A labor of love... I remember riding in this as a small child. My dad was involved in cub scouts and boy scouts with me and my brothers. He would take us camping in it. When we were older we went deer hunting in it. Has lots of memories.
Friday, April 11, 2008
panel pics
some pics of my panel in the process of deconstruction and restoration...
Bob - noting your photo of the "custom" rear sidewindows . . . the pieces of "U" channel welded horizontally across the bottom & vertically thru the center of your windows are actually the remains of the steel trusses that belong to the "sunroof" opening in the rear roof.
Originally, there were 3 left-to-right trusses across the roof opening: the rear 2 trusses curved downward at either end to also reinforce the upper corner edge of the body; the most forward truss was straight (w/o curves at end) to bridge only the most forward 1/3 of the "sunroof" opening. A long-grain pattern canvas/vinyl material originally covered this "sunroof" opening.
The reason there is a "sunroof" opening is that the 1930's Dodge factory steel presses could not press big enough steel body panels . . . thus, the rear L&R body sides were each pressed as separate body panels; the rear (where the double doors are) was also pressed separately. Then, all 3 pieces were "mitered", cut, fitted, welded & the joint smoothed over with solder (like we use Bondo today) . . . this assembly was much like how a picture fram is made today . . . thus the top was open (like a sunroof) because the metal from one panel could not reach across to the opposing body panel.
FOR DODGE HUMPBACK PANEL TRUCK INFO, SEE BLOG: www.1937Dodge.Blogspot.com
I have a picture of the family's panel right after the War(1946).they were in the painting business,purchased for 500 by a son who survived the battle of the bulge and loved Dodge.They would start in sub zero temps and the germans had Fords compliments of henry,(hitlers buddy) cause of their military buildup during the 30's.Ours was a 37 they would put benches in on the weekends to haul the kids around visiting relatives.
3 comments:
Bob - noting your photo of the "custom" rear sidewindows . . . the pieces of "U" channel welded horizontally across the bottom & vertically thru the center of your windows are actually the remains of the steel trusses that belong to the "sunroof" opening in the rear roof.
Originally, there were 3 left-to-right trusses across the roof opening: the rear 2 trusses curved downward at either end to also reinforce the upper corner edge of the body; the most forward truss was straight (w/o curves at end) to bridge only the most forward 1/3 of the "sunroof" opening. A long-grain pattern canvas/vinyl material originally covered this "sunroof" opening.
The reason there is a "sunroof" opening is that the 1930's Dodge factory steel presses could not press big enough steel body panels . . . thus, the rear L&R body sides were each pressed as separate body panels; the rear (where the double doors are) was also pressed separately. Then, all 3 pieces were "mitered", cut, fitted, welded & the joint smoothed over with solder (like we use Bondo today) . . . this assembly was much like how a picture fram is made today . . . thus the top was open (like a sunroof) because the metal from one panel could not reach across to the opposing body panel.
FOR DODGE HUMPBACK PANEL TRUCK INFO, SEE BLOG:
www.1937Dodge.Blogspot.com
FOR DODGE HUMPBACK PANEL TRUCK INFO, ALSO SEE BLOG:
www.1938DodgeHumpback.blogspot.com/
I have a picture of the family's panel right after the War(1946).they were in the painting business,purchased for 500 by a son who survived the battle of the bulge and loved Dodge.They would start in sub zero temps and the germans had Fords compliments of henry,(hitlers buddy) cause of their military buildup during the 30's.Ours was a 37 they would put benches in on the weekends to haul the kids around visiting relatives.
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