"36 Coupe Body Questions

Has anybody researched whether the cars with the bent braces had what was considered the "fat girl" option? Or was it "fat boy?!?"

Just kidding... I've had several 3 windows, a 5 window, and a cabriolet but just don't remember noticing mine not being straight.

I also had a 35 3 window that had a flat cowl panel on one side and the later one, with an "X", on the other side... must have been a late 35. It also had the front sheet metal switched to 1936.

I'm enjoying the thread. Thanks to all for sharing. Learning more is part of the fun.

Al
 
[QUOTE=FlatheadTed;617953]Since the brace had to support the rumble side Upholstery and the tool box it needs to be straight ,I have seen several of these in 34 and 35 bent due to forcing stuff into the trunk .[/QUOTE]

I've looked at the brace very closely several times and have had friends look at it. There is absolutely no evidence of the brace having been bent after installation. I don't know how the brace could have been bent in place, as it would have had to raise the floor or lower the body panel it's attached to - something would have had to give, I would think.

I also inspected the rivets and they look to be factory installed and undisturbed.

Vey perplexing !!
 
My late '35 3 window has straight brackets. The holes are for rumble attachments. See attached images
 

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In the third photo from the top which shows your right panel, I notice that the panel appears to have been distorted as the shape of the wood spacer block is showing on that panel which tells me that some force has pushed against it from inside the trunk. What caused that to distort may have also distorted the brace.
 
I don't know whether they should be straight or not, but if one is curved and one straight I would take a very careful measurement of the height of the trunk channel above the floor at some point that can be checked accurately on both sides. If the right side is low, the brace should be straight, and straightening it will lift that side. If both sides are exactly the same height, I would look at the ends of the brace to see if it looks deformed at all where it is bent at the ends. If so then it could be carefully straightened as long as only the ends of the brace are bent, then the trunk opening will stay in the right place.

Unless someone comes up with a definitive answer saying oh yeah, one bent one and one straight one, I would try and straighten the bent one and either correct the trunk channel height if it is low, or straighten it and make sure the trunk channel does not go high.

Two straight ones would look better.

Mart.
 
Mart,
That's the confusion - both sides of the trunk channel are the same height from the floor, the floor is even and so is the body. The ends of the braces look to be undisturbed, the rivets look to be original. The only thing that looks out of the ordinary is one curve brace and one straight one. If I try to straighten the curved brace, it will cause distortion to the body as will trying to curve the straight one.

wilmalcolm,
Thanks very much for the pictures, especially the one of the corner plate.

Thanks to everyone for their input. I'm having to leave the project for a couple of weeks, but will get back to it when I return home. I'll report my findings and what I decide to do to 'fix' whatever is incorrect.

Thanks,
-Bob
 
I have a '36 3W with an early production number. Both rear braces are straight up and down with same holes as tagman. My car has a rumble seat.
 
Couldn't resist this photo on ebay in regard to this thread. About the only thing straight on this coupe is the brace!!!!!
 

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I have a 35 5window with a trunk and a 35 cabrio with a rumble seat and the tool box on the passenger side. Both cars have straight braces. I agree with other posters that your bent one looks factory installed and I'd leave it Donq
 
Look close at the bottom 90 bend,its not down to floor like the straight one,take it out and straighten and put the bottom bent in like the straight one,should fit right back in there .why on earth would one be bent and one straight ? The panels would not fit correct .
 
Just wanted to post an update. After thinking about the bent support ("Before pic"), reading everybody's input and figuring out how I wanted to proceed, I decided just to try clamping it straight with a 2"x15'X1/4" piece of flat stock and a whole bunch of c-clamps (pic #1).

I went slowly, tightening each clamp a half- or full- turn at a time until it was straight with the clamps torqued down tight. I left it clamped overnight (mainly because I didn't want to know if I'd failed) and removed everything in the morning.

I was pleased to see (pic #2) that it worked !!

Thanks very much for everybody's input here. I really appreciated it. Another problem out of the way. :D

Before:


Pic #1:


Pic #2:
 
Hey, yeah, it came out really well!

I'm guessing the trunk lid still fits ok???

Mart.
 
The braces in my 5 W Coupe are straight and it is a trunk model not rumble seat. In addition the trunk model had a board across the step up portion that was attached with a bolt, washer and nut on each brace. There are two cutouts, one on each end to allow the board to be raised and lowered while the bolt and washer held it in place.
 
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