1939 Canadian Toeboard Ramp

Andy Wylie · August 15, 2008, 02:08:24 AM

Bill, I can't imagine them changing all those floor panels to stiffen the cowl. The only bracing I see there is to stiffen the floor flange, any bracing or gusset effect it has on that angle is incidental and largely negated by the huge window to get at the rear cowl mount . The only weakness I've seen in this area is from rust, convertibles and wood framed cars are another story.

Wm Steed · August 13, 2008, 12:29:25 PM

I heard from my friend in Idaho yesterday that has a '39 Dodge coupe. He told me the floor board section in his car is ramped up to the toe board.
I don't think the floor was ramped for comfort, I think it was done to accommodate the cowl bracing that is visible in the picture....Bill

Andy Wylie · August 12, 2008, 04:33:14 AM

Thanks CG, it's interesting to see the 36 has the ramp. I noticed in the P7/8 manual this car in the body repair section...

very similar to a P7/8 but flat screen and different firewall, a 38 I guess. I notice down the bottom of the cowl the triangular windows punched out where they're just embossed on mine and 4 extra holes arranged vertically behind them.

Here's another mystery mopar with a ramped floor being assembled in Mexico 1939.

CG sailor · August 11, 2008, 05:51:45 PM

Here is a pic of the other side on a 36. Hope it helps.

elmo · August 06, 2008, 08:02:35 PM

I have a 39 U.S bodied S6 DeSoto that i am restoring , it has a ramp similar to what is shown in the pic ,although it might not be so pronounced its hard to tell without comparing them side by side , the Dodge , and C22 Chrysler will be the same as they shared the same body from the cowl back with DeSoto

Wm Steed · August 06, 2008, 01:20:00 PM

Andy, If I am interpreting the picture correctly, it appears that the floor board is ramped up a couple of inches before the FB connects to the toe-board. A bracket is visible that is inserted into the ramped area and is part of the cowl support.
This "reinforcing brace" was not used on the US built Plyms..... I can only assume why... Having purchased a couple of '39 Plyms in Montana for parts cars, I found that on both of them the cowls were badly broken up from metal fatigue caused by miles and miles of pounding across the rough gravel roads of Montana. My '39 Plym conv was good in the cowl area in spite of the fact that it had to travel 50 + miles of rough gravel roads each time it went to town.
Of course there is a big difference between the conv's and the normal cars. The conv's have an additional four inch frame built into the body which makes the floor flat as a board until it meets the toe-board.
I have a friend in Idaho that has a '39 Dodge coupe he is working on, I don't recall seeing a 'ramped area' on his floor board, however I will check into it....Bill

Andy Wylie · August 06, 2008, 03:32:58 AM

CG, thanks for the offer, I would be interested to see what they did with this area in 36. Not really a question, I knew US and Canadian cars were different here from having floorboards what don't fit and I got the opportunity to snap this one recently at work and began thinking how much more comfortable it might be.
I think I'll simulate it with an aluminium panel on top of my low US floor on the drivers side.

CG sailor · August 05, 2008, 09:04:16 AM

Andy
I dont know what your question is but I can take a picture of my 36 and you can compare. I have my toe board off and am working in that area right now. Let me know.

Andy Wylie · August 01, 2008, 10:23:48 PM

This is a 39 Canadian sourced D12, note the ramp from the back of the removeable toeboard where the US floor lacks this intermediate angle.

It appears from pics that US models had it from at least 41, I guess it's more comfortable not having to lift your foot so much as tip it, any thoughts?