My take on B-pillar repair

RetroJeffro

RetroJeffro

Junior Member
Hi guys, I've seen this repair done on here before with one piece, folded to fit, but I couldn't figure out how it would conform to the shape of the door, or accept the flange of the quarter panel. I decided to make it in pieces so I could step the sides and make it curved rather than a straight bend.

First, I made a pattern out of what was left of my originals. Then I roughed them out on the bandsaw. Next I rolled a step into the sides to accept the quarter panels. After trying to bend the mounting ears to fit the sub-rails, I decided it would be a better fit if they were made seperate too. I clamped the pieces over the inner wood and tacked them together. Next I mocked them to the doors and sub-frame and attached them with sheet metal screws.

When I got the fit I wanted, I completely welded the pieces together. They will be fastened with screws until I weld the tops of the pillars on. this should allow for some final adjustment.

It's finally starting to resemble a car again!
 

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I'm assuming you are talking about my B-pillar repair piece.....

http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47213

The reason I went with the one piece folded to fit is that my B-pillar repair is a lot shorter than yours and comparing it to my good drivers side the bottom doesn't have as much curve as the upper portions of the pillar. Yours looks to be about 8 inches long? Mine is only 3 1/2. If I had needed to patch that far up I most certainly would have had to do things differently and used a shrinker stretcher to get the curve in it. (no easy access) I do wish I had used a bead roller(again no access at time) to make the flange for the quarter panel. I have access now, and have already started another piece, But this one holds up that side of the car perfectly fine for now. I had actually thought about doing it in 3 pieces, but I wasn't completely convinced it would work well. I may have to give that a try.

anyways, that was my thinking at the time in case you wanted to know. keep up the good work! It's always great to see other ways of doing it.
 
Yes Hitchhiker, You were my motivation to make these. Thank you for that.

Mine aren't rotted up that far either, but I wanted to make sure I had good solid metal to weld them to. They can always be trimmed.

The fun part is going to be mating them to the pillars with a decent fit.
 
Bringing this thread back from the dead. You wouldn't happen to have templates around for those would you? Mine are gone on the bottom so I have nothing to reference.
 
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