29 Cowl Lacing wire help

[KMBeers]

I am trying to get the cowl lacing ready to install on my 29 Tudor. The instructions that came with the kit for Bratton's before they closed say to “insert the stainless steel wire thru the flat lacing”. After about 6” it wants to poke through the lacing wall and it needs to stay inside for about 17-3/16”. Does anyone have a trick to make this task easier? Since the SST wire is .046”, I was thinking about using a piece of SST .050-.060 size welding wire with a point on the end to get a little larger hole then install the .046 wire after which may make it easier. I can’t believe I am the first one to struggle with this wire install so any “pearls of wisdom” on this task would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AYooperA]

I am not familiar with that type of lacing. On my car the wire holds the lacing on the outside. It’s centered on the lacing and lays in the notched depression in the cowl. The key is to draw the wire as tight as you can against the lacing and then loop the ends through the holes at the bottom where the fuel tank meets the firewall. Then you draw down that j-hook at the center by hood hinge and snug up further. I even reused my original wire and just replaced lacing. The may help you although sounds like you have something different.

 

[KMBeers]

Might be different but thanks for the pictures. It will be interesting to see what others have done on their car

 

[Randy in ca]

The original (most correct) method was having the wire inside the lacing as you've tried. Lots of past threads on overall procedure - here's a link to a recent one:

LINK: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2413163

As far as getting the wire into the lacing, every one done might be a little different. Try getting the wire as straight as possible and working on both ends of the lacing at the same time might succeed. Good luck