Reproduction Sheet Metal

[Classiccanuck]

I recently picked up a rear center section and metal floor pan for a '28 Phaeton from Mac's, I'm disappointed with the fit, missing holes, missing re-enforcing plates etc...are all the replacement parts like this? I found the same thing with most of the reproduction parts I've used along the way, I'm I shopping at the wrong place? Frustrated!

[Mike V. Florida]

No just about all reproduction metal will need work to make it fit.

[Chris Haynes]

Sounds like Mac's is buying his sheet metal from Howell's.

[wrndln]

I think both Chris and Mike are right. I have a rough 29 phaeton I bought a little over 3 years ago that come with a repro rear panel as the original rear panel had about 2" of the bottom rust off. I looked at the repro and it was like you stated, not good at all. After looking for a while I found a better original panel (bottom was pretty good, but the top need a lot of work). The arc of the rear panel was what I found lacking on the repro panel. I suspect Howell's made the panel. After buying a couple of sheetmetal items for them years ago, I decided to never knowingly purchase anything they made in the future. The problem is that some venders like Mac's wont tell you where the sheetmetal item was made, I guess for fear you will buy the item directly from the maker of the item. I also don't buy anything from Mac's anymore for that reason - it happened twice to me. There are several much better parts suppliers, like Bert's, Bratton's. Maybe Howell's is making better panels now, but I doubt it. I agree with Mike that most sheetmetal are not made very well. They get to maybe 80-85% correct and then stop. Brookville roadster makes some very nice reproduction sheetmetal like the stamped floorpan under the front seat - dead on. However, even then, some of their sheetmetal is not so good. Just my opinion - for what is it worth.
Rusty Nelson

[Classiccanuck]

I may try my luck at repairing the original.

[john hamilton]

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Had good luck with full length splash aprons for my 1928 AA from Snyder's. They didn't require modification. The full length running boards didn't have the brackets attached so I could easily fit them to my brackets even if they were bent. Good, smooth quality, too.

[Ice man]

I understand that Macs has a new owner. Iceman

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Classiccanuck

I may try my luck at repairing the original.

Well here are your options as I see it, you repair your original (possibly used sections of the Howell panel), or you use the Howell panel with work, -or you do as we have done and make on from scratch. The true issue for making these panels is how much are you willing to spend? Even with us using a Pullmax, pneumatic Planishing Hammer and an English Wheel, we will have 25-30 hours in making a duplicate panel that matches the original in all details. This is more than most folks really want to pay for something like this so there must be a balance. Once option may be to see if Flop would be interested in repairing yours??

[peters180a/170b]

Brent is right on all 3 options. I was faced with needing a rear floor pan for a 1930/31 roadster. [TRUNK] not a rumble seat which hides most of it. $1,200.00 later [1980 prices] i had a perfect reproduction floor pan . ENFIELD Auto restoration [Conn.]does very high end restorations for years. Back in the late 70's they restored a 400A with a tree growing in the middle of it. Won high Awards at that time by all clubs.Same goes for a 1930 BLACK Deluxe and Standard roadster owned by the same person. The Deluxe was missing the complete floor 6 inches up the body panels... YOU have the bucks anything can be done! It also depends on what level of restoration you are looking for.

[wayne1953]

I guess I am about the only guy to have good luck with Howell.
my cowl quarter pannels fit nice just a slight amount of adjusting that I expected. The u-channel for the rear of my bed fit perfect and the one door skin I bought need no adjustment.. I must have hit them on a good day lol

[bart78]

Eckler owns macs now.

[Classiccanuck]

Ecklers may have their hands in too many pots, the sales staff at Mac's are not too knowledgeable regarding "A's", you give them a part number and they go to the back and get it, I asked a few questions and their answer was "we work with part numbers, give us a part number we will get you the part".

[Classiccanuck]

Thanks for all the thoughts

[Kevin in NJ]

Take some time to learn metalwork and try making your own. I found it was not super hard to make the bottom 3" to 6" of my slant window cabriolet once I learned some of the science behind moving metal and understanding about metal shrinkage.

If it does not go right then you have to resort to other techniques. You do not need to spend $$$ on many special tools. You just need to have a few of the right tools and the imagination on how to make jigs for your one off project. Oh and time, if you are in a rush you might not figure it out.

See my website for ideas and where to find more websites on how to do metal work.

[msmaron]

Been using Brattons and the fit is NOT perfect but pretty darn good.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by msmaron

Been using Brattons and the fit is NOT perfect but pretty darn good.

The problem with that is Brattons buys their rear panels from Ryan Howell too, ...and sadly the fit and shape is NOT good!! If you have nothing, it IS a good starting point but they are a long way from being worthy to install on most people's phaetons.


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[msmaron]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

The problem with that is Brattons buys their rear panels from Ryan Howell too, ...and sadly the fit and shape is NOT good!! If you have nothing, it IS a good starting point but they are a long way from being worthy to install on most people's phaetons.


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it IS a good starting point

End and correct.....ya need something for a base...right

[Pickupman]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

The problem with that is Brattons buys their rear panels from Ryan Howell too, ...and sadly the fit and shape is NOT good!! If you have nothing, it IS a good starting point but they are a long way from being worthy to install on most people's phaetons.


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Who's Ryan Howell?

[Tinbasher]

Like I keep saying "Aftermarket" stands for "Almost Fits". Like Brent said How far do you want to go. I'm working on a 1930 Deluxe Coupe and I'm into 900 hours on the body and paint. And I still have another 100 -150 hours to go before it's together and ready for Upholstery. From Bits to a complete car. Every Aftermarket part I had to rework to make it close to right or to make it fit.

The Old Tinbasher

[SteveB31]

Ryan Howell owns Howells Sheetmetal, a company in texas that makes some of the sheet metal parts for Model A Fords, Model T Fords, V8 Fords and some other cars. They make some good parts, and some not as good parts.

[Classiccanuck]

thank you

[Classiccanuck]

Kevin, I'll check out your site thanks, I've put over 4 years into the chassis off and on, I'm good doing mech. end of it but I'm a bit uneasy with the body part.

[woodiewagon46]

It's not only sheet metal guys. At one time Bob Drake had quality parts but I was told most of his parts come from off shore now. I ordered an "8" emblem for my 1946 hood ornament and in a week the only thing I had on my hood was the threaded stud. I also had a problem with the rear stone guards for the rear fenders. When I first got them I found two of the attachment studs were off buy 1/2" so the freshly painted fenders had to be modified. Last summer two of the studs broke off and it was a real job to tig weld them back without melting the rubber. I talked to one of Drakes people at N.S.R.A. Louisville and they couldn't have cared less!!! If you can find it N.O.S. is the only way to go.

[Pickupman]

Originally Posted by SteveB31

Ryan Howell owns Howells Sheetmetal, a company in texas that makes some of the sheet metal parts for Model A Fords, Model T Fords, V8 Fords and some other cars. They make some good parts, and some not as good parts.

Steve, Guess you didn't catch my sarcasm. I've been to Howell's and know Ryan. But his last name isn't Howell.