The Ford Barn

connecticut mike · 09-13-2010, 08:49 PM

Good evening!

Would someone please tell me the gauge / thickness of the body steel in the rear wheel wells of a 1930. I can't find it stated in any of my references or catalogs.

Thanks, Mike

Mike V. Florida · 09-13-2010, 10:44 PM

19 I beleive.

wrndln · 09-14-2010, 01:39 PM

I think most sheetmetal on Model A's is 19 gauge - like fenders, most body panel, splash aprons, hood, etc. The thicker material like subrails, crossrails, and cowl posts are 14 gauge.

Kevin in NJ · 09-14-2010, 03:40 PM

The original is 19 as stated.

I got new sheets of both 18 and 20 when I started making panels for my car. I figured the 18 would be better so I tried forming it. Bad idea. The 18 is too hard to work for the body metal to get the details in the metal.

The 20 gauge works fine and can be work into shape with common tools and a little ingenuity.

The wheel well panels can be made up using tools you have in your shop, assuming you have a few body work tools. You make up some forms with some hard wood.

Jim Huseby · 09-14-2010, 03:42 PM

The fenders are 19 ga.(around .048"), the exterior sheet metal is 20 ga.(around .035"), and the firewall is pretty thick, maybe 16 ga. or so. I don't know the thickness of the wheel wells, though I always supposed them to be 20 ga. For each specified gauge, the thickness can vary, though I imagine Henry kept the specs in a close tolerance. It would be very interesting to know how far the thicknesses varied. It's maybe a little late in life for me to start mike-ing and recording samples, but I think I will anyway. I wonder if a bunch of us would take a micrometer reading of various un-thinned parts what we would get. The alloy seems to be very close to commonly available 1020cr. A good welding rod for gas and TIG is ER70s2, and ER70s6 for MIG.

connecticut mike · 09-14-2010, 08:19 PM

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Thanks to all who responded to my question on sheet metal gauge.

Mike

09-13-2010, 08:49 PM	#1
connecticut mike Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Somers Connecticut Posts: 46	Gauge of Body Steel Good evening! Would someone please tell me the gauge / thickness of the body steel in the rear wheel wells of a 1930. I can't find it stated in any of my references or catalogs. Thanks, Mike

09-13-2010, 10:44 PM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Gauge of Body Steel 19 I beleive. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

09-14-2010, 01:39 PM	#3
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,162	Re: Gauge of Body Steel I think most sheetmetal on Model A's is 19 gauge - like fenders, most body panel, splash aprons, hood, etc. The thicker material like subrails, crossrails, and cowl posts are 14 gauge.

09-14-2010, 03:40 PM	#4
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Gauge of Body Steel The original is 19 as stated. I got new sheets of both 18 and 20 when I started making panels for my car. I figured the 18 would be better so I tried forming it. Bad idea. The 18 is too hard to work for the body metal to get the details in the metal. The 20 gauge works fine and can be work into shape with common tools and a little ingenuity. The wheel well panels can be made up using tools you have in your shop, assuming you have a few body work tools. You make up some forms with some hard wood.

09-14-2010, 03:42 PM	#5
Jim Huseby Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 361	Re: Gauge of Body Steel The fenders are 19 ga.(around .048"), the exterior sheet metal is 20 ga.(around .035"), and the firewall is pretty thick, maybe 16 ga. or so. I don't know the thickness of the wheel wells, though I always supposed them to be 20 ga. For each specified gauge, the thickness can vary, though I imagine Henry kept the specs in a close tolerance. It would be very interesting to know how far the thicknesses varied. It's maybe a little late in life for me to start mike-ing and recording samples, but I think I will anyway. I wonder if a bunch of us would take a micrometer reading of various un-thinned parts what we would get. The alloy seems to be very close to commonly available 1020cr. A good welding rod for gas and TIG is ER70s2, and ER70s6 for MIG.

09-14-2010, 08:19 PM	#6
connecticut mike Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Somers Connecticut Posts: 46	Re: Gauge of Body Steel Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks to all who responded to my question on sheet metal gauge. Mike