I could use a measurement of the sides on a 32 Ford radiator shell. Mine was from a channeled rod. I need to know how long to make the sides. I can bend these pieces up no problem if I knew how long to the frame. My reference points would be the holes where the hood welting goes? I have a factory hole at the top, plus 2 more close together at the middle (but I don't know if those are factory holes). I still can't find a 32 owner near here to measure anything. The angle of this pic makes the shell look shortened, but it is stock. Well, at least it's not rusty or pitted Thanks.

Well, I know the sides go right down to within a quarter inch or so of the rail. So, why not just bolt the rad on, put the shell on the rad and make the pieces needed?

Brian

I "could" do that, IF I had a radiator, or a unmodified frame & crossmember

I've little to work with here , so I am trying to restore what little I have for this car. I hoped to be able to work on the radiator shell this weekend IF I can get some measurements. I will make those pieces a little longer in case nobody replies, and weld them on later.

I just got "honed" on an ebay steering wheel. Geez, if a wheel is bent from a front end crash, you would think a seller might say it was bent?? Now I have something else to work on.

I have a " few "
I will measure one tomorrow.
My wife and I have plans tonight ... we were married 33 years ago today ...
So we are celebrating tonight ... a nice dinner and a quiet evening.
NO 1932 Ford stuff ...

NICE collection Deuce...Isn't there a law or somethin' about owning more than two genny '32 shells? Youngster.

It is a sickness for some of us ...

One more question; If you were building an old school car, could a stock radiator work with an early Olds v-8 without overheating? (rather than use an obvious repro one)...and how can I tell a 32 4-cyl car radiator from a 32 pickup one?

I measure 4 or 5 original shells today and got 21 and 1/2 inches ( top radiator shell bolt to the bottom of the shell ) as a average. They varied as much as 3/16ths of a inch ... from shell to shell. I would never trust a old 75 year old radiator for a Oldsmobile V8. The original radiators were designed to cool a 4 cylinder 40 HP engine or the V8 engine ( different radiator ) was designed to cool a 65 HP 221 cubic inch engine. Both were low compression when compared to the Olds.

Hey Deuce....You shouldn't have posted that picture of all those rad shells.... now everyone in Deuceland is gonna know what happened to their missin' shell!!!! OK, I'm jealous, I've only got 3....you win!!!!

Deuce, Thanks for the measurement. I will go with the "average"? of 21-1/2" and try to fit it to the radiator when I get it. I did already buy the rad in the pic, as I needed the advice a few days quicker I am sure you are right about the heating. At least I'll have something to set up the rough build with in the meantime.

In the past days I've been working on the windhield posts and fabbing a windshield frame for this cabriolet conversion. I'll get some pics up of the donor w/s frame...you guys will be.. ...when I tell you what is came from.

Also fighting the poor fit of the rear lid. They had welded the entire vertical exterior seams beteen the quarters and the panel below the lid, but didn't bother to repair the accident damaged lower edge of the right quarter. I was sucessful at slicing through 20" worth of surface weld to seperate the rear panel, and I am getting closer to a better fit.

Been having trouble starting a Journal as it won't accept my .jpg images, but I just converted a pic to GIF and managed to get one pic up. What a beauty ...The cabriolet builder I really wanted in Colorado sold for $20.600 on ebay 6 months ago, and it was missing the top & door windows. I am saving for a better house, so I will start with junk.

Sorry about that ... I have been in the mountains and away from the 32 ... and not playing on the web much.

As for saving a 32 Cabriolet ... unfortunately all 32 Ford stuff has gone stupid $$$ and crazy in the past few years. When they were 10 grand ... I had 5 grand. When I had 10 grand ... they were 20 grand.

I had to sell a nice 40 Ford coupe, a bunch of good parts and take $$$ out of my savings to buy my 32 3W ...



But I finally gone the coupe I have always wanted to go with my 32 Roadster. I have owned the Roadster almost 30 years ... so BOTH are keepers NOW ...

GOOD luck with the Cabriolet ...