Ok, as a new '32 owner (see below for reference) I am seeking some advice/opinions from some of you '32 guys. One of the items I'm not crazy about esthetically or from a cooling perspective is the smooth sided hood. I'm planning to keep the 3 piece design (single panel top) but was thinking about going with louvered side panels. I'm thinking of something like the original as opposed to the 3 row of "hot rod" style louvers. I contacted the good folks at Rootlieb and got the following options for side panels: The first is their generic 25 louver side panel, cost would be $320/pr. The second is their "Henry" style louver that includes the description included with the picture which would be $780/pr. If presented with these choices...is there $460 of value going with the Henry style louver? Is it worth the $ if the top is still going with a single panel (i.e. 3 piece hood) and I'm not going to have the stock style hood clamps/handles either....seeking your thoughts and input. Thanks in advance.
I would buy the Henry louvers have had their 3 hotrod row louvers and they were quality. You are probably only going to buy once.
On the low $,some hunting can find louvers ,planels with them, junked AC steel outter box,old lockers,metal doors an other types of things,cut the louvers out with a little boarder,so it can be mounted just behind a hood hole or welded in a hood. It take a little looking but free-B is out there with some work.
I'm not sure which of those sides my rod has, but you can feel the heat pouring out when the cooling fan is running.
I've done several 32's with the Henry style 25 louver original style louvers. They are more open and allow for more air flow which is why Ford originally made them. For a 3 piece installation I order the sides with the top edge unfolded so I can make the proper adjustments for fit and break the 90 degree top edge myself. The Henry sides also have the correct twist which makes for an easier fit.
It might be just me, but I think your grille is lowered a touch. That would require a custom hood. If it is, you might just be better off adding louvers to the sides you have, rather than custom fitting the new parts again. There are many guys around who can punch the small hot rod style louvers into your sides.
Personally, I prefer the Henry Ford style 25 louver side panels, Rootlieb, has done a excellent job on reproducing a period correct piece. I have a original 25 louver hood on my sedan, notice you can see the engine. I also had a original 25 louver hood on my '32 pickup, HRP I forgot about my 1932 5 window, it also had a stock Henry Ford 25 louver hood.
I would go with having your existing sides punched. My reasoning being that what you have now fits together and looks good. New repro sides may not line up or fit as well without a lot of massaging. If you wind up going with new panels, follow krylon32 's method and get them with the top edge being unfolded so you can fit it to your top. Good luck!
Good advice on requesting the unfolded edge...I hadn't thought of that as an option. I appreciate your real world experience with these hood sides...and your comment about the built in twist making for easier install is a good point. I had thought of that also, but I prefer the look of the long (stock or somewhat stock) louvers for this car. I think the lowered grille look is an illusion created with camera angle. The measurements on the current side panels are exactly the same as shown on the Rootlieb website. BTW, thanks guys for taking the time to provide your input. I'm wondering if anyone might have a photo angle like HRP's photos above showing one of Rootlieb's 25 row non-Henry style side panels?
I think I can help you with that too, my old 1932 fordor had one of the early Rootlieb 25 louver hoods, the louvers are not as open as they new 25 louver side panel, you can't see through the louvers nor can you stick your finger in the louver, they are small. HRP
This IS the new 25 louver hood that that is made by Rootlieb, it was on my 1932 Ford 4 door hiboy, to me the look is darn near perfect and the price is right for the hood, I have seen original 25 louver command 5 grand. HRP Notice how open the louvers are. HRP
I don't know who made the 25 louver hood I have on my 32 when I got it back from HRP but it seems to cool fine and no one except an expert 32 guy will know that it is not original because the only difference I see is the first louver is shorter than the rest. Who is going to notice? Since its a hot rod, how about fitting those 32 Chevy panels on the sides you have?
Don, the hood on your 5 window is a Rootlieb 25 louver style but it's the early one, all the louvers are the same length, the Henry styled 25 louver has the front two louvers shorter, the first isn't punched and is just to stiffen the hood as is the 25th louver, the Henry style also has the louvers wide enough to stick your finger in. During my ownership I robbed the original Henry Ford 25 louver hood from the car. HRP When I bought the car this is the original hood, I swapped out with the hood that Roger bought for my sedan after I sold the original hood to Deuce Roadster, he talked me out of it, that when they were bringing insane money, thanks to Rootlieb they are coming back down. When you got the car back. HRP
It's like the headlight bar,----4 cyl. didn't have the V8 emblem. Also the 4 cyl. hood had less louvers & shorter ones. I run the Rootlieb after market with top punched rows for best cooling.----Don
With so many elements pushing the car towards the streetrod vibe (eg 3 pc hood, modified door hinges, deck lid smoothed, and aluminum wheels from what I can see so far) I’d suggest you keep it that way and just louvre the sides you have.
My opinion is if you want stock looking sides, you should have a stock folding top. With a custom smooth top, you would want custom sides, either smooth or with small hot rod louvers. Don't mix your styles.
My understanding is that the one piece top makes it much easier to remove the side panels without scratching paint, and its also easier to remove it as well. Louvers are more difficult to clean and polish than flat sides. Point is that whatever you decide, it will have its own pros and cons........and no matter what you decide, someone will have an issue with your choice. I'm sure glad I don't spend all my time at shows looking for period "incorrectness" and choose to just enjoy the overall looks of vehicles. Besides, with my oldtimers disease in full force, I don't remember all the little bullsh*t details anymore. Makes life more enjoyable for me.........
I am sorry but I think a 3W looks best with a four piece 25 louver hood. Back when I started with this stuff 62 years ago, the 25 louver hood was called a 3W hood. Most had them. Almost never saw them on anything else. Mine came with one. It just looks right. It balances the profile.
We are all individuals and entitled to our own opinion, I have been a hot rodder for most of my life and have owned many Ford hot rods, and a few odd ball cars, I love learning everything I can about the particular make that I own and have a massive library on Fords, especially the 1932. I am constantly reading all types of books and manuals trying to keep my sanity and knowledge. HRP
I have a 3 pc hood on my '29 coupe. I think it is more difficult to deal with than a stock folding hood. If I was building the car now, I would retain a stock hood.
I am in the process of purchasing a 32 Body,Fenders,grille from Brookville. I asked them if the side panels were easy to remove if someone wanted to just run the top panel sometimes. Their explanation to me was that the 4 piece hood was more difficult to remove the side panels and may have problems with scratching paint when doing so. It would seem logical that a one piece top panel would be somewhat lighter and being rigid rather than floppy, it would also be easier to remove. Its been close to 50 years since I had a 33 Ford, and it vaugely seems like removing the hood was a PITA.........but I have never dealt with a 32......so I'm relying on others for their opinion. I decided not to order my hood until I look at some and see what suits my needs. Danny, I also spend a lot of time looking thru old books and magazines for ideas and comparing what others have done.
Accessibility to the engine bay can be improved with a 3 piece hood compared to a stocker. Complete removal and refitting takes minutes, and is a one man operation. A one piece top can be made to look somewhat like a stocker by adding the center strip, but it wouldn't sit down quite as low.. A chromed piece of brass of a suitable profile could conceivably be made to improve on the profile. An ingenious soul could even add the end pieces. I have 2 32's. The roadster I've been running for 25 years now has the 3 piece. My approaching final assembly 3w coupe has a 4 piece hood. I'm terrified at the prospect of paint damage in assembly installation and general usage of the 4 piece. I guess I'll have to get over that! I'm an engine closed and minimum necessary maintenance kind of guy, so maybe it'll be OK. Chris
Thanks to all for your reasoned thoughts, advice, conversations and responses in general. I've placed the order for the "Henry" style 25 louvered side panels with unfolded top flange (thanks for that advice @krylon32).
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