Bent rib

[Canlib]

My next challenge is to repair the damage to the street side of my GT incurred by the PO. I noticed the long dent in the street side matched the contour of the 'designer' rock in his driveway!

I will replace the outer skin...aluminum is on its way from Aircraft Spruce...but the main front rib/bow is bent, as is the second from the front.

The second....lighter ...rib doesn't look too hard to repair, but the main front bow is tough. Hers is a photo with my shade-tree porta-power in place.



I got some movement with this method but the c clamps holding the chain started to bend. I'm thinking of drilling the rib...nothing to lose...and using shackles to hold the chain. Would heating help? Would this annealing significantly weaken the rib? Does anyone have a 2 or 3 foot piece of rib I could splice in?

Ian

[barts]

I think you're on the right track; you might consider either beefier C clamps or clamping metal blocks in place behind the rib edge and fastening the chain to those. Note that if you can replace most of the chain w/ a metal bar (scrap steel square tubing works well here, the loads on the anchor points go down a lot.

I'd avoid heating the rib if possible; the loss of strength is dramatic and not that great an idea in a structural member like a rib.

- Bart

[Aerowood]

Remove the skin rivets from the frame and it will straighten much easier.

Oops, it looks like you already have

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Canlib

My next challenge is to repair the damage to the street side of my GT incurred by the PO. I noticed the long dent in the street side matched the contour of the 'designer' rock in his driveway!

I will replace the outer skin...aluminum is on its way from Aircraft Spruce...but the main front rib/bow is bent, as is the second from the front.

The second....lighter ...rib doesn't look too hard to repair, but the main front bow is tough. Hers is a photo with my shade-tree porta-power in place.

Attachment 110537

I got some movement with this method but the c clamps holding the chain started to bend. I'm thinking of drilling the rib...nothing to lose...and using shackles to hold the chain. Would heating help? Would this annealing significantly weaken the rib? Does anyone have a 2 or 3 foot piece of rib I could splice in?

Ian

Ian.

Cut the rib, like a small "V" cut, on the side that is damaged the most, then position it correctly.

Then add a thick plate on the side of the rib and fasten it with several 3/16 pop rivets.

For the final touch, you can add small pieces of thin aluminum to the outside of the main bow, as "shims".

This can be done in just a few minutes, instead of trying something elaborate, that as your finding out, corrects one part, but damages another part.

Andy

[Canlib]

Thanks Andy... you saved me from myself!

Ian

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Canlib

Thanks Andy... you saved me from myself!

Ian

Easy does it for yourself, Ian.

Bandages are cheap.

Asking questions is the easy part.

Digesting the answers, separating opinions, sometimes is a problem within itself.

Just wait and see what questions you come up with as your project progresses.

Many of us here are glad to help.

Andy

[Canlib]

I used Andy's method to repair the bent ribs. I cut wood templates from the corresponding ribs on the other side, cut the rib at the bend, clamped on the template and riveted on the reinforcing patch. EASY!

Thanks again Andy!

Ian

[wasagachris]

Hey Canlib is that your TV in the background. LOL

[Canlib]

Yeah Chris....needs a little work!

[wasagachris]

At least you don`t need Air con in the TV. Youve got the model 260 air. 2 windows and go 60 MPH.
Do you intend to restore it as well.
What yr and model is it anyway.

[Canlib]

That one is way down the to-do list. Its a 1952 Willys pickup that I only have the body for. The complete 1951 Willys is higher up the list, but once the GT is done and we are on the road....what list?