Bending T strip

[Teun]

Somebody a idea how i can bend the straight T strip that runs over the rear quarter panels from a 29 roadster? I hope you understand my englisch.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Use a torch to shrink or stretch the straight chord. Cut and re-weld in the upper area in the one place.

[Teun]

If it was metal it was easy but it is aluminium so welding will be difficult.
Maybe heat it and then bending?

[pooch]

Use a shrinking/stretching machine.

[quickchange]

You can buy already bent too shape.

[gweilbaker]

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Not to hijack but what is this piece?

[wrndln]

The T strips referred in this string are used to finish off the seam between coupe and roadster quarterpanels and the trunk or rumble lid, the panel above the lid and the panel below the lid. They give the look more finished.
Rusty Nelson

[glenn in camino]

What were the the original T strips made out of?

[Rowdy]

Originals were made out of steel. There were actually 2 different designs as I found out afew years ago. A solid extruded type and a rolled/crimped type. They look identical unil you look at the back, you can see the seam in the rolled type. I was going to use some from a tudor on my delivery, but they were the rolled type and I was scared they might not be rigid enough for with the back door panel of the delivery. I am working on getting the bend out of the original extruded type used on the delivery. Rod

[gweilbaker]

That's what I thought but the aluminum part confused me. Are they reproduced in aluminum?

[Teun]

Yes in aluminium i can order prebend strips they cost $110 thats not the problem but + shippingcost and tax here it will be more then $200! just strait aluminium T strips cost here maybe $20. So i hope i can bend this ones.

[V4F]

pie cut .

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Teun

If it was metal it was easy but it is aluminium so welding will be difficult.
Maybe heat it and then bending?

I think this is one of those things where you must consider your capabilities vs. the cost. No one said it would be easy but yes aluminum can be welded. If you do not have the capability, surely someone in your area has a hi-freq TIG unit. I probably also should have mentioned annealing it too. Take your time and go through the process slowly and you can make it happen.

[pooch]

You can buy a stretcher/shrinker for $143 AU, and this is a rip off country.

Probably get one for a lot less over there, do the job in 20 minutes, then have the tool to use for other jobs .

If you are making any panels, these are invaluable.


At the point the strip bends sharply at the roof belt line, scallop out a small piece behind and anneal that area and bend , it will not need welding at that small rise.




I was not able to buy the correct T strip here, and freight was impossible for an item I think is 51 inches long, so I got a length if thin metal tube and sliced in half, and after grinding, it ended up about 1/3 of its arc, and I bent this to contour, and soldered some holed locating tabs onto to mate up with the gutter bolts in rumble gutter sides.

Bit of a major job, but it was the only idea I could come with at the time to get car on road.

Visibly, it is fine.


This is a typical ebay item.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sheet-Met...item51a6476c1a

[Jerry in Shasta]

I cut small wedges and did not re-weld them. It worked fine.
I just cut a wedge out of the flat metal out to the bead, fit it to
car. Then cut the next wedge and so on.

Jerry

[Teun]

Ok guys a little heat did the trick. Just with a tourch ( is that the right word?) heat the strip part by part and it was easely to form.
The moment i know how i will. Place some photo's.

[gweilbaker]

Teun,
You have found new talent, feels good.