Real Wood Framing!

CRS Is something you can't out run... Its starts at 40 and catches you by the time you are 50...

 

Gotta remember that! In a pig's eye, I'll remember!

 

Now keep saying that over and over,over,over,over,over,over,ove,ov,o

Now what was that?

 

So you did that too, eh? Writing on the chalkboard 100 times, "I will not dip the mayor's daughter's blonde pigtails in my inkwell."

I did. Over, and over, and over. Until her daddy came to the door.

 

Now thats funny

 

Convertible Top for a wagon? Steam bending DIY

This fellow is restoring a Stanley Steamer model 735 7-passenger convertible (Long roof or what), that was first restored by 1950, after 2 years of lots of TLC.

This site is a progress diary of the new owner's most recent full restoration, but the original Popular Science September 1952 article (PDF) is available for download. (4th paragraph).

http://www.stanleymotorcarriage.com/735restoration/RestorationHome.htm

He does a fine descriptive of each major step in the project, with lots of pictures and How-To info.

One that caught my attention is how he formed the new wooden top bows for the fold-down top, including the jigs:
http://www.stanleymotorcarriage.com/735restoration/Top/BowsSocketsPreparation.htm

If you've ever had to debate the dollars invested in a restored car with an insurance agent, these diaries are the best way to do it. Ends the debate really fast!

 

Life-size model (cars not dolls) )

How to mock up a life-size model/mock-up. Excellent detailed run-through.

http://www.rqriley.com/frp-foam.htm

All kinds of DIY plans to build almost anything with an engine:
http://www.rqriley.com/index.html

Plans with building cost estimates:
http://www.rqriley.com/plans.html

Legalities, tips, etc.
http://www.rqriley.com/download.html

 

I just found this 1940 Cadillac Pickup custom from a site in Denmark. Somebody took a 1940 Caddy frontend, dropped it on a Studebaker truck frame with a pickup box. But the front end tire wells are what got my attention. Never saw a 1940 Caddy before, but my idea was from the 1939 Cord Excalibur and the 1936 Chrysler Airflow grille and hood.
http://www.dream-machines.dk/CarsDK/40CadPU/default.asp

 

A lot of the grills from the 37 to 40 are pretty cool looking for custom work. Any and all brands. I guess art deco had a big influence on that period.
Now for a woody, I'd like to see one done in quarter sawn w/oak. I'm guessing the curves may eliminate some of the ray pattern though.

 

Bob, maybe you can help with my quandary. Most woodies were done in Ash, but the better water-resistant hardwoods are finer grained, which makes far more sense to me. Mahogany from Brazil, Caoba, etc. Lignum Vitae is the king for wet work, but Dark Green, greasy wood isn't my bag.

The open pored woods wood pick up enough humidity, here, during the fall, and then freeze and split the wood in our cold weather.

 

Did I ever score a good one! A pictorial of wood body framing on the inside!
http://carsatlarge.com/2006/11/how-its-made-panel-beating.html

 

White oak!
My buddy's place has a boat dock his dad made in the 50s. It's still sound. Unlike red oak (rots almost as quickly as white pine) the pores are very tight. Quarter sawn white oak was the #1 choice for A&C furniature at the turn of the century because of it's stability.
Cypress would be another choice. Looks and works similar to white oak.
A lot of the exotics like teak have a ton of silicone in them. VERY hard on blades, router bits, etc. Even in the glue up, teak has to be wiped with acetone before applying the glue. Osage Orange (Hedge Apple) is another really weather resistant wood. It was often used in the past for RR ties. Just not that common nowdays. Another rock hard wood though.
I havent used it yet but there is a "new" wood out there called Ipe, I think. Plantation grown so it's a renewable source and is used for outdoor decks, etc. Also very hard from my understanding.
The wood body framing pics rock!
My great uncle (had a body shop in the 50s) said he started out at the Franklin Motor works as a radiator polisher (nickel plated). The Franklin had an all wood body frame. I think a lot in the chassis also.

 

Wow! I'll start checking some of those secondhand furniture places. Most of the old couches have hardwood frames. 6 or 7 feet long, sometimes. Thanks a ton or two!

 

Bob, I was looking around for some kneewall cabinet ideas and landed on Rockler's site, and ordered their new catalog. So I also clicked the box for their monthly specials email. Holy smokin' Ash! Some good deals.
http://www.rockler.com/index.cfm

http://www.rockler.com/rockler_outl...&fp=All+Products////UserSearch=Rockler+Outlet

I'm a Bosch fan for tools. My 10 year old Skil palm sander died last week. So I go hunting on the WWW and learn that Skil is part of Bosch now. hmmm... I go the Skiltools.com site and look up the latest model, then go to one of the bigger home improvement retailers and find the Skil sander for $39.95, sitting beside the Bosch unit for $75.00. Almost identical features. Took the Skil unit. The platten from the old one fits too. Why couldn't cars be made the same way?

 

Norm,
I've been on the Rockler's mailing list for a number of years.
I've got even a better deal. There's a Rocklers about 5-10 mins from my house. They'er usually pretty high when it come to good wood. I'm about 20 miles from St. Charles Hardwood. Lots of good stuff and often have Ash, Red Oak and Walnut cutoffs cheap. under 5ft with blemishes but great for smaller projects.
Bosh owns Skil. Delta owns Biesmeyer fence now. Dewalt is the commercial grade of Black and Decker.
As far as cars go there is a lot in common.
Some yrs back I helped a friend put a Jag independant rear end in an 56 Ford pickup truck. We needed a new bearing. Went to Jag dealer and the parts man said the bearing was going to cost 40 something dollars. This was back in the early 80s so that was a bundle of money.
He then got a big smile on his face, wrote down the bearing number and said "go to a Ford dealer". Got the exact same bearing for 7 bucks.
Jag bought the bearings from an American supplier, shipped them over to England then shipped them back to supply their dealers here.:banghead3::banghead3::banghead3: