36 Truck Radiator Shell Lacing

[Flathill]

Is the radiator shell lacing the same on the 36 Pick Up and Panel Delivery ?
On the Panel Delivery shell there are no holes for the lacing rivets.
There are 2 big holes on each side of the grill shell but they are large holes.
I was thinking that the 35 passanger and 35-37 pickup grill shell lacing was the same ? Not sure about the Panel Delivery grill shell area ?
Flathill

 

[Lawson Cox]

I would think so as they use the same grill. Maybe Don Rogers will chime in here and tell us for sure. LOL

 

[jerry grayson]

The lacing is the same on all 1936 commercial grills. A slot is located on each side of the grill next to the screw holes that fasten it to the radiator. The lacing has a hook rivited on each end and the hook goes in this slot at the top and at the bottom of the grill in one of three other slots. ( the three slots at the bottom are for adjustment of the lace). The lace is not riveted to the shell. The other holes in the grill in the lace channel are used to fasten it to the radiator.
The lace is 3/4 inch wide with a raised ridge on each side.

 

[Don Rogers]

Adding to Jerry's comments...Heres a 35 shell showing the mounting holes and lower lacing slots.

 

[Flathill]

Are the hooks that are riveted on each end of the lacing anything special ?
Without other rivets holding the lacing to the grill shell isn't the lacing kind of loose ?
I guess I need to see the lacing installed on a 36 commercial grill.
It's seems like Ford listed their vehicles as Passenger, Commercial, or Truck.
Where are the Panel Delivery and Pick Up found under the list ?
Are Commercial and Truck the same ?
Thanks for the above replies as I'm beginning to understand the radiator shell set up, but still have questions. Flathill

 

[Don Rogers]

The pickup and panel delivery are commercial vehicles along with the station wagon and sedan delivery. They were all on the 112" wheelbase. The larger vehicles on the 131 1/2" and 157" wheelbase were considered trucks.

 

[Lawson Cox]

"Are the hooks that are riveted on each end of the lacing anything special ?
Yes, the hooks are sort of special and are supplied with a lace kit available from most dealers.

Without other rivets holding the lacing to the grill shell isn't the lacing kind of loose ?

The lace is a little loose until you put in the little screws that go into the radiator. These pull the lace tight to the grill.

 

[Lawson Cox]

"Are the hooks that are riveted on each end of the lacing anything special ?
Yes, the hooks are sort of special and are supplied with a lace kit available from most dealers.

Without other rivets holding the lacing to the grill shell isn't the lacing kind of loose ?

The lace is a little loose until you put in the little screws that go into the radiator. These pull the lace tight to the grill.

I am going to have to do a little further research on this. Jerry and I seem to be in disagreement. What pictures I have of this area in question do not show screw heads in the lace. Oh the fun of trying to documnet "stuff" accurately. LOL

 

[flat-v8]

I just last week did mine on a 36' PU, I'll take a picture when I get home. I actually had to take a while to figure out how it went together, had no idea, but you drill 2 tiny holes thru one end of the lacing piece, then attach the metal hook tab on the inside of the lacing strip, facing the grill shell so the lacing is all you see on the outside of grill. The little rivets are split, so you just bend over and squeeze with pliers. Hook the bent tab into the lower hole and stretch the lacing up to the top of the radiator by the fill cap, there is another slit to attach the loose end of the lacing, it doesn't go all the way around, it is 2 pieces. Line up the 2nd metal hook tab to the slit in the grill shell, then cut lacing with razor blade, attach rivets, pull, stretch, attach, repeat on other side. The cowling lace is the same stuff but has tiny screws that go thru the lace straight into the body, I think 10 holes on each side. Good Luck!

 

[Flathill]

The lacing kit that I received labeled "35 pass, 35-37 "commerical came with lacing and some split rivets. No metal hook tabs. This kit works good on the radiator shell on a 35 pass and coupe as I have seen these.
My grill shell has no small holes for the rivets except 2 big holes on each side of the lower grill. The grill shell does have slots at the bottom and top which the lacing could slide through. Confusung ?

 

[Lawson Cox]

The lacing kit that I received labeled "35 pass, 35-37 "commerical came with lacing and some split rivets. No metal hook tabs. This kit works good on the radiator shell on a 35 pass and coupe as I have seen these.
My grill shell has no small holes for the rivets except 2 big holes on each side of the lower grill. The grill shell does have slots at the bottom and top which the lacing could slide through. Confusung ?

If you don't have the metal hook tabs, you don't have a complete kit.

 

[jerry grayson]

The lacing kit that I received labeled "35 pass, 35-37 "commerical came with lacing and some split rivets. No metal hook tabs. This kit works good on the radiator shell on a 35 pass and coupe as I have seen these.
My grill shell has no small holes for the rivets except 2 big holes on each side of the lower grill. The grill shell does have slots at the bottom and top which the lacing could slide through. Confusung ?

No, the lacing does not go through the slots, the HOOKS that are riveted to the lacing goes in these slots.

 

[Flathill]

Ok the lacing does't go through the slots.
Now I'm looking for a lace kit with the metal hooks. Most kits don't seem to come with the hooks only lace and rivets. I will keep looking for a vendor that supplies a proper kit.

 

[Scott H]

Ok the lacing does't go through the slots.
Now I'm looking for a lace kit with the metal hooks. Most kits don't seem to come with the hooks only lace and rivets. I will keep looking for a vendor that supplies a proper kit.

Let us know when you find it...I'll be needed the same thing eventually.

 

[Steel 35]

I replaced mine and had the ends to reuse, they would be easyer to make then find (IMO) I put the two ends in first then pulled the lacing over the center and it is very tight and no screws were necessary.

 

[flat-v8]

Okay, here's some pics, little blurry but you can see the hook tab and lacing.

 

[Flathill]

Thanks for the pictures Flat-V8 !
My vendor said no hooks come with the Radiator Shell Lacing Kit as they aren't needed and no one has sent them back after 128 orders.
I agree they are not needed on the 35 passenger but are needed on the 35-37 pick up and they are being sold as a kit for all of these.
I mentioned to the vendor they may not be suppling the proper kit but since others haven't complained they think I must be wrong.
Also are any screws used through the lower part of the lacing where the radiator shell is closer to the fender. Can't see this area in the pictures.
Now I'm still looking for at least the hooks that the lacing attachs to at the top and bottom of the shell. Are 4 hooks needed ?
Also need to find a vendor that supplies the hooks.
Flathill

 

[DavidG]

This same method of attaching the lacing to the radiator shell was used on all '32s (and on the cowl as well). The heads of the binding head screws used to attach the lacing to the radiator were underneath the lacing. The hooks can be purchased from A&L Parts Specialties, Canton, CT, (860) 693-0112 weekdays 8 am to 6 pm.

While you're at it, ask them if they have any hard core lacing left. The lacing that most vendors sell has a soft core (white) which collapses over time changing the alignment of the hood. The hard core lacing that Ford used originally (dark brown core) disappeared from the market some years ago, but A&L scrounged around for the last of it and they might still have some left.

For those who are fussy, the heads of the rivets that were used to attach the hooks originally faced down, not up as in the photo above and a star rivet tool was used on the tubular end facing outward creating the form of a star. The method of attachment is shown in Ford's original engineering drawings.