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Model A on 32 frame - grille shell height/placement: tradition vs. pre-planning

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Gigantor, Dec 28, 2011.

  1. Gigantor
    Joined: Jul 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,823

    Gigantor
    Member

    I was looking at Wesott's frame diagram for putting a Model A body on a 32 style frame and they show a flat top rail to account for the height/placement of a grille shell.
    However that got me to thinking about all the other Model A's on real 32 Ford frames over the years that obviously didn't have a flat top rail, but the graceful upper sweep of a stock frame.
    So what was the traditional method then for getting the grille shell to be the right height?Dropping it down between the rails? Sectioning the grille shell? Something else?
    The reason I ask is that I am putting together the plans for building a custom 32 style frame and after looking at the stock frame measurements vs. the modified Wescott style frame diagram, I am wondering what would look best or be the smarter way to plan ahead in the building process.

    What are your thoughts or experiences?
     
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2011
  2. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,628

    The37Kid
    Member

    Just be sure the grille shell is lower than the top of the cowl. Glad your project is moving along. Bob
     
  3. Gigantor
    Joined: Jul 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,823

    Gigantor
    Member

    Thanks! Does that mean that the grille shell just sat lower? Did that look "right" to have a stock height shell hanging down lower?

    I gotta go scour the old mags for pics...
     
  4. mow too much
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 906

    mow too much
    Member

    I built a 29 on 32 rails with a 32 shell, I cut about 2'' from the sides to get it down to the height of the cowl.

    [​IMG]
     

  5. Gigantor
    Joined: Jul 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,823

    Gigantor
    Member

    Thanks for the pics guys and the observations Dave. :)
     
  6. I'm using a stock '28 grill shell on my '28 tudor on '32 rails, but will compensate for the deuce frame's up-sweep by installing the front crossmember against the bottom of the frame rails.

    This will limit how much I can lower the front end, but it should ensure the grill top is just a little lower than the firewall.
     
  7. Beef Stew
    Joined: Oct 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,253

    Beef Stew
    Member
    from So Cal

    tell ya how i figured it out (have yet to do it but this is my plan). i'm an autocad nerd so before i built my car and designed it all first. found a nice high resolution scan of the tudor sedan body from the ford model a book. then i took the wescotts diagram and imported then all into autocad. i basically drew everything up like i was making a copy over a light table. placed the body on the frame and viola, i had a model a tudor sedan on (flat) '32 rails.

    i then extended the existing hood line forward to the point where it would meet the grille shell so as to maintain the same hood "slope". from there i measured down and now i know that my '32 grille shell should be 25 1/4" high from the top of the frame.

    now i need to figure out how the grille shell should be orientated vertically in relation to the cowl ie parallel, leaning forward or leaning back. fwiw my hood length will be 30".
     
  8. Gigantor
    Joined: Jul 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,823

    Gigantor
    Member

    Ha! Guess I should have stuck with AutoCAD back in high school... that would be WAY more accurate than fiddling around in photoshop!
     
  9. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 9,397

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    I have done 2 30/31 bodies on 32 rails and on both I used 2 inch shortened Walker radiators and cut the sides of the deuce shell to fit. Both cars had good hood lines.
     
    akoutlaw likes this.
  10. 1950ChevySuburban
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 6,187

    1950ChevySuburban
    Member Emeritus
    from Tucson AZ

    I'm building a '29 Sedan on Jim Weimer '32 rails, unpinched. I have an Essex grille I want to use, I'll basically wing it and modify it as necessary to look right.
     
  11. billthx138
    Joined: Oct 17, 2009
    Posts: 401

    billthx138
    Member

    Walker 2" chopped radiator and 2" out of the side of the shell also.
     

    Attached Files:

    akoutlaw likes this.
  12. Gigantor
    Joined: Jul 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,823

    Gigantor
    Member

    Thanks guys - I had no idea that Walker offered a shorter radiator. That explains quite a bit!
     
  13. steel rebel
    Joined: Jun 14, 2006
    Posts: 3,604

    steel rebel
    Member Emeritus

    If your 32 Ford grill is not too low it is too high. Think about it and step back and look. Not just 5 feet but 20 or 30 feet back.

    Just looking at my avatar and my grill is too high.
     
  14. Here's mine, '29 roadster on '32 rails. I took out about 2" from each side.

    [​IMG]
     
  15. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,903

    need louvers ?
    Member

    That's my ultimate pet peave with '29 on '32 rails cars... Rootlieb even makes a hood for a stock height, uncut '32 shell on a '28 '29. The freekin' hood sides to top panel joint runs uphill... AAAARRRRGGGG! That's as wrong as salami ice cream! Even a stock '28-'29 shell needs an inch or so when the whole works is mounted on a deuce frame, otherwise it sticks out like a soar thumb. Someone above mentioned stepping back about 20 or 30 feet. That's an absolute nessesity, but good old masking tape acn be a good friend in this case, too. Trim a bit off the shell, drop it on the car, stretch a couple of strips of tape where the hood will (or should) go, then step back and look. Much easier with the visuals.
     
  16. Boxcar's 1928
    Joined: Aug 30, 2011
    Posts: 771

    Boxcar's 1928
    Member

    Great info here
    FWIW Walker also sells a 32 rad w/3" haircut. But have been told that 2" is the most typical....guess the 3" has a little more wiggle room.
     
  17. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    grille shell height/placement: tradition vs. pre-planning
    <HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e5e5e5; COLOR: #e5e5e5" SIZE=1>Guys mocked things up and stepped back and looked at them "back in the day" too. Those great looking iconic cars from the past didnt just happen by accident.
     
  18. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,903

    need louvers ?
    Member

    Seeing this pop up made me think abou the most important part I forgot in my inittial post - DONT BUY THE RADIATOR BEFORE THE MOCK UP! Mock it up, make it perfect, THEN build or buy the radiator to fit the shell. It rarely works out well the other way around. There are so many cars running around where this is just not right. If you bought the radiator up front, because it's expensive, ya gotta run it. Trust me the other way around works better.
     
  19. NealinCA
    Joined: Dec 12, 2001
    Posts: 3,143

    NealinCA
    Member

    Typically 2" on a 30-31 and 3" on a 28-29.
     
    bct likes this.
  20. Boxcar's 1928
    Joined: Aug 30, 2011
    Posts: 771

    Boxcar's 1928
    Member

    Hot damn... For once I got the right one. Never heard that 3" is a better fit for a 28 - 29....I just thought a little room was better than not> thanks
     
  21. dodored
    Joined: Feb 5, 2007
    Posts: 641

    dodored
    Member
    from Concord NC

    I went the other way. I reversed sectioned the body 2 inches and used stock height grill shell and radiator:
     

    Attached Files:

  22. I trimmed about 2 inches off the sides of my shell and used a Brassworks radiator that was made special for an A on duece rails.
    [​IMG]
     
    bct likes this.
  23. ditto....on my 30. kept shell stock length, just cut the sides up about 2 1/2" and it puts it right where I wanted it...and I like how the bottom of the shell is in front of the axle too.
     

    Attached Files:

  24. Bam.inc
    Joined: Jun 25, 2012
    Posts: 660

    Bam.inc
    Member
    from KS

    Bump for future reference
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2014

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