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'33/'34 headlights

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Weasel, Apr 8, 2011.

  1. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    Yeah I know I'm a stickler for detail and a PITA purist, but this one really grates on me every time I hear it from self styled experts, so I thought I would post a couple of photos. There is no such thing as a '33/'34 headlight as far as Ford passenger cars are concerned. The 1933 headlight is not reproduced as far as I am aware, but the '34 is. The 1933 headlight is more pointed and approximately 7/8" longer than the 1934 headlight. I understand that the same may be true for cowl lights but have yet to proof of that. Here to illustrate the point are a couple of photos I took of originals when replacing the '34 headlights on my 1933. The running change order from the 1933 style body to the 1934 was issued in early September 1933. Production of the true 1933 models was a scant seven months, while production of the 1934 style was for some sixteen months. This accounts for the relative rarity of the 1933 models when compared with the 1934 style cars....

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Dave Mc likes this.
  2. Are the rims the same for both headlights ? Glass the same diameter ?
     
  3. Never2old
    Joined: Oct 14, 2010
    Posts: 737

    Never2old
    Member
    from so cal

    I would love to see your list of differences between '33 vs '34 cars.
    Curious how many more there are that I don't know about.
     
  4. RAY With
    Joined: Mar 15, 2009
    Posts: 3,132

    RAY With
    Member

    Well I got a 33 and 34 and didnt know it--LOL Details,Details but then I am not a concourse guy either
     

  5. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    Everything interchanges between the two years of headlight. The only difference is the length of the buckets.

    As for the differences between 1933 and 1934 there are people out there far better equipped to answer this than I am, but some of the more obvious ones are dished grille, curved hood louvers, single central hand for 1933. 1934 has a hole in the bottom of the cowl to latch the rear hood handle, 1933 does not - this is an easy way to tell if that hoodless, doorless shell you found is a a 1933 or a 1934. The dash on the 1933 has no insert cutout in front of the driver, the 1934 does. 1934 style doors have a one inch 'sail panel' or inset at the rear for the front door window opening. This is for the crank back ventilation feature which Ford licensed for the 1934 year. Crank the window all the way up and keep cranking and it will open an inch for ventilation. All 1933 inside door handles were at the front of the door - this continued into early 1934 production but then later the handles were moved to the center of the door. These are just a few which may help figure out what you are looking at.

    Here is a 1933 side window - no sail panel or inset at the rear of the window opening:

    [​IMG]

    Here is a 1934 and you can see the sail panel at the rear of the window clearly. Note also the dual hood handles and the straight louvers.

    [​IMG]
     
    Dave Mc likes this.
  6. Master of None
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 2,279

    Master of None
    Member

  7. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,434

    BrandonB
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from nor cal

    I never really noticed it, but I really like the way the hood louvers seem to follow the different profile of the grill between the two years.
     
  8. rusty bill
    Joined: Oct 7, 2010
    Posts: 242

    rusty bill
    Member

    Early 33's had lotsa differences like the skirtless front fenders!
     
  9. Rem
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,257

    Rem
    Member

    Other way round, isn't it? Or am I mis-reading?

    The bare '33 dash has the cut-out both sides, so gauge insert and glove box can be swapped side-for-side for LHD or RHD cars. The '34 dash just has three holes for the speedo, amps and fuel gauges in front of the driver, so is specific to either LHD or RHD.

    BTW, my old '34 Tudor had '34 commercial headlamps, which I think look the best of the lot. :)
     
  10. so, for refference, how 'deep' is either headlight?

    Cheers,

    Drewfus:)
     
  11. fartman
    Joined: Sep 30, 2009
    Posts: 60

    fartman
    Member
    from adelaide

    do you have a overall measurement of the 33 lights so i can measure mine as i dont have any 34s to check the differance,cheers Martin
     
  12. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    I'll measure both today and post them. I may be confused about the dash issue with the cutouts. I'll crawl under the dash on the '33 and report back.

    The skirtless fenders were only in the first few weeks of production in February 1933. I have only ever seen one roadster in the flesh that has them - a buddy and I were staring at it trying to figure out what did not feel 'right' about it and then the penny dropped - after about 15 minutes....
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2011
  13. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,629

    The37Kid
    Member

    Great thread, I'm always interested in learning about details. How rare are the short skirted fenders, or were they just a styling test pattern?
     
  14. Harms Way
    Joined: Nov 27, 2005
    Posts: 6,894

    Harms Way
    Member

    How about the very early 1933 non skirted front fenders ?

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    Thanks for saving me Harms Way - I have been trying to figure out for 30 minutes how to 'borrow';) that photo off egay.

    This below from a blog on the Early Ford V8 Club explains it pretty well:

    [FONT=arial,helvetica,verdana]The "skirtless" fenders were first seen in the pre-production standard '33 fordor. The skirts, more properly "valances", were missing from the commercial models, and likely were used early in the model year because there was a strike at the Briggs plant, and Murray was called upon to supply bodies. Their commercial dies stamped out the "skirtless" type, which also used the commercial running boards, for a short time, as did the wagons. It also marked the end of the sidemount spare tires. You are right that these cars were rare, as few were released to dealers.
    [/FONT]
     
  16. Never2old
    Joined: Oct 14, 2010
    Posts: 737

    Never2old
    Member
    from so cal

    I'll post some pics of some less obvious differences 'cause I have one of each.
    I expect to get in trouble since Henry sometimes furnished his contracted body builders with leftover pieces. It's all fun though!
     
  17. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    Just checked my 1933 dash and it would appear you are right - it does have a cut out, although this is a Canadian built car. I am trying to remember what kind of dash my long departed 1933 woodie wagon had....
     
  18. Mr 42
    Joined: Mar 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,215

    Mr 42
    Member
    from Sweden

    33 has cut out so you can easy swap gauge insert's from left to right steering..

    33 have 20amp gauge
    34 have 30amp gauge.

    33 rest the hood front corner to the upper radiatortank
    34 to the firewall.
     

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  19. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    I forgot about the indents for the hood on the 1933 firewall perimeter - another way to tell a basic 1933 shell from a 1934 - thanks Mr 42....
     
  20. 2-TONED
    Joined: Jan 31, 2005
    Posts: 1,683

    2-TONED
    Member

    oh man there are many differences between 33-34.
    33 and 'early 34 has inside door handles way up to the front of the door,
    33 hood tops have a bead across the front edge.
    33 curved hood louvers, one hood handle.
    34 cowls have that notch on top of the firewall/cowl for hood sides to set in when hood is opened.
    33 coupe (maybe all models?) have different rear quarters in front of the rear wheels.
    33 bumpers have totally different bumper brace holes. 33 is narrower and this continued into 'early 34. so braces and bumpers are different.
    33 cowl lights are longer. i can spot on sitting alone a mile away.:)
    i dont know or remember if 33 cowl vents had no screen and 34s did?
    along with the other things mentioned in this post there are many more differences.

    i guess i like 34s. ive been driving a 33 "everyday" for over 3 weeks now and since im driving it daily it must be a toy to play with to anyone that sees it sitting and that polished hood handle is a 'magnet and people have to reach down and turn it and open the hood where as 34 has 2 handles that they cant figure out how to open!:D!!

    the other day im driving hearing a noise. i pull over and theres the hood latch up, hood side flappin in the breeze, someone opened it at the store i was in i suppose and couldnt shut it. whatever!!??!!
    usually when im near the car people walk up and HAVE TO grab that hood latch!!!!!!!!!! i just watch them try to shut it again not saying anything then ill make a big deal closing it like it is a major feat! hahahahaaaa ---- what i really want to do is say: GET THE FUCK OFF MY CAR!!!!! but i dont. and as far as a greyhound FORGET IT ill leave them at home on a shelf i dont want mine broken.
     
  21. Never2old
    Joined: Oct 14, 2010
    Posts: 737

    Never2old
    Member
    from so cal

    Then you get into the interior differences, like the header panel and the door pulls and the garnish moldings..................can you say Model 40.1, 40.2, 40.3 etc ?
     
  22. maxinaz
    Joined: Apr 16, 2011
    Posts: 18

    maxinaz
    Member
    from Arizona

     
  23. maxinaz
    Joined: Apr 16, 2011
    Posts: 18

    maxinaz
    Member
    from Arizona

    Did you get around to measuring the depths of each headlight bucket, and post the dimensions? This info. would be really handy for swap meet look n, Thanks
     
  24. 34Larry
    Joined: Apr 25, 2011
    Posts: 1,701

    34Larry
    Member

    While building my 34, I wondered why my dash was cut out for an interment panel insert but looking around for a better one, I came across many that were not cut out but had a raised (stamped) area there. I'm thinking, Std. vs Deluxe ??
    ( I went back and read the posts on dash cut outs, still kinda confused because other 33/34 " experts say it was model difference). Who's right???
     
  25. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 3,883

    rusty valley
    Member

    i saw an oddball once, a 34 tudor with the instrument panel cut out like a 33, but it was plain steel, not engine turned. in canada if that matters
     
  26. woodiewagon46
    Joined: Mar 14, 2013
    Posts: 2,269

    woodiewagon46
    Member
    from New York

    There is a very detailed article about '33/'34 Ford headlights and taillights in the March-April 2018 issue of the V-8 Times.
     
  27. Dave Mc
    Joined: Mar 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,577

    Dave Mc
    Member

    Door Dovetails on 33's have offset attaching Screws. whereas 34's are centered ( 33 Pictured )
    33DoorLock.jpg IMG_0212.JPG
     
    rusty valley likes this.
  28. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 3,883

    rusty valley
    Member

    that is a slick latch you made there dave mc, nice job!
     
  29. maxinaz
    Joined: Apr 16, 2011
    Posts: 18

    maxinaz
    Member
    from Arizona

    Did anyone ever post the differences in depth of the 33' 34' Ford headlight buckets?
     
  30. Does that mean the female dove tails on the cowl are different from '33 to '34 or are they the same part and located differently.

    Reason I'm asking is have '34 doors on a '33 body and I had to cut and re-locate the wedges on the repop '33-'34 male dovetails to fit the repop '33-'34 female dovetails.
     

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