Replacing The Hacked Up Firewall In The 1938 Ford Convertible

[@edwardberwind8544]

Matt, I am a old school guy and just turned 80. In fact I recently ordered a 2024 Mustang GT. I have been a car guy my entire life. I have been watching a series called Bad Chad and I am really disappointed as all he seems to do is destroy some classic cars. Your videos are a breath of fresh air. Thanks for your videos and have a Merry Christmas.

[@tradrodsandcustoms]

Chads a hack....

[@billtaylor5853]

If it's done by Chad, it's bad... @@tradrodsandcustoms

[@MrJeep75]

Bad chad is a hack and doesn't know how to where a hat

[@steveclark4291]

I have to agree with you on Bad Chad ! I'm 68 , I enjoy watching , learning about old Hot Rods and seeing them plus old vehicles being saved ! But Bad Chad just ruins everything he touches !

[@thattvguyvorster5250]

Yip stoped watching ugly Chad a sorry mad bad Chad

[@danstewart8218]

Steve is a hero for drilling out those spot weld upside down contorted over the seats...His arms must have been screaming at the end!!! Looks good Guys..well done...;D

[@johna1160]

And his neck! Not a job for bigger/taller/older types like me. Painful memories indeed.

[@hippychipsguitars601]

Steve is the best man you could ever have for this job---not many people can rebuild a Stromberg in the morning, and stand on their head drilling out spot welds in the afternoon.

[@jerrylong381]

This ol girl is going BACK ON THE ROAD, BABY!!! Saved from her terminal sleep. I look forward to you guys taking her on the first spin around town. One day, if Steve is open to it, I, and I'm sure many others would like to hear Steve's story. He has obviously been a great addition to the shop. He seems to always be upbeat and he knows how to work as a team or by himself. Those things are apparent. Other than that we know he's more into muscle cars. Maybe you can do an "Iron Trap" interview with him. If he wants to, of course. If he wants to remain more anonymous, I respect that, he doesn't owe us anything.

[@kevinharms5558]

Steve is really picking up the pace and finding his own in the shop. I love his positive can-do attitude. Hard to find a great guy that fits in.

[@garyhughes9199]

Yes sir, a giant leap forward on the 38. Good work on the firewall. I have never done anything to my hotrods that did not take longer than planed. LOL This car is just an over-the-top cool hotrod. Like all of your cars, I can't stop watching.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@barryhickman6911]

The amount of QUALITY you and your staff do on each of these wonderful machines is unbelievable! I love watching your attention to detail on each of these rides! KUDOS!!!!!

[@patjohnson3100]

Very good job on that firewall. It's very apparent that replacing the old firewall wasn't easy. This job helps regain some of the original appearance integrity of this very rare 38 Ford. I'm glad to see it because I would like to see the basic appearance of the car retained. You have good automotive skills.

[@JackWilson-y1r]

In a collision shop we use a mini belt sander on the spot welds. Faster than the Blair cutters.(on the sacrificial panel)

[@michaelreynolds1904]

Thanks for the honesty on how hard This job was and how long it actually took. These videos are fantastic, but there are times it gives an unrealistic view to us watching on how long some of these tasks take with the skills you already half. Us watching may think "oh sure I can do that" when we all know them well we can't.😉

[@IronTrapGarage]

We try to keep it real when discussing and showing the process!

[@stevenkarnisky411]

Happy Holiday season to all, whatever it is you may celebrate! Keep fixing up those old Fords, guys!

[@WilliamNast-v1g]

GREAT JOB, GENTLEMEN. AMAZING TO SEE HOW YOU WORK AROUND ALL OF THAT METAL WITH NO GLOVES. SAW A COMMENT HERE ABOUT BAD CHAD VIDEOS AND IT SADDENS ME ALSO THE WAY HE CUTS UP CLASSIC CARS. YOU GUYS SEEM TO RESCUE THE. WAY TO GO!

[@steveclark4291]

Steve is a great addition to the shop ! His knowledge , personality , willingness and thoughtfulness goes along ways helping getting things done !

[@Farnsworth768]

Matt and Steve did awesome job That firewall looks much better

[@steveclark4291]

Thank you Matt for explaining how long it really took to do the firewall ! I've done a little body on things so I knew that it took longer than the video showed . By you explaining it this helps others realize how much work had to be done !

[@billywird]

Yes sir, it is very considerate of you to explain how tedious this type of repair can be. We must remember that these vehicles (as they are now) come down an assembly line and of course the individual components are manufactured separately, and to change or modify them is quite a job. Looking at this car and the original modification of putting in the Pontiac engine and changing the driveline and also the attempt to put in hanging pedals and such would be typical of what people had to work with at the time this was done. I view a lot of these You Tube videos and the stuff that people have in their shops would rival a full fledged automotive repair shop during the time that the original modifications that were done to this car. Most of the time back in the day people had a gas ax and an arc welder as their fabrication tools and of course it showed on this car (oops I forgot the "hatchet cutter"). It always takes more time to modify and repair than we estimate. This is going to be a nice build.

[@thomasst.martin3308]

Another nice victory. Looking forward to seeing it drive down the road.

[@jeffpitzer8521]

When you fired up that plasma torch it looked like you were filming an 80's rock video!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha insert Van Halen-esque guitar solo’

[@RMcDuffee55]

I wish I could work at high speed like that. This car is really cool. I like the way the way the seats are trimmed. Hard to believe they survived all these years. Great job you guys make it look easy.

[@danontherun5685]

Cutting and grinding sounds reminded me of my last dentist visit.

[@josephpalen7149]

A lot of work but it sure pays off. Looks like a fun ride already.

[@brucethompson1879]

Once again Steve is the man!!

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO MATT!!!! TOTALLY AWSOME UPDATE!!!! I LOVE THIS PROJECT!!!!

[@CapnBubbaa]

Great Video... This car will turn into a great ride....

[@waynespyker5731]

They touched my '30 coupe, covered it with 3 flat firewalls. After removing those remains I was left with removing the narrow band of the original. Drilled the bottom 2 on the right side, gripped HARD with a vise grips and pulled. The next spot weld started to yield, I assisted with a pry bar successfully! I took a new bite with the vise grips now 90° at the strips end and begin to wind it like a ham can opener around the opening, assisting with the pry bar when needed. Our local body shop did that removing rocker panels.

[@tedhewitt4299]

Firewall looks good.

[@Dave_Boyer]

Really coming along! Awesome as usual

[@pappabob29]

Very nice, straight forward, correction/update !! Looks soooooo much better !! Ford took advantage of the available space and put the battery in the engine compartment but it sure doesn't make for "pretty" !! I would certainly take the time and effort and re/configure that side of the firewall and remove that huge "battery box notch" !! You have all the necessary tools. What would it take?? One afternoon ??? That one "long shot" across the front of the car, that Caddy looks so "factory" sitting in there !!! Merry Christmas to the entire Iron Trap crew !!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Agreed it’s cleaner without the battery there but it’s also a closed-hood car so not really on display like others.

[@tomlappin9657]

Great repair

[@keithkrause3386]

Great job! I sure hope you bring this one back with a new paint job too in that koool blue. Nobody else is willing to go that extra step. Even if you have a outside shop do it. The videos would be great to see..😊

[@johnnyroberts6291]

Hey Matt I’m really enjoying the 38 convertible series. 👍 Merry Christmas to you Mike and Steve.

[@MrJeep75]

Looking better already

[@randyham6172]

Ok,Steve cleaned off camera.Looks great

[@johncrawford6992]

You guys do it and I’ll like it , great work as usual

[@steveclark4291]

Thank you Matt and Steve for the update on the '38 ! Wishing you , your family and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

[@johnkranz4004]

Nice work Matt and Steve Merry Christmas All 🎅🏻

[@rickkyriakopoulos1103]

Ha !! How sweet is that ?!! Awesome job my brothers 👍 Merry Christmas my friends 🙏

[@stevensilver1014]

nice work I'm a real ford guy . have 46 tudor that I have had for 20 years still runs and drives great a few mods but other then that nice car.

[@johnkelly6942]

For that car that was the perfect repair.

[@donhoughton271]

Looks great

[@chrisburzenski2317]

nice job

[@chrisclark4813]

Brilliant project, ...White firewall ?........Those Chequerboard firewalls also look brilliant, not sure for this car, what do you think? but you MUST do it one day. Love as always Reading, England.

[@Farnsworth768]

Merry Christmas Matt Also guy's at iron trap garage Merry Christmas Have safe new year

[@michaelseymour3534]

Love that car.

[@billbeyer657]

Such a cool project

[@joedyer8824]

Looks good 👍

[@mattomon1045]

happy holidays Matt , Mike. Steve and Kate And Moon

[@andrewgirling7194]

Love white firewalls so yes please! Merry Christmas one and all, including Moon, from the U.K..

[@jeremyconway5793]

G'day Matt & Iron Trap Garage Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New year.greetings from sth Australia 🇦🇺 👍 🦘🪃🐪🍻🎅

[@upptowne]

Its interesting to know actual working time. Hey, you can hammer with both hands, very impressive! Thanks

[@keithhooper328]

Looks good

[@santaclaus1014]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

[@craigtittsworth9440]

Nice work!!

[@arthurfox1629]

I'm looking for instructions on setting the points and dwell on a 3 bolt, helmet distributor. Everything that I find is for the 2 bolt distributor. Have you ever made a video covering the early 3 bolt distributor?

[@SpankysHotRodsandCustoms]

Merry Christmas guys -Spanky

[@jonlennon3348]

Out of curiosity why didnt you get it sandblasted or something and paint it except for a 1 inch perimeter to weld her in?

[@terry3665]

That's what I thought, strip it, fill what holes it has and prime it out of the car would have been much easier

[@IronTrapGarage]

Then wreck the primer by welding the firewall back in with weld spatter.. more than one way to skin the cat. We primered the areas we were covering up when installing. It can be sanded/ further and primed and painted while in the car.

[@bobdupre3721]

good job

[@garyf2245]

lookin good

[@rolandtb3]

Replacing the firewall, 3 days work. Looks way better.

[@gregworkshop5713]

Merry Christmas👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😄

[@garysoykin2783]

Finding Steve would like finding a big block of gold trust me, I’ve hired a lot of people in my day. You can’t find Steve anymore. Treat him good.

[@shartne]

On first introduction 1949 Cadillac was 160HP with a 2 barrel carb and 7.5:1 compression. Later editions were over 200HP. Highest was 270HP 1955 Eldorado with 9:1 compression and 2 - 4 barrels. I wonder what year this caddy is??? It has a Four Barrel maybe its a 55 with 270 horse power. If so you will know it when you drive it. 270 donkeys is very noticeable. It would do some serious acceleration. 1952 is 190 and 1953 is 210 horse power. A 1954 has 230 or sometimes 210 horse power. If its a 55 it will be outrages.

[@davehoneycutt9558]

Great job put a heater in the old girl !

[@jamesbromley2571]

ya may of took a few days but it looks alot better than it did

[@sergueiothonucci1638]

🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@randyham6172]

Can I ask? why didn't you clean up the new fire wall before you put in in? Do you guy's just like working with dirty stuff?

[@williampope3531]

Wouldn't it have been easier to cut out the old firewall before putting the Caddy engine in and the replacement firewall, too?

[@IronTrapGarage]

Wasn’t that much difference with taking it out. Installing it with the engine in allowed us to more easily trim it to fit around the caddy engine.

[@RichieCat4223]

2:22 Why didn't you remove the engine? Once the firewall was cut out it would be easier to fine the spot welds. I say this because I saw your last video and Steve was upside down in the interior cutting out the spot welds.

[@carlkraus6034]

There are no side projects. Every project is front and center and important.

[@garycamara9955]

A firewall would be a good thing to have.

[@georgepavich8266]

I hope your gonna lower it a bit are you gonna get that caddy rebuilt I hope so what rear end you got planned for that beast ...........george the old chevyoligst

[@dennisschickling2249]

Nice Video. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years 2024 🌏 #STAYSAFE #PHILLYPHILLY 🇺🇸

[@garysoykin2783]

Would you buy a real cool wiring harness like painless, wiring harness? Some of the others are real good also, you can tell him what you got going on and they’ll build you a wiring harness and they don’t cost you that much. I don’t know. What are you gonna do?

[@deney54]

So, what kind of cars does Steve have ? He's always there working on your cars, does he work on his own ?

[@tomkrisel4493]

Steve is a muscle car guy. I recently talked to him, mentioning how everyone thinks he should build a hot rod. He says he's happy working on all this stuff and has the benefit of riding in them without having to buy one.

[@IronTrapGarage]

You do realize this is Steve’s full time job working at ITG? He has a Nova he drives and enjoys.

[@garycamara9955]

Don't forget to clean up the surface rust.

[@theodoreko2700]

Steve how ur back maybe should of taken the seat out

[@franswijnands4022]

😮Maybe crazy, but it is not easy to remove the engine

[@PeterLee-zn3jl]

When you get a car thats been opendd with an ax..you better be lucky and have replaceme t psrts...lol Good golly..its FINE..!

[@stallis2009]

This video should have been shot in 3D....

[@RobertJones-sb1if]

That windshield is begging to be chopped!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Agreed

[@scotthandschug298]

Is Steve going to build himself a car?

[@IronTrapGarage]

He has a Nova he drives and enjoys.

[@josephhamilton1547]

Am I the only one thinking this should have been done before the Caddie engine.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Why.. we couldn’t have seen how much had to be trimmed on the firewall without the engine in…

[@josephhamilton1547]

@@IronTrapGarage at least remove it first, no critic here, been a subscriber for several years. Drive a flathead powered 40 Ford Coupe, no billet, newest car part 64 Chevelle seats.

[@mikesonneson2824]

White firewall????...no..no...no...it didn't look good when it was popular.....

[@IronTrapGarage]

That sounds like an opinion and you know what they say about them..

[@JT-un7dc]

How about Checker board?