Technical 32, 33, 34 firewalls into a model a?

Okay, I am searching for some opinions that a handful of searches havn't turned up. I have a 30 roadster. It currently has a stock firewall. The car is going on 32 rails. Flathead v8 powered so engine space isn't an issue. I don't want a stock firewall. Initially I set out for a 32 firewall. Pros- its cool, bolt in instead of weld in...maybe I could chrome it? As I was reading about the subject, I learned that a 33/34 pickup has more leg room than a 32 due to the firewall. So I started considering those. Now I am picking up a great deal on a 33/34 firewall. I dont have to use it but I had to grab it. I also have a butchered piece of a 32 cowl. The 32 cowl has no firewall or w/s posts but it has the rest. I have some options from here as I see it. I could weld the 33/34 firewall into the model a and gain some leg room and a cooler look and call it a day. Or I could try to convert the 33/34 firewall to set a touch deeper into the cowl and be bolt in? Could still chrome it if I did that... I could sell the 33/34 firewall and continue to hunt for a 32. Dont know if the 32 pickup cowl bits would be handy for any scenario but I have it... was only 60 bucks so I figured why not. Any thoughts or insights are much appreciated!

 

The roadster door alignment & fit depend a lot on the firm fit of the firewall/cowl structure, you'll have a lot of work equaling that. I'll follow along, post lots of photos. Bob

 

From what I've seen the '32 firewall is taller and wider than the firewall on a '30-31, still, with a little slicing and dicing you can make it work.

 

Iron trap garage has a video or 2 showing one way to do it. Its not too crazy of a task and has been done by several folks on here. Never seen a 33/34 pickup firewall though

 

I will, I have a build thread on the car. I havn't really gotten too deep into it yet but once I finish the car currently in my stable it will start flying along with plenty of pics!

 

I’ve seen quite a few 32 firewalls put into model A’s. I don’t know if I’ve ever knowingly seen a 33/4 though

 

Not a bad idea to make a pickup firewall fit a model A. Depending on the engine you are gonna run will kind of determine if its worth it over a 32 firewall. Alot of 33/34 pickups have the firewalls cut out mainly to give more room for OHV V8's. If you have to set the 33/34 firewall back anymore than 3/4"-1" then you lose all the gains of the of the pushed out toe area.

 

Deuce firewalls are gold nowadays, hope you saved your pennies!

 

A bit wider, so buying a cutup one should be cheaper than cutting up one that could still fit a '32.

 

Thats good to know! Its getting a 59ab so space should be plentiful!

 

Yeah like 900 bucks! Then if I chrome it Ill have about 3-4k into my firewall haha

 

Cool, that would make a nice mirror, then you could set the timing AND shave.

 

A 33-34 pickup firewall looks like an A firewall if you squint. Why go through the work for no benefit?

 

bump out the A firewall use a piece of plywood and attach a polished piece of stainless!

 

I've seen the '32 firewall in a few model A's before but if it were me I'd probably go the Milner Coupe or Baskerville roadster route with the firewall.

Something flat and polished. Aluminum or Stainless. Maybe even engine turned.

If you wanted to you could even use '32 feet as a mounting basis and build off of that.

Just my $2 (adjusted for inflation )

 

Most I've seen are white.

 

Added leg room?

 

This is the firewall I made a deal on.


To my eye it has a much different look than a stock model a.
I am still strongly considering trying to figure out how to make it a bolt in firewall as well. Not sold on any particular route yet though. I know I do not want a stock model a firewall

 

So the ribs go in different directions? The depth of the firewall is pretty close to the A, so I don’t think you are gaining any foot room if that’s what you’re after.

You do you, man.

 

So a deuce firewall is pretty much the same dimensions as the 1933 1934 ford truck firewall . The difference is one sticks out 33-34 and one goes in towards the interior 32. The height is the same the width is the same even the holes line up.
The 1932 truck will except the 1933-34 firewall as the 32 firewall will fit the 33-34 cabs as the cowls are the same. Even the rare roadster pickup fits all the years.
Now fitting them in a model a 30-31 the bottom of the model a cowl will have to be spread out an inch or so. Now if you just use a 32 firewall with out the feet you don’t have to spread it out much at all as the width is on bottom..

 

John, Thanks for the photos!

 

Fantastic! Thanks John!! I'm guessing mounting on the frame is similar? I have a 32 frame

 

Johns pics and info have me leaning toward fitting the 33/34 pickup firewall and converting it to be bolt in...could still chrome it that way. 32 firewalls are just so hard to come across and carry such a high price tag

 

@oliver westlund yes mounting it on a deuce frame is perfect and just have to spread out the model a roadster cowl a bit. The 32/firewall height is 28.5 inches or so less then .500 differences with the 30-31 roadster cowl so very minimal. The width as you see in the picture the deuce firewall is wider on a 32 at the beginning of the feet top and tapers at the very bottom . A few pictures of 30 31 cowl and firewall. It’s been a while since I did one but remember it wasn’t too bad.

 

Lots of deuce firewalls about just talk to a hoarder . If your heart is to chrome one I would be looking into the united pacific one. They are close and lines aren’t sharp like a real one but most 32 firewalls have extra holes ,cuttings, pitting and rust issues. You can find ones that need love or feet for 400 bucks or so. Just a thought

 

Model A firewall (Body) modified to fit an OEM 32 frame by HAMBer (Flop)

 

Thanks john, a lot of help!

 

Smart idea!

 

Ended up deciding it has to be a 32...so I am on the hunt for one again!

 

Look harder........
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/original-1932-ford-firewall.1316882/