1932 firewall insulator - 4cyl

SUHRsc

SUHRsc

Well-known member
I am working on a 32 roadster with a B engine and wondering what the story may be with the attachment of the vibration damper. There is only 1 bolt with the cup on the back going through the insulator. The other 3 are hidden behind the material. Seems really odd to me. It doesn't appear to be converted from a V8 based on the pedal attachment location.

Thanks for any help
Zach
 

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SUHRsc said:
I am working on a 32 roadster with a B engine and wondering what the story may be with the attachment of the vibration damper. There is only 1 bolt with the cup on the back going through the insulator. The other 3 are hidden behind the material. Seems really odd to me. It doesn't appear to be converted from a V8 based on the pedal attachment location.

Thanks for any help
Zach
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529308


529309
 
That's an oddity that I have yet to encounter with any B four-banger. Four recesses, four bolts, and four cups. It would seem that your car was built with a V8 insulator; misbuilds aren't all that rare and for sure Ford would not stop an assembly line for want of a four-cylinder insulator if the V8 was still on hand.


Or given the number of other modifications from original in the first photo, it could be a post-production change made by one of its previous owners.
 
DavidG said:
That's an oddity that I have yet to encounter with any B four-banger. Four recesses, four bolts, and four cups. It would seem that your car was built with a V8 insulator; misbuilds aren't all that rare and for sure Ford would not stop an assembly line for want of a four-cylinder insulator if the V8 was still on hand.


Or given the number of other modifications from original in the first photo, it could be a post-production change made by one of its previous owners.
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That's what I thought. Thank you.

Supposedly this car was originally "restored" in 1952 and appears it may have been spruced up again in the 70s. Maybe they could have gotten ahold of a NOS insulator in 1952 or so.... just seems so odd to have have just put 1 cup as opposed to just covering them all.... I'll have to decide what plan to take. I really hate to disturb what's there.

Thanks!
Zach
 
My fault in my statement.Should have paid closer attention.Here is a nice 4cyl firewall pad still attached to the firewall.
 

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I found another 32 B firewall today that appears to have never had a vibration damper at all? Is this an early one?
 

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Yes, it's an early version. Note the lack of the extra toe room in front of where the clutch pedal would line up against the inside of the firewall compared to the one in your earlier photos.
 
I've been back to fooling with or more accurately dreaming about what to do to get this car back on the road. It seems I will have to cut the extra holes in the firewall pad, to access the other bolts for the vibration damper. I found a set of the correct cups for the backside with old black paint on. What I'm wondering is if I cut the hole for the V8 pedal location. What is the plug that was used when the V8 or B pedal was not using whichever opposite hole? Just a plug in the metal or something to plug out to the insulation panel also?
 

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There were no plugs used originally as the pads were unique, one for fours and one for V8s as there are other hole differences as well.
 
Thank you. This is what I was questioning, page 11-5 of your book. What is this referring to?
 

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Sorry, slipping memory, not uncommon at my age. The plug buttons referred to in the book are like those shown on page A-11-10.
 
Thank you!
So, nothing was used like a "cup" to seal up to the back face of the insulator I guess? Or was there a larger plug inside and a smaller one facing forwards on the metal?

DavidG said:
Sorry, slipping memory, not uncommon at my age. The plug buttons referred to in the book are like those shown on page A-11-10.
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I repeat tat I think that steel plug buttons were used on the face of the pad facing inward in the situation cited in #14 above. No plugs of any kind were used on the side of the pad facing the firewall.


On the engine compartment side of the firewall, in the grommet kit that Drake sold/sells for both fours and V8s, there are two different size rubber plugs and one metal plug button. One of each was used with four-cylinder engines.


Please send me a PM for a copy of the Drake illustration.
 
What is that round, approx. 4" dia. that is right above the engine. It looks like it is sticking out about 4". What does it do.
 
oldford said:
What is that round, approx. 4" dia. that is right above the engine. It looks like it is sticking out about 4". What does it do.
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I think what your asking about is the 32 4 cylinder engine vibration damper. Unseen in the picture is its attachment to the engine. The purpose of the damper is to reduce engine vibration.
 
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