Stone Guards

R

rmak

Senior Member
I finally bought a chrome radiator shell. I know I'm the worst kind of Model A owner because I didn't wait to seek out an original nickle plated one.:( But, hey, it's my car.

Now I'm thinking about putting on a stone guard, but I can't decide if that would make me more of a Model A dork. I've seen stone guards on 30-31 years and they look pretty cool. But I have never seen one on a 29 like mine. Plus the only place I can find one for my year is in a hot rod catalog!:eek::eek:

I appreciated you guys talking me off the edge when I was thinking about the fake quick change rear end, so if this is a bad idea, somebody tell me!
 
i prefer it without but it's your car. a nicely polished shell is hidden by the guard. how did that repo shell fit? i hear they are pretty rough.
 

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I also like the looks without a stone guard. Someone posted a picture of a fiberglass screen to keep the bugs out and it just tucked behind the inner edge of the radiator shell. That served a purpose and looked good IMHO.
 
My car is a 29 and have a aftermarket chrome shell that fits just fine. I also have a SS stone guard because the fins on the face of my radiator where not in the best of shape. Bratton's 2011 cat. carrys the SS guard with mtg kit, page 110 item no. 26790 for 28-29 cars for $147.00.
John
 
My coupe came with a stone guard and I really like it. HOWEVER, one of the club members has a drop dead gorgeous restored tudor that is a fine point car and his
original style radiator without the guard is to die for. JMHO

Jack
 
I have always thought the stone guard makes the car look like a studebaker, but I am one of those guys who likes the car to look pretty much like it came from the factory, without too many accessories. To each his own, after all, it is your car, and if you sell it some day the next owner can remove it if it offends him. Some folks like whitewalls, stone guards, spot lights, mirrors, mud flaps, spoke covers, etc etc. It;s not my preference, but it makes them happy, and that is what is important.
 
The Ford Barn does it again! You guys have given me a great idea!

We have a real problem in the summer with a strange insect called a Love Bug. During their matting season the male and female fly around hooked together like one of those helicopter with rotors at both end. There are billions of them and they are horrible on car paint and especially radiators. The little corpses smashed on the vehicle are hell to get out of radiator fins and off the paint once they dry post impact.

I put a type of extra strong plastic door screen on my screen doors that is dog proof and it really is tough. The screen weave is only slightly thicker than regular screen. The product cuts with scissors and installs like regular screen. It is black, slightly heavier, looks lust like regular screen and would not greatly obstruct the air flow on the radiator.

The screen could be cut to fit between the radiator and held in place by the shell. It would be easy to remove, would not require mounting hardware, and best of all would not affect the original look of the car. If you felt so inclined you could have a radiator shell bra made with the screen covering the open area of the radiator that would be easily removed. I am making one for myself today with the left over screen from the back door.
 
mmmmmm Stone guard. Pretty catchy name. Visually I can take them or leave them. From a practical standpoint at the cost of radiator repair or replacement they are a pretty good investment. My stone guard has save my rad on several occasions. My windshield wasn't so lucky as an oncoming car pitched a small stone (maybe an inch) and chipped the hell out of it. Your car-your call.:cool:
 
I think the model A looks better with out the stone guard.
I like the Model A the way it was when it was new. JMHO ;).
 
The '31 shown above really looks better with out the stone guard. With the stone guard in place, in my opinion, the cars loses its model A identity and its original flavor.
 
ivoryjohn,
yeah, i used this exact same 'heavy' screen during a trip to alaska three years ago on the front of my truck. it protected what it covered very well..including the headlights/radiator! but what it didn't cover, like windshield, got damaged permanently with gravel/rocks. you will never forget to take such precautions, after your radiator is punctured out in the middle of nowhere one time! same idea relative to model a radiator, especially for touring.
 
I had been ck'ing ebay and the swap meets and swap sections here and on ahooga, when on Mother's day my brother shows up with this big box, a new stone guard!! I was looking for one with a little patina but this one looks REAL good on the car. At least I like the looks of it. Next thing I'm looking for is oil and temp gauges.
Paul in CT
 
I had a stone guard on my 68B Cabriolet. I could not seem to quiet the raddling it made with extra pads, bumpers, poster tack, etc...so decided to take it off. Now it is a much quieter ride (especially at idle speeds) and I actually like the simpler factory look of the front end better with no stone guard.

My 0.02 Euro worth....

Fordially,
Brad in Germany
 
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