Thickness of the cowl sheet metal?
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 4:04 pm
Anyone know the thickness of the cowl sheet metal? (just in front of the windshield) I have a rust thru at the upper side.
Isn’t there a horizontal seam just below that, that a guy could put a micrometer on?
Seems to me that the metal must have been stretched thinner when those panels were originally formed and that “corner” made because it seems like they often like to rust through in that area. In some cases it seems like water may have been trapped between the cowl and reinforcements and other times it seems like the inside of the cowl just never got painted like so many rigs from the 50s and early 60s - kinda like outa sight out of mind.
Shooting from the hip, I’d say 16ga. But that is just a guesstimate.
. When your cowl is perforated the support underneath has a fair amount of rust/pitting on it. Cut rectangular patches out over the supports, blast or wheel the supports and treat, I found it easier to flange the repair pieces rather than butt weld them. Then do your body work magic.