VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood Wood kit installation

I have ordered a wood kit from Jim Rodman for my 1932 2 door Coach. The original wood (save the doors and side panels) was rotted away when I bought it, and I have no idea how it looked when intact. This is my first attempt at restoring a car. My questions are numerous, but could you help me on where to start? What am I likely to miss, i.e. padding, etc? I guess what I need is step by step assembly. Does such information exist? Thank you.

Step by step assembly instructions do not exist. However, you can order the 1926-31 Fisher Body manual and the 1932 supplement from the Filling Station in Lebanon, Oregon. Reading the manual would be the place to start as it contains useful information and helpful tips that you will need as you assemble your wood kit.

Also, if you prefer, Jim Rodman will put your wood kit together for you if you want to transport your car to his shop in Indiana.

Jim will also help if you call him. He must make a living so will not provide unlimited time but anything reasonable he seems to be willing to do. Just wish there were more like him.

You don't recall any G&D articles on this subject? Being a new member, I have received only one issue.

Nope, not as I remember. :( :( :(

If you need some pictures let me know, I just finished a 32 Coach...get the wood kit, a truckload of Coor's and a digital camera and your all set

Leo, I would truly appreciate any pictures you may wish to share. I gather from the truck load of Coor's I am in for a treat. Any ideas on replacing the wood in the doors? It seems this is the most troublesome from discussions I have read on this site. My email SJSLMARTIN@MNCOMM.COM

Your first treat is when you cut the body in half. It will take 1/2 the truck of brewskis to get up the nerve. Just make sure to take plenty of pictures of what you have before any disassembly. Then get out the ruler and mark on the pictures the EXACT dimensions in each direction. Include angles if there might be a doubt later.

It will be necessary to bend some of the sheet metal to take apart and install the sheet metal. A couple of sixers should be all that is required for that step.

Dry fit the wood parts and put the sheet metal back on for a test fit. You may need to install temporary nails or screws to hold it together. Get a ton of clamps of various sizes and types and a set of four ratcheting straps (They are real handy to keep the parts on the trailer when taking to the dump). It should fit like a glove (no not a Simpson glove either).

Save a couple of them Colorado Cool-Aids. One to christen and one to celebrate.

Like my grandpappy used to say "It's like falling off a log." "How bad it hurts all depends on how high off the ground the log is."

And, it will take the other half of the truck load of Coors when you go to weld the body back together....with the new wood installed underneath the sheet metal!

If you buy them after somebody cuts them up with an ax like they did my 34 sedan delivery, you won't need the brewskees to get through it. You will need a doctor to examine your head. Either way you'll get through it......i am. More wood coming next week.....joe

What is this talk about cutting the body in half? I'm not trying to make more work for myself. If cutting is necessary, why, and where do I cut? Wasn't the original wood installed without cutting the body? From the above discussion, it seems this is going to take more than an evening. Maybe two nights.

Originally the wood was assembled in a jig. Then the sheet metal was attached to it skin by skin then welded where you see seams. The doors too were assm in a jig & then the metal around it was attached. Last the outer door skin was attached & crimped. I have lots of hours invested in the sd & have many more to go. Take your time & ask many questions. This is my first. I have 2 more to go. Entler & Rodman both will tell you you can do it without cutting the body. Cutting it just makes it the way Fisher did it.....joe

You will have to cut the body in half to install the new wood kit if you want to do it the easy way. The best place to cut the body is either at the leaded seams on the roof above the windshield, or on the roof back some from the windshield. You have days and days of fun (?) ahead of you....that's why Leo suggested that you purchase a truck load of Coor's before you start........and he wasn't kidding either! :eek: :eek:

Confcoach. Send me a personal e-mail & i'll turn you onto a guy who just did his.....joe

Confcoach, your pictures are on the way,when you have had enough let me know

Confcoach;
I just finished installing Jim's wood in my 32 rumble seat area. Only about ten or eleven pieces. It's a bear! But it does fit perfectly.
I didn't cut any of the body, but that's because it was only a partial replacement. I did figure out that the only way to get it inside the body was to build it from the inside out.
Take your time, and DRY FIT EVERYTHING FIRST using lots of wood clamps and bungee cords. Get lots of cedar shake shims to hold the metal body away from the area while you screw the wood pieces together. Drill pilot holes or the wood will crack, and cheat a little and used philips head screws where nobody is going to see them. They go in faster if you are working alone.
Jim's wood is cut perfect and what a differance it has made. My rumble seat area is rock solid now, and all the panel seams meet perfectly.
Good luck!
p.s....Jim's catalog has some diagrams that will help ID the pieces and shows how they fit togther. That 32 Fisher Body supplement sounds like something I could have used.

p.s.s...Those brewski's will help relax the back after you quit for the day. Yes it will take a few weekends...
RGwiz

here is a site that shows a complete restoration on a 31 chev if this helps at all.http://www.theguildofautomotiverestorers.com/1931_Chevrolet.htm

They obviously are not aware of what the correct color is for the 1931 Chevrolet engine. :( :( :(

Yeah, and I'm not so sure that the window offsets should be the same color as the top.