29 Tudor front floor board question

[fred93]

I am installing the front floor boards and I noticed that the wooden floor boards are about 5/16" lower than the metal body rails. Shouldn't the two be at the same level???

If they need to be level I guess that I will need to shim the wooden parts to match the rails???

The wood is just a little shy of 1/2". I have no idea if that is original or have they been replaced???

[fred93]

I may have answered my question. I checked Bratton's catalog and it says that the floor boards are 23/32" thick. That would just about make up the difference.

Any input is appreciated.

[Brentwood Bob]

Used Russian imported plywood, metric, but 3/4" approx., 7 ply,
Worked fine. I think brattons, or snyders had a diagram for dimensions.
Before I drilled holes I set each piece in place and located the holes. If you start a screw with the head cut off in each hole you will accurately locate the holes. I don't think there was a jig used at the factory to locate the clinch nuts in the subframe. Let us know if you can't locate a diagram for dimensions.

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by fred93

I am installing the front floor boards and I noticed that the wooden floor boards are about 5/16" lower than the metal body rails. Shouldn't the two be at the same level???

If they need to be level I guess that I will need to shim the wooden parts to match the rails???

The wood is just a little shy of 1/2". I have no idea if that is original or have they been replaced???

I cant tell...did you put the Floor Board seal around the edges as it is supposed to be? If not this will take up some of that 5/16" you are talking about.

Pluck

[Joe K]

An original floor board (Linderman Construction) is 0.656 thickness.

Linderman construction is written up (along with floorboards dimension) in "How to Restore Your Model A" Volume 6 (p.36) and the original Ford print referenced therein shows 11/16. (0.6875)

Linderman Construction was used almost exclusively until about the 1930 Model year when a transition was made to fir plywood. The print (revision 16282 6-2-30) shows both materials.

Joe K

[fred93]

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Thanks for all your replies.

I ordered a new set from Bratton's. My time is an issue at this point, that's why I ordered new.

Steve--I used a different sealing material around the floor boards. The body frame rails where the floor boards sit is so uneven (with rivet heads and what have you) that I didn't think the original sealing material would be very effective.

Again--thanks for the replies. All of you have been a great help over the past nine years of this project. (I had several years of health issues that slowed the whole restoration) I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

[Y-Blockhead]

Fred, Looking really NICE!

[Brentwood Bob]

I used some surplus canvas webbing about 1 3/4 " wide, and used tacks to fasten. Painted with black wood stain. Looked at brattons webbing, which is 1/2 inch narrower, then remembered I didn't put it on the top surface, so width would have been 1 1/4 inches. Notched the corners.
Retapping the holes in the sub rail was the fiddley part.

[56markII]

fred93 your Model A looks great and as a matter of fact it looks like the same color as my 50 Mercury!

[Steve Plucker]

Your car looks great Fred...Looks like it is almost done and the fun you will have!

Pluck

[fred93]

Thanks guys!