How To Stiffen Up Your Ford Model A Roadster B Pillars!!

[@chuckster6513]

Hey Matt, that A body has come a long way from what you dragged home. But so has everything else you have brought home. Good Work ! Work Safe, Be Well Stay Warm

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@stevenkarnisky411]

One thing I have not seen mentioned is the patience that goes into building your cars. By taking the time to do each step correctly, you ensure that the finished product will be safe and road-worthy. I remember thinking while you were building the floor pan in the '39 "forgotten" that I would be willing to drive that car anywhere. Your builds are, in many ways, better than factory!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Steven! Just trying to do the best I can with the tools, supplies, and skills I have!

[@davidjohns6433]

Great video as always..too funny though at the end...the white dog tail wagging behind you..always & forever..moon steals the limelight!🤣🤣

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha he’s the star!

[@SwampersRC]

It's amazing that they were still using so much wood for structure in the '30s! That's a great modification!

[@Mr_Spegru]

they were building planes out of wood in the 40s! see deHavilland Mosquito for one example. it's good stuff

[@theodoredugranrut8201]

Good job Matt, made a big difference. Central California watching

[@deanbrunner261]

Better than new is always a good day

[@donnieconatser1232]

Sorry ITG...Phone was outta gas...yalls videos n projects bring a bunch of us ol turds...lol...so much of life.. Best wishes...ALWAYS

[@steveclark4291]

Matt sir , I'm older than you but I've learned a lot from you on body work ! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the how to do it ability ! I'm 67 live in south central Kansas .

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching! Not the best way just how I solved a problem!

[@380.motorsports]

Great video and very timely for me. It’s like you were reading my mind for the next upgrade I need to make on my 29 roadster. Hoping 2023 will be the year I get my doors to stay closed better.

[@randomyank7777]

Excellent job on the pillars ! Lol ! I watched the next video of the tubing first . All good though . I see what you did to it , the how , & I understand the why . I totally get it . Doors opening around corners is never a good thing , lol . Better than original , but authentic too , because you used the original wood as a pattern for the steel . I really like this car , so I am glad it is getting all of the Iron Trap Garage Love it can get . Looking forward to how well it turns out in the finished product end . This should be a show stopper when completed ! Nice lines , well restored , & well built !

[@danielrushton982]

Looking at the dash,even in it’s unfinished state,beautiful. You make rolling art.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you Daniel!

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO MATT. TOTALLY AWSOME ENGINEERING!!!! GREAT EDUCATION. THANKS FOR SHARING!!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gordonstroup882]

Hey Matt, I love everything about the Sweetheart Roadster that you've done to her so far. I know your metal working skills are purdy frickin' awesome because I've watched you over the years. I was just thinking about, what if you were to make a sweet (heart) metal, removable hardtop for her? With it being so small, and short, it shouldn't be too awfully heavy to manage. You could have the back of it at the perfect height for your head clearance and whatever you need to do. Ah, just a thought. Anyway, great show Matt and thanks for sharing your builds for us all to watch and enjoy. Have a good one.

[@johnhealy4647]

consistency is a great virtue to practice Matt. thank you for sharing your love for old iron!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@CapnBubbaa]

Matt your fabrication skill awesome, just watching you massage metal in to car pieces always amazes me... keep up the great info filled videos.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@bobhalstead1879]

Growing up dad had 3 ,1956 ford crown vics.pink n white,blue n white and black.the pink and blue both had passenger doors that flew open upon every left turn.the black one he never got running or the door would have flew open also.its not just a roadster problem but a ford problem.it keeps the blood flowing if you survive.

[@garycloud5705]

Moon is at his funniest at the start of this vid. You can see him in the background patrolling the garage. At one point all you can see is the tip of his tail moving across the garage. Hilarious!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha that’s him hard at work nose to the ground!

[@Lastrealjeep]

Love watching Moon's tail wagging through the windshield frame. Lol.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha inspector moon!

[@johnkranz4004]

Coming along very Nice Matt

[@garyhughes9199]

Looks and sounds great. Grinding skills on another level now!

[@pappete9988]

With circular saws relatively new for metal cutting ive not yet seen a fabricator adjust the depth cut, by raising the body of the saw so that the blade is only10-20mm through the material being cut the cut is much easier to make and even allows a slight curve to be made without stressing the saw, blade, or operator. Try it and youll never use the saw with blade at full depth unless its needed.

[@donhoughton271]

Sounds great 👍

[@guillermonieri4203]

Great detail. Thank you.

[@thomasmitchell6921]

Matt, I’ve seen one builder put the sound dead type liner in the inside body panels and doors (after painting) The car was real solid sounding and less metallic ringing. What’s you take on this procedure?

[@IronTrapGarage]

Great idea for sure. I usually put some sort of sound deadening spray or Mat on key places when putting a car together for final assembly. But I also don’t like turning them into “vaults” I like the rattles and squeaks and old charm of an antique car.

[@johndownie9385]

Damn u make that look so easy

[@IronTrapGarage]

Just fancy editing! 😉

[@bobhalstead1879]

When i owned fords it was first on race day.when my buddies owned one it was found on road dead.

[@Ecosse57]

man what an improvement! hi moon!

[@richardmarino5658]

A lot more solid. Nice job.

[@Mr_Spegru]

Nice job. i'm now wondering how i can do something equivalent on my car with a fibreglass body. i have an idea on that....

[@dinxsy8069]

Need to add which Ep number this is to add to the sweet heart roadster playlist.

[@jimhartland1939]

Top end in creation

[@mpark3447]

I was hoping to see more on how you connected the b-pillar to the sub rail at the bottom. I boxed my b-pillar but the sub rail flexes allowing the b-pillar to move even though the pillar is boxed. Maybe you could show how you connect to the sub rail on the next one.

[@IronTrapGarage]

I had already welded a foot from the b pillar previously to the subrails. I welded the boxed section to that foot.

[@mpark3447]

@@IronTrapGarage Do you have an issue with the sub-rail flexing where you mount the foot or do you add support to the sub-rail?

[@lloydbaker7099]

Great content learned a lot

[@IronTrapGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lloydbaker7099]

@@IronTrapGarage oh yeah the way you built a thin wall box tubing to mimic the wood was too cool

[@theodoreko2700]

You made two pieces and welded them together could you of use squares or rectangular tubing and sightly bend the shape of the panel to fit

[@IronTrapGarage]

It was easier to manipulate the shape this way. It needed to curve in multiple directions it would have taken a ton of pie cuts in box tubing to make it work.

[@shotsrodder]

Nice job 😎

[@Kingzjester072]

Just curious why you used 3 pieces instead of using a brake on the center fold either way 👍

[@IronTrapGarage]

I didn’t have a press brake long enough in house to bend 1/8” steel. Used what I had on hand.

[@thomasst.martin3308]

Great work. That is not going anywhere.

[@classactkirk]

Boy oh boy that car has come a long way since you 1st picked it out of that field, I've loved some of the tricks on this car..speaking of the free t I'd love to see that done and driving, what's the status on that?

[@usmclee65]

Mat when you were welding I didn't see your foot pedal, does your torch have finger control?

[@IronTrapGarage]

I was using a foot pedal here but my torch does have a finger switch

[@Racemojo]

Great job Matt! I've always like this idea, makes the body much stiffer! Not sure if you mentioned it, I may have missed it, but what gauge metal did you use? Matt- Mojo Speed Shop and Lounge

[@IronTrapGarage]

1/8” steel which matches the existing angle iron in the b-pillar

[@michaelguinn5736]

Morning Matt!! As always another great video!! I may pull the wood from my 30 A Coupe, & complete the same procedure as you did, you mentioned the body line being cracked from no support....mine is! What gauge material did you use? 12-14 ga.? Y'all be safe!! God Bless!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

I used 1/8” steel for the material to box the b-pillars. The same as the existing angle iron in the b pillar

[@tonygrenstiner4088]

Hey Matt I was watching the video where you were doing the door on Mike's 34 and it looked like you were using a hand handle plantation hammer it looked like it was air powered where can a guy get something like that I would be interested in buying one.

[@erniehoffer811]

Hello, Great how-do video. You make great parts. Other builders need B pillars and more. Time to purchase a plasma table. Make parts to sell. You test fit all the parts. Mike could do the computer work. Thank you.

[@IronTrapGarage]

No interest in a plasma table. I have a friends I can borrow for more intricate parts but these would have taken longer to draw and program into a plasma table than to just pattern and cut by hand.

[@alanparker1598]

Great video. I have wondered for a long time how you can straighten up those old bodies by removing the wood and inserting metal. One question on boxing frames. At what point is boxing a frame needed and do you have to box it the full length of the frame. I am trying to get ready to build a 36 coupe with a 302 and T5. Will only be running around 300 HP. It will have an 8” rear end.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Boxing a frame is definitely helpful when. Adding a lot more HP than stock. Mainly need it in the engine /trans area but doesn’t hurt to do the entire frame if you so desire.

[@Bigskyguy56]

Great upgrade. What gauge steel did you use for this?

[@IronTrapGarage]

1/8”

[@Bigskyguy56]

@@IronTrapGarage Thanks Matt.

[@xozindustries7451]

Can you put longer doors on those roadsters to make it easier to get in and out of, or is it best to do suicide doors? They seem so small and the steering wheel is right in the way

[@IronTrapGarage]

You can do anything you want but I think it looks goofy when people do that. You could get a cabriolet which uses the longer coupe doors, but then it’s not a roadster but still is a convertible. Just depends on what you want.

[@xozindustries7451]

@@IronTrapGarage I need to get a Ford spotters guide so I can learn all the differences in body styles for early fords, thanks for the info

[@bruiseroo]

What are you spraying in between the panels before you box it up?

[@IronTrapGarage]

Eastwood rust encapsulator. I’ll then follow up with drilling a hole in the b pillar and fogging eastwood internal frame coating inside to take care of any paint that burnt off during welding.

[@robnelson8733]

Do you do this on other models with the wood removed? I'm starting a 30 model A Tudor with no wood and would like to stiffen the body.

[@IronTrapGarage]

The same idea could be used. Sometimes we install box tubing instead. Every body style is a little different.

[@tedhewitt4299]

How will you fasten upholstery there?

[@IronTrapGarage]

A screw in faster or adhesive and a Velcro fastener. Same as any other car with no wood in the interior..

[@brucehorner936]

When are you going to do it to Mike's car?

[@IronTrapGarage]

His car has fully boxed metal b pillars from the factory.

[@kensnyder9372]

What is cool in your shop ....the dog tale up sniffing around making sure every thing is in it's place.....................

[@shartne]

why did not Ford do that in first place? hmm go figure? I have always wondered why they even ever used wood in the roof too? Oh well it gives you some more fun to have to work on. I love to heli arc I got to do that for 12 years in a art foundry. I kind of miss it a lot.

[@stevenkarnisky411]

Shartne, remember that automobile building evolved from wagon building. That was pretty much all wood construction. Cheap, plentiful and strong. No one thought about cars lasting almost a hundred years in those times. Early car bodies were hybrid wood/steel.

[@1954shadow]

Wood is good, but, metal is better.

[@dennisschickling2249]

Nice Video. #STAYSAFE #PHILLYPHILLY 🇺🇸

[@kevinspinner5428]

How many people have fallen out of these when the door has sprung open. Scary.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Hundreds of Millions of Thousands

[@DCrockett1]

I heard your dog whining when you was welding that b piller. You might consider keeping him away from welding areas. He is curious and loves being near you. As you know watching without vision protection will blind humans/mammals. He could suffer if you get my drift. Just an observation. I'm not judging you in any way.

[@IronTrapGarage]

He wasn’t watching the weld. He was standing next to the door asking to go outside. I keep him away from me when welding. Believe me I’m more conscious of my pets well being than most people are of their pets.

[@DCrockett1]

@@IronTrapGarage Cool, I apologize for questioning I'm sure you are great pet parent he looks very well taken care of and healthy! I'm just an old pet parent also. I really enjoy your channel and wish you and your entire cast family well. Thank you for responding. Pastor Dave!

[@squidgameisaliarisawnosqui5341]

Love it ty Steve

[@shanebryan1839]

Matt … what gauge steel you using?

[@IronTrapGarage]

1/8” steel for this portion. Same as the angle iron in the b-pillar already