'32 roadster dash/tunnel

[Terry K]

I have a brookville roadster and are trying to install the stock tunnel and dash. If I install the dash the tunnel will not go in. If I install the tunnel the dash will not go in. Tried both at one time and the cowl vent is in the way. What is the trick ??
Thanks Terry

[Krylon32]

I have a dumb question. Are you sure you have car tunnel? Are you using a stock firewall. I did this several years ago and can't remember any problems but it's been a while. I was using one of the repro dash's that were made years ago in Arizona. Could the Brookville dash hole stamping be just slightly deeper?

[Newc]

Dash tunnel is installed before dash. 6 bolts on firewall, remove dash padding under dash tunnel feet. Cars all use same tunnel/commercial tunnel is different. Newc

[DavidG]

Whether or not it is an original body and dash or a Brookville body and dash, the curled lip of the cowl and the fact that the top lip of the dash must rest upon the top of the curl makes the phaeton/roadster installation unique from all other instrument panel installations.

As with all of the '32 instrument panel installation, there must not be more than the thickness of the firewall insulator skin left on the pad where the 'legs' of the instrument panel attach to the firewall as the starting point.

Remembering how '32 Fords were originally assembled from the archives assembly line photos, the firewall and instrument panel were in place prior to the body being dropped down on the chassis frame and the dash was already attached to the cowl of the body. Since the body drop on the assembly line was down and forward simultaneously, the instrument panel nests up in the cowl above the lower lip on the dash as the body is lowered.

The only surefire way to duplicate that process is to attach the instrument panel to the firewall before attaching the firewall to the cowl. You will need to selectively move or leave off temporarily some the cowl vent components to provide the necessary clearance to accomplish this.

[deuce_roadster]

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I had no problem installing either of mine, however I installed the cowl vents and mechanisms last. Henry Ford cowls, firewalls and passenger car tunnels and dashes or front belt rail covers or whatever Ford called them.