1932 Ford Grille Shell

I'm glad Tom showed a pict of an early shell without the holes. I think we all to agree there is a purpose, to what that purpose was seems like a mystery. Drainage seems like the most feasible.

I also don't think Ford would have paid to change the stamping mold if there wasn't a reason. David G has showed in his books how many '32 parts were changed as the model year progressed, so who really knows. Maybe they got complaints of a wind whistle while driving and this was an attempt to let the air flow through it.
 
Hard for me to imagine them being for drainage when the crank-hole is lower and much larger. Who knows . . . a mystery yet to be solved! LOL
 
Interesting ideas put forth here. I like David's and Karl's. Maybe those holes had 2 purposes., letting built up water from driving in the rain and snow out and indexing the shell to make sure the crank hole is punched exactly where it needs to be.
 
Further thinking that the v-8 distributor in it's down low position coupled with the funneling attitude of the lower radiator pan & rutted roads of the day, during a down pour, those additional holes may well have some viable function.
 
The blanks from these holes were possibly reformed and used for some other purpose. I seem to remember odd shaped holes stamped in the center crossmember of a Model A, the blank of which was then formed into a bracket that was riveted to the side of the frame.
 
With such a new & bold grille treatment for the 32-model year it would seem the manufacturing & stamping process would certainly have survived in stills or film of the day.
 
From a stamping point of view, the '32 Ford radiator shell was likely less of a challenge than the peaked radiator shell of a '31 Lincoln.
 

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Pete,

Thanks!

That photo was taken last Thursday as it is about to be loaded on a Reliable truck destined for its new home at the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation Museum at the Gilmore in Hickory Corners, MI.
 
A wonderful conundrum!
Punching out those holes caused wear and tear on the tooling. So why continue if there was no need? Except that it was a one-year problem.
Euclid, I think, posited that "three points determine a plane". Maybe those, and something at the top of the shell (the hole that the emblem used?) located the shell for the molding of the shell and other activities.
But then there are the offsets for the hood. Were they done after the grill was formed? Probably. They didn't have to look too good because they would be covered.


And why none on the commercial hoods?
 
When I posted that picture I had no idea it was rare, I thought it was just a different version from another sub-supplier, who knew? (Dave of course) Here's some more pics.

FYI I have a low sn (18 6xxx) todor all original, it has the three hole version.
 

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DavidG said:
That photo was taken last Thursday as it is about to be loaded on a Reliable truck destined for its new home at the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation Museum at the Gilmore in Hickory Corners, MI.
Click to expand...

David, that is a beautiful car and it is a perfect fit in its new home. The Gilmore is a great museum and automotive collection.
 
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