I purchased an import 32 grill shell shell with grill insert from Ebay to install on my 31 Model A. I am using my stock Model A Radiator. The radiator will fit in the grill shell but will not go in far enough to bolt it up. The radiator tank hits where the front of the grill shell where the grill insert lays in the grill. The shell will not go over the radiator far enough for the radiator fill neck to go in the hole in the grill shell. WHAT DO I DO TO GET IT TO FIT???
I just cut down the brackets on my 31 Radiator andrilled new holes. and I'm not running a hood, so it doesn't really matter to me.Been on there for more than ten years.
It’s the front shape of the 32 top tank. The A tank is more squared off than the 32, where the 32 tank slopes down allowing it to fit the slope of the 32 grille shell. I grafted a 32 top tank onto a C.A.R. 30-31 radiator by making a flanged extension to mate the rear flange of the 32 tank to the header on the Model A core on the engine side. Probably a 1/2” or so, can’t remember. Had a local radiator guy solder it all together. The 31 side grill shell brackets are also in the wrong place to line up with 32 shell and have to be moved. Be VERY careful drilling the new holes in the side plates. Use a drill stop or shortened drill bit. It’s VERY EASY to go in too far and hit a tube.
The opening on the '32 radiator is farther forward to match the fill tube location on a '32' I have an aftermarket radiator without a filler and the cap is inside the hood. Bolted on an original cap for "show". Charlie Stephens
I bought one of those import 32 grille shells and though the shape was pretty accurate there was no way it was going to fit a Johnson '32 radiator. Picked up an original shell from @Hitchhiker and it fit perfectly. Still have the ebay shell and grille to hang on the wall someday...
No offense to anyone who does it, but it's so refreshing to see '31 and older Fords with the correct grille surround on them! I see more of them with .32 grilles than I do with correct grilles, and really over it now.
Yep! Both my '31's have '31 shells and my '32 has guess what? A '32 shell. Both are good looking on the cars they belong on. I have a chinesium '32 shell and grill too to hang on the wall. Doesn't fit an old original '32 shell. Dave
The first two suggestions will work but the only other thing I can think of is to take your radiator to a radiator repair shop and see if they can modify your top tank where the '32 shell will fit. HRP
I really like the look of original A shells, particularly the early style. I was going to run one on my '29 PU, until I stumbled on an original '32 shell at a swap meet for less than the cost of a single new tire (!!!). It's worth the trouble of making it fit. Here's the BIG advantage of a '32 shell: It will conceal your ill-fitting aluminum radiator. You know, the one with the gaps on the side that stick out like a sore thumb behind an A shell. Even painted black, it doesn't look right.
On my avatar I had a model 'A' radiator already altered for a V8 flathead, so I trimmed the neck off & soldered in a copper patch, this was used to enable a temporary start-up & run, as I recall everything else was a fit. I used a 32 filled shell with the bottom trimmed off without the insert so plenty of fore & aft room between the radiator & the shell. I might add that the shell was riveted to a one-piece hood top & non louvered side panels with a forward tilting hinge, only to retain the original dirt track motif without removing the hood & kicking it around when addressing or displaying the engine, as were the case back in the day.
Another option if you’re looking for just the painted look, not the styling features of the 32, would be to use a 30-31 Model A COMMERCIAL shell, which were steel and painted. Looks great imho. Make sure it’s Model A, NOT AA big truck, they’re deeper depth.
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