i have a peculiar roadster I'm building. The front half is a 26 & back half is a 28. I measured & I'm ready to buy a 22" radiator (budget aluminum one) but I'm stuck on which grill shell. I can shorten a 30-31 I have but does anyone else have an idea that might be more unique? The black primer is most recent pic. The cowl has been fixed, stainless Stanchions will hold the windshield but I'd love thoughts on a grill shell. The radiator is only 22" so that it doesn't go higher than the cowl.
I don't really care for the T shell. This is the 30/31 I would modify to fit. I like it or a 32 but those are pretty common. The one I have is free though
If you are building an unique hot rod than you definitely don't want a 32. Try looking for a 1920's Buick , Pontiac or Olds from that era.
if you are using the T windshield and stanchions? I like the way the shell you have emulates the curves on the outer corners of the windshield . model A shells look right at home on a T roadster cowl.
I'd think that the A shell would look just right on that. Someone was showing a photo of their grill shell the other day somewhere on the net and they used a piece of that plastic difusser that they use or florescent lights that is a eggcrate grid and painted it flat black to hid the aluminum radiator.
With the mix and match body I would go with a T or '29 Model A painted. It's been done before, but a '32 rarely looks out of place on an early Ford. Think of Kookie Kar. A carefully shaped and proportioned track nose would look good too.
If you were going to go with a Model A shell, this is only my opinion and not telling you what you should or shouldn't do, I would use a 28-29 shell it's shorter ,squatier, and the sides are not so straight up and down it would blend with your body better ... I think anyways ...plus at 22" your going to have to shorten any of them ....here is a hot of a 27 Buick of mine and a Nash ..the Nash one is more of a smooth rounded look and it would probably look good with your body...but if the you have was free and that's what your looking for ,free, then your probably going to be going with the one you have anyway..... Sent from my QTASUN1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
That A grille shell looks to good to cut and shorten. Most found these days are cracked/torn in the lower L&R inner corners . Find another , even if you have to pay $20.00 . Yours looks so good, , just a shame to cut.
I agree that the shell you have looks too nice to cut. Sell it to a Model A guy who needs one and take the cash to buy something else. Plus I personally don't think 30-31's look very good shortened. I'd go with a chrome T shell myself. They are so underused they are stand out more than you'd think.
If it were me,I'd use what I have,by just cleanly cut the sides and slid the bottom up in side the top 1/2,a few Stainless small panheads can hold it together fine/no need to mess up the nice shine{ I really love shiny. Or; trade off the great "A" shell for some $,an pick up one with a crack for much less. My own bobtailed hotrod has a 28A cut down,rad is 24in. high
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