The Ford Barn

JayJay · 10-10-2022, 11:13 AM

The firewall on my '30 Town Sedan has acquired several extra holes over the years. I'm prepared to weld in some patches, but I thought I'd check with the braintrust to verify that what I believe are "extra" are really that. Please see the attached pictures, I believe #1-6 are non-standard and need to be filled.

There's also an extra hole in the dash panel that needs to be filled. Someone in the past really enjoyed drilling!

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

JayJay

1930artdeco · 10-10-2022, 11:26 AM

All look like extras to me, just don't forget the vacuum hole but I think that is up by the tag.

Mike

w.michael · 10-10-2022, 11:47 AM

I think #6 is the speedometer cable, but I'm not with my car, so I can't check. Don't weld it up yet!

W. Michael

Y-Blockhead · 10-10-2022, 11:49 AM

#6 is for the speedo cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayJay

There's also an extra hole in the dash panel that needs to be filled.

Where is the extra hole in the dash panel (Dash rail?)? The reason I ask is my Town Sedan has a hole in the dash rail on the right side and I have seen several others with a hole in the same location. I have never been able to find out why it is there and if it was original (I doubt it)...

Sorry not the best picture but the hole is in the red circle.

JayJay · 10-10-2022, 12:46 PM

Good catch, w.michael and Y-B, I think you are correct about #6 being for the speedo cable. It's been a while since I took it apart and I forgot that. This is why I checked with you all! That would have been very embarrassing if I welded it up and then went to reassemble and couldn't figure out where the speedo cable goes...

Y-B: the hole is in the right side of the rail, close to the farthest right screw. Look at #8 in this post to see a picture. Looks like it's pretty similar to the one you have.

JayJay

Marshall V. Daut · 10-10-2022, 01:03 PM

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#3 is for the speedometer cable clamp that is mounted on the inside of the firewall. That hole should be threaded, but appears to have been drilled out for some unknown reason. You 'll need to weld it shut and then drill and tap it for the slothead bolt that secures the clamp to the firewall.
The hole in the dash rail was probably drilled there for a cigarette lighter, although these were usually mounted closer to the driver's side.
Marshall

JayJay · 10-10-2022, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshall V. Daut

#3 is for the speedometer cable clamp that is mounted on the inside of the firewall. That hole should be threaded, but appears to have been drilled out for some unknown reason. You 'll need to weld it shut and then drill and tap it for the slothead bolt that secures the clamp to the firewall.
The hole in the dash rail was probably drilled there for a cigarette lighter, although these were usually mounted closer to the driver's side.
Marshall

Marshall - I believe the one for the inside speedo cable clamp is located more inboard, underneath the terminal box. It's not shown in the photos - I remember taking that clamp off when I disassembled the instrument panel. It has a threaded "D" nut on it. I'll see if I can get another photo today showing that to confirm with y'all. Thanks.

JayJay

Y-Blockhead · 10-10-2022, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayJay

Good catch, w.michael and Y-B, I think you are correct about #6 being for the speedo cable. It's been a while since I took it apart and I forgot that. This is why I checked with you all! That would have been very embarrassing if I welded it up and then went to reassemble and couldn't figure out where the speedo cable goes...

Y-B: the hole is in the right side of the rail, close to the farthest right screw. Look at #8 in this post to see a picture. Looks like it's pretty similar to the one you have.

JayJay

JayJay, yeah I see I posted right below you in that post, #9. As I said, I have seen several with a hole in this position?? Oh well, gives me a place to route the vacuum line for my "Air Conditioner".

The one Marshal is referring to is directly above the exhaust manifold and does have a d-nut on it.

rotorwrench · 10-10-2022, 04:36 PM

It looks like a coolant heater was installed at some time. Most of the holes I find are for the exhaust manifold type heaters. The usually have one large hole for the carri through and multiple small holes to hold it on.

JayJay · 10-10-2022, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

It looks like a coolant heater was installed at some time. Most of the holes I find are for the exhaust manifold type heaters. The usually have one large hole for the carri through and multiple small holes to hold it on.

Well, the car did come from Wisconsin, so I suppose a coolant heater isn't out of the question. But the coolant heater installations I've seen (including the one in my '31) have had those pass-throughs on the driver side, to access the coolant return gooseneck on the left side of the engine.

In any event, here are updated labels. I'm going to go with filling holes #1-5. Thanks all for your input.

JayJay

Marshall V. Daut · 10-10-2022, 08:41 PM

Jay-Jay is correct about #3. I was too far to the left - which no one has EVER accused me of being before!

Marshall

JayJay · 10-11-2022, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshall V. Daut

Jay-Jay is correct about #3. I was too far to the left - which no one has EVER accused me of being before!

Marshall

Well, from the driver's (inside) perspective, you were too far to the right! My bride accuses me of that too.

But thanks for your input, all of this helped me rethink everything and assure myself I was doing the correct thing.

JayJay

Marshall V. Daut · 10-11-2022, 12:40 PM

We were all likely basing our input on the photos you posted, which show the firewall facing the viewer. Hence my "left" orientation. No matter, though. You've gotten the holes identified that can stay and those that should be closed up. You'll need to cut sheet metal circles to plug those larger presumably heater hose holes, followed by welding into place. The small holes could possibly be filled by welding or brazing them shut and then grinding them smooth. If you do weld, be sure the gas tank is isolated by a sheet metal panel or some kind of heat sink so that the tank doesn't get hot - with unfortunate results.

Marshall

JayJay · 10-11-2022, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshall V. Daut

We were all likely basing our input on the photos you posted, which show the firewall facing the viewer. Hence my "left" orientation. No matter, though. You've gotten the holes identified that can stay and those that should be closed up. You'll need to cut sheet metal circles to plug those larger presumably heater hose holes, followed by welding into place. The small holes could possibly be filled by welding or brazing them shut and then grinding them smooth. If you do weld, be sure the gas tank is isolated by a sheet metal panel or some kind of heat sink so that the tank doesn't get hot - with unfortunate results.

Marshall

I was pulling your leg, Marshall.

I plan to remove the gas tank before doing the welding. I need to pull it out to clean up the inside anyhow.

JayJay

nkaminar · 10-11-2022, 05:51 PM

Don't drill any extra holes in the gas tank.

redmodelt · 10-11-2022, 08:23 PM

Saw one posted here years ago, it had a bazillion holes drilled on the drivers side so they could mount a speaker on the engine side.

LOL

Will N · 10-12-2022, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmodelt

Saw one posted here years ago, it had a bazillion holes drilled on the drivers side so they could mount a speaker on the engine side.

LOL

Amazing! I have a roadster that has the same problem- maybe 80 holes drilled in a grid pattern above the steering column. For years I thought that the prior owner wanted to get more engine heat into the cab. I finally started to re-restore it this spring, and when I took the kick panels off I saw two holes that had been drilled that looked like they may have been used to mount an aerial on the side of the cowl panel. Then when I took a close look at the seat riser, I saw holes that may have been used to mount a radio under the seat. It was then that I realized that the 80 holes in the firewall were a speaker grill! I have maybe 20 other extra holes that have been drilled in over the years- too many and too big to fill. I bought a good used firewall at Hershey a few years ago. I drilled out the rivets and spot welds and am in the process of installing the new firewall.

10-10-2022, 11:26 AM	#2
1930artdeco Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lynden, Wa Posts: 3,552	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! All look like extras to me, just don't forget the vacuum hole but I think that is up by the tag. Mike __________________ 1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan

10-10-2022, 12:46 PM	#5
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,077	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! Good catch, w.michael and Y-B, I think you are correct about #6 being for the speedo cable. It's been a while since I took it apart and I forgot that. This is why I checked with you all! That would have been very embarrassing if I welded it up and then went to reassemble and couldn't figure out where the speedo cable goes... Y-B: the hole is in the right side of the rail, close to the farthest right screw. Look at #8 in this post to see a picture. Looks like it's pretty similar to the one you have. JayJay __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan

10-10-2022, 08:41 PM	#11
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! Jay-Jay is correct about #3. I was too far to the left - which no one has EVER accused me of being before! Marshall

10-11-2022, 12:40 PM	#13
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! We were all likely basing our input on the photos you posted, which show the firewall facing the viewer. Hence my "left" orientation. No matter, though. You've gotten the holes identified that can stay and those that should be closed up. You'll need to cut sheet metal circles to plug those larger presumably heater hose holes, followed by welding into place. The small holes could possibly be filled by welding or brazing them shut and then grinding them smooth. If you do weld, be sure the gas tank is isolated by a sheet metal panel or some kind of heat sink so that the tank doesn't get hot - with unfortunate results. Marshall Last edited by Marshall V. Daut; 10-11-2022 at 03:55 PM.

10-11-2022, 05:51 PM	#15
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! Don't drill any extra holes in the gas tank. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

10-10-2022, 11:47 AM	#3
w.michael Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 418	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! I think #6 is the speedometer cable, but I'm not with my car, so I can't check. Don't weld it up yet! W. Michael

10-10-2022, 01:03 PM	#6
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) #3 is for the speedometer cable clamp that is mounted on the inside of the firewall. That hole should be threaded, but appears to have been drilled out for some unknown reason. You 'll need to weld it shut and then drill and tap it for the slothead bolt that secures the clamp to the firewall. The hole in the dash rail was probably drilled there for a cigarette lighter, although these were usually mounted closer to the driver's side. Marshall

10-10-2022, 04:36 PM	#9
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! It looks like a coolant heater was installed at some time. Most of the holes I find are for the exhaust manifold type heaters. The usually have one large hole for the carri through and multiple small holes to hold it on.

10-11-2022, 08:23 PM	#16
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,341	Re: Holey firewall, Batman! Saw one posted here years ago, it had a bazillion holes drilled on the drivers side so they could mount a speaker on the engine side. LOL __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!