1949 Cadillac Roadster Build

[Kerry Pinkerton]

it just keeps getting better.....

[rewdco]

It would still be an understatement when I would say that this car is looking gorgeous!

[Refuse1]

Wow. That looks amazing.

[Jack 1957]

I was originally going to make this leading edge of the roof out of wood but I really can't think of a good reason to. I started making the front piece out of aluminum. It's a fairly basic piece.I used the P/U wheel to start the downward roll on the front edge then the steel wheel to put a slight crown in the rest of the surface, a pass or two through the shrinker to bring the outer ends down. Then I tipped a flange along the front edge to hook under the 3/8" plate that is welded to the roof frame.
I can see why everyone likes to work with aluminum. After years of fighting with 18ga and 20ga steel, working with aluminum is like being on vacation. You can almost wad this stuff up in a ball and throw it at the E wheel. It'll bounce off into the shrinker and hit the floor finished. Well, not finished, I still have to finish off the outer ends and do some hand planishing to smooth out the wobbles near the ends.

[blue62]

Great description of working with the aluminum.
I had to straighten and remove some dents from the shrouds on my Austin healey project. Much different to work with then the rest of the car.
Keep the updates coming your work is amazing.

[Don Papenburg]

Are you going to take that car to the Detroit Autorama ? Looks like a Riddler award winner to me.

[Jack 1957]

This car is being built to be driven. No chassis or under hood detailing. It might do well in a street custom class at the Autorama, but wouldnt even make the cut for Great 8.

[sumtu]

Very nice but it cant compete for Great 8 or Riddler the build has been posted on the internet. All great 8 - Riddler contenders are to be built with out any pre or during construction / finished photos published any where till the first showing at Detroit . But this is a top notch build thanks for posting.

[Jack 1957]

I finished off the corners on the front skin, then drilled for 3/16" rivets, and countersunk. Then I used 3M #8115 panel bond to hold it all together.



The first picture below is a close up of the countersunk 3/16" hole from the back side. Notice that the countersink is pressed and not drilled. When the panel is riveted down, the rivets will pull the panel tight against the countersink depression and leave a gap a little less than 1/32" between the sheet and the frame tube it's attached to. This is so the panel bond is not squeezed completely out. The panel bond is the primary bond, the rivets just hold everything in place until it cures. If it's squeezed too tightly the bond will be weak and most likely fail.
The rivets are 3/16" aluminum/aluminum countersunk. I use aluminum rivets with aluminum mandrels for this. The rivets with the steel mandrels pull down too tight before they break off.






I have the second panel trimmed to size and drilled. Next, countersink the holes and bend the curves in along the sides. Tomorrow's another day.

[Jack 1957]

Originally Posted by sumtu

Very nice but it cant compete for Great 8 or Riddler the build has been posted on the internet.

True. This was never intended to be a show car. I don't have the skills, patience, time, money, or desire to build a car with that level of detail. Guys like Chip Foose, Rick Dore, and Charlie Hutton have raised the bar so high that there are very few people on the planet that have the resources to compete.
I feel that if your build is maxed out and finely detailed, it ends up being parked permanently in the garage because it might get wet or dusty. Like furniture. I don't build furniture.