Slant Window Fordor Floor Qs

[yapp]

Howdy Folks,

I've built a couple of traditional styled Model A Hot Rods in the past (no rat rods) and I usually start with a car body that was given up on, scrap, or going to be ratrodded. I like to think that I have saved a few cars and passed them along. Nothing like what you folks are capable of but maybe one day.

I saved this slant window fordor about a year ago. It had been what some people may refer to as "sh*t boxed" and was surely a rolling eyesore. I got it as just the body. The firewall and rear wheel wells are all butchered which I can fix. The thing I am unfamiliar with is the floor.

I am used to regular model A subframes. I know 28-30/31 fordors used all wood subframes but 31 slant windows are steel right?

I am including pics of my 31 sw Murray Fordor and the missing floor. Even though it's MIA the doors all close and line up perfectly.

1. Do SWs use a subframe?
2. Are they repopped?
3. Do they use wood frame blocks like regular closed cars?


Thanks guys.

Terry in SoCal

 

[James Rogers]

The slant windshield cars do indeed have a wood subframe. They are repopped but, if you are rodding the car, you might want to frame it out of steel.

 

[allen]

I guess beauty is just a opinion, I love the looks of the s/w, and yes it has a step down steel floor just like the Vicky's you rodders love, and thanks for not cutting up the survivors good luck Al

 

[edzaha]

The only wood in the floor of a slant is the wood blocks that go betwwen the body and frame. There is no wood in the lower body or doors. There are wood "nailers" around the door frame rear window etc, and of course the top. I have 2 of these, the one is still all apart, so I could send pics of the open body if you would like.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Yeah, this is kinda confusing as all the slant windshield cars with exception of the Fordor had wood subfloor. I am unaware of anyone currently reproducing the metal sub-rails nor the pans at this time however you may be able to look at some of these random photos I have from previous restorations to give you some idea of what you would need to fabricate.

Good luck with your project...

.

 

[Kevin in NJ]

It was all steel.

See Doug in NJ's website He is a good person to talk about what you need to do.

The slant window Fordor was kind of amazing when you think about them. Ford was moving towards the 32 bodies and they spent the time and money for a 31 change over to the slant window body. They must have saved a bundle in the all metal design of the body. The wood is there mostly there for nailing strips to install the interior except for the top.

The other slants were considered low production bodies so they kept the wood floor structure. The vicky still has a bunch of wood, but the A400 and 68C had a reduction in wood. None were wood built up like the other bodies. The original fordor's were just a wood structure with metal nailed to it. The labor to make the wood and put it together probably drove Ford nuts. I would have to guess they did not always just go together since the wood I am sure did some dimension changes from the wood shop to the assembly floor.

 

[Bill Underwood]

I've been aroun the slants for a LONG time. There were some early fordors that had wooden sub frames. I have laid eyes on two...both unrestored. Both had non-indented firewalls. They were original. Doubt this helps the question but just a point of interest...atleast to me.

I know of no one making a subframe or even patterns. Wing it...if you're building a rod, make you some out of steel and go for it.

BU

 

[yapp]

Thanks for the information guys. I'm mostly on the JalopyJournal/HAMB but I knew FordBarn was the right place to go for this info.

My slant window doesn't have an indented firewall so who knows. It may be one of three.

I will be hotrodding the car because everything except what you see is missing. Right down to the last screw and bolt. But as with all of my cars I try to get them back to Henry's baseline by installing good wood and subfloors so it all ligns up.

Being my first Fordor and a SW I was impressed with how solid they are. The roofline, door tops, and window openings flow really well. Just wish it still had that all steel floor. That would have been nice.

Thanks again,

Terry