32 subrails

josh414

Junior Member
Can someone please explain the difference in 32 subrails. I have a 2 door sedan that is in need of subrails and I am unable to find them for a sedan. Can a roadster or 3 window rail be modified to fit a sedan. They all sit on the same frame so I would think they would be close to the same. Does anybody make them for a sedan? Thanks in advance.
 
The 3 window's are quite a bit different, but Brookville roadster subrails have been used on lots of 5 windows. They will be better than nothing for the sedan, but your key word was modify.
 
There are some good threads about sub rails for 32 Victoria and Tudor models on th HAMB. Also check out www.mcphersonauto.com They make subrail parts for the 5-window coupe types that are more similar to Tudor, Fordor, and Victoria models. I guess they are a lot wider behind the b-pilar than the roadster or 3-window coupe models.

Kerby
 
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Hi; I went the other way. I narrowed sedan rails to fit a 5w. The sedan subrails are wider toward the rear. That is, the body widens outward. It can be seen in the bottoms of the doors. A four-door front looks like a 5w, but it is wider at the bottom toward the rear. Memory says it is at least an inch per side. Newc {Oregon}
 
Picture 1 is a set of Brookville roadster subrails.
Picture 2 & 3 are Mcpherson Auto 5W subrails.
Not knowing your skill level choose wisely.
Brookville subs come with holes drilled and welded together. More $$$
Mcpherson comes in many small pieces. Less $$$
Both sets need modified to fit a tudor at the door opening, "B" pillar and along the subrail to body area due to the wider tudor body.
 

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I solved the problem in my '32 sedan by carefully removing the spot welds on the old, rusty ones and using them for patterns to fab new ones out of 18ga. I sawed them out with a band saw and tig welded and ground the edges to form the compound curves. Was a lot of work, but the results were they fit like a glove and looked original. This only works if the old ones are good enough for patterns.
 
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