1939 1940 1941 firewall wiring kidney shaped cover

[40larry]

Here are three different firewall wiring covers. The one on left is the commonly seen 1939-1940 cover. I believe the center picture is the 1941 cover with the wide openings for harness. The one on right has a flat top and i believe it is an early part for 1939. Has anyone seen one of these flat top covers or know anything about it? All three have identical positions for screws. Does anyone

[Kube]

Larry, The flat one is early '39. However, I can no longer recall when the design change occurred. It was very early - that much I recall. It was done as you would suspect, to allow more room for the wires.

[mercurycyclone]

The Early Ford V8 Clubs 1938 - 39 Ford Book page 4-31 states the part was revised 0n 10/28/38.

[rockfla]

I wonder HOW the 39 Mercury's missed using them???

[40larry]

Originally Posted by 40larry

Here are three different firewall wiring covers. The one on left is the commonly seen 1939-1940 cover. I believe the center picture is the 1941 cover with the wide openings for harness. The one on right has a flat top and i believe it is an early part for 1939. Has anyone seen one of these flat top covers or know anything about it? All three have identical positions for screws. Does anyone

Can anyone confirm that the center one is in fact 1941 and maybe 1942. Someone with an original car might be able to check for me. Thanks......40larry

[mercurycyclone]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It might be 41 42 Ford Truck not passenger car cover. See attached 41 Ford Mercury has only two wire openings for passenger cars part number 11A-14600. 1942 - 47 has larger wire openings than the 41 Ford and is part number 21A-14600. Hope this helps.

[Fritz]

The center one looks more like the one on my 41 1/2 ton pickup. Although mine is smooth on the top and does not have that indent by the top wire opening.

[mercurycyclone]

See attached.

[mercurycyclone]

Early 39 Mercury had the same problem as early 39 Ford. The Mercury wire cover part number was 99A-14600.

[40larry]

Originally Posted by mercurycyclone

See attached.

That still leaves the center one in my photo without a clear answer. it has all three large wire openings.

[40larry]

Originally Posted by 40larry

That still leaves the center one in my photo without a clear answer. it has all three large wire openings.

Can someone confirm that the center one in my picture is the 21A-14600 that is called out for all 42-48 passenger cars. Does the 21A-14600 have two or three wire openings?




thanks 40larry

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by mercurycyclone

Early 39 Mercury had the same problem as early 39 Ford. The Mercury wire cover part number was 99A-14600.

This is my 10/38 production, 39 Mercury and it has NO part you speak of????? OR at least in any of these pictures!!!! NOTE my above post as 39 Mercury NOT having one!!!!

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by 40larry

Can someone confirm that the center one in my picture is the 21A-14600 that is called out for all 42-48 passenger cars. Does the 21A-14600 have two or three wire openings?




thanks 40larry

Not sure IF it helps you Larry but this is the only shot I have of my 46 Tudor I had and the part you ask of......Looks like two!!!!

[rockfla]

A closer scan

[mercurycyclone]

See attached the cover pictured is off of a 1942 - 47 Ford Pickup.

[40larry]

Originally Posted by mercurycyclone

See attached the cover pictured is off of a 1942 - 47 Ford Pickup.

Thanks. That seems to answer the question. Your picture is same as my center cover pictured. It appears that the 21A cover only has two wire openings. So my center cover is the 1942 to 1947 pickup. If this cover fits the 42 to 47 pickup should there be a 21C-14600 listed in the parts book? Have you seen a 21C part number for a cover in any Ford parts book.



40larry

[40larry]

Originally Posted by rockfla

This is my 10/38 production, 39 Mercury and it has NO part you speak of????? OR at least in any of these pictures!!!! NOTE my above post as 39 Mercury NOT having one!!!!

The parts book calls out the 99A-14600 as used on the 1939 and 1940 Mercury.

[mercurycyclone]

40 Larry I have attached a photo of all the cover styles I have at the moment so you can compare the differences. I do not have a 21A-14600 right now but it had only two wire holes and was correct for Ford and Mercury.

Rockfla if you look at the firewall on the engine compartment side below the voltage regulator where the wire harness from under the dash connects to the wire harness for the engine compartment you will see three small holes for the screws that hold the wire harness cover. I have had at least six 39 - 40 Mercury covers and all have had only two holes for the wire harness. Two of the covers were early and the balance later. Looking at all the covers you will see all have the same location for the screws. Hope this helps.

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by mercurycyclone

40 Larry I have attached a photo of all the cover styles I have at the moment so you can compare the differences. I do not have a 21A-14600 right now but it had only two wire holes and was correct for Ford and Mercury.

Rockfla if you look at the firewall on the engine compartment side below the voltage regulator where the wire harness from under the dash connects to the wire harness for the engine compartment you will see three small holes for the screws that hold the wire harness cover. I have had at least six 39 - 40 Mercury covers and all have had only two holes for the wire harness. Two of the covers were early and the balance later. Looking at all the covers you will see all have the same location for the screws. Hope this helps.

Thanks, obviously mine is "missing" SO the hunt begins!!!! "IF" any of you posting here have one, I'm your man "EARLY" one that is!!!!

[rockfla]

ALSO a fellow barner wanted me to post this picture for him as he couldn't asking for an "ID" which I believe is 41?????

[40larry]

Originally Posted by rockfla

ALSO a fellow barner wanted me to post this picture for him as he couldn't asking for an "ID" which I believe is 41?????

Could this one be the elusive 21A-14600 that was used on the 42 to 48 cars?

[40larry]

Originally Posted by mercurycyclone

40 Larry I have attached a photo of all the cover styles I have at the moment so you can compare the differences. I do not have a 21A-14600 right now but it had only two wire holes and was correct for Ford and Mercury.

Rockfla if you look at the firewall on the engine compartment side below the voltage regulator where the wire harness from under the dash connects to the wire harness for the engine compartment you will see three small holes for the screws that hold the wire harness cover. I have had at least six 39 - 40 Mercury covers and all have had only two holes for the wire harness. Two of the covers were early and the balance later. Looking at all the covers you will see all have the same location for the screws. Hope this helps.

Cyclone:
Here is another one from my collection that is so far not identified. It is similar to 1941 pickup except it has two small size wire openings and one larger opening at the bottom. There are two cover part numbers that we know of that have not as yet been matched up with a cover. They are the 99A-14600 and the 21A-14600. Could this be one of these two?
40larry

[fortyonerag]

Originally Posted by rockfla

ALSO a fellow barner wanted me to post this picture for him as he couldn't asking for an "ID" which I believe is 41?????

Looks like the one on my 41

[rockfla]

IS the black finish correct??? NOT body color???

[Kube]

Originally Posted by rockfla

IS the black finish correct??? NOT body color???

Black was the intended color for all vehicles regardless of body color. There are a few folks that contend "some" cars had these originally painted body color.
However, none of these folks has ever offered any proof of this actually occurring.
The engineering release clearly indicates black.

[19Fordy]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

What "Kube" says above makes lots of financial sense. Imagine the extra cost of having to pre-paint the covers to match the body color.

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by Kube

Black was the intended color for all vehicles regardless of body color. There are a few folks that contend "some" cars had these originally painted body color.
However, none of these folks has ever offered any proof of this actually occurring.
The engineering release clearly indicates black.

Makes common sense, I guess the old "IF it bolts to the car" its black follows suit and sense!!!

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by Kube

Black was the intended color for all vehicles regardless of body color. There are a few folks that contend "some" cars had these originally painted body color.
However, none of these folks has ever offered any proof of this actually occurring.
The engineering release clearly indicates black.

Well, I found out the reason my cover was missing on my "Early" 39 Mercury....Dad removed it to have one "made" AS our Pre War Ford GP uses one as well SO he removed it to show it to the fellow helping restore our Ford GP...... SO to "Kube's" point, IT IS painted body color and from "EVERY" indication I can see OUR Merc has never been repainted.....I will post a picture as soon as Dad gets it back in the next few days!!!!!

[rockfla]

Kube
In the interim I found this picture of our Merc at the 09 Central National in Auburn and you can see our cover is body color!!! NOT saying you are wrong by any means......BUT here is my bases of proof thus far!!

[mercurycyclone]

See attached.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by rockfla

Kube
In the interim I found this picture of our Merc at the 09 Central National in Auburn and you can see our cover is body color!!! NOT saying you are wrong by any means......BUT here is my bases of proof thus far!!

I must agree that the possibility exists that some covers were painted body color. The logistics to do so would not be a difficult. However, they would add cost, something Ford attempted to avoid when possible.

There haven't been many "colored" covers witnessed that could offer more than "I think this is original" offered as proof and / or theory.
While researching for my book, the priority was always what was intended. When a deviation occurred on a basis so vast it couldn't be cast as "worker error" or "ran out of cadmium bolts (ex)" then I'd include that in the text.
This cover is one of those things that simply has not been witnessed on more than a very infrequent basis.

I did find that very early cars of any model had more anomalies than later production.
A perfect example of that? 1940 Deluxe grille trim with squared off ends. The engineering releases clearly show this design as obsolete prior to "Job #1". Still, this squared off end trim showed up on a vast number of very early vehicles. Too many to believe with any common sense it was worker error or simply an oversight.
Nope, most likely, the early design was used up prior to the speared end design was the "norm".

[rockfla]

Kube
I was coming from the stand point of your statement above that "Nobody has offered Proof" side of things and also not to be argumentive. I don't dispute the "norm" being black and STILL not convinced yet that mine was originally body color till I get mine back in hand!! SO my picture was merely to show that my statement of body color was also an offer of "proof". AGAIN, I'm still not convinced I am right.....YET!! Lol

[Kube]

Originally Posted by rockfla

Kube
I was coming from the stand point of your statement above that "Nobody has offered Proof" side of things and also not to be argumentive. I don't dispute the "norm" being black and STILL not convinced yet that mine was originally body color till I get mine back in hand!! SO my picture was merely to show that my statement of body color was also an offer of "proof". AGAIN, I'm still not convinced I am right.....YET!! Lol

I never once considered you anything less than helpful.
As I'd stated earlier, it seems that occasionally when starting a "new" model, there were things that needed to be "dialed in" whether for efficiency, design and / or function.
As (another) example: '39 Deluxe Fords had a grille cross brace that was body color on early models. This particular brace was bolted in place. Mid year change saw this brace riveted to the grille and subsequently painted body color - a definite cost savings.