Good Morning, I picked up this original 32 frame (here in alaska of all places). I am building a 28 roadster, but all of the original holes on the frame have been filled, so I have no reference points. Can anyone possibly tell me where the front cowl mounting holes are supposed to be located in reference to the center of the front crossmember? How far back? I included some pictures.
I'd think you would want get the rear axle in and then line up the rear wheelwells with the tires and let that determine where the body sits. Just my $..02 though.
Usually yes, but in this situation I have chopped off the rear end of the frame so I am basically building from the front back
In that case, Why not mock up the radiator & engine, then mount the body where *you* need it to be? Then you can add the rear of the frame & rear crossmember & suspension, and position them so the rear axle & tires are aligned with your body's rear wheelwells. This way, you won't have to butcher the firewall to make room for your engine, after you've bolted down the body.
Because it is basically just 32 frame rails that I am starting with, and the body is not built yet either. I want to curve the frame rails to match the body properly, and I am building the frame so that the model a subrails will not have to be modified....very similar to the walden speed shop chassis
BrEad gave you the best advice as far as locating a '28 Model A body on a '32 frame. Breaking this rule will give you a very awkward-looking car. The other unbreakable rule if you want the car's proportions to be right is to place the '28 radiator shell the stock distance from the '28 firewall. The information you've given so far is incomplete. Do you have a front cross member in the frame already? Let us know this detail and perhaps we can help you with the rest of the process.
This is really good information. One should always remember that the radiator and shell will need to be moved to the rear and down when a '28-'29 body is used on a '32 frame in order to keep the body proportions correct. This will give a highboy a stretched wheelbase appearance which is a great improvement in my opinion. To leave the radiator and shell in the stock '32 location will give the car what I call a Pinocchio look, not so good.
Also need to pinch frame at firewall dimension as a 28 is narrower at cowl, my 29 HighBoy Roadster on 32 rails, I used a 32 nose, the rails were pinched, I can not remember how much. Good Luck with your project
So, back to my original question....can anyone tell me how far from the center of the front crossmember is the front cowl bolt holes on their 28 roadster? if you have a running and driving 28 roadster on 32 rails, i would really appreciate your measurement; as none of those diagrams reference 28 front cowl bolt hole placement
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