Model A body swap questions

I currently have a hiboy '31 AV8 coupe and have an opportunity to buy a steel '28-'29 roadster body with Hal**** style screen. I've been trawling through all the picture threads of A roadsters and reckon it's time for a serious makeover.
Are there any big differences between the early and late A ch***is that will make this an un straight forward swap? I still want to run the body on top of the ch***is.
'28-'29 body and '32 grill shells, can you run the stock bonnet top or does it require modifying or a one off hood top?

 

ok , i believe the body is a straight swap . the '32 grill is more work . hood modifications .
hopefully some one else will help out ................. steve

 

The main difference is in the front crossmember to account for the height difference in the early and late radiator.

 

Body straight swap. No major problems.

 

So I'd really be looking at either sectioning the grill shell or lowering and changing the rad to suit or modifying the front crossmember?

 

The difference in height of the frame mounting pad for the radiator is about 1/4 inch. Enough to make you crazy when aligning a stock body but if you are just running a hood top you would never notice it. Your problem is that the '30-'31 radiator shell (and probably the '32 you are running) will be a couple of inches too tall for the earlier body without modification.

Charlie Stephens

 

All makes sense, the later A grill and '32 being taller than the '28-'29.
Most of the early A roadsters i see pictures of are sitting on '32 rails and I ***ume the whole car is built with a mind on the body, hood and grill lines.
Having got a new Walker rad inside my '32 shell and sat on a recently powder coated A ch***is it looks like a little more thought is required before going for the swap. As mentioned by you guys the body swap won't be the issue but keeping the front end right will be.

Does anyone here know of someone that has done the swap and what method they used to overcome the grill/rad problem? Dropping the grill shell further over the cross member and then modding the rad to fit the lower shell?

Thanks in the meantime guys for your help and suggestions

 

I'm sure cheltenham radiator would take 2" out the core and Pete could section the shell , I even have a tin of satin black ill let you have


Less talk more roadster !!