My Dad is kicking around the idea of putting a '32 shell on his Model A and I'm wondering what exactly needs to be done to accomplish this? I'm guessing relocate the filler neck on the radiator, trim a little off the sides of the new shell and bend the headlight bar a little. Is there anything else? Will the stock 'A' hood fit the new shell or will it need to be modified? Who makes the best new shell & insert? I heard someone makes a Model A dropped headlight bar that is shaped to fit the '32 shell, anyone know who that is? Here's the car in case you're interested..............
The stock headlight bar won't clear the 32 grill. I wouldn't change that particular car it's perfect as is in my opinion.
Minor but keep in mind the A had a rod for the center hood hinge and the deuce had a formed stainless piece, naturally they take different attachment mounts. On the deuce radiator in my deuce I have a block off for the water filler with a pressure cap under the hood. I added an original cap with a strap to retain it. Then of course you could just fill the radiator shell. Charlie Stephens
That's a sweet looking coupe. I like to see Model A's with their original grill shell and nearly everyone wants their Model A to be a 32, but that's just me.
You didn't ask but I would leave it as is,a deuce shell wouldn't make the car look any better and IMHO would distract from it. And this is coming from a hard core Deuce nut! HRP
Possibly speedway motors that make the specific headlight bar, I have seen it advertised. I think the guards/fender mounting is slightly different angle. Google search...... I too would not change the grille, but I would consider chroming the windsheild surround. Not that you asked for our opinions ! Nice car though.
I think you have the list of the mods down. I bought a vintiques shell and a dales insert. With crank hole. Seems good quality but not on the road yet.
Please tell us exactly how the rear is suspended. Spring, shocks anything not stock. Thanks It used to be a common hotrod trick to put on the 32 shell/grille but I dont see it much any more and will do it to mine just because they used to do it like that. I dont remember seeing any dropped headlight bars in the 1950s or 60s. Isnt that a street rod thing from the 70s? as I recall, we just bent the stock bar out to clear the grille
I don't know exactly what the swap takes. Vintiques makes a good shell. What's he going to do with the A shell? I could use one.
There are now more '32 rad shells than '32 Fords produced. They're like belly buttons. Leave that car the way it is.
Yea, NOBODY put small block chevies in their hot rods back in the day. Hell in 1958, Theyda pulled that crap rocker arm motor out an' replaced it with a flatty, on account o' how they were all bad-azz, an' kickin' it ol' skool!
HAHA, I knew this would get a lot of "don't do it!" posts. As far as I can tell Speedway doesn't sell a dropped/A-'32 shell headlight bar. They do have a dropped Model A bar listed but it says in their description that it wont work with a '32 shell without extensive modification. It has a de-arched spring with a couple (I'm not exactly sure how many) leafs removed. The stock shocks were replaced with modern tube shocks that I mounted with this kit. Probably going to hang it on the garage wall, but if he decides to let it go I'll get a hold of you.
Pulled this pic off the net. I like the look but not so much with wires. An unchopped coupe with steel wheels takes on a new look. Beautiful A by the way.
One thing for sure, if he is going to go to the Deuce grill shell, he needs to change the headlights as well, Arrows or King Bees. Its either traditional, or neo-traditional, I wouldn't mix and match. I vote traditional. Then if you really want to change it up do 15" steel wheels with either Fiestas or Merc ash cans, and by swapping the grill shell, headlights and wheels, you will have Two...two...two hot rods in one. Or you could go mid sixties, and run the deuce shell and small headlights with a wheel\tire combo like Land Sea & Air has on his Vicky...
Brookville has the headlight bar: https://brookvilleroadster.com/store/headlights-taillights-brackets/page/2/ not cheap though. Rich
The radiator on my roadster was made for an A shell but I swapped to a '32 commercial grille and the '32 rad cap opening lines up fine, uses the A rad cap, not sure if you'd need to relocate it unless your shell is filled, although I don't run a hood. I'm told the 30-31 hood will fit the '32 shell if you re-bend the top a little, supposedly you can do it by hand, and you have to notch the bottom of the '32 shell to fit over the A crossmember, then modify the headlight bar to stick out further forward for clearance.
X-2 I'd do the deuce grill shell, hot rodders do what they want, shouldn't need to ask what others think!!
Well, here it is all mocked up and ready to be blown apart one more time for paint. I spent a couple of hours this afternoon getting everything to fit as good as I could....................... Daisy supervised and apparently approves....................
Daisy has here priorities in check=Kickin' and supervising! Good call Daisy= You did well. Looks Good.
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