Should wood be in or out?

[Dave O]

I'm doing a frame off restoration of a '30 Std Coupe. Body is off the frame and stripped, including body and top wood removed. Should the new wood be installed before I take it to the body shop, or should I wait until bodywork is done? I was going to leave it out but wondered if better results would come with at least the top wood installed to help hold the correct shape.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

it depends on what you are having done to the body, and the condition of the metal underneath where the wood is going---if it is rusty and the body is getting sandblasted to remove rust--then leave the wood out ---if nothing is being done to preserve interior metal and just the outside is getting attention put the wood in

 

[Rowdy]

Blast, repair, prime inside and out then put the wood in before final body work and paint. That is what has worked well for the cars I have helped with. Rod

 

[jw hash]

I`m with Rod, unless there is some top damage blast and DP prime. at least install the new header and top wood,reinstall the header front cover and visor before the trip to the body shop. redo`s cost more money and time. I`m restoring a 31 blind back SW right now for a friend, he had it blasted then brought to me, I did the metal work and put it in DP90 primer. installed the header and header cover. he then took the body back installed the rest of the wood. it is back here now and I put the body in finish primer. painted the firewall and gas tank. rubbed out the face of the gas tank installed the tank. painted around the top. now he will be taking the body and install the top. then it will come back here and I will finish painting the body.

 

[Dave O]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll plan on a sequence as outlined by JW hash. I've already had the body blasted and primed. Everything looks good inside so will install the header and visor before the first trip to the body shop. One more question. Do you install the wood bare or treat it with something?

 

[burner31]

Depends on who you ask...your wife...or your girlfriend.

 

[foxfire42]

John Hash is a top notch restorer. He knows his business and has done award winning Model A's. I trust his approach. He did a 31 Cabriolet for me and it's one of the best in my "fleet"