How to remove 1929 Coupe cowl blocks

[walkerlakeprinter]

I finally got my new body blocks for my 1929 Coupe, but I can't figure out the best way to remove the old cowl blocks. There seem to be what's left
of the two rear-most bolts that have either sheared off or rusted off when the body was lifted off my frame about 6 years ago. I'm assuming what is shown on the attached photos is the top of the bolts that are still sticking at least partway down through the wooden blocks. I don't have the body up high enough to visually see what is going on down under, but I can feel holes going up from the underside. Any suggestions?

[jw hash]

just destroy the wood. some times it come out in little pieces do to the wood swelling. so what ever it takes to remove it. DO IT

[Railcarmover]

Drove mine out with a air chisel..seems they get wedged.that cowl has bondo in it,be careful getting physical,you might pop it out

[Tinbasher]

Also check and make sure there are no wood screws going between the subrail into the wood. Then the wood blocks can be hammered out. A long chisel works well along with a good two pound hammer.

[1929]

I removed all of them

[1crosscut]

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Use a good sharp bit on an electric drill and honey comb them. Should be able to work them out then with a screwdriver.

[walkerlakeprinter]

My next step is to block the front end of the cab up on cement blocks high enough for me to get under this area and see if I can drive the remains of the bolts up and out of the subrails. Then I can see the whole picture. Notice all the extra holes previous owners have drilled in the firewall. Lots of work ahead.

[Dave in MD]

Mine were also a bear to get out. I think the upper metal piece was pulled down by the front bolt. I also had to work to get the new front blocks in place. These two blocks were installed before the body was painted as the fronts of the wood had the body paint color. You will also need to do some work on the other pieces of body wood.
Dave

[walkerlakeprinter]

All my other blocks came off easily. I have all new blocks and pads ready to install once I get these old cowl blocks out and new ones put it. A lot of the metal underneath the blocks is rusted thin and will need some attention to be solid in their "perch" before I suspend the cab over my running chassis. Another milestone will be to replace the gas tank with a better one. I have another tank to replace the current one that has a large dent on the passenger side that was filled with Bondo sometime way before I bought the car. Model A's are sure a good way to keep an older guy busy. Stay tuned! I love this forum!

[walkerlakeprinter]

60 degrees here in Walker Lake, Nevada, today! Sorry, Chicago. I got the old cowl blocks out once I lifted up the front of the cab and could get under it. Three of the broken-off bolts popped right out with a little persuasion from my hammer. The fourth one was rusted tight to the sheet metal under the head, so I squirted it with PB Blaster and waited a while, then used a c-clamp to hold the sheet metal down near the bolt head and gave it a whack from underneath. Free and clear! Now I can see I will need some creative filler and Bondo to snug everything up once I put the new wood in.


Thanks for all the suggestions. Now on to the next adventure.....