26 an 27 Roadster body changes

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JonLevine
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26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Sat May 03, 2025 9:34 am

I’m building a 26/27 Roadster pickup from parts. I have one body with a cowl and another cowl by itself that is in much better shape so I am swapping them. I “think” the cowl I have is a 26 as it came on a 26 frame, the body with the cowl is definitely 26 or 27 but I’m not sure which. I now see some differences in the cowls as I swap them, one of the rivet locations on the side supports is clearly in a different position as I compare the two cowls, it’s no big deal I can just drill a new hole in the body rail to match. The firewalls are also slightly different. In addition in the interior I am realizing from research that the post behind the front doors, where the striker plates mount is also different in some 26 and 27 bodies. Some have a metal lip on this post that the interior body panel slips into and some don’t. Mine doesn’t and while the body wood kit I purchased has a wood block to fit in this post there is no clear way to secure it with screws. Anyone out there have the knowledge to explain to me what I may have here? Just curious. Also need some guidance on how to mount the wood block in the rear door post. Thanks! Attached are picture of the two firewalls (upside down) the black one is what I think is 26.

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TMiller6
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by TMiller6 » Sat May 03, 2025 10:00 am

I don’t have photos. On my ‘26 roadster, there were a couple of holes on the latch pillar that were smaller to accept flathead wood screws. I secured the wood blocks there. The screws are eventually covered by the hip panel.
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DanTreace
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by DanTreace » Sat May 03, 2025 11:43 am

Here is picture of an original still with original wood, showing the door pillar wood for tacking the hip pads.

Original front seat wood roadster.jpg

The earlier '26 cowl has bump out at door pillar, and has 4 small holes in front of cowl for the lacing held by rivets, that insulate the gas tank inside the cowl. Later bodies use a molded cardboard filler inside the cowl.

early 26 cowl notch.jpg
26 with rivet holes.JPG
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JonLevine
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Sat May 03, 2025 8:44 pm

Thank you both for your help here! Very interesting. So based on this information the body I have is early 26 as the cowl I removed has the 4 holes in the fire wall as the bump out at the door pillars in the front. The cowl I am installing does not have the 4 holes or the bump out and must be late 26 or 27. I’m still confused about the body wood on the pillar at the back of the doors where the striker goes. The pillar is like an open c channel and the metal band that runs to the back of the body is pinched between the pillar and the body panel. I’m going to try to attach a picture but I have problems doing so.
IMG_7460.jpeg


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JonLevine
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Sat May 03, 2025 9:01 pm

I found this picture on FB, am I missing sone structure here? This lip that holds the interior hip panel? Keep in mind that based on the cowl the body I have is early 26.
IMG_7346.jpeg


Jack Putnam, in Ohio
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by Jack Putnam, in Ohio » Sat May 03, 2025 10:19 pm

When it comes to model Ts I have learned never assume. You have two roadster bodies. Don't assume they were made with the same dies or on the same stamping press. Dies are replaced and the replacement may not be exact copies of the original.
I've been down this road with 26-27 touring bodies. Changes were so many that they could have been made by different manufacturers.


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JonLevine
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Sun May 04, 2025 6:20 am

Thanks Jack and great advice. I’m thinking of tack welding a few small tabs on to these pillars so I can attach the body wood sections with wood screws.

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TMiller6
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by TMiller6 » Mon May 05, 2025 9:28 am

The green body is later. It has the ‘27 style upholstery channel for the hip panel

Some of these bodies have a horizontal steel strap from the seat panel to the latch pillar. I added one to mine because I think it was added by Ford to prevent damage to the hip panel upholstery.

The front edge of your horizontal strap appears to be tucked in and is not secured.
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JonLevine
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Mon May 05, 2025 12:52 pm

Thanks Tom,

Yes that strap was pinched between the sheet metal and the pillar when I bought the body a few years ago. I thought that was factory as it is firmly secured in there. The strap is missing from the other side. Your comment makes a lot of sense to me. I think I will fabricate two new straps and have them attached to the pillar so they will provide some support for the hip upholstery panel. I still think I am missing some factory structure on the pillars to secure the body wood blocks, I’m going to fabricate so thing to do that too.

Thanks!

Jon

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TMiller6
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by TMiller6 » Mon May 05, 2025 2:22 pm

I dug around and found this in my photo collection. This is my car five years ago; I hope it helps.
Attachments
IMG_0360.jpeg
Tom Miller
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Ken Buhler
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by Ken Buhler » Tue May 06, 2025 12:42 am

In general, the 26 has small openings/holes in the inner door panel, zinc inserts in the door top for side curtain rods, flush mount latches, 3 holes in the cowl skin at the WS post mount, WS posts have a notched shape flange where they fit the cowl, smaller openings/holes in the floorboard riser, door hinge pillar has the lump at the top.
Roadsters have the hip panel extend rearward on the subframe about 3 inches to a small vertical rib shape and the pickups have that panel extend to behind the fender without a vertical rib shape.
The 27s have a flat door pillar, 4 holes behind the WS post (a drain was added) larger fuller WS post flange because the previous one would crack at the notch.
When fitting the body sections and panels to the subframe, the last bolts to install are the ones on the firewall at the front frame bracket. This is to allow the tilt/rock of the cowl section to fit the top of the doors to the center section of a touring or hip section of a roadster.
You can refer to my post of October 2021 titled "Improved Open Car Surgery and Build". It includes 35 photos of some of the process doing my car.
If I can help, email me for contact.
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JonLevine
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Fri May 09, 2025 12:23 am

Thank you all for you guidance here. I now am pretty sure that what I am missing is the hip panel retention trim from the body. I have attached two photos of these parts I found in other posts on the forum. Now I need to try to find a pair of these. Agreed?
IMG_7489.jpeg
IMG_7354.jpeg

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Eric Sole
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by Eric Sole » Fri May 09, 2025 7:21 am

If you're going to use the 1927 setup, then yes, you need the metal pieces (45065X Trim retainer-front lock pillar Right and 45066X Trim retainer-front lock pillar Left).

In your second picture, the wood piece (on the right and painted black) goes in the front lock pillar on the 1926 setup for fixing the hip panel with tacks. The 1927 system uses the metal trim retainer (on the left) with the U-shaped channel that the panel slips into.

There is no need for the wood piece on the later setup, so as I understand it, they are mutually exclusive. I did not use the wood pieces on my 1927 Roadster.
20250509_131039.jpg


Topic author
JonLevine
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Fri May 09, 2025 10:03 am

Thanks, that helps. My challenge is I use the wood block 26 method is how to secure the wood block in the pillar. As you can see see from the attached photo there is no easy way to do this on the body I have. Any suggestions on finding these two parts if I want to use the 27 method
Attachments
IMG_7460.jpeg

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Eric Sole
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by Eric Sole » Fri May 09, 2025 11:40 am

A good bet would be to post a "Want to buy" on the Classifieds - Parts section of this Forum. There have to be some out there! :)

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TMiller6
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by TMiller6 » Fri May 09, 2025 1:32 pm

I noticed something else while looking over your photos. I can’t tell if it’s there on your cowl. If not, consider adding two more holes to where your windshield stanchions are bolted. This allows any dirt or water that accumulates in the pocket to drain out. A better idea that Ford implemented later.
IMG_0361.jpeg
Tom Miller
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JonLevine
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Re: 26 an 27 Roadster body changes

Post by JonLevine » Fri May 09, 2025 11:33 pm

Tom,

Thanks for the information. The 27 cowl I am swapping onto the 26 body has the 4th hole and I was wondering what it was for. See the black cowl pictured here as compared the the grey cowl I removed.
IMG_7514.png
IMG_7515.png

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