I just got a cheap 28 model A minus engine/trans/grill (It went to the scrapyard because the inheritants were clueless and didn't care). Although I found a model A engine with B head that was rebuild by the wehrmarcht in Paris in 1944, I'm thinking about building a full fender AV8 on the stock frame and a 32 radiator and shell. What I'd like to know is the 32 radiator height. Yes I did some research and found some finished car pictures but no dimensions. I did talked to some people and I got 2 answers : chopped 2" and chopped 3". So I'd like to have a definitive answer to buy the correct radiator the first time around. If someone can help, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I have a '28 roadster on a '32 frame and used a 2" chopped radiator. I can't help you with a Model A frame but I'd assume you'd want it to be the stock height of a Model A rad and then cut the shell to match. Whatever you do, measure twice and order once. You do not want the front of the hood running uphill.
Thanks, I thought of the stock A radiator height but I don't know if the crossmember is at the same height in the chassis and I have no way of taking measurements on a real 32 in my part of the wood.
OK, I just went through this exact problem with my 29. I had found that in the tardel book, it hinted at a roughly 1 3/4" chop they sourced the radiator from jamco i believe? well I bought a 3 inch chopped on here on the hamb knowing it probably would have to be raised a bit, but that worked for me because i had put a flattend cross in my car and still wanted to run the ubolts on the front spring. In my case 3 inch was way too short in my opinion. I had a 28/29 walker for reference also and it was right at 24.5-25" high if i remember right. when I bought the 3" chopped, I used some long bolts pushed up through the bottom of the cross, then cinched them down with 1 jamb nut, i then added nuts to the bolt to raise the radiator, i ran a piece of tape from the cowl to the top of the shell to mimic the hoodline, and sat back and stared and took pics and left it and came back again and again. ultimately i ended up with 1 1/2" that the radiator would have been chopped for my application. After that i made block shims for it. Now remember the rubber mounting pad will take up a little more room too. If you dont have access to a radiator, maybe you can make a fixture that will bolt to the cross that will be adjustable in the up down that you can mount the shell to? or cut the dimensions of the radiators out on some L-Brackets and plywood to play with? I found for knowing about where i needed to be and just diving in was the best way to dial it in. but I had a radiator already, and as i stated, I am running and aftermarket flattend cross member, so i suggest you check what looks best for your car. also i noticed a brookville shell i have fits slightly different (higher in my case) than my original 32 shell. heres how mine looks now. Bottom line, a 2 inch is probably pretty close but theres alot of factors that goes into it, and it really can make or break the look of the car. hope some of this helps and doesn't muddle it up more for you!
fwiw, for reference, here is a pic of my car with a stock hieght 32 radiator and brookville shell, if i remember the stock was 27" plus or minus the only thing a bout these pics is my body was not on the mounting blocks either, so the shells look even higher than what they would have ended up at, in my previous post everything is mounted on the blocks. here it is with the walker 28/29 rad (stock height)
I'll measure my radiator later tonight. It's a 2" chopped Walker. Don't use the rods a reference. They are now turned to the side.
2" chop '32 style (aluminum) radiator, 'glass '32 shell. Fit's perfectly, and, not unimportant, it cools the 276 DeSoto Hemi easily. The grill shell will need to be notched to your needs, I think I took about 4" out of the bottom to lower it the proper amount. There is just enough drop from cowl to radiator shell to not look goofy, about 1/2". If you're gonna run a hood that line is VERY important, if not, it still needs to be lower than the cowl but can be a little lower if you like it so.
Thanks for the replies and beautiful cars. Mine will still run the original chassis like Eddiesixem, not a 32. So apparently that would requier the same amount of chop be it a B or A frame. I don't know why some recommend a 3" chop other than they don't know and be sure it will fit and shim (more like block) accordingly. Anyway thank you.
if you need any pics of info on mine, let me know, i will get you more details and exact measurements of mine if you would prefer.
Brian don’t know what it is about that car or your picture taking it the pictures of it sitting in the garage I hate it. But out in the wild I absolutely love it!
Mine is a 2" short Walker 32 Ford radiator and the shell was sectioned 1-3/4" so that the weatherstrip attachment points are still present and the shell looks natural at the lower edges. Front hood corners where re-worked and the hood fits perfectly with the latches hooked which where not hooked in the photo...
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