The Ford Barn

Blastfromthepast · 05-07-2017, 07:21 AM

Can anybody tell me when removing the body from the chassi does the body come off in 2 pieces front and back or do I need to create a brace and remove it in 1 piece.

Kurt in NJ · 05-07-2017, 08:07 AM

It depends on how much floor you have, originally it was one piece, For my conv sedan I made triangle braces to fit the hinge places and connect to door latch striker mount holes ---then i made spreader bars to connect left side to right side and lifted the body by the braces

barnfind · 05-07-2017, 08:14 AM

Brace and cross brace side to side and fore and aft as Kurt suggests.
Think in terms of building a "box" inside the body shell to prevent any distortion and metal warping.

Blastfromthepast · 05-07-2017, 05:22 PM

That's what I thought but I have seen it in 2 pieces and wondered if it could be done that way. My floor is wipe out. Also when I take the body off could make the floor and inner rockers on the chassis first and then attach the body?

barnfind · 05-08-2017, 09:20 AM

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I guess it depends if the door gaps and alignment are still good enough to want to try to "save the measurements" based on the existing rockers and pan. The frame may be rusty and not true so it may not be any more work trying to reestablish the A and B pillar alignment and door gaps.
You could weld up some braces for the current door hinge and latch dimensions and then take them back out.
That way you would have some bolt in/out type reference points before you start the new work.
I saw a posting somewhere where someone built the "inside" box to extend outside as well and sort of hung the body that way while they built the new floor and rockers.

I have a roadster puzzle to put back together someday and been thinking thru the process.

05-07-2017, 07:21 AM	#1
Blastfromthepast Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: NY Posts: 319	1936 cabriolet convertible body off restoration Can anybody tell me when removing the body from the chassi does the body come off in 2 pieces front and back or do I need to create a brace and remove it in 1 piece.

05-07-2017, 08:07 AM	#2
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,179	Re: 1936 cabriolet convertible body off restoration It depends on how much floor you have, originally it was one piece, For my conv sedan I made triangle braces to fit the hinge places and connect to door latch striker mount holes ---then i made spreader bars to connect left side to right side and lifted the body by the braces

05-07-2017, 08:14 AM	#3
barnfind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 427	Re: 1936 cabriolet convertible body off restoration Brace and cross brace side to side and fore and aft as Kurt suggests. Think in terms of building a "box" inside the body shell to prevent any distortion and metal warping.

05-07-2017, 05:22 PM	#4
Blastfromthepast Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: NY Posts: 319	Re: 1936 cabriolet convertible body off restoration That's what I thought but I have seen it in 2 pieces and wondered if it could be done that way. My floor is wipe out. Also when I take the body off could make the floor and inner rockers on the chassis first and then attach the body?

05-08-2017, 09:20 AM	#5
barnfind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 427	Re: 1936 cabriolet convertible body off restoration Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I guess it depends if the door gaps and alignment are still good enough to want to try to "save the measurements" based on the existing rockers and pan. The frame may be rusty and not true so it may not be any more work trying to reestablish the A and B pillar alignment and door gaps. You could weld up some braces for the current door hinge and latch dimensions and then take them back out. That way you would have some bolt in/out type reference points before you start the new work. I saw a posting somewhere where someone built the "inside" box to extend outside as well and sort of hung the body that way while they built the new floor and rockers. I have a roadster puzzle to put back together someday and been thinking thru the process.