brock
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Post by brock on Dec 27, 2007 0:32:27 GMT -5
Well, I didn't post pics here as I had planned. Long story short is that my panels have been promised in return for a set of regular black panels (w/o the extra padding & pull handles).
I have decided to pursue the manufacture of the pull handles with a stress reliever added to both ends. At first the cover will be black leather. Can anyone provide a headon shot of the bare pullstrap metal with a ruler laying beside it?
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Post by Jer on Dec 30, 2007 5:13:14 GMT -5
Brock, If I remember right (from 31 years ago), the metal is spring steel, and the holes on each end are drilled exactly the same distance apart as the holes in your door (behind the caps and panel). Of course the overall length of the metal is longer, to allow for the bowing of the strap. I know there's a screw hole back there, because I had to keep on increasing the size of the screw as the hole became more and more wallowed out! Or hell, pop the caps on yours and measure the distance from the screw head centers. Here's a couple of pics...one factory SE Brougham pull... FACTORY:and one from someone (I can't for the life of me remember who, and I hope he forgives me for hijacking his pic) who bought universal (HELP brand?) pull straps from his local auto supply store. (I went down to Kragen Auto Supply, and they had them there for less than 10 bucks apiece...granted they were cheap vinyl and plastic, but the bow--arc--is about the same: about 1-3/4 inches to maaaaaybe 2 inches...maybe.) AFTERMARKET:Brock, if you're really serious about reproducing them (and I assume you will use stitched leather), I would just use the hole radius measurement and then allow for about a 2" bow. There are plenty of "hungry" guys like me that would snap them up from you, and probably not even care if the "bow" is a 1/4 of an inch more (or less) than factory. In fact, I'll swing by there tomorrow and buy a couple of them and get you some exact measurements (I'll put them on my 86 F250, so it won't be wasted money). One point though: Have you got any ideas for metallurgy besides spring steel...that was the weak point and why so many cars don't have the straps...eventually it snaps off at the point where the bow flattens out to fit behind the cap. I don't recall any process for stress-relieving spring steel, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. I'll call my twin brother Terry, tomorrow, and ask him. He owns his own Welding and Piping Inspection company, and he's up on all that stuff. But I'm way better looking, and 20 minutes older. ~Jer~
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brock
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Post by brock on Dec 30, 2007 5:44:14 GMT -5
Thanks for these pics & the other one too Jer I actually thought that the pull straps layed flat against the doorpanels & slipped at the mounts when used - thus producing the bow. Guess the bow appears to be there all the time. I would think that if a permanent bow is desired that a small bead rolled along the top & bottom edges & around the mount holes would help. This was not in my plan though. My plan was to accurately cut the correct gauge spring steel as original & cut an extra piece for each end that would go between the strap & the mounting bolt. The extra pieces would have a slight bow to them that would offer stress relief at the week spots, namely, the boltholes. But I digress. I need more info. It'll be a couple of weeks before I can see what is left of mine (too many obligations right now. Still hoping for a pic of the strap with a ruler laid out beside it.
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brock
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Post by brock on Dec 30, 2007 5:48:36 GMT -5
Oh wow Jer! You just captured the difference in early & late door panels It is as Nacho warned: lower in back on later models ;D
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Post by Nacho-RT74 on Dec 30, 2007 10:11:31 GMT -5
chargerkid showed me that VERY EARLIER LOOONG TIME AGO on the OOOOOLD D-C.com board. He sent me a pic of a 72 door with 73/74 panel on it
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Post by Jer on Dec 30, 2007 23:47:38 GMT -5
NACHO: How did he get the panel to fit?
That pic I posted isn't a 73-74 panel on a 72 door, is it ?
~Jer~
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Post by Nacho-RT74 on Dec 31, 2007 10:02:57 GMT -5
He just put a 73/74 on a 72 door without lower clips, just hanging on top. was noticeable the gap left with lower panel on rear... about 2" inches
Tan pic is 73/74
Black panel on yellow door is 72 ( 72 was the first year for brougham option )
you can see the diff on top slope, going up on rear.
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Doright
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Post by Doright on Jan 1, 2008 22:03:39 GMT -5
I was told that Just Dashes could reproduce all the panels for the 72 SE true or false?
Just what I was told by them
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brock
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Post by brock on Jan 2, 2008 14:56:02 GMT -5
I was told that Just Dashes could reproduce all the panels for the 72 SE true or false? Just what I was told by them Call em & report your findings!
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Doright
Been Here A While
Posts: 908
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Post by Doright on Jan 5, 2008 11:00:06 GMT -5
I was told that Just Dashes could reproduce all the panels for the 72 SE true or false? Just what I was told by them Just what I was told by them dont you understand Brock? LOL!
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