1933 Willys-Overland Roof Replacement

[Derald Timm]

This is a 1933 Willys-Overland that I found this past summer. It had been parked inside for the last 52 years.
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3886/AAAWillys.jpg
It needs to have the roof replaced.
I would like to fill it with steel and then put fabric over that to make it look original.
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3886/AAAWillysRoof.jpg

This picture shows the orginal wood and just a small portion of the lip around the roof .
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3886/AAAWillys1.jpg
This picture shows a little longer portion of the lip. I pulled up some of the welting that held the cloth roof material.

Can the roof be made to fit into the lip and then glue? or weld the panel?
Which would be better? What gage metal would be best? Thanks.

[Ron Naida]

Derald,

The four corners and maybe in the centers are going to be leaded seams.
Tough to weld to. Not only that welding even an 18 gage piece in is going to warp and cause work.
If you are going to cover with vinyl anyway why not use waterproof panel board
or better yet a thin grade of marine plywood. Oakume (sp) comes in metric sizes like 4 and 6 mm and cover it with the top material. When I did the Studebaker I got the correct top material from LeBaron Bonney. My roof opening was not as large as yours but your car looks cooler.

Ron Naida

[trey]

I made a steel frame for my 28 dodge roof insert, then covered it with Cordura. Not the best fabric for cold weather, but if you would like info on how I did it, I can take it apart and shoot some pictures. It turned out really nice. Honestly, I wouldnt do a sheet of steel and put fabric over that. You would have to find a way to keep the steel from rotting away.

Very classy car though, I'd love to have one like it.

http://lewis.allen.home.bresnan.net/P8090284.JPG

trey

[Derald Timm]

Ron,
Thanks. Did you then use the original method of nailing to the wood? What do you use to seal it?

Trey,
What is Courdura? The wood in this car is really solid except for the very front piece.

Would ABS Plastic work and then heat the edges to form to the lip? Maybe use seam sealer and rivets to hold it down and then glue the covering on ?

Or form 18 gage and do the same thing. Would this seal it for no leaks?

Hope these aren't dumb questions. :-) derald

[CCWKen]

If you're going with a fabric roof, I'd stick with the original way. (On Fords, it was chicken wire, pad, fabric, trim) If you go with a steel roof, remove the wood and replace with steel cross braces. The wood will probably sag under the weight of steel. Then there's the problem with rust and attaching the steel. Those old bodys flex a lot so the "insert" should either be allowed to float or be welded in.

My vote is to keep it original.

Here's a 31 I did with a steel roof replacing the fabric. It was welded in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/CCWKen/Autos/31Tudor-3.jpg

[Kerry Pinkerton]

I did a Metalshaping seminar at the Willis, Knight, Overland rally last summer in Nashville. NEAT cars. The sliding valve engines are something else!

I agree with Ron Nadia. This is a valuable car, I wouldn't do anything that wasn't original if you're going to keep it stock. Of course, if you're going to rod it, it doesn't matter.

[kustomizingkid]

Man that car would look great chopped and channled with a V8 sticking out from under the hood suicide......:) :) :)


Just a quick guess this is more of a restoration?

Brandon McCarthy

[Derald Timm]

Ken, Great looking car. Thanks for the input. I do plan on keeping it original looking.

Kerry,
I just joined the Willys-Overland Knight Registry club and am learning about the cars.

Branden,
I do plan on keeping it original. It really runs pretty well with a top speed of 72 mph according to old info.
Actually it was out in your neck of the woods that I found it.

derald

[kustomizingkid]

Where did you get the car? because I could have sworn I saw a car a while back that looked like an A or sumtin but it wasn't and I just couldn't figure out what it was. I was driving through forest lake at the time.

Brandon McCarthy

[Kerry Pinkerton]

[QUOTE=...
I just joined the Willys-Overland Knight Registry club and am learning about the cars....

derald[/QUOTE]

Derald, the neat thing about the Registry is that their cars are DRIVERS. One guy drove his from Boston and another from North Dakota. This is the hottest days of summer.

[Henry Votel]

Hi Derald,

Neat car. If you are staying original you'll want to use materials simialr to the makers. Check out: http://www.wokr.org/ Usually there are specialized vendors known to club members that have source materials and often some forum where you can chat out your questions.

Good Luck. . . .

[JKING]

Great looking car Derald

Hope you got it in out of the snow!! :grin:

Jim

[Derald Timm]

Kerry
They are having the national meet in Rapid City SD this year and a regional in Minneapolis. Will be the first ones I will have a chance to attend.

Brandon
I got the car east of North Branch.

Henry,
Thanks for the input. I have been on the wokr site and have had some of my questions answered.

Jim
I had to back it out to take some pictures for the insurance company.
The grill and radiator cowl are off so that is the reason for the picture being cut off on the front a little. :-)

derald

[Boogiemanz1]

Derald that looks like an awful nice project car..........quite the find.............john