Roadster Measurments

[maguromic]

Does any body know the measurement on a '27 Ford from the bottom of the cowl to the bottom of the body in front of the fire wall?

[interested bystander]

This ain't really helpful, but I'm sure Ken Nelley of Kelley-Prentiss Moidified Roadster fame does- his record was DQ'd a while back (He since legalied the car)-He doesn't post on landracing, though.

If you know how to contact  him he's an easy guy to talk to. Don't remember what club he's with.,

[maguromic]

 interested bystader, Thanks for the info.  I just received an email with the dimensions.  If any one els needs them, I have attached them.

[interested bystander]

Yrs truly has this same drawing -maybe from Poilform, Speedway or another fibreglass purveyor.

What's SCTA/BNI's take on its' dimensions?

DW?

[4-barrel Mike]

Did that give you the measurement you need?  Otherwise, my steel body is sitting right here.

Mike

[Tzoom]

How do the measurements of your steel body compare to the diagram? 

[maguromic]

Mike, Could you please double check that front 22 1/2 measurement off your original.  Thanks, Tony

[4-barrel Mike]

I hadn't thought to check those measurements against mine! 

Caveat: my body is from an old hot rod.  Last licensed in '78, owner long past.  I'm told it last ran a nailhead and was made into a rpu although it was originally a roadster.  Supposedly came out of California in the '60's.

Firewall vertical: 22.5" to the top of the firewall bulge, 23" measuring the body flange where the firewall riveted.  This is an eyeball measurement, the body is on the frame and channeled somewhat.  I can try for better if desired.

Cowl horizontal length, cockpit lip to the outside forward edge of the firewall bulge (ignoring the radiator support bracket) 16" not 16 1/2".  Firewall bulges out 1 1/4" beyond forward edge of the body flange.

Cockpit horizontal length: 38 7/16" not 37 1/2", door gaps look good at upper edge

Cockpit width at widest, outside to outside, 46 1/2" not 49" ??

Turtle deck width: 44" not 42"

Firewall width, outside of body flange to outside of body flange, 30 1/2" not 29"

Body length (had to pull a fender).  I get 90" overall, not 90 1/2".  Axle centerline is of no consequence.

More?

Sure hope that that drawing is inaccurate.

Mike

[DSR Bruts]

I just took the measurements of my original '27 Steel Body with reversed firewall (took the stock, drilled out the spot welds and reversed it and welded it back in) for more engine room.  I have a full steel floor front to back that is unaltered in width.  All the outside panels of the body are unaltered in anyway with the exception of patch panels.  I built the deck lid and bottom trunk panel from scratch, but they match stock width and contour of the originals.  The bottom body outside framework is stock.

Here are my measurements:

                    Drawing      My Body                    Comments
Cowl Top:            16 1/2"        13 7/8"      Measured from cowl lip (back edge of hood) to dash lip the 2 1/2"
                                                           difference might be because they measured from the front of the
                                                           firewall???)
Cowl Height:        22 1/2"        23 1/8"      Top of Hood Lip at highest point (center) to bottom of body
Cowl Bottom:       29"             29 3/4"       Measured directly behind hood lip across bottom of body
Interior Length:    37 1/2"       39"             Backside Dash Lip to peak or front trunk panel, centered
Interior Width:     49"             46 3/4"       Widest Part of Body measured outside to outside
Body Length:        90 1/2"       90"            Bottom of body in rear to front of hood lip
Wheel Well:         17"             18"            Back of body bottom to center of wheel well
Rear Body Width:  42"             42"            Side to side measured off of bottom back of body

I would almost bet that all the '26-'27 bodies are a little different, especially in lieu of the fact that we have tried our best to straighten body panels and so on, but the one thing that should be close is the body bottom framework structure to which everything is attached.....and because of the way the upper rear decklid panel (behind the seat) is bolted in to the quarters, the widths should be similar, mine was 2" narrower.    

[Tzoom]

It looks like the dimensional comparison between steel and glass is pretty close with the exception of the body width.  I guess what it will boil down to is what the definition of "exact" is when the inspectors look the body over.  I compared the Speedway glass body dimensions with the glass body in the example in the diagram and they were very similar, +/- 1/2" in most cases, right down to the 49" width.  I would bet that most glass bodies have the 49" width.  These replicas were designed as much for comfort as they were for authenticity and the added width would provide for a better ride in a streetrod.  How many glass-bodied 27Ts have been built for land speed racing and how many actually meet the "exact dimensional replica" requirement in the rules?           

[DSR Bruts]

Tzoom....you should be OK with a glass body as many of the guys are using them.  In the roadster class, it is pretty much self policing with regard to the body measurements unless something looks way out of normal.  Inspectors were mainly interested in meeting the safety standards set by SCTA.

[Model T Steve]

I just measured an unmolested Poliform and its close to 4BMike except:
width is 47 1/2 where the wood tack strip would mount; cowel width was
31 1/2

[krusty]

When I was trying to determine what measurements of the '27 body were "critical", I was directed to to the Chairman of the Roadster Committee, who provided me with a list of measurements and tolerances used if a car is protested on body "exactness" (for want of a better word). The measurements from original bodies posted here are in some cases not within the tolerances shown on the sheet (i.e., Total length 92.5" (+ or - 1") shown on the sheet; as posted here 90 or 90 1/2", neither within the SCTA specs). Caveat Emptor (substitute "builder" for "buyer") I'm building to meet the reference data (right or wrong).  I agree with DSR Bruts that if it doesn't look far from normal, there probably won't be trouble from fellow competitors ( I hope).     vic   PS: The drawings shown are the same as on the RodnRace website - and that's where my body came from.

[4-barrel Mike]

I crawled underneath mine: at the narrowest, the rear subframe is 42" wide. 

Interesting, krusty, on you comments about the length.  Two of us with "original" steel bodies measure the length as 90", however, the original firewall bulges out 1 1/4" beyond the body flange, which is still too short.  I wonder where the committee got their measurements??

Mike

[maguromic]

Mike and everyone els thanks for the impute.  I needed them for a friend whom I  am helping with his modified roadster.  Russ sent me  the official SCTA measurements for the '27 Ford. Everything is + or - 1" except for single digit measurements that are + or - 1/2".

REFERENCE DATA FOR 1927 FORD MODEL T ROADSTER BODIES   
SPECIFIC MEASUREMENT   REF_REC   Tolerance   
   To SCTA      
                                                       Rules Committee      
TOTAL LENGTH                                       92.5      
F/W WIDTH                                          31.25      
F/W TO BACK OF DASH                             16.5      
F/W TO BACK OF SEAT                             54.875      
F/W TO RA CL                                         76      
F/W WIDTH AT BODY SEAM                        31.5      
F/W PROTRUSION AT SEAM - UPPER             2.375      
F/W PROTRUSION AT SEAM - LOWER            1.375      
WIDEST POINT OF BODY                           48.5      
LOCATION OF WIDSET                              RDS+8      
OVERALL HEIGHT                                      24.25      
LOCATION OF HIGHEST    SEAT BACK      
   &DASH      
REAR BODY WIDTH                                    42.125      
REAR BODY TO RA CL                               17      
REAR FENDER WELL TO WELL AT CL             43.5      
REAR BODY IN LEAN AT TRUNK SEAM             0.75      
         
WIDTH OF COWL TOP                              38      
WIDTH OF COWL BOTTOM                        35.5      
         
WIDTH OF BODY AT FDS TOP                   38      
WIDTH OF BODY AT FDS BOTTOM             35.75      
         
WIDTH OF BODY AT RDS TOP                   46      
WIDTH OF BODY AT RDS BOTTOM              41.5      
         
FDS TO WINDSHIELD INTERSECT - TOP     1.25      
FDS TO WINDSHIELD INTERSECT - BOTTOM   2.25      
COWL TO FDS FOR REFERENCE MEASURE   1.5      
         
         
ABBREVIATIONS         
FDS  =  FRONT DOOR SEAM         
RDS = REAR DOOR SEAM         
DNM = DID NOT MEASURE         
CL = CENTER LINE         
RA = REAR AXLE         
NA = NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS CLASS         
INSIG = INSIGNIFICANT VARIANCE IN MEASUREMENT