'32 grill shell

A question for those of you running deuce grill shells. Did you buy a deuce shell and start chopping until it fit or does someone make a shell specifically for a T-Bucket? What about the radiator?

 

I bought full size and cut to what I liked although some companies sell 6" chopped.I guess I wanted more chop and just cut 'til I liked it.

 

Speedway sells a chopped shell and a Walker radiator to go with it.

 

I used the Speedway 4 1/2" chopped shell on mine and the aluminum Ron Davis radiator that went with it. Cools very good. They also have the grille that fits it to made by Vintique.

Mine was thick fiberglass. but a little rough in places. It took some filling to get it smooth enough for paint.

4 1/2" may not be enough chop for some cars. If you drop it far enough to "read" right with the cowl, it may be too close to the ground. Works on my car though.

This shot is the only one I have that shows ground clearance and the hieght compared to the cowl.

http://i185.photobuc...6Ford/hiway.jpg

Mike

 

Mike, getting the grill shell at the same height as the cowl is one thing that a lot of guys do not take the time to do. It really bugs me when I see a grill shell sticking up higher than the cowl. Your car shows that you paid attention to a lot of those type of things when you were building and as a result you have a great car.

Jim

 

Dad's '27 (the red one) has a Speedway 4-1/2" chopped grille with their insert as well... like Hot Rod 46 said, there is a bit if work to do on it, but overall it was pretty nice and the insert fit pretty well.

 

Nice car Mike.

I know what you mean.

 

Thanks, guys.

One piece of advice I can give to new builders comes from building all sorts of "things" since I was kid.

If you're building something that has to look good, then back off(as far as you can) and actually look at it every now and then.

These cars are actually freestyle art that rolls. There may not be any rules, but never forget that art is supposed to be pleasing to the eye and sometimes you have to move things around to get the "look". That's why mockups are very important. Moving something like a radiator around just an inch or two can make a big difference.

Mike

 

You are EXACTLY right Mike. ALWAYS take it out of the garage and stand back away from it and see how it "profiles". If it doesn't look right, it isn't right.

Jim

 

To answer the question I have found that very few thing fit from the box and may need some work. That said I sectioned, chopped, and hacked mine to pieces before I could get what I wanted. Here are few pic of it in progress and note that if you change it too much you will have to make a grill to match.




Randall

 

VERY nice work Randall.

Jim

 

My wife calls it drooling.



That's what i'm talking about. That's beautiful.

 

Im glad someone else had this question. I love the tbucket but have never been a fan of the standard grill. I would like to find another grille set up

 

Here's what I did . . .


(32 Ford chopped grill/shell from Speedway)

 

Looks good coming at ya'.

 

Totally agree. Spent hours looking, adjusting and designing to get the right proportions. Its hard to do and many just don't bother. I even adjusted the top slants on the brass rad to the same angle as the heads.

 

It's all in the details! And the stance. It can make or break the looks.

 

Funny, isn't it. I had a 32 shell on my old T some 40+ years ago and always yearned for a proper brass one. Now sorted.

 

My son got a 50's gmc truck grill surround , just cut out the middle and it is a similar shape to a 32, and was free at the wrecking ward when he helped the owner crush cars. anything with a red X on crusher cas was free.

 

Sorry ,
I just don't see anything similar between a 32 Ford & a 50' s Chevy truck grille