The Ford Barn

lance leblanc · 10-05-2012, 02:23 PM

As a new comer to Ford Barn I want to Thank all the folks who share their knowlegde and experience on these forums.

"Without it I believe I would have never garnered the courage to begin the frame off restoration of my father-in-laws '29 Tudor".

So to my question, I wish to replace the rusted cowl panels that are below the fuel tank and are riveted to the firewall.

Where do I begin?
How much do I need to be concerned with the stability and alinement of the firewall? (will it take care of itself)
What rivet tools are recommended, do I need a air tool?
What size rivets?
Should I be losing sleep at night of this?

Lance

Carter · 10-05-2012, 04:07 PM

If I am not mistaken, the cowl panels are spot welded to the firewall. The only rivets would be the 3 on each side under the bottom where that flange rivets to the subframe connector.
The cowl lacing rivets would go along there, but they don't hold the panels together.

wrndln · 10-05-2012, 04:16 PM

If the cowl isn't that badly rusted out, I would simply install a patch in the rusted area. It is that hard to do, much easier, I think, than trying to install a repro panel that may or may NOT fit correctly - note the emphasis on NOT. I have installed several cowl patches and it is not that hard.
Rusty Nelson

lance leblanc · 10-08-2012, 02:59 PM

The panel is only rusted the botton 4 inches so I have concedered a patch, but with out the use of a welder and wanting to do as much myself as posible,
the entire panel seemed the way to go. However if these are spot welds that I am looking at and not rivets then that changes things.

Elcastor · 10-08-2012, 07:22 PM

Take it to a guy that can weld in a replacement piece of sheet metal. It is a job for a welder, and it should not cost too much to get it done right. Prefabricated patch panels just do not seem to work that well. (This is what I recommend anyway, others may disagree!)

Mitch//pa · 10-08-2012, 07:25 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

just get the bottom patch panels thats a common spot for rust out.

10-05-2012, 02:23 PM	#1
lance leblanc Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Baton Rouge LA Posts: 238	Riddle my rivets! As a new comer to Ford Barn I want to Thank all the folks who share their knowlegde and experience on these forums. "Without it I believe I would have never garnered the courage to begin the frame off restoration of my father-in-laws '29 Tudor". So to my question, I wish to replace the rusted cowl panels that are below the fuel tank and are riveted to the firewall. Where do I begin? How much do I need to be concerned with the stability and alinement of the firewall? (will it take care of itself) What rivet tools are recommended, do I need a air tool? What size rivets? Should I be losing sleep at night of this? Lance

10-05-2012, 04:07 PM	#2
Carter Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Castle, PA Posts: 389	Re: Riddle my rivets! If I am not mistaken, the cowl panels are spot welded to the firewall. The only rivets would be the 3 on each side under the bottom where that flange rivets to the subframe connector. The cowl lacing rivets would go along there, but they don't hold the panels together.

10-05-2012, 04:16 PM	#3
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,298	Re: Riddle my rivets! If the cowl isn't that badly rusted out, I would simply install a patch in the rusted area. It is that hard to do, much easier, I think, than trying to install a repro panel that may or may NOT fit correctly - note the emphasis on NOT. I have installed several cowl patches and it is not that hard. Rusty Nelson

10-08-2012, 02:59 PM	#4
lance leblanc Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Baton Rouge LA Posts: 238	Re: Riddle my rivets! The panel is only rusted the botton 4 inches so I have concedered a patch, but with out the use of a welder and wanting to do as much myself as posible, the entire panel seemed the way to go. However if these are spot welds that I am looking at and not rivets then that changes things.

10-08-2012, 07:22 PM	#5
Elcastor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oregon and Baja Mexico Posts: 617	Re: Riddle my rivets! Take it to a guy that can weld in a replacement piece of sheet metal. It is a job for a welder, and it should not cost too much to get it done right. Prefabricated patch panels just do not seem to work that well. (This is what I recommend anyway, others may disagree!) __________________ Ben Purkey Mexico and the Pacific NW http://www.martin-parry.com/

10-08-2012, 07:25 PM	#6
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Riddle my rivets! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) just get the bottom patch panels thats a common spot for rust out.