31 lower cowl patch panel recommendations

atch

atch

Senior Member
The ONLY rust in my 1931 two door sedan is the drivers lower cowl. Note: previous owner had cut off the bottom 6-8 inches of this cowl, so I don't have anything to even start with.

(the rear wheel wells were cut out; see my other post)

The only lower cowl patch panel I have found on line is Bert's. I've heard many good things about Bert's but have never purchased anything from them.

Has anyone used these?

I don't mind slicin' and dicin' but only if the bead contour is correct. Anyone know about the contour?
 
Contact Bert's, they are very knowledgeable. they can and will tell you if the patch panels will fit without modifications.
 

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aford193031 said:
Contact Bert's, they are very knowledgeable. they can and will tell you if the patch panels will fit without modifications.
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I can/will do that; just wanted to hear from anyone who had actually used them.

I actually have a wish list of parts that I need and will be buying from them.

Bob C said:
Bill Stipe makes the best ones, ask the dealer whose they sell.
http://www.specialtymotorcams.com/detail.php?s=cowl-patch-panels-cowlpatch
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Thanx Bob. I had read numerous posts here and other places raving about Bill Stipe's panels but all my Googling only turned up his engine parts.
 
The replacement panels come complete as seen in the previous post . I have fitted several of these over the years I do not fit the complete panel as the front end where the cowl band hooks on etc etc is generally sound so I crop the new panel vertically just behind this area and MIG it in place a skim of bondo and job done . Replacing the complete patch is a much more complicated repair ,alignment etc etc .

John in Suffolk County England .
 
I put a coupe of sets on in the past 5 years. They came from Snyders, so not sure if the same as Berts have. Every patch panel I have installed needs some work to get it to fit.

The one's I put in a Coupe ended up being a bit too long so had to shorten them up so they fit at the back and also along the front where the cowl band fits. As John said, the less of the original sheet metal you have to cut out the better.

Seems like there were two options for the panels, one that had the correct contours and one that was just stamped flat. Of course, the former is more $$$, but if you don't have any original metal, spend the extra bucks to get the contours.


As said earlier, ask Steve about the bead and quality and contours
 
I do not believe there is a commercial reproduction patch panel on the planet that fits without some metal working. Go on You Tube and search for installations of patch panels in a Model "A." Eastman has some videos of panels going into Model "A" Fords.

It has been my experience that the rear fender well patch panels are the easiest to install. Cowl panels will require bumping and shrinking to fit properly.
 
Two very different 1930-1931 cowl,patch panels are currently being made. The cheap flat ones, and the good stipe ones. We only sell the good stipe ones, since the cheap ones are flat and not good in any way. The stipe ones are curved like the cowl, and work well.

Part # A-70018 at modelastore.com

Steve @ Bert’s
 
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