[bill plise]

I put my 30 coupe on a duece highboy frame and was wondering if I should shorten the grill shell 5 or 6 inches. Iam not running fenders or hood in front [ well maby some cycle fenders] and was thinking it would give the car a lower front look and a little better forward vision. anybody done that? I don't have a shell or radiator yet, are the 30/31 the same size as the 32 shell or are they narrower or shorter? Pops

[Frisco]

The '32 shell is a direct bolt-on replacement for the '30-'31 shell. Even the hood will fit as it should. The stock Model 'A' headlight bar will be very close to the '32 insert but does clear. For a highboy, there should not be any need to shorten the '32 shell. All this info is when installing the '32 shell on a Model 'A'.

When mounting the Model 'A' body on the '32 frame (without channeling the body), the shell should still align fine without sectioning it. The Model 'A' body is often channeled about 3/4" in the front to better fit the '32 frame. If this is done, then the shell and radiator is often sectioned about 2" to keep the cowl/hood/shell in better alignment visually.

[bill plise]

Thanks Frisco, I appreciate the information. I bought the frame from So-cal and of course because they said it was for a model A I assumed it would fit right on. So far I 've had to make new hat channels for the raised area over the rear axle and put in a new floor in the back as well. The car originally had a rumble seat but I am putting my gas tank back there so it now has a trunk. My problem is the body sits about 1/2 off the frame, again I now assume this is why they channel the front 3/4 of an inch .Is this correct? I saw a model A roadster [on a 32 frame] at our local So-cal here in Vegas and it has a spacer between the body and the frame and knifes down near the front, It's not channeled and the firewall sits on top of the frame. Does the body have a small arc to it or do I just have a short between my headsets? Any information you can give me on the bodies would be greatly appreciated. Pops.

[Frisco]

Originally Posted by bill plise

My problem is the body sits about 1/2 off the frame, again I now assume this is why they channel the front 3/4 of an inch .Is this correct?

That is correct.

Originally Posted by bill plise

I saw a model A roadster (on a 32 frame) at our local So-cal here in Vegas and it has a spacer between the body and the frame and knifes down near the front, It's not channeled and the firewall sits on top of the frame. Does the body have a small arc to it or do I just have a short between my headsets? Any information you can give me on the bodies would be greatly appreciated. Pops.

The sub frame on the Model 'A's is flat. The spacer (often a section of hardwood cut on a bandsaw) fills in the gap due to the slight arc of the '32 frame. Some aftermarket '32 style frames have the top of the side rails flat so that the Model 'A' body can be bolted directly to it. Speedway shows one in their catalog although I haven't seen it up close and personal. Some just use small spacers at the body to frame mounting points.

The '32 frame rails are also usually "pinched" at the firewall area to better fit the narrower cowl of the Model 'A' body.

Way back when (and still a few today), the Model 'A' body was just placed on the top of the '32 frame and bolted in place with a few washers to fill the gap at the mounting bolts. Yielded an easy way to get a V-8 (unless the '32 was a Model 'B' which came with a 4 cylinder) and slightly longer wheelbase. There are some other advantages to using the Model 'A' body on a '32 Ford frame. I'll save that for another time.

The reason you had to change the area to clear the spring hump is because you apparently are using a Model 'A' rear cross-member and spring. The stock '32 rear cross-member would not have required that alteration.

I like the Model 'A' body on the '32 frame when the body is not channeled. If the body is to be channeled then I'd stick with the Model 'A' frame.

Please post some photos for all to see.

[bill plise]

Frisco are the 32 body channels that fit over the frame flat as well? The reason I ask is when I sat the A body on the frame rails there was a gap of about three inches right behind the center of the body. I had to cut my body channels over the axle and weld in 2 inch curved hat channels for the body to sit flat on the frame. So-cal uses the American Stamping rails and they have a raised C-notched area over the rear axle. Ok I just saw in my speedway catalog the flat frame you were talking about. That certainly would have saved me some trouble. I maby could have ordered So-Cals step boxed frame but it calls out for 28-29 bodies, they recomend the pinched nose highboy frame for the 30-31 which has the c noched rear. Oh well I welded in the channels but I still have the 3/8 gap. This is alot more work than I planned but I sure am enjoying it. I have a project journal with some pic's that I started under william plise and I think I had a picture of my frame there. Pops

[Frisco]

Originally Posted by bill plise

Frisco are the 32 body channels that fit over the frame flat as well? The reason I ask is when I sat the A body on the frame rails there was a gap of about three inches right behind the center of the body. I had to cut my body channels over the axle and weld in 2 inch curved hat channels for the body to sit flat on the frame. So-cal uses the American Stamping rails and they have a raised C-notched area over the rear axle.

The sub frame of the '32 body follows the contour of the '32 side rails. The Model 'A' sub frame is flat, and as you found out, needs to be modified in the rear wheel well area to clear the '32 frame rails. I should have made that clearer when I posted above.

Originally Posted by bill plise

Oh well I welded in the channels but I still have the 3/8 gap. This is alot more work than I planned but I sure am enjoying it. I have a project journal with some pic's that I started under william plise and I think I had a picture of my frame there. Pops

I assume you are seeing this 3/8" gap about centered under the doors. This is the reason for the slight channeling in the cowl area. That will eliminate the gap. I looked at the photos in your journal. Great looking chop and the '32 rolling chassis will work excellent.

Fitting the body to the frame does require some time and work but you will appreciate all your efforts when finished.

I look forward to additional photos. ENJOY!