Cracks in my Turtledeck

[Mark Osterman]

I think the corners of my turtle deck are cracking due to shrinkage of the boards underneath. I can reduce the tension by making the holes bigger. Now what should I do about the cracks; brazing or welding?

[Norman Kling]

Could you post a picture, also what year is the car?
Norm

[D Stroud]

Mark, even though brazing may well fix your problem, I don't like to braze anything that can be welded for one simple reason. Once something has been brazed, the bronze is absorbed into the base metal which makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to weld at a later date if needed. I think you need to look at your turtle deck closer, I don't think the wood shrinking or expanding has anything to do with the cracks. Most likely some flexing is going on somewhere else, possibly the wood is flexing, but not expanding or shrinking. I may well be wrong, but check it out. Dave

[Mark Osterman]

Here is one of the corners though all of them have similar cracks. My car is a 1923 low hood.

[RustyFords]

It almost looks like a previous repair that's coming apart again.

[Squirrel]

If you're not planning on doing lots of work to get the body into top condition, and repaint it all, you might be better off leaving it alone. It looks pretty natural, and probably isn't going to get noticeably worse, any time soon.

[Norman Kling]

It looks like the crack lines up with the hinge. Try opening and closing the lid and see where the metal is flexing. It might not be anything to do with the wood, but just over 90 years of opening and closing which puts a strain on things until something finally snaps. You can weld it up and maybe put a little extra sheet metal underneath where it will not show but will strengthen the area. Unfortunately when you weld the crack, you will find the area next to the weld might crack in the future, but a little extra support welded on the underside will help.
Norm

[RustyFords]

I know yours is a preservation car. They're often harder to fix than one you could simply repair and repaint.