Projects Model A recess fire wall or move rad

Hi all
I am striping down the car to start my engine transplant and I decided to do a rough mock up. With my 283 in place stuck the rad in 3" forward. With my research here and elsewhere this doesn't seem to be a popular option. To me if you're not interested in a hood or stock fenders it seems to alleviate some problems with setting back the engine (steering, firewall mods, foot room) what am I missing. Phil

 

Most people online will say the rad needs to be right over the axle...but, old time channeled cars ran the rad in front of the front crossmember, to be able to lower the rad.

If you don't care about that "over the axle", you could lengthen the front frame horns to make it better on the eye. They tend to look too short as shown, but if you don't mind that look, do what you want, not others.

I personally would not reverse the firewall on my own builds, due to what you said: footroom, pedals, etc...and, not to forget about comfort when driving it a lot.

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Some have reversed the firewall to gain extra room, someone may know how to find pics of the process.

 

I've seen a reverse firewall thread I am not crazy about the look, I'm thinking of a early 60's build so I would consider a flat on top and slight
recess on the bottom. Phil

 

If left up to me. I'd increase the stock recess while keeping with oval look of it. Now new back wall could go flat but I'd would radius the outside and inner edges to give as stock as possible appearance.

 

If the grille sticks out too far it looks like a huge nose. We are all trained to know what a Model A is supposed to look like, so we can spot a grille sitting 3" out from a mile away.

But you do what you want. It's your car.

 

If you want to run fenders and a hood then you are going to have to modify the firewall so it sets back enough.

 

When you step back and look at the car you are the only person whose opinion matters as to the aesthetics of the car. Mock it up, push it outside and step back. Look at it from every angle you can from different distances and in different light conditions. Look at different model A's and all the pictures you can. Pretty soon you will know what is ideal for you and what you can live with when you have to trade aesthetics for ergonomics.

 

I would recess the firewall, but then again, I'm short.

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