Floorboard Material??
 

My son and I screwed-down the floorboard under the pedals yesterday (was missing all the screws). We also installed the missing pedal plates and felt pad. The floorboard over the battery does not fit like it should (back edge protrudes about an extra 1/2 inch so it doesn't seat in the recess all the way). My question is: what are the original floorboards made of? Mine are quite obviously plywood...and I assume NOT original (since it doesn't fit). As a new Model A'er I am unfamiliar with what the original floorboard material was...


Two of the original floorboard screws were missing their heads and had to be drilled out. Whew... We also discovered that the ground strap (braided wire...also not original) is routed to the transmission tower. I realize that this is a suggested upgrade, but should I also install a wire to the frame??

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

Floorboards were usually just boards and not plywood. It was suggested that Ford used crating materials also.

An extra ground won't hurt.

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

I used marine board and then used a oak stain and sealer, works and fits great

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

According to the Standards plywood was starting to be used in March 1929.


Bob

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

I just replaced mine with the ones from Snyders. they are made of plywood and fit just fine. I did makes modifications so that I could get the battery out w/o taking out the floor board though. Then I Spar Varnished them as I like the looks and added some cork on the underside for some sound deadening and heat absorption (I hope) and then screwed them down.


Mike

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

Yes, the boards look original. All the holes and attached hardware are in the correct locations and it has that antique smell and feel. I need to remove about 1/2" of material from the front edge of the main front board in order to make it drop into place. The problem is the two bronze?? strips under the main board that slip behind the pedal board. I don't want to ruin my blade so I will have to be VERY careful to trim by hand in that area.

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

I like the cork idea... I also thought about a metal heat shield above the muffler.

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

Brass strip? I don't recall there being one there. But I could be wrong. I don't know if the heat shield above the muffler actually works, might want to double check. The reflective insulation is supposed to work though.


Mike

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

I cut mine out of 3/4 marine plywood and paint them semi gloss black enamel . My floor boards seen to fit as original .

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

On my roadster I used Baltic Birch plywood. I t is good quality and easy to work with. Snyders also have good floorboards.

John

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

My early '29 Tudor still had the original floorboard in the back seat area. It was made of hardwood boards tied together with a pair of steel straps on the underside surface. One board was so gone that one would literally be able to put their foot through it. I found a web site that has the measurements and friend of mine made one for me from a piece of 3/4" hardwood plywood from Home Depot. I used the fabric webbing material from Bert's and stained it. It worked rather well.

Somewhere I heard that Ford used pallets and other used shipping crates to recycle for floorboards for the cars, and later went to plywood. I don't know if that is true or urban legend. At any rate, I believe hardwood or marine plywood is the material of choice these days unless you have an early car and want to go for points and need to replicate the original ones using actual boards.

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

" I don't know if that is true or urban legend." Urban legend. :)

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Re: Floorboard Material??
 

I know that I'm just poking the bear in the eye with a stick with the following comment about Ford and his source of floorboard material...but here goes. Battlelines have been drawn for years about whether Ford used parts boxes or made floorboards from normal purchased wood stock (most likely from forests that Henry owned). "Positive" proof has been provided by both sides of the question to defend their standpoint.
In the early 1980's I was newsletter editor of the local Phoenix Model T club. As such, I was always on the lookout for interesting stories about Fords that hadn't been told a million times. I came across an article in one of the national antique Ford magazines (I think it may have been "The Vintage Ford") that described an incident involving an entire trainload of Model A stainless steel parts that had been shipped to the Ford assembly plant at the Rouge. It seems the ENTIRE shipment was refused UNOPENED by FoMoCo with the notation on shipping invoice: "Refused delivery because of the incorrect size wood boxes.", or words to that effect. Why would Ford care what size the boxes containing stainless steel parts were if there wasn't some specific intended use of the wood afterwards - such as for floorboards? It wasn't like thrifty old Henry to simply throw away or burn hundreds of perfectly re-usable wood shipping crates. I suspect the boxes sent were undersized and couldn't be adapted to floorboards without extensive re-cut and fitting, which would cost Ford money and manhours.
I don't take a stand one way or another on this issue, and quite frankly, I couldn't care less what Ford used for floorboard material. But one has to wonder why an entire shipment of unopened parts was refused because the packing crates were of the "incorrect size". Draw your own conclusions.
Marshall

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

My floorboards are original to the car (1931 Deluxe Coupe) and they are made of plywood (appear to have very old coat of varnish). I bought the car from the son of the original owner who purchased the car new.

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

Super this is the mod I made. I just didn't want to have to unscrew the floor boards every time I need to take out the battery. And it gives me better access to take the cables on and off.


Mike

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

I like your battery access plate design!

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

Thank you. I got the idea from a friend in my club. I varnished the boards as I really like the antique look of the wood-so to speak.


Mike

Re: Floorboard Material??
 

I believe these are original, motor they came with was dated July 29. You can still see all the riveting and hold downs, as well as the welting.