Trunk lid skin replacement

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JoeG48
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 1:27 pm
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Coupe
Location: El Dorado Hills California

Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by JoeG48 » Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:41 am

What is the best tool for installing a new skin on a 27 T coupe trunk lid ...and any tips on the removal of the old one .... and the job in general.. Thanks for any help ... Joe joeg48@hotmail.com


DHarrison
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Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by DHarrison » Mon Dec 23, 2019 12:34 pm

I did not replace the outer skin, but split the outer and inner skins apart, fixed both of them and put it back together with the original metal. The trunk lid had been smashed down to the bottom of the trunk from chains and tools thrown on top of it during use as a farm tractor. Watch out for the inner skin and try to minimize distortion in it. I had one corner of the inner skin that required new metal and it was a challenge to get it to the correct shape and then make it fit with the outer skin. On the edges you just have to be patient and work them a little at a time, both taking it apart and putting it back together. Test fit frequently to establish the side curves. Good luck. David


Kevin Pharis
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Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by Kevin Pharis » Mon Dec 23, 2019 9:50 pm

Not sure bout the coupe lids... but I’m sure they are the built the same as the roadster lids. That is, with the outer skin folded and crimped over the edge of the inner panel. Should not be welded, riveted, brazed, or the like.

If you don’t care to salvage the old skin... just hit the perimeter edge with an angle grinder till you break thru, and the skin should fall right off. The goal is to peel the skin off without distorting the inner panel too much. You should work the inner panel and skin separately to match the profile of the trunk opening before assembling. This way you won’t have to deal with trying to reshape the skin after assembly.

We’re you able to find a new skin for the coupe? I know Howell’s had the roadster lids...


Allan
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Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by Allan » Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:52 pm

Joe, Kevin is on the money. When checking the fit of the new skin, I would crimp the edge of the skin at the corners with a pair of pliers first so you can check the curvature/fit of the skin and inner panel. If you are not satisfied with the fit, corrections should be made before the lip on the skin is tapped down.
When tapping the edges down, support the skin with a dolly on the top side while tapping the edge down. This will prevent it bellying upwards. I suggest you work the edge down a bit more than 45 degrees all round and check the fit again, before tapping it down completely. On the final tap down, the dolly is essential. Even the best panel whackers may need to dress out little imperfections in the finished panel, so don't get depressed if you make the odd hammer mark.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.


Ken Buhler
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Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by Ken Buhler » Tue Dec 24, 2019 12:57 am

The deck lids are assembled like a hand in glove. Carefully go through the spot welds with a small burr and then slip the shell out of the skin. You then have easy access to both panels. During the repair, you can slide the shell in and out to see how you are doing. When you are satisfied with the fit, be careful not to change the twist while spot tacking the two.
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Allan
Posts: 5172
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First Name: Allan
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by Allan » Tue Dec 24, 2019 7:52 am

Ken, I don't think that will work on a 26-7 deck lid. The skin is a 3 dimensional pressing. It cannot be slid back and forth over the inner like a flat skin can. It curves upwards at the front and down at the back.
If the skin is spot welded, Kevin's removal method still applies. The spot welds can then be worked upon to remove the narrow strip left on the underside of the inner panel. A better tool for this is special spot weld remover. It looks like a 1/4" hole saw. When it is centred over the spot weld, it cuts a circle around the spot, enabling the surrounding metal to be lifted off. Then the spot left is easily ground off.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.


Kevin Pharis
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Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by Kevin Pharis » Tue Dec 24, 2019 11:05 am

You can always look for (or grind you own) “Brad point” drill bits. These drill points are inverted, with a tiny raised point in the center to keep them on target, and so cut at the perimeter with nearly flat bottom. These drills will easily remove the spot weld area without sacrificing the lower panel


Ken Buhler
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Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by Ken Buhler » Tue Dec 24, 2019 12:13 pm

Thank you Allan, I see I got lucky with my roadster lid.
Kevin, good tip, thank you.
Work honestly
Stay true to your word
Get the job done right


Topic author
JoeG48
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 1:27 pm
First Name: Joe
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Coupe
Location: El Dorado Hills California

Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by JoeG48 » Tue Dec 24, 2019 9:20 pm

Thanks to all I really appreciate all the the tips ... I found new deck lid skins for a 26/27 T at Smith + Jones and at Howells Sheet Metal .... The best of the Holiday Season ..... Thanks again..... Joe


Kevin Pharis
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Location: Sacramento CA

Re: Trunk lid skin replacement

Post by Kevin Pharis » Tue Dec 24, 2019 10:07 pm

Im going to try to say this without sounding too critical of Howell’s deck lid skins...

The roadster skin I had from Howell’s was better than nothing, and I was happy to have a head start on the project. But the skin was far from ready to install. The main issue was the complete lack of compound curve in the skin. Because of this, the skin actually dipped in the center about 1/4”, rather than the required 1/2” of crown. Nothing a few hours of careful english wheel work and planishing wouldn’t fix

The coupe deck lid is far more complex than the roadster, look over the new skin real good before you cut off the old one

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