Hot Rods Who makes the best 32 insert?

So, I have a real nice original 32 grill shell for my 3w project, but I need a nice insert. I bought a brookville, fits perfect in the brookville grill, and it is miles off of a good fit in the real grill. My friend loaned me his original insert and it fits perfect. Where can I get a repop insert that fits like that?

 

Use to was Dales Mfg. OKC.
No longer I'm told.

 

Dales were what we always used. @vintagehotrods is the guru to ask

 

Since there is no more Dales, I wonder how good the United Pacific insert is? If it's a good as their other 32 parts I'd try one. I sold my last full polish Dales insert with crank hole for $1000 a few months ago. They were the closest insert to a Henry original made.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...nal-insert-also-original-insert-only.1296102/

Steve @hotrodhoodlum has two originals for sale

 

My Dales' insert was $275 if I recall correctly, was many years ago.
Oh, yeah, the first one I bought was $225, would have needed a hydraulic spreader to get it in the Vintique shell, insert was made in China.
When you strummed the inserts' teeth it played the Chinese National Anthem!

 

CW Moss usually has good stuff but I have no experience with these: https://cwmoss.com/search?q=Grill+Insery

 

Was going to mention that ad. I’ve bought a few things from him in the past, straight shooter.

 

Why bother with a repop, just get a gene. Not hard to find.

 

Nothing fits an original like an original. And if you’ve got an original body and an original shell, pony up for an original insert.

I have tried all these in a Brookville shell for what it’s worth…the super cheap offshore version is a complete waste of money, nowhere near to the correct shape at the top…no “windows peak” in it at all. Then the United Pacific while much better quality…is kinked all the way around. Like instead of a nice flowing curve of the outer trim, it’s very jagged and has a lot of flat spots in it. My final choice was a Vintique, which is as close to fitting as I’ve gotten. Where it doesn’t fit I have to blame the grill shell. I have not tried it in an original.

Dales was absolutely the best.

 

A man with your talents could fabricate one…….
(But that wasn’t the question).
Just be aware, if you aren’t already, that some original shells and inserts can vary in size and shape.
- not all grille shells are the same, so always pays to check fitment first.
I know this because we took the good top half of a original and mated it to the good bottom half of another and now no insert on the planet will fit.
Checked the other 2 originals and one is taller/longer and a different shape - top - and bottom………

or maybe one just scraped too many curbs…………..

 

I heard an interview with Dan Baker the owner of alumicraft on @travisfromkansas pod cast. They make inserts to fit original grills, united pacific and vintique etc and they are all differently shaped.

that’s who I’d go looking for if I was in your situation