Converting a leatherback to steelback

james heider

james heider

Senior Member
Has anyone converted a leatherback 4 door or Victoria to a steelback?
I have a leatherback and I am considering converting it.
 
Obviously all those tack holes for the leatherback top material will have to be welded up. The metal panel around the rear window will have to be replaced. The metal top pieces where the gutter attaches would have to be changed out. You might be better off to try and swap your leatherback body for a steelback body?
 
I have a 1929 60C Steelback rear section that I'd like to build a body around. Found four doors locally that I'll pick up this weekend if all goes well. I need a 60C cowl and visor, they differ from the leatherback 60A&B.
 
it is pretty easy if you can find a back half of a steel back, but if not don`t do it, the whole back half from the belt up is different I have built both body`s, the wood is different even the inside brace for the spare tire is different the rain gutter are welded on, good Luck John
 
Thanks John and Richard for your reply. I was working on the body yesterday and was wondering how difficult it would be to convert it to a steelback.
I didn't realize that the rain gutters were welded to the body.
 
I had always thought I would be a steel back owner until a leatherback came along at a great price. One of the immediate benefits I saw in my leatherback which was stored outside for 2009 and 2010 was that because the leather wraps over the metal roof opening and all the way down to the driprails, the interior and headliner was not damaged by water. Ive been in a few touring sedans with waterstained upholstry. Its difficult to seal those tops. Also the light colored vinyl reflects a lot of heat as opposed to the black insert. So far I've been quite happy. You might find that all that work might not be necessary
 
Another differencein the leatherback/steelback Victoria is the size of the rear window. One is taller than the other.
 
I've done it. Here's a link to my thread on the HAMB:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321871

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