Who has experience with a 1923-5 touring wood kit?

[George Hand]

I am wondering who may have used a 1923-5 touring wood kit, the venders list one kit for those model years, I am sure that these are for the "high" cowl , so what do you use for a "low". cowl 1923, the 1922 kit and make adjustments for the "one" man top & 1923 slanted windshield post? I guess what I am asking is who has rewooded a low cowl 1923 with a one man top and used a wood kit? George

[CudaMan]

I was happy with the wood kit I got through Lang's for my 1925 touring body. Be aware, some time in 1925 Ford changed the rear upper rail to a narrower strip of curved wood that sits on a flange molded into the sheet metal. Check yours before ordering to make sure you get the right kit.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1512478222

Regarding adapting a high cowl kit to fit a low cowl car, I'm afraid I can't help there, maybe Charley Shaver can educate us? Charley used to make wood kits and knows all about them.

[John kuehn]

George
Taking a look at the Fordwood website I noticed they list 2 cowl wood pieces no. 305, 306 To be used for the early 23 models. Maybe that means to be used for the low cowl 23 Touring??
If you have a low cowl early 23 it could be that the body pillars in the earlier 17-22 Touring bodies and most of the wood would fit in a 23 low cowl.
The doors on the 17-25 Touring bodies are the same I believe but the body pillars would be different like the earlier models.
Going by Fordwood you may need to use a low cowl 17-22 kit and use the earlier cowl pieces they show in the 23-25 kit that’s designated the earlier style.
I may be all wrong but that’s what it seems to me what you could do.
I restored a 21 Touring and looking at wood kit information from Fordwood I noticed that were some pieces from the earlier bodies were used in the early 23.
Your post reminded me about it.
Hopefully someone who has the early 23 Touring can help in figuring it out and has replaced the wood would have more an accurate info.

[George Hand]

John, Thanks for your information & research. This may sound "nutty" but late last year i bought an unfinished early 23 project that has been in pieces for years. the chassis from what i can tell has been "restored" (except maybe the rear axle). It is all cleaned derusted primed & painted. That includes all the body & sheet metal parts, seat frames, body panels, fenders etc. The wood is all original and nearly perfect, it has been striped of the sheet metal and consist of the left & right frame work. Before this is put together I want to copy what wood is here for another project which is a 1922 full fendered with cowl running chassis. I know of differences in the armrest areas, seat back & top rails between the two, but most of the replacement sheet metal is the same 22-early 23. I may never get to the 22 project but i have been thinking about it while social distancing the last few weeks & more so after bringing the last of the pile of parts home of the 23. George