1949 Cadillac Roadster Build

[Oldnek]

Excellent job Jack. The rear end is coming along nicely.

[Gojeep]

Turned out great.
Will you be able to get the buck out without cutting it up?

[Jack 1957]

I had to take a break and get some primer on the bottom surfaces of these panels. It's been pretty humid and had some rain last week. I'm starting to see rust on the new steel. Can't have that.



I'm at the point right now where I will need to start cutting and altering the buck to install the gutters and side support brackets, and building the inner frame for the deck lid. I think what I should do first is wheel out the deck lid skin while the buck is still in tact. Once I start carving up the buck, there won't be much left to check the shape of the skin with. I'm not ready for the skin but now's the time to make it. I can just hang it up till I'm ready for it. The first thing I did was disassemble the panels and check to make sure nothing had moved. There was some shimming involved in making and installing it and everything looks good and measures out right so I started making the template for the skin. I can get the blank cut and prepped myself but I'm going to need help wheeling it out. I'll see if I can rustle up some help.



To answer your question, Marcus, yes, I'll be cutting the buck out when I get finished. It was built to be disposable. I knew I'd be cutting for gutters and deck lid framing so I didn't get too heavily involved in building it.

[racer-john]

Great build Jack, very well documented as well. It won't be long before you are driving it.

[Jack 1957]

I buy my sheet in 4 X 10 ft so it's not quite wide enough to make this panel in one piece. Since my welding skills are somewhat less than world class, I want to minimize the amount of welding on a flat panel like this. I could have made this in two halves split down the middle but I would have had to weld the full length and would not have been able to run it through the planishing hammer so I opted to just add the corner piece.

[Jack 1957]

I cut the additional pice for the corner and welded it on. I can't planish until my helper shows up.

[CaptonZap]

Is the "grain" of the sheet being askew going to makes problems for you when you start wheeling?
Or is it something you can detect and make allowances for?
Or not an issue?

CZ

[Jack 1957]

Originally Posted by CaptonZap

Is the "grain" of the sheet being askew going to makes problems for you when you start wheeling?
Or is it something you can detect and make allowances for?
Or not an issue?

CZ

Grain only becomes an issue when making tight bends. There won't be much crown in this panel, especially out near the forward corners. I think I'd be more likely to see a minor problem while wheeling from work hardening the weld with the planishing hammer. Even that shouldn't be much of a problem. I ground and sanded the weld from both sides so the thickness is the same as the rest of the sheet.

[dschumann]

I'm following this with apt attention.

I want to do something similar with my grandfather's 1938 Dodge Sedan, except I am thinking Phaeton Sedan.

[Mike Rouse]

Great job Jack. You may find this brush very helpful in dealing with surface rust. I use it to clean surface rust and even out the surfaces after working the panels.
Mike

Tptools.com

The brush is used to prep painted surfaces prior to applying bed liner.
I use it to clean bare metal prior to priming.
The brush works best if used on a variable speed buffer running at a low speed.
Works like a big rust eraser.