The Ford Barn

Hitchhiker · 09-09-2011, 08:53 PM

This is a copy and paste from my build thread, So there might be some text discrepancies. I just thought you guys might like to see what I am working on as it pertains to Model A substructure. Please look past the fact that my car is a hot rod. It's really rough and you guys wouldn't deem it restorable anyways.

Well, some of you know that I have been looking into repairing my b pillar and subframe. I wanted to repair my original parts as Bert's wanted $150 for a good set of b pillars and I couldn't see ruining a uncut original to fix mine. Here our some pictures of how I did it.

So I started bracing things up. I ran two long pieces the length of the body welded to the subframe crossmembers. I then ran x braces from them to the top pieces I had installed. The body feels really solid now. I think I might hide a X in the body behind the seat.

After I had everything where I wanted it I started to remove the rivets from the passenger side subframe. I like to grind the head off and drive them threw with a punch and hammer.

after I removed all the rivets, I cut right behind the b pillar. Basically everything came out really easy. Here it is removed.

after I cleaned up the little stray bits. the new rail slid right in.

Hitchhiker · 09-09-2011, 08:54 PM

I'm unsuccessfully teaching myself to make sheet metal things. But here is a tid bit......

Last time I left off I had slid the replacement rail into the passenger side. I used sheet metal screws threw the original rivet holes to hold it together. I'll completely weld it later once everything fits together. Scroll back a few pages if you need a picture.

I figured the next thing to do would be to fix and attach the passenger B pillar. It looks like this.

So I removed the triangle brace.

And I bought some 18g a few months back.

and made a pattern.

I then transferred it to the metal.

and cut it out with these( what a PITA, I need something better)

And started bending.

This was my first attempt.....

Kinda embarrassed.

I did all this all with my vice, a piece of 1inch square tube. a hammer, and the back splash of my work bench. It at this point it needed some refinement.....

Hitchhiker · 09-09-2011, 08:59 PM

I kept on cutting, and things started looking like this.

first test fit

But it needs to look more like this.

I just kept shaping things.

next thing you know, I'd cut out the b pillar.

More cutting, grinding, and filing.

fitting a little better

First test fit with clamps

Welding soon.

Hitchhiker · 09-09-2011, 09:01 PM

So about the gaps and clamps, I ended up having trouble practice welding with the clamps and old metal. I tended to burn threw a lot. With new metal, the clamps seemed fine. I ended up welding with vise grips as clamps.

better gap

I ended up just tacking things together for now. I thought I might redo this piece again at at a later date. there is a line in the original that the quarter panel skin raps around so it is flush mounted with the rest of the pillar. I wasn't able to duplicate that at this time. But I feel good considering this is the first piece of metal I have ever shaped, even though it's amateur at best. On the bottom I used a sheet metal screw to hold things in place of a rivet. I plan on learning how to redo the stock rivets and want to be able to adjust things as I fit the doors and roof back on. ( Also I didn't chop the top, I'm just the one putting it back. If it was stock I would have left it. )

That's all for now.

Pilotdave · 09-09-2011, 09:01 PM

Matt - interesting story. Fun to see what you are accomplishing. Please keep it coming.

Hitchhiker · 09-11-2011, 01:15 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilotdave

Matt - interesting story. Fun to see what you are accomplishing. Please keep it coming.

As soon as I have another update, I'll post it. I hope that this helps someone take on the task of fixing their car.

Mike V. Florida · 09-11-2011, 02:49 PM

Always great to see this stuff!!!

Slappymcfinklestien · 06-27-2012, 02:02 PM

Nice job ~ I've got the same thing going on with my 31 coupe ~ someone decided to channel it about 20 years ago and never really finished it. Is there a way you could post some pix of how the body connects to the subrails? I've got to re-rail the entire thing and the more pix I see the better chance I have to get it right. Here's a few pix of mine ~ she's chopped about 6"

Chopped29Tudor · 10-22-2021, 02:54 PM

I realize this thread is almost eleven years old, but my 29 tudor is in the same shape, and I have to do the same repair. Thank you for posting these pictures. It will be a big help to me.

09-09-2011, 08:53 PM	#1
Hitchhiker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 389	Model A Subframe and B pillar repair. This is a copy and paste from my build thread, So there might be some text discrepancies. I just thought you guys might like to see what I am working on as it pertains to Model A substructure. Please look past the fact that my car is a hot rod. It's really rough and you guys wouldn't deem it restorable anyways. Well, some of you know that I have been looking into repairing my b pillar and subframe. I wanted to repair my original parts as Bert's wanted $150 for a good set of b pillars and I couldn't see ruining a uncut original to fix mine. Here our some pictures of how I did it. So I started bracing things up. I ran two long pieces the length of the body welded to the subframe crossmembers. I then ran x braces from them to the top pieces I had installed. The body feels really solid now. I think I might hide a X in the body behind the seat. After I had everything where I wanted it I started to remove the rivets from the passenger side subframe. I like to grind the head off and drive them threw with a punch and hammer. after I removed all the rivets, I cut right behind the b pillar. Basically everything came out really easy. Here it is removed. after I cleaned up the little stray bits. the new rail slid right in. __________________ Matt in Seattle Last edited by Hitchhiker; 09-09-2011 at 09:06 PM.

09-09-2011, 08:54 PM	#2
Hitchhiker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 389	Re: Model A Subframe and B pillar repair. I'm unsuccessfully teaching myself to make sheet metal things. But here is a tid bit...... Last time I left off I had slid the replacement rail into the passenger side. I used sheet metal screws threw the original rivet holes to hold it together. I'll completely weld it later once everything fits together. Scroll back a few pages if you need a picture. I figured the next thing to do would be to fix and attach the passenger B pillar. It looks like this. So I removed the triangle brace. And I bought some 18g a few months back. and made a pattern. I then transferred it to the metal. and cut it out with these( what a PITA, I need something better) And started bending. This was my first attempt..... Kinda embarrassed. I did all this all with my vice, a piece of 1inch square tube. a hammer, and the back splash of my work bench. It at this point it needed some refinement..... __________________ Matt in Seattle

09-09-2011, 08:59 PM	#3
Hitchhiker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 389	Re: Model A Subframe and B pillar repair. I kept on cutting, and things started looking like this. first test fit But it needs to look more like this. I just kept shaping things. next thing you know, I'd cut out the b pillar. More cutting, grinding, and filing. fitting a little better First test fit with clamps Welding soon. __________________ Matt in Seattle Last edited by Hitchhiker; 09-09-2011 at 09:08 PM.

09-09-2011, 09:01 PM	#4
Hitchhiker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 389	Re: Model A Subframe and B pillar repair. So about the gaps and clamps, I ended up having trouble practice welding with the clamps and old metal. I tended to burn threw a lot. With new metal, the clamps seemed fine. I ended up welding with vise grips as clamps. better gap I ended up just tacking things together for now. I thought I might redo this piece again at at a later date. there is a line in the original that the quarter panel skin raps around so it is flush mounted with the rest of the pillar. I wasn't able to duplicate that at this time. But I feel good considering this is the first piece of metal I have ever shaped, even though it's amateur at best. On the bottom I used a sheet metal screw to hold things in place of a rivet. I plan on learning how to redo the stock rivets and want to be able to adjust things as I fit the doors and roof back on. ( Also I didn't chop the top, I'm just the one putting it back. If it was stock I would have left it. ) That's all for now. __________________ Matt in Seattle

09-09-2011, 09:01 PM	#5
Pilotdave Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Grafton, MA Posts: 1,226	Re: Model A Subframe and B pillar repair. Matt - interesting story. Fun to see what you are accomplishing. Please keep it coming.

09-11-2011, 02:49 PM	#7
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Model A Subframe and B pillar repair. Always great to see this stuff!!! __________________ 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

10-22-2021, 02:54 PM	#9
Chopped29Tudor Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 13	Re: Model A Subframe and B pillar repair. I realize this thread is almost eleven years old, but my 29 tudor is in the same shape, and I have to do the same repair. Thank you for posting these pictures. It will be a big help to me.