Cowl Welt installation

[john charlton]

Just fitted the cowl welt to a 31 p/u cab, this is always a pain to get the area done around the gas tank corners . I know I am not the only one but I win in the end using all known tricks etc etc . There is one tip I have which I am sure most of you know but just in case it will help someone . I do not make any holes in the welt prior to fitting . I fit the welt as tight as I can then heat a tapered punch with a rounded nose and push up through the bolt hole and melt a neat hole for the bolts to pass through . I use a propane torch to heat but not cherry red ,smokey black is fine . It works a treat and keeps the welt nice and snug. Works fine on fender welt also .

John still in Suffolk County England .

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

John, the trick is to cut the welt like Ford did originally. Think about it, they had less than 1 minute to get the welt installed during assembly. In today's timeline, that should be equal to less than 10 minutes. Doing it any other way than how Ford did it is just wasting time & effort.

[john charlton]

Hi Brent . Happy New Year !!! We did meet at the Dallas 2008 Joint Meet ,I bought a repro 30/31 open car dash rail and a pair or 30/31 roadster doors from you a good deal,thank you . In my 40 years in the hobby I have fitted several cowl welts ,I do know where to cut the welt "flange" to get an unrucked tight curve especially around the rear gas tank corners . I too can fit them in ten minutes no problem . I would love to see a film of the Ford production line fitting them in a minute which I am sure they must have done , what special tools were used etc etc . I find it quicker to make the bolt holes after fitting the welt so there will be no misalignment anyway and I can fit the welt nice and tight . I am very retired so even it takes all day it just does not matter . It works for me so I thought it could work for someone else fitting the welt .

John in dark Suffolk County England .

[john charlton]

To clarify I found cutting slots in the welting to accomodate the bolts in my case sometimes went awry as when I stretched the welt the slots got out of alignment etc etc Thats when I thought using a hot punch was a better idea .

John still in Suffolk County England

[Mitch//pa]

What's does a hot punch do to paint

[john charlton]

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The hot punch does not actually harm paint as it is in and out in a moment . The hole edges would be sealed by melted welting anyway .Thats my theory and if the dash rail does rust away because of it I will be very very long gone !!!

John in Suffolk County England .

[CWPASADENA]

John,

Good tip, I would have never thought of it.

I have not installed cowl welt for several years but the last one I did took some time to get it all fit nice and tight. I will be doing one this next year and I will try your method.

Thanks, Chris W.

[Mitch//pa]

Thanks John I will give it a shot on some fenders I will be doing soon...

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

Thanks John I will give it a shot on some fenders I will be doing soon...

I thought your car was FINISHED??????
Dad

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

I thought your car was FINISHED??????
Dad

I do dabble in other people's old iron now and then..
Busy sooonout

[Jwilli]

Good info John.