Indented Firewall

[gdmn852]

Hello , as I mentioned before I think this car has been put together from parts so none of it is correctly dated .The reason I thought the firewall changed because in judging books has a picture of typical engine compartment March /April 1931 .If I get a chance I will look through of posts on Ford Barn. If I find out more I will let you know. Tryed to pm but won’t allow me to .

 

[Marshall V. Daut]

Assembly plants implemented the new indented firewall design as obsoleted straight firewalls were used up. Consequently, not all Model A's built during that 1931 timeframe were outfitted with the indented firewalls, depending upon the assembly plants' backlog of older firewalls. As I recall, it took about two or three months to get all plants installing the indented firewall from when they first reached the factories.
Marshall

 

[Jim Brierley]

My '31 widebed has all the late features except the top still has the cloth insert.

 

[gdmn852]

Hello again, thanks for the replys ,I did a search and found different dates for the indented firewall ,around spring of 1931 is the general answer. With Ford assembly plants being miles away from the Rouge , shipping, storage, and other variables , and really mess up the supposed to be date of change over.However if you are building up a car Henry trophy, go by the judging standards.

 

[norcalal]

A long time mate of mine has a 31 coupe with a restamped firewall. It was originally a flat firewall as can be seen with the previous stamping then the dish was stamped and some of the previously stamped reveals were almost flattened It has the later seat riser and wide rear window molding but not rolled down window? Henry didn’t waste anything!

 

[jetmek]

I have one of those here somewhere also

 

[v8fordman]

I have a double stamped firewall as well. The previous reveals are definitely visible.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

Here is my 2-cents.

 

[rfitzpatrick]

Isn't the indented gas shut-off called the "tear-drop"?

 

[ursus]

Isn't the indented gas shut-off called the "tear-drop"?

The indent does have the appearance of an inverted tear-drop although the shut-off valve on my late '31 seems to have a chronic tear-drip.

 

[gdmn852]

Hello,post 9 , yes it is , this car has the teardrop firewall, I had started the post from a pm I couldn’t answer. Thank you for all the replys . I had read the state of New York didn’t like the inside shut off valve so this was Fords response.

 

[v8fordman]

Here is a closeup of a double stamped teardrop firewall. Here are a few things to notice: 1) the original hole for the fuel sediment bowl was welded up. Look at about 7 o’clock from the current hole. 2) there are four holes where the data plate was to be originally placed that are not welded up 3) the original ribs are very noticeable.

 

[Keith True]

Many years ago I looked at a Tudor with a restamped firewall.At the time we had never heard of the restamps,and because it looked so crude we surmised that somebody had beaten the teardrop in there to use a later tank that they had around.The hole looked pretty crude,and it had cracks radiating out from it.The teardrop shape however,looked too perfect to be hand pounded.

 

[Flathead]

I have two A's, one has the inside shut-off, the other has the outside shut-off. I really hate the outside shut-off. There, I've said it.

 

[Keith True]

I have a late 31 Coupe with the outside shutoff,and I won't own another.I have the habit of shutting the gas off when I park,and have to open the hood to do it on that car.50 times it won't leak gas when left on,but the 51'st it might weep.I almost didn't buy this car because of that,but it was an old 60's restoration of a rock solid car,just what I like.I don't want to go down the road of an electric shutoff and a toggle switch,that kind of bandaid bothers me.

 

[ronn]

'31 seems to have a chronic tear-drip.



if you run it more, it will become happy!