Technical What are the differences between 3w and a 5w 1932 coupe?

Other than the obvious window difference, is the rest of the body the same ?
Are there some parts or sections that will not interchange?
Did the 3 window also come in a B model with a 4 cylinder?
How can you tell if the body is Henry steel as apposed to Brookville or similar?

Thanks for the help. I'm very familiar with Model A s but getting ready to buy a 32 so I need some training



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The trunk lid may interchange, but that's about it. The 3-window has longer doors (thus shorter quarters) that are hinged in the back (suicide style), so the cowl is also different. The roof/windshield is different too. Both coupe models were available in both V8 and 4 cylinder versions, but the bangers were rare.

 

The bodies are different. No interchange.

 

I always thought that even the trunk lid is different.
(Others will correct me if I’m wrong).


Only other body parts that are the same would be the grille surround and insert, hood and hood sides. And guards, running boards, if you consider those ‘body parts’.
Chassis is the same.
Pretty sure that all car models were available in both 4 & 8 cylinder.


.

 

Trunk lid is different. Dash is different. Firewall should be the same. Not sure about the cowl vent.

 

2 windows.

 

The firewall and maybe the cowl vent lid are about the only things the same. Five window bodies were produced by Ford. Three window bodies were produced by the Murray (spelling?) Body company.

 

$20,000.00

 

Thanks for the replies I've been looking at everything from complete cars to basket cases. One 5 window body comes with a sedan cowl and windshield frame
It's all good info some obvious had I thought more about it. Interesting about the trunk lid and the dash being specific. One dash had a glove box? Was that a deluxe car? Also trunk to rumble seat is that just a hinge change like a model a? Also any thoughts on body differences between original steel and non original?


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The only dash with a glove box is 3W. The sedan cowl and W/S frame are the same as 5W.

 

The 3W rumble seat got an inside release on the lid. An inside handle and a different striker and latch. The hinges for either lids are different from 5W.
The vents are the same. The door handles, and lock are different.

 

In 32, the 3 window was the deluxe model and the 5 window was the standard although you could get those with cowl lights. You could get either 3 or 5 window with a rumble seat or trunk and it's about the same process to change as on a Model A.

 

Yes, the trunk to rumble change is just different hinges and holes/nutserts in different places.

 

They Are As Different As Night And Day....Thanks Henry Ford...

 

Ok again interesting that explains the wood. More wood in the Murray body? And was the 3 window called a deluxe coupe by Ford (this would explain why people say the deluxe had a glove box?)


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Oops someone already explained the deluxe/standard question


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the 5 window has more leg room..

 

Really? I can hardly get my legs in my 5 window between the seat and the door frame. The suicide doors in a 3 window at least give you more leg room there. I think the opposite is true.

 

The 3 window is much roomier and easier to get in and out with the suicide doors.

You can gain additional room in a 5 window by removing the package tray like I did in my 5 window, but being a 6' 4" tall guy they are still a pain getting in and out with the smaller door.HRP

 

The 3W definitely has more wood, as it is a coach built body.

 

I've learned a lot.
So is the 5 window considered a better body than a 3 ?(I know a 3 is more popular for looks)
Like comparing a Model a 4 door sedan body to a Tudor body. Would a 3 window body sag if the wood is poor? and is there wood in the doors of a 3 window?

 

3W doors go “thunk” when you close them, 5W doors not so much. Better body ? That’s open to conjure and opinion . The wood needs to be in good shape.

 

Thanks

 

The 3 window GIVES me more wood also....

 

How about the fenders? Any differences there?

 

Coupe and roadster fenders are the same from what I can find as in no difference between 3 and 5 window fenders. Sedan and Phaeton fenders are different from them though.
I'd say it comes down to personal preference and quite possibly availability.
Here, the parts to build a 5 window coupe body apparently being available at a somewhat interesting price might be the deciding factor.

 

Way down in the noise level. The three window coupes used interior door handles and window cranks with pointed ends as shown in the attached photo. The good news is that the other handles will fit. These handles were used on all early cars but gradually the other models had less and less point at the end of the handles. Ford's instructions were to use up the pointed handles on the 3 window coupes.

Charlie Stephens

 

The pointy interior handles are what is known as early production handles. I'm not sure why they seem to have ended up on 3-windows a lot. Maybe when Murray was assembling the bodies for shipment to the Ford factory they had a big ol crate of early handles that lasted longer than the factory used on the rest of the "in-house" bodies.

 

Sedan and Phaeton Rear fenders are different from coupe and roadster rear fenders. I believe that pickup rear fenders are like those used on coupes and roadsters


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Nope, pickup are their own species.