Floor/Sills construction, '31 CD8 Roadster

[Gunsmoke]

My barn find '31 CD8 Roadster has nothing left of its original floor/sill construction, except for a couple of 12" lengths of thin steel flat s near cowl, out as far as end of toe board. everything else was hand built very rough by a PO in the 50's using 1.5x1.5 steel angle iron along both sides, shaped to space about 1/4" off frame and 3/32" steel plate floor from seat back to rear. Area under seat was open when I got car. I have the original toe board and the transmission cover. So my question is does any one know what the floor/sill construction was for these CD8 Roadsters, and better still, anyone have any pictures or diagrams showing how they were made and fitted? I see in the DB site that a DC8 Roadster had a substantial wood sill system sitting on frame rails. I'm considering using a modified version of that for the CD8. However, if I had a good idea of how the CD8 floor/sills were built, I may try that. Helpful advice always appreciated.

[Taylormade]

I'm afraid my expertise, such as it is, lies in the Dodge brand and they went with all steel bodies early on.  I suspect the wood in the DC8 roadster comes from the fact that Dodge may have shared bodies with Chrysler on their open cars.  My sedan is all steel.  My 29 Plymouth had a wood frame and the two floor sills were large pieces of Ash wood, maybe an inch and an half thick that ran the entire length of the body.  They attached to the body with cast brackets at the front and rear of the door and at the cowl.  There were three cross members of the same wood and thickness at the rear, right behind the doors and in front of the toe boards.  Plywood floors were then screwed into the open spaces.  Hopefully, someone with a car like yours can chime in.

[Rusty_OToole]

Wood framing is characteristic of coachbuilt bodies. Cheaper cars went to all steel bodies first, some expensive brands used the wood frame coachbuilt bodies up to 1941 and even later on some foreign makes.

 

Deteriorated wood framing is a common problem, I hope someone comes along with experience of your model. It can be replaced but it is quite a job.

[Gunsmoke]

Building the sill/floor system out of wood is not a problem, I recently had to make quite a bit of the wood carcass for a '31 Chev Coach presently 85% through restoration. I used ash for structural pieces, poplar for non structural stuff (it is easier to shape). Both hold screws well. Some photos of the rather complex pieces are attached, including one showing the tool tray which was built in under front seats of the 2-door coaches. The CD8 Roadster Bodies were by Budd and listed as "all steel" on cowl plate, but I'm not sure if the roadster might not have been stiffended by some wood sills etc. At some point I may just have to go that route anyway, and face the music at the judge's table!!