Thread: American Graffiti Coupe, My Version

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Originally Posted by rspears

Gary, that one scares me with the 2x12's on edge, held by lag bolts up through the base. It wouldn't take much side force on the body to split those 2x12's at the bolts, and lay the whole thing over on the plywood - like moving the body to the side. Glad it's worked for you but I think you're dancing with the devil without at least some cross bracing between the lateral 2x12's.

Been doing it this way for 20 years and never any weakness much less problem. since the 2 x 12's are not parallel with each other, they run at an angle same as frame does, that triangulates them for the cross bracing you are wanting so they don't just fold over sideways. Bolted down tight to plywood and to floor of car they never try to tilt at all, they are going no where. If they were parallel to each other I would then consider some bracing but with them bolted down so tight I wouldn't foresee any problem. Especially since very little force is needed to push the body sideways. I have a 63 chevy nova body on good casters now and can push it straight sideways with one finger. Never enough force needed in moving it to put any stress at all on 2 x 12's. If I were not bolting the body down I would agree with you. On bodies where I am just quickly moving it and I do not bolt the body down to the 2 x 12's I then make a have a full 4 sided box out of the 2 x 12's bolted to the plywood like my first post in this thread describes so it has full strength pushing it in any direction.

daytonagary, That sure is nice paint. I guess all deuce coupes don't have to be yellow! I still prefer my metallic maroon but purple-blue looks great too! Is that a Bebops coupe? The interior bracing looks similar to the bracing in my Bebops '29 roadster.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

daytonagary, That sure is nice paint. I guess all deuce coupes don't have to be yellow! I still prefer my metallic maroon but purple-blue looks great too! Is that a Bebops coupe? The interior bracing looks similar to the bracing in my Bebops '29 roadster.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

thanks, show car quality straightening of body panels and show car paint has been my specialty for a couple decades now. As I get older I find it harder to spend the days of time it takes straightening to perfection before paint but I enjoy the challenge just can't do it 8 hours a day anymore. with the base coat/ clear coat process to me the painting is easier now with Southern Polyurethanes high solid clear so easy to spray and then sand and buff to mirror finish compared to the old lacquer and acrylic enamel days. The clear makes it so easy to get 100% of the orange peel out and get a mirror smoothness and gloss without worrying about buffing through the clear. The color is early 2000's chevy used on cars and trucks. We were up in Somerset Kentucky at one of their big cruise weekends and the wife found it on a street rod up there and the owner told us what it was. The body is from N&N out in Arkansas but Bebops is sure the only other body I would ever consider using. And with Duane at N&N losing his help and kinda semi-retiring I will probably have to pay a little more and go to Bebop on the next one. Is closer to drive for me.