question about my grille shell

[bmita]

ok this is for those guys who know model A's front to back. are all model A grille shells the same in size? mine on my 29 2door sedan does not fit just right my hood is on the top fits great and the gap is good, but as the as the hood goes down the side of the grille shell the gap gets really wide toward the bottom. how can one tell they have the right shell and correct hood? you guys have helped me out in the past hoping you can again. thanks

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by bmita

ok this is for those guys who know model A's front to back. are all model A grille shells the same in size? mine on my 29 2door sedan does not fit just right my hood is on the top fits great and the gap is good, but as the as the hood goes down the side of the grille shell the gap gets really wide toward the bottom. how can one tell they have the right shell and correct hood? you guys have helped me out in the past hoping you can again. thanks

Well kinda. For all intents with what you are asking, the answer is Yes.

The gap that you speak of is possibly because the cowl is mounted too tall (Maybe the frame is bent and someone tried to compensate?). Maybe the lower brackets on the radiator sides are misplaced and it has the shell pushed forward (look at the core to shell gap at the bottom.). I wish I could see the entire side view of the hood to look at the gap near the firewall too. It could be an old reproduction hood that is poorly made, or it could be a repro/aftermarket radiator that is causing the problem however if you look at the neck, the shell should be sitting just a tad above the upper radiator tank and the sides should be near the core. If it is rubbing the tank maybe the brackets are incorrectly placed?

This is one of those things where we could throw out 10,000 different possibilities but until someone can physically anaylize what is there, I'm not sure we are going to gain you anything towards correcting your problem other than to fill a computer screen full of theories. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, ...so maybe you could post four or five thousand words worth?

.

[bmita]

ok thanks. just thought maybe someone had run into this before. everything you talked about i will give it a look now i know how to approach the problem.

[Brentwood Bob]

post some pictures. Bob

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

"ALL" Model A radiator grille shells the same in size???????? I don't think so!!!!! Bill W.

[bmita]

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bill tells the difference please. i dont know.

[Marco Tahtaras]

All '28-29 shells are interchangeable and all '30-31 type passenger shells are interchangeable. There is no way you have a '30-31 shell on there or your problems would be FAR more serious! That is why nobody else bothered to mention it.

There are 101 potential causes or contributors to what you describe and it's often multiple factors which is why nobody would dare to begin that "laundry list" without seeing numerous photos.

[duffer]

I have the same problem with my shell after getting my radiator back from the shop..i'm going to deal with it in the spring..Too cold out right now.Things never go back together as they came apart. Good luck with yours , i'll keep an eye on this post for help too.

[Mitch//pa]

could it be repo

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by bmita

bill tells the difference please. i dont know.

bmita,
'28 & '29 are the same size & '30 & '31 are the same size, but taller than the '28 & '29.
Thinking about your problem, IF the bottom of your hood at the rear overlaps the cowl, maybe you just need to add more rubber pads under the radiator mounts in order to raise the radiator HIGHER to get a good hood fit. Pics would help. Bill W. (Maybe the problem is minor, hope so!)

[Richard in Anaheim CA]

Duffer,

I would bring that radiator and shell inside and do a trial fit. DONT MANHANDLE THE SHELL INTO PLACE! If it doesn't fit without pulling it around. It isn't right.

Next Spring the radiator shop will claim no responsibility for those two dents you put in the shell where the shell contacted the top tank corners.

Make them fix it now. Don't ask why I know this.

Richard
Anaheim CA

[d.j. moordigian]

Marco,

Were the radiators with the shells, installed on the chassis, as a unit?
I would think that would be quick on the line..