help please

[samples45]

Hey guys i have a 1955 2nd gen. im working on the firewall area. im not sure that you call it a " drip rail" but right above that is a seam that is overlaped and runs all the way across.. its just spot welded on from the factory..i was wondering whats the best way to smooth that out? i dont like it and its a eye sore to me.. do i just weld the seam and smooth it out? to me if i did that wouldnt the overlaped seam just keep receding up? if someone could maybe post a picture or tell me how to weld overlaped seams that would be great! thanks

cameron

[tmoble]

that's a major strength point for the firewall/cowl section. Some guys have eliminated it for appearances sake but be careful.

cut out/off a small piece a few inches long. then weld the top and bottom back together. Don't cut the whole seam off at one time. If you cut right at the base of the seam there will be a gap between the top and bottom. try to cut it 1/8" or so off the firewall, use hammer and dolly to fold down the edges to meet.

[samples45]

Originally Posted by tmoble

that's a major strength point for the firewall/cowl section. Some guys have eliminated it for appearances sake but be careful.

cut out/off a small piece a few inches long. then weld the top and bottom back together. Don't cut the whole seam off at one time. If you cut right at the base of the seam there will be a gap between the top and bottom. try to cut it 1/8" or so off the firewall, use hammer and dolly to fold down the edges to meet.

Hmm you have to cut the overlap out? I'm keeping the drip rail looking thing.. I'm talking about the seam like a inch above that on the cowl

[samples45]

Originally Posted by tmoble

that's a major strength point for the firewall/cowl section. Some guys have eliminated it for appearances sake but be careful.

cut out/off a small piece a few inches long. then weld the top and bottom back together. Don't cut the whole seam off at one time. If you cut right at the base of the seam there will be a gap between the top and bottom. try to cut it 1/8" or so off the firewall, use hammer and dolly to fold down the edges to meet.

This is the only picture I could find that was some what clear.. But that should help on what I'm asking

[samples45]

I think it's called the cowl seam? That's what I'm wanting to shave..

[_Ogre]

yes it's the cowl seam. 3 pieces meet there; firewall, cowl and inter cowl.
like tmobile says

cut out/off a small piece a few inches long. then weld the top and bottom back together. Don't cut the whole seam off at one time. If you cut right at the base of the seam there will be a gap between the top and bottom. try to cut it 1/8" or so off the firewall, use hammer and dolly to fold down the edges to meet.

mine were offset a bit, i had to do some push/pull to get the fit right.
first i welded the inner cowl to the firewall from the inside of the cab
then cut out a piece of the seam 6'' wide and started lining up and tack welding

[_Ogre]

it's a good time to shave the cowl vent too

[Kim57]

When I replaced my fire wall I smoothed the cowl seam. Took a lot of work and I ended up having a second layer of sheet metal above the seam joint as mine leaned back about 3/16 of an inch above it.
Not sure if that is normal or not.
If the seam is welded all the way across I don't know why you couldn't use body filler over it as long as it's not too deep.
I use the one with fiberglass strands in it on all my welds.
Kim

[samples45]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

yes it's the cowl seam. 3 pieces meet there; firewall, cowl and inter cowl.
like tmobile says

mine were offset a bit, i had to do some push/pull to get the fit right.
first i welded the inner cowl to the firewall from the inside of the cab
then cut out a piece of the seam 6'' wide and started lining up and tack welding

You have to do that to smooth out the seam or the drip rail? I'm wanting to keep the drip rail.. Just smooth out the seam above it.. Sorry I guess I'm just don't understand..

[OrrieG]

Maybe the early TF are different that 59, mine is one piece above the drip. There were some spot weld divets I smoothed out with a little plastic.

[samples45]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Maybe the early TF are different that 59, mine is one piece above the drip. There were some spot weld divets I smoothed out with a little plastic.

It looks like you have the seam to..I'm not understanding why or where I have to cut to smooth out the seam so I'm just gonna weld the inner cowl to firewall inside the cab then just weld the seam and smooth it out.. Hopefully it works