quandary over rumble step plates

[pooch]

30 roadster rear fender step plates aftermarket.

The crown of the fender is compound curved and the step is flat.

I want to grind the step a bit to fit tighter to rubber and fender and not have it rock on bolt.

There are 6 lines in a hexagon pattern in step.

Does A line go fore/aft or side to side in lining up plate as it was originally done?

Or maybe Ford did not worry about alignment of lines of pattern?

There are 2 ways for fitment of look.

Any idea which before I grind?


edit added pic



1 or 2?

[Roadster62]

I'll vote for #2 with the center groove running fore and aft, this will compliment the pyramids in the running boards.

[mot]

there is no reason you should have to cut ,or file the step
it should fit pefectly on the fender
i used a straight edge on this original step and its perfectly flat
the round step fits the compound curve at the top
now the square earlier step definatly has a curve to it
tom

[mot]

this got me interested,so i cut the top off of a fender and placed a round step on it,no bolts or pressure
it fits the contour perfectly
tom

[glenn in camino]

Original step plates are pretty available at swap meets and they're usually in good condition as they are aluminum and don't rust. The repos are too shinny.

[Kevin in NJ]

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Are you using an original fender with the original hole?

I recently put the hole in a repro fender. I found the hole position somewhere (I think on a rumble seat conversion article) that was measured from the body corner and then out from the edge. Once I located the position I put the plate on the fender and it did not quite look right and it rocked. So I put it a bit closer to the body and what looked to be a bit more centered fore/ aft. It set flat- no rocking.

So I would wonder how the hole was positioned first.

Next...

Rubber?

They did not use a rubber under the plate. Ford used thin material that you can buy from the dealers. Just like under all the other parts like door and rumble handles.

[pooch]

Rechecked and my flat on bottom round steps do not fit contour .

There is about a 1/6th gap front and back and allows it to rock.

From your info, I did check if the reinforcing cross bars underneath were recessed back up a little, so middle under did not touch fender first at bolt hole, and they are recessed, so it is the side on contour edge that is the problem.

Aftermarket steps with rubber bases and fibreglass fenders.

I do not see how a flat object can sit flat on a curved object even it was all original step and steel fender.

The rubber may take up a bit, but the centre of it will be compressed to the end of its life if pulled down to have front and back edges tighten up.

Side to side across fit is OK as fender is relatively flat across that way.

So I will be grinding a bit.

Any input as to pattern direction?

edit added pics for clarification of problem







The pattern direction does give a very different look.........

[Don S]

I have a sketch that was in the Model A News over 25 years ago. They measured an original 31 deluxe roadster. They measured up from the bottom of the main body panel below the rumble seat 23 1/2 ", then out 4 1/4" The sketch only show the step plate on the r/h fender Hope this helps.

[Russell in Tulsa]

Pooch, I think the fore to aft position looks correct, more streamlined, just my 2 cents.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Is the fender already drilled? If so you don't have any choice. Originally the step was a little closer to the body which may provide a more symmetrical crown like original fenders have in that area.

[real550A]

Pooch- If it will help, I'll have an untouched original '31 Deluxe here in 2 or 3 days, I can send you, or post some closeups of the steps. They are on the right hand side of this left hand drive coupe.

[SteveB31]

Your trying to put a repro step on a glass fender. Buy a steel fender and/or and original step and it will work fine. If you are gling to use a glass fender then you are going to have to fit the step to it, PLUS the fender will crack when someone steps on it anyhow....

[Ryan J]

We had fiberglass fenders on our coupe for years and they never cracked from anybody stepping on them.

[pooch]

From another post on buying repro steel junk and having to spend hours/days cutting and shutting the gaps, I will stick to 'glass for this rod.

Mike B, no hurry, step is last on list of jobs.

Don, I just eyeballed where the step looks right re position.

Russell, you are right, the fore/aft looks about 10 MPH faster...

Marco, the pic would throw you off, this fender is 2 inches wider than standard.

BTW, I am positive your step would be facing the right way......

[Richard Wilson]

I would not over think this. Grind the step slightly to fit. It's a repro step on a repro fiberglass fender on a rod. I am sure that other pieces have been slightly modified to fit. That's the fun part of building a rod.

[real550A]

pooch- Here's a shot of the step orientation on the "time warp car" we just got.
Hope this helps! Mike

[pooch]

Mike B, thanks very much, it maybe only a small detail, but now we know the lines go fore and aft.

Now out with the grinder......

Took rod to the engineers yesterday and he was quite impressed with the way it drove and handled.

No where near cosmetically finished yet, but hopefully registered within 2 weeks.

Will post pics soon .

Some may be interested in my fabbed lower 28 stanchions mated to 30 posts and the fit of 30 fenders to 28 body.