|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
09-16-2022, 12:44 AM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Hello, I took my radiator, hood and grille shell off to replace my 2 water pumps on my EAB motor on my 32, 3-W. I took off the hood supports but left the one nut tight so it would go back on in the position it came off. However, I realized that the bottom of the radiator adjusts fore and aft since the hole is oblong on the frame. How do I make sure the distance is correct before I try to wrestle putting the hood on and have an alignment issue??? Do I get the measurement on the bottom of the hood and then make sure it's about 1/4 - 1/2 inch longer from the firewall to the grille shell??? Thanks for the help. Jeff
|
09-16-2022, 04:56 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,102
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
The holes in the front cross member where the radiator is attached were not oblong originally. Somewhere along the way they either were worn into oblongs (not likely) or someone enlarged them to gain more adjustment for the radiator, etc.
In any event, what you have concluded regarding measuring the hood side panels and providing adequate space for each of them is what is required. Plus !/2" of space is likely excessive with plus 1/4" being a better choice. |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
09-16-2022, 05:29 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 10,377
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
'32FordNut's 1932 Ford Deluxe Three Window Coupe |
09-16-2022, 06:44 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: middle of Iowa
Posts: 647
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
I see you have the most important tool for aligning Ford sheetmetal sitting right there on your air cleaner.
|
09-16-2022, 09:00 AM | #5 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Quote:
|
|
09-16-2022, 09:01 AM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
09-17-2022, 11:13 AM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
WOW, got her done. 3 guys and 3 hours. I finally have the hood somewhat aligned. The only problem is the cowl lace isn't thick enough and the hood droops lower than the cowl. When I fold a rag and stick it in there, it comes up really nice. I'll try to get new lace and if that doesn't work, I'll shimmy the lace so it raises to the correct height. When someone says they have 8-10 hours into aligning the hood, believe them. It's a nightmare taking that hood and shell off 15 times. Thanks for all the help and I'll send a pic later today.
|
09-17-2022, 11:51 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,102
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Please do not start pulling your hair out if over time the lacing is further compressed and the hood moves further down. Between gravity and the springs in the hood latches, the soft white core lacing available these days will compress more quickly and to a much greater extent than the original hard dark brown core lacing (no longer available due its environmentally-unfriendly manufacturing process).
|
09-17-2022, 01:28 PM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Thanks DavidG, maybe I won't even waste my money then. The lacing is only 10 years old but has less than 50 miles on it since restoration and has been in my shop the entire time since my uncle did the frame off. It still looks brans spanking new. Thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it. Here's a picture of it I just took. Maybe it doesn't look as bad as I think since I'm so anal about it.
|
09-17-2022, 01:55 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,320
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Wrap it up! I'll take it!
Looks great to me. |
09-17-2022, 01:59 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Albion, PA
Posts: 715
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Looks nice!
|
09-17-2022, 03:13 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,489
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
I've shimmed the hood lacing with some small vacuum hose placed in the channel under the lacing. Kind of a crude fix but the black hose on my black car doesn't really show if your not looking.
|
09-17-2022, 04:11 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NE Iowa
Posts: 1,665
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Looks very nice in the pic. Watch some of the old videos of assembly, the guys in the videos were the best guys they had for the shoot. Your fit looks to be better than I would expect on a low-priced car at the time.
|
09-20-2022, 05:50 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Basking Ridge, NJ
Posts: 591
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
When we built my roadster the hood top on the drivers side was down better than a half inch. Had the correct hard lacing. The back hood hook was loose at the catch. Everything painted. We tried a couple of different things, nothing worked. Finally, nothing to lose, got drastic. Cut two 4x4 wood uprights placed them on the frame just in front of the firewall legs. Cut another 4x4 wood crossbeam, put that on top of the uprights. Then used an eight foot 4x4 as a lever. Placed the lever on top of the crossbeam and the tip of the lever under the edge of the firewall, where the lacing fits in a grove. After just a few light pulls we were able to lift (adjust) the edge of the firewall to achieve correct hood alignment. Didn't even break the paint.
|
09-20-2022, 06:42 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia
Posts: 7,009
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Whatever works I always say. There's more than one way to skin a cat. Good looking 32.
__________________
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm". |
09-20-2022, 06:52 PM | #16 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Quote:
|
|
09-20-2022, 06:54 PM | #17 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Yes there is, but I have all these skins with my attempts <LOL>!! Love your truck. I'm trying to get a 59AB engine in my '33 truck and get the banger out of it. I love trucks and yours looks awesome, nice setup. V8??
|
09-20-2022, 06:58 PM | #18 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Santa Clarita Valley, CA
Posts: 48
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
|
09-20-2022, 07:06 PM | #19 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 8,162
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Quote:
__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
|
09-20-2022, 07:06 PM | #20 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 8,162
|
Re: Radiator, Shell & Hood Align on My '32
Quote:
__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|