Has anyone installed a 32 grill shell and insert on their 38 ford pickup? I am not talking rat rod looking, but installed with the 38 hood, sides and fenders. This is what I am looking to do to my 38. I was just hoping someone had pics of how it looks. Thanks all.
fenders would not attach directly to fenders. I think it will only become a factor if the fenders rest forward too far. If that is so then I assume I would fabricate a apron for it.
I think 38 grills are sweet and you should be proud of it, but that just an opinion. As far as the deuce shell goes, it kinda breaks the unwritten "don't go backwards" rule, I think it would look too small. Maybe a 35/36 pickup grill? Once again, just an opinion.
Keep the stocker '38 shell and fill in the top and bottom with sheetmetal, cut out as big a perfect circle you can, tunnel it back a foot or so, install a jet engine.....wear earplugs. Hang the deuce shell in the garage.
Don't try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. You'll only make the truck and the shell into something laughable and worthless. A 38-39 Ford pickup is an attractive truck for the times. The 32 Radiator shell and grille are not compatible with it in this universe or any other.
No matter what you do, it'll look too much like this to EVER work. The '38 grille is a beautiful piece. Run it.
Somewhere around here I have a brochure from a company that made a Deuce nose "kit" for the VW Bug similar to that atrocious Rolls setup. If I run into it again I'll post it for a laugh.
I don't think it would look right. I'd leave the 38 shell where it is, or like mentioned earlier, go with a 35-37 truck shell.
A guy in Albuquerque was doing that two years ago. I heard it turned out nice looking. I havn't seen it since it was finished.
Yeah but still not as ugly as the original. The thought seemed totally off, but that set of photos shows it might have some merit. So go for it, it's your truck. You could throw an Edsel grille collar on it. Wouldn't be much different.
Dude, other than the part about "it's his truck & he can (& should) do with it what he wants", you're f'#%kin' crazy... JH
I think why it looks crazy is that you usually don't put older body parts on a newer car. It's going the wrong direction in evolution of design. You can put a 32 shell on cars older than 1932 because the 32 shell updated the look of an older car. You can put quad hedlights on an early 50s car, but usually you don't put a 50s grill on a 60s car. You don't put 16 inch wire wheels on shoeboxes. I vote for not going backwards in time to "out of date" rather than "up date" your car.
agreed. there is something inherently wrong with newer cars rockin older design cues... must i bring up the late model t-bird "shoeboxes", or those awful studebaker/late model chevy pickups? ok, so maybe thats a bit much... but still, i agree with Elrod, especailly after seeing it fleshed out on that panel.
Anyone that would put a '32 shell on a '38/'39 deserves a round house to the neck. What wrong with the stock front end?
I was going to post a pick of this one but here it is. I think the truck would of looked much better with the stock grill but he's real proud of it so I guess thats what matter. I've seen the truck finished, way to street roddy for me anyway plus some 70's van style murals on the side don't do it any help.
This is a really bad idea......... You would be replacing an oval shape with a long narrow one, proportions would be all out of kilter. Take a long look at the truck from New Mexico, if that still looks good to you, then God help you brother!
I've always thought '38-'39 Ford trucks are among the best looking trucks of all time. I know some people think they are ugly, but I like the front end styling a lot. '38 Ford was the first truck of any make to have a front opening hood. I am partial to them because I've had my '38 since I was 14 years old, and I'm now 57. I like the looks of that '39 with the Pepe's Garage advertizements on it. I think any old truck looks better lettered for some business, real or fictitious. Mine is lettered as a shop truck for Drake Motor Co., the Ford dealer here from Model T days until 1956. One subtle little thing that improves the looks of the '38-'39 truck front end is to use '36 Ford car headlight lenses and trim rings (the "bug eye" lenses)--they fit right on as the headlight bucket is the same.
Truthfully, after seeing this, I like the 39 grill on it. Also, it would save alot of fabrication time and ridicule from hambers.
The Jalopy Journal
