Well it is really hot here in the valley of the sun so maybe the heat is effecting my brain, but I really like the look of short or bobbed front frame horns on '32.So does this go along with the changing directions on '32 3w coupe to more of a late '40's Lakes racer look so the no horn look fits the build and looks racey. Another issue with leaving them on is the grill shell is dropped about 2 1/2 inches and the spreader bar would clutter the lines and the stock horns look clunky. So what options do I have? Pinch the frame and narrow the front crossmember or run model A horns? Lets see some pictures so I can visual it Thanks Tex
A long the thoughts,way back 1959 I cut the horns my 1928 "A",two years later 1961 welded them back on as by then it started to look like something was missing to me,yet it looked good at first. We do change an rods are never really done anyway! NOTE; keep cut off horns for later !
A lot of the early racers mounted their flat tow bars to the frame horns. Others whacked them off. I don't recall anything, other than stock, in between. I like what the Rolling Bones and Walden/Jitney do but it is really a recent "refinement" of earlier, more traditional set ups. You could cut them back to the grille shell, cap them off and use those points to mount a nerf bar.
I have the same problem... So I think I'll just have to build at least two 32 framed rods or it will just be a big heavy bucket list to lug around. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I have a similar problem. I've started a semi-clone of this car and I think the frame horns should be cut. What do you think?
Some cars just look right with out frame horns. I think that your coupe is one of them. Singlefingerspeedshop.com. Detroit
I say cut the dam horns off it looks great with out them. I am putting together a 3 window and cut them off with out even thinking about it. To me it cleans up the front and just gives the grill the look it deserves as one of the best ever produced by Henry Ford.....
I definatley like the Rolling Bones look but they must pitch the rails and narrow the front crossmember so the grill shell hides all the frame area. It looks awesome that was with the extended wheel base and spring to the wishbones, but I am running a Ford Dropped axle-spring over set up. Any one have pictures of narrowed and pinched front crossmember with spring over axle suspension set up?
We all have a idea of what looks best and I agree the Rolling Bones style do look good but for me I still like the old style and will never cut them off. HRP
I never thought joining the Lemmings Club was such a good idea. Eventually you get such a let down feeling. I also figure, if everyone is doing something, it's already gone out of style. The reason I like frame horns is because I like Deuces with spreader bars and bumper-over-riders. I'm not real particular about what style they are, either; those Pete and Jake developed out of flat stock are cool; Baskerville's roadster has a pair, and it doesn't detract, and considering the primer spots, they were needed. Those out of tubing can be like anything and everything. It depends on how exotic you want to make 'em. Initials are cool, when they're incorporated; not as preppy as they are on shirts but at least they're in chrome. There was a photo, here on the HAMB, of a deuce with a radiator smashed up that was traveling and got a lick, or was backed into in a parking lot. Perhaps it would have been saved by a little extra protection in front of it, and the bars would have been toast and the rod unharmed. Certainly how much gear you're willing to put up with is up to speculation, but one fact remains old-style dirt-track jalopies always had plenty of defensive measures that look pretty archaic by current aesthetics. They were surrounded by devices to avoid direct contact to the sheet metal, including nerf bars in front of the rear tires, so an over enthusiastic Yahoo didn't over-ride them and cause a spin out, or worse. Front, side and back, they added a little extra, and kept on ticking; the idea being you can't win if you can't finish. Yeah, I like the Mad Max school of thinking but you know what? It doesn't have to be so extreme. They don't put bumpers on regular cars for no reason, and believe me, parking lots and city streets where we all park and drive have a lot of *****s without much feeling for anything but themselves, and some who hate everything and everybody, themselves included. A Hot Rod is a red rag to many. Would it clutter up a rod? If you race on the track, or dry lakes nothing will jam on its brakes in front of you. If you drive across town, or cross country, I'll bet you won't have to steam the upholstery to get the sphincter wrinkles out, if you have something out there in front and rear. You can make your Rod have a lotta love and still have a little protection, by keeping the horns for that reason if nothing else; and, if by chance, you get close to somebody you won't bring home a rash.
Conformity is perception. We all have legs and arms and if that's conformity, it's worthwhile. Unlike frogs we don't bump our ***es walking. My point being that the previous posters had used examples to con of bobbing. I was just working the other side of the table to get the eight-ball without having to appear I was hustling anyone. My argument is not about being part of the herd or not, or being for 'er agin'. It's about logic applied to survival in the modern motorin' age. Anyone can cut off their toes, and still walk; but, if there's no reason for it, why bother? Smooth is cool on the floor of the Armory but in the trenches shavin' is a luxury. Sometimes one thing is fine when you're leaning back and thinkin'. But, when you're tryin' to outfox the world and dodging and charging toward safety, it's a bleeding luxury. Street Rods is not a dirty word, ner is Rat Rod. It's just the blokes that takes up the cause and can't see the mess they're in because they lost their way. Hot Rods was just a convenient aphorism in the long progression of Strip Downs, Speedsters, Gob Jobs, Jalopies, and whatever other tender words men applied to their steeds of steel. It's about heart and soul; and in the way of our time, being smart means stayin' alive. I was making an argument for form over fashion. Traditional might also be conformity. Joining is too. As is quitting.
I posted a thread awhile back about putting Model A frame horns on deuce frames...they look great. I'm over the Rolling Bones look, and like to see frame horns. The Model A ones just look cleaner IMO. I'll see if I can find my pics. Edit***...found some pics. These cars pictured would look better if you removed the spreader bars and didn't box the horns.
I agree with 3wLarry.....X2---on the A horns on deuce frames. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
View attachment 2669058 View attachment 2669058 View attachment 2669058 Guys, thanks for the healthy discussion on front frame horns. I agree that is truely traditional to bob them off but as you can in the example above many are very crude and lack finess. It may be hard to visualize in it current configuration but my 3W once was a dry lakes racer so I am wanting to build in a late '40's compe***ion coupe ( Rolling bones look to a degree) so with the 2 1/2 inch channel and dropped grill shell the stock the frame horns and spreader bar will get in the way of the deuce grill shell lines. I want a racey look and will using a 3 piece aluminum hood with lots of louvers and if I pinch the rails about 6 inches from the firewall then I won't have that unsightly notch or step where the hood meets the rail on a channeled car. Ken Schmidt gave me some helpful advice if I want to pinch the rails and narrow the crossmember to 20 1/2 inches so I may go that route, the only problem is the frame is done, already boxed and this will require considerable rework to the front end but I want a clean look so I may go with the model A horns instead. There are always complications to changing directions mid point, but this is my dream car so I should **** it up and build it so I am happy with the final product. No sure why it posted thepicture twice???
I think every one of those rolling bones cars need frame horns and a paint job. of course people should not care what I think, since I don't really care what you think.
I think a 32 Hi-Boy needs the horns and a spreader bar to look complete. It looks to "punched in the nose" with them cut off.
The Jalopy Journal
