getting ready to replace the strips that cover the seems on my 24 coupe. The wood was soft when I removed them so they came off in decent condition. The nails are rusty, bent and loose. I am not building a show piece, just a driver. I’m looking for ideas on how to re install these strips. The original nails are likely not an option. The belt rail cover that starts at one door and goes around the back of the cab to the other door. It will likely be the harder strip to install. Open to ideas from the wisdom out there.

Thanks
Mike

I have made wood for Coupe's, Fordor's and installing the aluminum strips with the nails have been challenging, first one was screwed in and duraglas over them they showed, next ones where nailed and JB weld they showed the last ones I set down and really looked to see how they did it and it was aluminum plugs in the nail holes, made sure the trim holes where clean then took aluminum rod cut off hammered them in then files then sanded them smooth and that has held the best. Hope this helps but it was a lot of work. Joe

Joe
That sounds like a great idea. Thank you

When I restored our 1924 Fordor thirty years ago I had the same dilemma. I removed all of the old nails and used bronze monel nails. I countersunk the nails so there was supplicant depth to allow me to fill the alunimum cover strips with alunimum " DEVCON " filler. The fix has lasted all these years and not one has popped.
Best regards, John Page Australia.

I've done this several times on different Model T's
On my Town Car it has brass strips around the folding roof.
I drilled shallow holes on the flat side of the 1/2 round strips and used brass flat head nails whose head was the size of the drill I used.
I then silver soldered the nails into the strip. That was 55 years ago they are still there.

On aluminium strips just like John I also used bronze monel nails (good choice as they won't rust ) again I drilled shallow holes on the rear flat side, placed the nails into the holes and used a small flat punch to burr over the edge of the holes to trap the nail head in the holes. On another job I was lucky enough to have handy a workmate who was a skilled aluminium welder and he welded the nails in. What is also seen here in Australia at swap meets is a guy who sells a low temp welding rod which can be used to do the same thing. Would be worth a try if you can get the rods and have some practice at using the welding rods.
In each case hammering on the strips where the nails are fixes the strip as long as the timber is good.