A little light entertainment: 1939 Ford 1 ton Utility restoration

[Bob Carriere]

Very nice work.

Can you tell me what gauge (or mm) sheet metal you were using....cold rolled.... how many passes with progressive pressure did you need to be doing to finish a rib. I assume that you do one rib to its full depth before starting the next one.

It seems that every attempts I have made, on scrap pieces, results in a corrugated sewer pipe .... really curving back on itself. Is the secret to roll and stop short at each end to have a flat end surface.

Cheers
Bob C

[cliff]

Jack I have not been on MLU much in the past couple of years for various reasons BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see you still do superb work and I remember visiting your place a couple (or is it 3) years ago and marveling at the work you were doing then on a Tilly and a Dodge ambulance.

Must go back through the threads and catch up again.

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by cliff

Jack I have not been on MLU much in the past couple of years for various reasons BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see you still do superb work and I remember visiting your place a couple (or is it 3) years ago and marveling at the work you were doing then on a Tilly and a Dodge ambulance.

Must go back through the threads and catch up again.

Cliff,

The Tilly has taken a short hiatus while the Ford gets completed. Jake has almost got the ambulance on the road. I will get some photos and update that thread.
I’ve retired since you were here last so getting a little bit more done these days.

[jack neville]

Today I made a simple die to press the top hat sections for the support brackets that attach the running boards to the chassis outriggers.

[jack neville]

Keyways are needed to allow fitting of coach bolts.

[jack neville]

First running board is done and I am very happy with the fit. Just needs a little tidying then sandblast and paint.

I’ve run the bead roller over the second one in half the time.

Just thought I’d show how I folded to curve in the outside edge. A piece of pipe pressed into a piece of channel iron allows for nice curves.
Clamp the pipe on the apex of the curve and then centre in the channel.

[jack neville]

I use whatever works and pieces of railway track are good for pressing over long lengths. But heavy to set up hence the use of my overhead gantry to facilitate positioning of the setup.

As the pressure comes down I just slacken the chain block and then remove the clamps holding the sheet as the curve begins and the pressure holds everything in place. It is crude but effective but for one off things like this it is hard to find engineers either interested or able to do exactly what you need.

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Very nice work.

Can you tell me what gauge (or mm) sheet metal you were using....cold rolled.... how many passes with progressive pressure did you need to be doing to finish a rib. I assume that you do one rib to its full depth before starting the next one.

It seems that every attempts I have made, on scrap pieces, results in a corrugated sewer pipe .... really curving back on itself. Is the secret to roll and stop short at each end to have a flat end surface.


Cheers
Bob C

Bob, I did probably about ten gentle passes through the roller until the rib started to become defined then I could apply firmer pressure. I dressed each end as I completed each rib which flattened out the ends. I was expecting some inwards curving but am very pleased that I achieved what I wanted on the first attempt. I did start with the centre rib then alternated each side working outwards. I’m not a sheetmetal worker, I just make it up as I go along with the limited equipment I’ve got and hope for the best. You can do a lot with angle iron G clamps and hammers.