28/29 Drip Rail Update

[JTW]

This what I have so far, so ask questions if you want spec. mea., different pictures etc. It did not come apart as easily as it probably went together so the straight on end view of the cover strip isn't going to show the shape, but there is a freehand sketch w/meas. The 3/32" lip slides up into the top rails 180 degree fold over. The 1/16" lip side, with the ever so slight hook (outward), snaps into bottom back side of the rail. This cover strip is quite thin and flexible. Both pieces were dipped. The picture of the nails shows the inner short flat head 3/4" nails, the screw used on each end of the rail, and the 1" dome head nail used at each end of the cover strip. The drawing shape is exaggerated to show shape that is not so evident in the pictures.

 

[JTW]

2nd set of pictures

 

[d.j. moordigian]

That's great!

Thank you....

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

SO! JTW just answered my question on whether my '29 Coupe originally had rain gutters! I WON'T add them, I'd probably MESS up the NICE job someone did, using just hidem welt. Besides that, the MAGONET in my fancy tack hammer DIED!!----Bill W.

 

[d.j. moordigian]

Bill,....does this help?

Also,....look at Brattons, part # 29470....I don't know how correct it is..!?

 

[wrndln]

JTW,
The pictures are great. It is much easier to see the contours once they were blasted. Thanks for posting them. It appears the finishing strip was slid into the gutter after it was nailed on and the dome head nails applied to hold them in place. Did you slide the finishing strip out? I sure wish I could find a pair like yours.
Rusty Nelson

 

[Dan Partain]

Jeff,
Thanks for the time you spent on this project, the drawing and photos are awesome!!
-DAN

 

[pooch]

Yes Jeff, you are the man !

Explains a lot.

thanks for time to post .

I do have some further questions.

Is the 1/16th edge or the 3/32 edge uppermost when fitted ?

And would you think it is snapped in or slid in ?

Maybe it would be awkward to slide in past the hidem ?

I suppose if it did not snap in, it could be slid in before the hidem was fitted and then eased in and out 1/2inch either end to tuck hidem under .

 

[quickchange]

c/cab drip rails . newbie here on these , Currently doing a 28 c/cab & never realized they had their own drip rail. I dug in my used parts & found 3 . one longer than the other two, BUT no cover strips, Question , Does the top material come over the top edge of the drip rail & is held there by the cover strip ? unlike a sedan , as one i have appears to have top materiail into the channel . I had not given it a thoght before , just asumed it fitted same as a sedan ,Was even unaware it was not the same contour till these helpful posts started appearing here , You are never too old to learn , Thanks

 

[JTW]

3/32" is uppermost. I could not slide it out when I took it apart. On one end the bottom part of the strip was not snapped all the way to where it was supposed to be. I worked it out and down from the top and that worked well until near the other end. At that point the the bottom was worked out on that end until I could get the top to slide down - ended up with a slight twist in the strip which pretty much came right back out. I did not develop an opinion as to which way they assembled it, it may have been able to be done either way when it was new, but if I only had one choice it would have to be "snapped in", because of the little 1/16" lip with the ever so slight curl and the fact that that way would probably damage the paint less.

If I remember correctly the top material was put on then the welting then the rain gutter over that . What I am not positive about is the welt all the way under the gutter. I think it was as I think about it, and because the back of the rail is curved out enough to cover it.

 

[pooch]

If it is snapped in, there are 2 coats of enamel on the rail and on the edges of the filler .

That makes 8 coats of paint thickness to have to snap past to get the strip in .

One has to wonder how they did this many times a day .

I read that the wire placement in a front fender took 3 seconds.

I did not believe it , until I saw a utube video recently of it actually being done.

So at an average of 3000 model A/s a day for 4 years , they must have had every operation down pat .