The Ford Barn

Gunmetal blue2 · 03-25-2017, 09:03 AM

Can anybody tell me what gauge metal the sub rails are made of. Mine need a little ok a lot of tender loving care. To all answers I would like to say Thank you very much for your response and good information. Have a wonderful Model A day.

Vin-tin · 03-25-2017, 09:49 AM

Pretty sure they're 16 gauge.

kenparker · 03-25-2017, 12:31 PM

I don't know what the gauge is of original sub rails is. But the reproduction 1/2 sub rail (for roadster) available thru Berts is .056 to .057 thick. Someone else can convert that measurement into gauge.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 03-25-2017, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin-tin

Pretty sure they're 16 gauge.

That is not what the prints show.

stouchton · 03-25-2017, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenparker

I don't know what the gauge is of original sub rails is. But the reproduction 1/2 sub rail (for roadster) available thru Berts is .056 to .057 thick. Someone else can convert that measurement into gauge.

Just shy of 16 gauge, but larger than 18.

wrndln · 03-25-2017, 09:14 PM

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I am pretty sure the subrails are 14 gauge. I needed to repair the subrails on my 28 coupe some time back and 14 gauge was very close to what the original rotted out subrails were. They are definitely more than 16 gauge.
Rusty Nelson

nick c · 03-26-2017, 08:25 AM

I checked my handbook on steel, 16 ga. = .060 = 1/16", 14 ga. = .075.
Your subrails are probably 14 ga. When I extended the cab of my 29 AA
ccpu, I miced the rail and sheared and broke 14 ga. cr steel.
carry on nick c

Vin-tin · 03-27-2017, 02:53 PM

According to my Starrett sheet metal gauge, 16 gauge = .0625, 15 gauge = .070, and 14 gauge = .078.
I just use it and measured 2 areas on my original sub rails. One measured 15g, the other 16g. Perhaps Henry used different gauge steels on cars/trucks.
The tonnage required to stamp-out sub rails can, and will thin some areas of the metal, so it's hard to gauge. When I replaced certain areas of my sub rails, I used 16gauge and butt-welded it to original steel. You cant tell any difference.

Gunmetal blue2 · 03-27-2017, 04:21 PM

Thank you all I think I will use 16 ga. unless 14 ga. is on sale lol

03-25-2017, 09:03 AM	#1
Gunmetal blue2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Columbia, TN.38401 Posts: 422	Sub rails Can anybody tell me what gauge metal the sub rails are made of. Mine need a little ok a lot of tender loving care. To all answers I would like to say Thank you very much for your response and good information. Have a wonderful Model A day.

03-25-2017, 09:49 AM	#2
Vin-tin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Eastern Pa. Posts: 543	Re: Sub rails Pretty sure they're 16 gauge. __________________ 1929 Coupe 1930 Coupe 1935 Ford 5 window coupe

03-25-2017, 12:31 PM	#3
kenparker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Van, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: Sub rails I don't know what the gauge is of original sub rails is. But the reproduction 1/2 sub rail (for roadster) available thru Berts is .056 to .057 thick. Someone else can convert that measurement into gauge.

03-25-2017, 09:14 PM	#6
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,165	Re: Sub rails Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I am pretty sure the subrails are 14 gauge. I needed to repair the subrails on my 28 coupe some time back and 14 gauge was very close to what the original rotted out subrails were. They are definitely more than 16 gauge. Rusty Nelson

03-26-2017, 08:25 AM	#7
nick c Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 260	Re: Sub rails I checked my handbook on steel, 16 ga. = .060 = 1/16", 14 ga. = .075. Your subrails are probably 14 ga. When I extended the cab of my 29 AA ccpu, I miced the rail and sheared and broke 14 ga. cr steel. carry on nick c

03-27-2017, 02:53 PM	#8
Vin-tin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Eastern Pa. Posts: 543	Re: Sub rails According to my Starrett sheet metal gauge, 16 gauge = .0625, 15 gauge = .070, and 14 gauge = .078. I just use it and measured 2 areas on my original sub rails. One measured 15g, the other 16g. Perhaps Henry used different gauge steels on cars/trucks. The tonnage required to stamp-out sub rails can, and will thin some areas of the metal, so it's hard to gauge. When I replaced certain areas of my sub rails, I used 16gauge and butt-welded it to original steel. You cant tell any difference. __________________ 1929 Coupe 1930 Coupe 1935 Ford 5 window coupe

03-27-2017, 04:21 PM	#9
Gunmetal blue2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Columbia, TN.38401 Posts: 422	Re: Sub rails Thank you all I think I will use 16 ga. unless 14 ga. is on sale lol