Late '31 firewall rib altered?

Jim.Morris2831

Jim.Morris2831

Member
It's been a long time since I've posted much less uploaded a photo. I hope the photo upload is successful, I'll try again if it fails.
I'm restoring my late '31 Deluxe Tudor and noticed that one of the firewall ribs looks odd, a portion of it looks as though it was flattened out near its end near the indent on the firewall and just above where a manifold heater hole was cut. In the photo I've inserted a red arrow pointing to the spot on the passenger side rib. The arrow is noticing a point at which the shape of the rib is half-rounded and then changes to a flat look. Was the rib flattened out just above the heater door (because of the manifold heater attachment?) or is the rib as manufactured by Henry?
Thanks for any help on this one!
Jim
 

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My guess is it's the early "restamp" firewall. When they first introduced the indented firewall models they had some flat firewalls left and they restamped them for the indent. Later when those were used up the ones designed for the indent had shorter ribs.
 
If you blow the picture up you can see the outline of the rest of the rib. Also if you look on the top of the photo near the data plate you can see the outline of the rib along the top.

I also noticed two hole just above the arrow where the id plate would go.

This is a restamped fire wall. Very rare:rolleyes:
 
I've seen many of these restamped (converted) flat firewalls over the years. On the inside the welded patches should be very obvious. If that is an actual Deluxe Tudor it will be the latest car I've ever heard of with a restamped firewall.
 
It's a true Deluxe Tudor ... cowl lights, pin stripe on gas tank, adjustable driver seat, carpet, mohair upholstery, woodgraining on the interior trim pieces, etc. I'm familiar with the re-stamping of those left-over 1930 firewalls but it did not occur to me that what I thought was a problem due to some bubble-head pounding out the firewall rib flat was really a re-stamped original "do not alter" firewall. WHEW!!! Many thanks for your thoughts on this. I'll have to take a look at the interior this weekend and take some photos of the indent looking at it from the inside, I don't have a clear picture of what it looks like as I sit at the computer and the car isn't in my garage. Wonderful feedback, thanks gentlemen.:)
 
I've seen a few that had a restamp firewall. I've seen them more on trucks than cars however. Ironically one of them was also in an original Deluxe Tudor,assembled at the Cincinatti plant. If interested I can look up the frame/engine number. As I recall they both matched.
 
Re: Late '31 firewall rib altered? PICTURE

If it looks like this close up than you have a restamped one
 

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I hope the blown up photo has been uploaded. Thanks for sharing your photo, yes, my firewall is identical in its stamping as is shown in your photo. I notice for the first time that the upper rib is also pressed flat.
Marco, you mention that welds are obvious (I'm not quoting and can't read your post as type this) and I'm wondering where you look to see this, interior view?
 

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Jim.Morris2831 said:
I hope the blown up photo has been uploaded. Thanks for sharing your photo, yes, my firewall is identical in its stamping as is shown in your photo. I notice for the first time that the upper rib is also pressed flat.
Marco, you mention that welds are obvious (I'm not quoting and can't read your post as type this) and I'm wondering where you look to see this, interior view?
Click to expand...

It shows in your larger pics just like Joop's pic. It likely shows a little more on the inside. They had to patch the hole that was punched for the earlier sediment bowl.
 
I have a Sept 23 1931 WB Steel topped PU most likely assembled in Nov or Dec with the restamped firewall. Mine too was like Joop's pictures with the holes for the data plate left punched and not filled. Seems like a pretty late date for the use of a restamp but we all know what the poor pickups had to endure with left over parts.
 
I stopped by to see a friends Model A collection today. He has a late steel top pickup cab that is getting some sheetmetal repair work. The firewall is a restamped one and original to the cab. He never knew about the restamping untill I pointed it out to him. Was this another Ford, send the old stock to the truck line move, or were the steel tops and restamped firewalls produced at the same time?
 
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