Electric Car Department

Roof Slat Work Continues While Side Window Replacement Begins

Jeff Brady has reached the most difficult portion of the roof slat installation, the corners.  At the corners there is little space remaining to bend and nail the last few slats.  Therefore, most car builders utilized a wooden corner block to fill and retain the proper curvature of the roof lines.  In the left picture below, Jeff is using the band saw to cut a large triangular block of wood before beginning the process of shaping the precise corner contour.  The picture on the right, shows a previously cut sample block placed in the opposite corner to demonstrate placement.

Norm Krentel has begun the process of dismantling the side window tracks.  He has already removed the sashes and is shown below examining what needs to be replaced and what can be reused.  Soon the newly rebuilt windows will be installed.  More on this exciting process in a future report.

Ray Schmid is shown below applying a gloss finish to the upper sash window frames.  In future weeks the pressed glass will be installed and the completed sashes inserted into the window openings.  The exterior pressed glass upper sashes were painted white while the car was used as a cabin in Michigan prior to arriving at IRM in the 1970s.  The tedious method to remove all the old dried paint, from the numerous tiny crevices in the ornate glass pattern, will begin next week.