You are here:
Classic/Antique Car Repair/29 Chevy
Advertisement
Question
My dad and I recently purchased a 1929 chevy sedan, it has missing and or rotten wood. My question is this, which wood should be used to replace what is bad/missing, and which types of wood working equipment do you recommend having to get the job done right? Both of us have knowledge of woodworking, also is there anywhere where we can get a book that shows correct dimensions for the wood, dad is talking about maybe replacing all the wood, to be safe. Any hep is greatly appreciated.
Roger, Having done a '28 Chevy sedan myself decades ago, I sympathize with your plight and your desire to make it right.
You should use hard white ash. GM used Arkansas White Ash, which varies greatly these days in terms of hardness--I've seen some lovely pieces that are about as hard as basswood or balsa--definitely not good for structural use.
Your ash pieces should be hand-selected for density and hardness. Do NOT use Oak of any variety--it's too hard to work and way too heavy.
You'll need the following machine tools to do a proper pro job of replacing the wood:
Jointer (6" is fine), Planer (12-14" auto-feed), band saw, circular saw, disc sander (20" if possible!)and a shaper or molder with finger-joint attachment.
In addition, you'll need the usual hand tools and handheld power tools. I'd replace any steel screws with stainless in the final piece. A powder AR glue is preferable to Titebond.
Good luck--this is a large project!
--Paul
- Add to this Answer
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Good job! | ||
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Paul Wilczynski
Expertise
Most questions involving vintage car restoration, mechanical and body, paint and upholstery. Parts sourcing. Extensive experience in wood-bodied station wagons, British and French cars of the '40s through '70s. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger, Citroen Maserati, VW Beetle, 1955-65 Chevrolet (especially Nomad station wagons), Corvair.
Experience
Wide-ranging and long-term. I owned a restoration shop in the 1970s, continue to dabble in vintage exotics. At one time, had a seven-car collection of contemporary exotics which I had restored and maintained myself.
When I was 18 years old, I designed a woodie kit for the VW Beetle, which I developed into a product which was featured on television and in over 100 magazines and 25 books at last count. I still own and drive one of my creations.
I owned a design and fabrication consultancy from 1982-2002, specializing in show car fabrication for manufacturers including Ford, Mazda, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, etc.
Since 2003, I have been a department manager in Industrial Design, and a full-time instructor in automotive design and fabrication at the university level. My students go on to design automobiles as staff designers for major auto manufacturers worldwide.
Organizations
Western Automotive Journalists, Industrial Design Society of America.
Publications
Long list of magazines and books, including Playboy, VW Trends, VW Greats, Hot VWs, and European automotive magazines.
Education/Credentials
I teach design and fabrication at university level. My education is in Industrial Design, University of Illinois (1966-1970).
Awards and Honors
Many awards for restorations in local concours and shows.
Past/Present Clients
Mazda, Ford, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Mercedes, Porsche.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.