Getting the wood in the body

[Oldbuilder]

Okay all,,, it's getting close to time for building the wood frame inside the body. I need all the advise and input I can get.
How do you carve out the body's shape into the wood.
What's a good wood to use?
Ya'll know any tricks to get ply to take a bend/shape, I need to fix a few places on the body that were cut out which now need to be filled back in.

How can you check the square of a body?

What ever else you can add in is greatly appreciated.

 

[RPM]

You don't need all that much wood in the body. We use 1x3 and cut it in to lengths of just a few inches, then use liquid nails to secure the wood to the top edge of the body. Once this is in you will lay 2 layers of fiberglass over the wood to really stiffen up the top edge of the body. Other than the floor you don't need any more wood than that.

 

[railroad]

Ron, do you use soft wood, like white wood or pine, or hard wood like maple or oak?

 

[2old2fast]

How much wood/glass you need depends on the body you have , is it flimsy , very ridgid ??? Are you installing a door ?? My OLD body was a competition body from '68 so it was REALLY flimsy , I used both wood & steel to reinforce it , ended up w/ a very stiff body . I used oak. Is there a body lip at the base ,? if that's level on a flat plane ,the body should be square .

dave

 

[409T]

Ya'll know any tricks to get ply to take a bend/shape, I need to fix a few places on the body that were cut out which now need to be filled back in.

You can get bending plywood at a commercial lumber supplier. That does not mean Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Buy it half as thick as you want and put in two layers with glue between them. When the glue dries they will hold whatever shape you clamped them in.

 

[2old2fast]

You can "kerf cut" plywood to bend it . Many saw cuts spaced about 1/4" apart nearly through the wood [leave the last 2 ply's] then the wood will bend parallel to the cuts. Experiment on some scrap to get the results you want.
dave

 

[RPM]

Ron, do you use soft wood, like white wood or pine, or hard wood like maple or oak?

We just go to Lowes or Home depot for it. I think they call them fer strips. The wood does not add a lot of strength, the glass adds the strength. The wood gives it some shape and gives a good place to screw upholstery to.

 

[Neshkoro]

As RPM said just go to any of the home centers and buy some 1 X 2 or 1 X 3 firring strips and cut them to the best length to fit the curve of the body.
Liquid Nails works best or any of the paneling adhesives.

 

[RPM]

Yep we have used 1x2 also. If you have 3/4 plywood left from the floor you can cut it up also. Cut it in small blocks and glue it in.


After you get the wood in and it has dried good, take a grinder sander and knock the sharp edge off the wood so the glass will roll over that edge.

 

[jimbo01]

The bad thing about Liquid Nails is it takes a long time to dry. The trick Youngster recommended was Bondo. It does the same job and sets up faster.

 

[GT63]

I use 3M Marine Fast Cure Sealant Adhesive 5200. It cures fast, is water proof and made for fiberglass. Home Depot carries it.

 

[Neshkoro]

When I did the wood in my roadster I used Bondo, too. It's been in there for 30+ years now. No problems.