47-55.1 Roof skin

[PDW HOTRODS]

I have a 1950 5 window that had something fall on the roof and did some damage. I have pushed it back up but if I can't get it very straight I don't want a gallon of Bondo on it. Has anyone here installed an aftermarket roof skin? I would like to know if they are any good. Some aftermarket parts are not worth the time it takes to fix them. Thanks.

[mr48chev]

Too many miles = 328 to be worth a road trip but I have a complete 5 window top that was cut off below the belt line with a skin that has surface rust but I don't think any dents that you could have for having someone stop and pick it up.

A guy in East Wenatchee gave it to me probably 15 years ago and I have kept it around ever since but I'll have to look at it to be sure. I am right on 97 South of Toppenish but could meet someone At Mely's Restaurant 2 miles up the road where there is plenty of room. It's just one of several AD body parts that are going up for grabs when I get the 48 together and do a bunch of downsizing.

[dsraven]

post up a few pics of the bad roof and maybe we can come up with some possible repair ideas. a roof replacement is not a small job, lots of spot welds. check the assembly manual for spot weld locations

[mr48chev]

If it is like the roof on my BMW that a tree fell on there isn't much fixing it.

[PDW HOTRODS]

Its just the skin, the door openings and widow areas are fine. Something had fallen flat across the roof. The new roof skin goes to the pinch weld in the front and back windows and door jams but a few inches over the corner windows. I might be better off fixing it than replacing, just don't know the quality of the new panel.

[dsraven]

it's like you said, you never know whats in the box till you get it home and open it up/test fit it.
I would do some work on the old skin first and see where it goes. if you decide to repace it wait to remove the old one until you have the new on on site, or, pull the old one off and try your bodywork magic and maybe you can fix it when it's off due to access to both sides. then if it doesn't work out you can at least test fit the new one when it arrives and return it within the return timeframe window.
get a good spot weld cutter before you begin removal and check the assembly manual for all the spot weld locations.
there will be lead in the front corner seams and likely elsewhere too, just a heads up.

[dsraven]

this fella has some cool ideas. crane crunched his 67-72 c10 roof

https://youtu.be/K2RAwz2y8HA?si=FwDmxJGnCrSg2FyU

[dsraven]

sorry, wrong year truck. same principles though

[hogfarm]

I must have driven by your house hundreds of times

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Too many miles = 328 to be worth a road trip but I have a complete 5 window top that was cut off below the belt line with a skin that has surface rust but I don't think any dents that you could have for having someone stop and pick it up.

A guy in East Wenatchee gave it to me probably 15 years ago and I have kept it around ever since but I'll have to look at it to be sure. I am right on 97 South of Toppenish but could meet someone At Mely's Restaurant 2 miles up the road where there is plenty of room. It's just one of several AD body parts that are going up for grabs when I get the 48 together and do a bunch of downsizing.

[NWA58]

My 58 cab had some nasty bondo cracks over the pillars and had an unnatural shape to the crown that made me nervous. I decided to replace the skin but wanted it done better than my hack skills. Found the right metal man to address it and sure enough, it was pretty rough. Somewhere back in time, the roof must have had a tree or something fall on it and they essentially laid another roof skin over the original. I bought the repop 55-59 skin and it worked fine but took lots of shop hours to get it right. Had to pull off 2 layers of skin and mud. I accomplished other metal mods and got it all totally square in the process.

Good luck!

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by hogfarm

I must have driven by your house hundreds of times

My mother's house is the one with the happy face barrel just north of the golf course and my driveway is the next one north of that.

[dsraven]

PDW, have you made a decision on the roof yet?
curious what the header panel looks like. usually there is a mouse nest up there that causes rot in the panel. on my 57 I probably got half a 5 gal bucket of "stuff" out of the space and had to replace the eyebrow of the roof panel

[mr48chev]

Id I rolled my old cab upside down I'd probably have a set of key s fall out that might be stuck down in the door post.

[PDW HOTRODS]

I'm going to fix it. Got most of it pushed out already. I used a Handyman jack on a 2x6 across the floor, 2x4 up from the jack and plywood on top. It's looking pretty good already. Very little rot just surface rust. It was stored indoors with no headliner for the last 30+ years. It looked worse than it was.

[dsraven]

That's awesome, but, no pic, didn't happen. Lol.
I welded a piece of 3/4 black pipe across the window opening on a task force truck and used that for leverage for a prybar and then a home made dolly to push some dents and then smooth the skin. I plan to fab up a hoop style plannishing hammer, like the make it custom guy sells, and go over the roof.

[leegreen]

I have an old Watervliet planishing hammer on a hoop. It is great for smoothing, but you need to take care not to raise the entire panel by stretching too much, particularly on flatter panels.
Would I use it on a roof? - yes, since I have it. But if I did not have it and was not planning to do tons of future bodywork I'd save the money and use slapper, dolly and hand size sand bag (or a dolly with concave face) .

Get/make a good heavy dolly with a matching curve and a couple different slappers. You probably have to make your own slappers. I have 5: three made from a heavy truck spring, an old office chair back spring* a 10" file* plus two commercial ones from martin, their slapper (too light IMO) and a long spoon (too heavy/long/ curved to use as a slapper IMO). *'d are the two I'd probably start with on a roof

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by PDW HOTRODS

I'm going to fix it. Got most of it pushed out already. I used a Handyman jack on a 2x6 across the floor, 2x4 up from the jack and plywood on top. It's looking pretty good already. Very little rot just surface rust. It was stored indoors with no headliner for the last 30+ years. It looked worse than it was.

No rust, no rot is a BONUS!!!!!

The metal is heavy and good enough that you can actually work it and get it to do what you want with a bit of effort.

There is a multitude of videos on You tube showing how to fix a panel like that and spending a few hours watching some of them is called research not wasted time. Especially if your significant other sees positive results on your roof from watching them and recognizes the results.

[dsraven]

my roof has 2 weled seams from sideto side. they are shrunk spots so will need to stretch. after 4 shoulder surgeries I dont hold a dolly at arms length any more.
LG, maybe you wanna give me a tutorial on my roof with your hammer....lol

[dsraven]

hety PDW, you got any pics yet? would love to see it.