32 dilemma

[Lars99@aol.com]

Six months ago I purchased what was supposed to be, (18-xxxxx number on the frame near firewall), a model 18. Further research finds this roadster could be a very early,(possibly the second roadster assembled), car. Found fuel lines on right and fuel line exits tank toward right. Also, 10 leaf springs, braces added to cross-member. Literature that came with the car mentions another very early vin number that claims it may be the second roadster built.
The car has a 34 flathead and is in restorable condition. Plan to remove body from frame and verify whether it te's a B or an 18. If it is a B, is it worth restoring as a B ?

 

[tierod]

You bet

 

[DavidG]

Absolutely!

I'm curious about the claim about it being the second roadster built. Some, but not many, roadster bodies have a body number stamped on the number one cross sill. Even if it is stamped and it has something along the lines of a "2", that would still not make it the second roadster (as a complete car) built, but rather the second body built. (Ford did not strictly follow first-in, first-out inventory practices).

Early roadster and phaeton bodies have a number of characteristics that distinguish them from later bodies, namely on the doors. It would be interesting to learn if your body's doors have those characteristics.

If the 18 prefix engine number shows up under the body on the left frame rail and it has four digits following the 18-prefix below 2,000, it would be possible to surmise when (within a week) and where it became a whole car. If those hidden numbers show up under the frame with a B or AB prefix, it would be very difficult to nail down much in the way of a build date as over 35,000 B engine engine/transmission assemblies were produced before the any of them was installed in a production vehicle.

 

[Lars99@aol.com]

Will do. Trying to post photos of doors, but no luck.

 

[Charlie Stephens]

I restored a '32 as a "B" in the seventies. Almost everyone was "restoring" their cars as V8's. Today the B stands out because they all became V8's. In my opinion they attract as much attention as a V8 if done right.

As to your photo posting problem are you setting your camera for the lowest quality available? That is usually the problem.

Charlie Stephens

 

[Lars99@aol.com]

Thank you for the advice, Charlie. Will try the photos from my computer instead of the IPad.

 

[ford38v8]

I always enjoy reading the '32 posts, even if they don't translate to my understanding of Early Fords. The '32 Ford is indeed in a class of it's very own! We all love the cars we have, but boy, do we envy the Dueces!

 

[jim1932]

Thank you for the advice, Charlie. Will try the photos from my computer instead of the IPad.

Try the computer. I can't get the iPad to post pictures either.

 

[Seth Swoboda]

I personally would rather have the B engine than that early V8 60, too many problems and the B engine is more powerful.

 

[DavidG]

The B engine has a slight edge in torque, but is short in the HP department (50 versus 65). A B-equipped '32 will win a 50 yard drag race with a '32 V-8 of the same body type, but in a 100 yard race or longer, the outcome will be reversed (been there, done that).

Surviving '32 V-8 engine blocks are just as reliable as later flathead blocks when properly restored. (just don't bore one beyond +.040).

I like 'em both and have several of each.

 

[Seth Swoboda]

My grandfather restored a 32 B five window coupe in the late 80's. He sold that car in 91 for what would today be considered a steal (around 20k). I loved that little 32 coupe and it's B engine. Unfortuately I was in Jr High and didn't have the money to buy the car from him. I was interested in early fords then but I don't think anyone in my family realized that at the time. Damn, if I could get that car back!!!

 

[Charlie Stephens]

I personally would rather have the B engine than that early V8 60, too many problems and the B engine is more powerful.

Seth,

I think you are getting the engines mixed up. The '32 came with a 221 cubic inch V8 as an option to the B. This block evolved into the 85 HP engine. It was more powerful (rated 65 HP) than the Model B (rated 50 HP) but as any new design had a few problems. Ford had just finished producing probably 30 million four cylinder engines between the Model T and the Model (don't hold me to the exact number) and had most of the problems worked out. The V8 60 was much smaller (about 136 inches compared to 200 for the Model B) and came out in the United States in 1937 (1935 overseas).

Charlie Stephens

 

[DavidG]

Seth,

My first car was a $50 B standard coupe, which will give you a good idea how long ago that was. I've had a couple since and one now as they remain one of my favorites.

Dave

 

[Lars99@aol.com]

I have added some photos of as-is condition, one with the door. I have additional door photos and shots of other unique features and will post soon. Will be thrilled if these photos show up.

 

[Lars99@aol.com]

Here are more shots of the door, jamb, and hinged side. Also, a photo of the correct 32 V8 I had a hard time finding with all the correct bells and switches.

 

[hotcoupe]

nice car, are those motor mounts correct?
tom

 

[Lars99@aol.com]

No. The plan is to use the ones currently holding up the 34 engine.

 

[jim1932]

Seth,

My first car was a $50 B standard coupe, which will give you a good idea how long ago that was. I've had a couple since and one now as they remain one of my favorites.

Dave

Well I have the bill of sale where my uncle bought my tudor B for $50 and that was 1960.

 

[DavidG]

Lars99,

Thanks for the photos. It would appear to be highly unlikely that this was the second roadster built as it does not have the earliest version of the doors and the firewall is not the early type.

The earliest version of the door is shown in the photo below. Note how the lip at the top dips down in the center (like a Model A door) unlike on your door where the lip is uniform in width over its entire length.

 

[Lars99@aol.com]

David
Is your photo of an early 32? Or is it an open Model A? And could you explain your comment on my firewall?

Further research Rehor's The Ford Book, volume 1, page 11-8, Fuel Tank Access Opening in rear Floor Plan says "all passenger car body rear floor pans were initially stamped with the oval access hole for the air/fuel line connections to the fuel to the fuel tank sending unit on top of the fuel oriented at an angle on the right side of the rear floor pan. As this was the direction those lines headed on four-cylinder chassis, but not on LHD V-8 chassis, it can be reasonably presumed that the tooling for the floor pans was completed before the decision was made to offer a V-8 engine. As the dies for the five different floor pans were massive, changes in them presumably took some to accomplish. Further, production of V-8 cars was launched almost a month before Model B car production as the former were the centerpiece of the Company's sales program. This resulted in most very eary V-8 cars having what amounted to Modl B rear floor pans."

Therefore, if a 32 was a very early car, and the fuel line ran up the right side, it could have been either a V-8 or a B. Right?