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Jcondon · 01-01-2021, 07:09 PM

Hello, I have a 1949 Liner that rolled over in a tornado. The street side ribs are broken and deformed and the curb side may be bent? I made a template of a rib and compared it to the others. They all seem to be a bit different. Does anyone know the dimensions or have a file I could use to cut new ribs? I am re-skinning the whole thing except the end caps. The stretch out from side to side across the top is 210" and the base is 82" wide. There is 14" of straight in the center. Can this be dimensioned and detailed using cad or another program? I want to get 10 ribs water jetted out of 1/8" aluminum. Thanks for your advice. Joe

Disco Stu · 01-02-2021, 02:27 AM

G'day Joe,
Our '49 Trailwind ( or more likely 1951 Clipper? ) should be the same shape. The internal width is 2005mm, wall thickness is 40mm. 82" is 2083mm so that's 1/8" different so lets say exactly the same. Unless the height is different in the Liner I can draw up a rib shape for you based on ours.
How can you test it before cutting the ribs though?
Our ribs are all over the place, hand made and nothing is symmetrical, plumb or level.

I made new ribs in two parts by folding an angle and then curving one side with a sheetmetal shrinker, and the other side with an english wheel. If you don't have an english wheel the sheetmetal stretcher will do the same job. The two parts were riveted together to make strong ribs exactly the right shape.
I'd say you could buy a shrinker / stretcher for the same cost as your water jet cutting, just a thought?

Jcondon · 01-02-2021, 08:40 AM

Thanks Disco, I pulled a couple of patterns off the good side and they are all different. I tried the stretcher and the wheel but I was not able to make the tight radius at the top. Plus it went astray and started to curve where I did not want it too. Today I will detail my good side on paper and post it. If you could confirm I am close then that will be it. Thanks for your help.