Register now to get rid of these ads!

Putting a 32 Header in a 31 Model A w/Lots of Pics

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by D-Russ, Jan 2, 2009.

  1. Here you go Larry. The first pic is the day I brought it home, so that's the totally stock profile. The second pic is the body after the 32 header installation, a 2-1/4 chop and the 1 inch rear roofline section. I PhotoShopped it onto Rolf's frame to get an idea of what my car would look like as a roller.

    00bodyprofile-1.jpg

    MyVic1-1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2017
  2. Excellent Tech post.
     
  3. b-bob
    Joined: Nov 4, 2008
    Posts: 1,097

    b-bob
    Member

    What a great how to. You went to a lot of extra work doing the hinges and not just mounting it solid and taking the easy way out. And i am surpised at how well everything flowed together. Turned out excellent. This is a great post.
     
    29EHV8 likes this.
  4. pan-dragger
    Joined: Sep 13, 2006
    Posts: 3,186

    pan-dragger
    Member

    looks great, nice job.
     
  5. fordcragar
    Joined: Dec 28, 2005
    Posts: 3,198

    fordcragar
    Member
    from Yakima WA.

    Dave,

    You are right, the mod to the rear makes roof line flow better. Very nice job.

    Larry
     
  6. de-fenders
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 692

    de-fenders
    Member

    Wow, great job of grafting. It looks like it came from Henry that way!
     
  7. spoony
    Joined: Jan 18, 2005
    Posts: 73

    spoony
    Member
    from L.A.

    looks so good!
     
  8. I SMELL SMOKE
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 1,527

    I SMELL SMOKE
    Member

    DRuss32 that f#$%ing rocks. that should go to the tech archives! were you a little nervous when you started cutting? i know i would have been.
     
  9. fordcragar
    Joined: Dec 28, 2005
    Posts: 3,198

    fordcragar
    Member
    from Yakima WA.

    One thing you might want to consider is the windshield seal or gasket. If you mix two different w/s frames, the potential for a leak could be greater. If you stay with the 32 w/s frame, you either stretch it to make fit around the frame of splice two gaskets together to make it longer.
     
  10. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA

    Probably not likely to be followed by many other guys, but definitely a great effort.
    Your skill and bravery on this tech are impressive and I am not even all that keen on Vicky's. But with a new front all of a sudden I like them much more.
    Well done.
     
  11. Rusty
    Joined: Mar 4, 2004
    Posts: 9,473

    Rusty
    Member

    Too cool!!!
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  12. donut29
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,518

    donut29
    Member
    from canton MI

    thanks for posting this

    Im going to do the same thing to my 29 coupe
     
  13. jackandeuces
    Joined: Feb 20, 2006
    Posts: 1,046

    jackandeuces
    Member

    Dave, this has got to be one of the best jobs of installing a Deuce windshield in a A ever,,, A Plus .Great Job....
     
  14. Awesome job, Dave!!

    When I first saw you Vicky in person, I thought the header is stock!!
    I didn't think that there is so much work involved...
    But the look gives you right!!! Great idea and great work!!!

    You got my vote, man!!!
     
  15. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,382

    scootermcrad
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    WOW! I just looked to see if you had started any new threads I missed about progress on the Vicky and I saw this thread. Awesome! I wish more people would post the "How I did it" stuff. They're always a great read! Sort of like a master magician revealing his secret to his best trick. Thanks for posting that...

    Yeah, assuming that the resource I read was correct, it states that Murray built all the Vickys for 1930 and 1931. It was only the Deluxe Fordor Town Sedans with a "Slant Windshield" that were built in 1931 by Briggs and Murray with no identifiable differences. That fact goes against every other year for some reason. In earlier years, Briggs and Murray had very different features in their bodies. I don't know if Ford told them they must shake hands and get along on the Fordor S/W's for 1931, or what. Sort of strange. I'm pretty sure you're right though. Murray made all other Slant Window cars.

    Thanks again for allowing my Slant Windshield build to wear your old visor panel. I agree. It was an awkward feature. I threw a visor on mine a couple times and tried to visualize it and it just looked too much like I was trying to disguise the car's true form. I have a feeling I will probably take some flack for leaving my visor panal intact, unmodified and without a visor. I often hear the comment "every Model A needs a visor". Apparently Ford didn't think so for this model, so I left it anyway. Mostly because it's different.

    I have to say, your 32 header definitely cleans up the lines quite a bit!

    [​IMG]
     
    kidcampbell71 and DylanHill1931 like this.
  16. lowphat53
    Joined: Sep 30, 2006
    Posts: 229

    lowphat53
    Member
    from Virginia

    Hey Dave, you are doing some awesome work on the 31. I cannot wait to see more of this thing. Keep up the great work man.
     
  17. El Sabroso
    Joined: Jan 12, 2006
    Posts: 10

    El Sabroso
    Member

    Dang, you're a scientist! I may be full of Hurricanes this evening, but that's dizzyingly good work Dave.
     
  18. Thanks, here's a couple of much more recent pics with the windshield frame sorted:

    IMG_0797.jpg

    IMG_1276.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2017
  19. fordcragar
    Joined: Dec 28, 2005
    Posts: 3,198

    fordcragar
    Member
    from Yakima WA.

    This is awesome Dave, nice job!
     
  20. KustomCars
    Joined: Jul 31, 2011
    Posts: 3,465

    KustomCars
    Member
    from Minnesota

  21. Gary Addcox
    Joined: Aug 28, 2009
    Posts: 2,528

    Gary Addcox
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Brian Bass from around Dallas performed the surgery on his '29 coupe. It looks just way cool. Completely altered the look of a Model A body from the frontend.
     
  22. I was actually thinking the other day one of those Vicky fronts would look awesome with coupe rear quarters, but then adding the header from a '32 would be even better.. figured the slanted posts gave it a really neat look.

    Then i remembered Bass did it with his but he just cut and slanted the original pillars. That seems easier than using a hard to find slant cowl..
     
  23. Yep.

    I personally think using a slant window cowl is a better starting point than a regular Model A cowl because the A-pillars are slanted and tapered just like on a 32.

    Cutting and slanting regular Model A A-pillars just doesn't quite look right to me without the taper.
     
    DylanHill1931 likes this.
  24. What a change, it looks great!
     
  25. Sky Pilot
    Joined: Jun 30, 2010
    Posts: 697

    Sky Pilot
    Member

    really nice work dave . i wanted to do it to my murry in 86 the body was so cherry for once i didnt want to cut it up. nice to see an idea come to life ! the murrry was kool like a 4 door vicky . when i first found it just the front was sticking out ,seen the slant and 2 hinges thought i found a vicky couldnt complain being 4 door laid up with a 60 braketag and isky parrot on the windshield super solid for 500.00 those days are gone .it was a 31 when i took it apart found a 31 nickel down in the back door some kid must have dropped when new....
     
  26. All linked images in this thread originally hosted by PhotoSuckIt have been relinked.
    Only about 10 more threads to go!
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2017
    Tim, Stogy and kidcampbell71 like this.
  27. Mo rust
    Joined: Mar 11, 2012
    Posts: 827

    Mo rust
    Member

    This would have been an interesting car to add a 32 firewall and cowl vent just make people wonder what it really is.
     
  28. It has a 33 pick up cowl vent (same as a 32) – see post number 49 in this thread. People call it a deuce all the time, but my intent was never to pass it off as a 32. I just incorporated the parts, regardless of the year, I like the most, and I like the A firewall. I thought about using a 32 firewall for engine clearance only after I was nearly finished with the recess in the A firewall.

    IMG_0068.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2017
    Nailhead Jason likes this.

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.