Body measurement
- Thread starter bdave_mcc
- Start date
ericr
Well-known member
I might be missing something but wouldn't you simply compress (something) to give you the tightness you desire? we don't know what if any on your car is repro with perhaps different tolerances than original. for example, restorers have stated that the repro pivot cups don't fit in as tightly as original. besides that, we all suspect the open cars have experienced a lot of twisting and stretching in their history. I don't know that original measurements always have an application today.
also I assume you would try to torque the stanchions somehow, off the car. I don't think you would want to try to fiddle with the cowl posts themselves, that would throw other fits out of whack, wouldn't it?
also I assume you would try to torque the stanchions somehow, off the car. I don't think you would want to try to fiddle with the cowl posts themselves, that would throw other fits out of whack, wouldn't it?
bdave_mcc
Senior Member
I'm referring to the crosswidth of the car body behind the doors. The roadsters stretch out in that area over time and it keeps the bottoms of the doors from lining up...I just don't know the original width to pull it back to.
Some time back I compiled a document that included a number of 28/29 roadster top support/pivot dimensions for various cars that I had the opportunity to measure the distance between the brackets. The list is pasted in below. I am not sure what is the "correct" dimension, but you can see what I measured below. Looking at the list of dimensions, it appears 49 1/2" (outside to outside measurement) is probably close to correct. I think roadsters over time will tend to have the the support/pivot brackets increase.
Rusty Nelson
Perry Baxter’s 1929 roadster measures 49 inside to inside (49 3/8” outside to outside).
Doors fit good.
I checked two roadsters at the 9/27/2008 swap meet.
One had 49 ½” from outside to outside top brackets. (very close to Perry’s car as the brackets are each about 3/16” thick)
One had 49” from outside to outside top brackets.
My roadster “as is” is 49 7/8” inside to inside and 50 ¼” outside to outside. Too wide.
Mine is 49 13/16” between the inside edges of the top iron brackets.
Will probably need to cut welds had pull in the sides about 13/16”.
Tom Rice’s 1929 roadster in Appleton is 49 ¾” outside to outside. (doors didn’t fit well)
Red roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 7/8” outside to outside.
Green fender roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 50 1/8” outside to outside. Bad door fit
Brown roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 5/16” outside to outside
Gray roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 1/8” outside to outside
Black roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 ½” outside to outside
Rusty Nelson
Perry Baxter’s 1929 roadster measures 49 inside to inside (49 3/8” outside to outside).
Doors fit good.
I checked two roadsters at the 9/27/2008 swap meet.
One had 49 ½” from outside to outside top brackets. (very close to Perry’s car as the brackets are each about 3/16” thick)
One had 49” from outside to outside top brackets.
My roadster “as is” is 49 7/8” inside to inside and 50 ¼” outside to outside. Too wide.
Mine is 49 13/16” between the inside edges of the top iron brackets.
Will probably need to cut welds had pull in the sides about 13/16”.
Tom Rice’s 1929 roadster in Appleton is 49 ¾” outside to outside. (doors didn’t fit well)
Red roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 7/8” outside to outside.
Green fender roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 50 1/8” outside to outside. Bad door fit
Brown roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 5/16” outside to outside
Gray roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 1/8” outside to outside
Black roadster at Merrillville MARC meet 49 ½” outside to outside