Thread: 1932 // 1931 ford

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HELLO 1932/1931ford help needed .I have a 32 ford frame and want to no if a 31 ford coupe body will fit that frame ? or do i need to buy a new 31frame ? ILL buy 32 body if some wants to sell one thats not :: over my head in price.thanks

The 31 body will fit the 32 frame with no problem. Look for posts by C9X---He has a 31 roadster on a 32 frame. Same thing in terms of fit.

hello again my Model A body : I had a 1931 Ford built on a 1932 body. Fit was fine. Check with Brookville Roadster tech line for more details. They do both car bodies and both frames. I am sure they have built 31 on a 32 frame.
Update on my project : took dely of 700R4, attached to 355 put in car Wed.
Tonight, need to install trans mount. What is your trans drop 8"?

I think you have to pinch the frame slightly at the cowl because the '32 body is a bit wider at that point. Other than that, it fits, and it is a much beefier frame not to mention a more attractive and desirable frame than one from a Model A.

Yep, the frame pinch lets the body follow the frame contour better, more noticeable on a fenderless hot rod. But there are lots of A's sitting on '32 frames with the frame unpinched and they look ok too.

Don

The bottom of a model A body is flat, likewise the top of a model A frame. A 32 frame has a gentle curve to it, and if you set the model a body on top of the frame, it will leave a gap about 1" wide between the top of the frame and the bottom of the body, at the center of the car. Back in the day, many people made up a wooden spacer to fill the gap, and it was sandwiched between the top of the framerail and the underside of the body. a bit crude, but it worked. Then some enterprising rodder came up with the idea of channeling the model a body about 1 1/4", just enough that the gap dissapears. it looks really good, and the only problem that some people have encountered is that the model A body is just a very little bit too narrow at the cowl to slip down over the 32 frame rails. this does not seem to be consistent. Some people report having to "pinch" the framerails a bit in the cowl area to let the body fit down over the frame, while others report that the model A body fit over a stock frame with no problem. This is a matter of doing some tape measure work to see what you are faced with. If you do have to pinch the rails a bit, it is easy enough to do with an oxy acetylene torch and a set of "boat clamps".

I know the '31 on '32 rails is a nice car. Regardless of the fact that it is a relatively easy mod for many, and since I don't know your skill level, it might prove to be a major challenge as neither 'A' parts or '32 parts such as front fenders, splash shields or running boards will fit without major mods. A '31 coupe just bolted to a frame, any frame, and without fenders or running boards - looks in my opinion, like someone couldn't be bothered with finishing the car. A roaster is a different story. If it was to be channeled down over the frame, the appearance changes - but why use a '32 frame for that - either reinforce a good '31 frame, buy an aftermarket TCI or Brookville to name two manufacturers or build a rectangular tube frame. This is a full dress TCI '31 frame - mine - complete with a crate 5.0/C4/9":

IC2---The information I gave was based on a model A that is not running any fenders, running boards, or splash aprons. If he plans on running any of that, then all bets are off, and he SHOULD use a model A frame.---Brian

Originally Posted by brianrupnow

IC2---The information I gave was based on a model A that is not running any fenders, running boards, or splash aprons. If he plans on running any of that, then all bets are off, and he SHOULD use a model A frame.---Brian

Brian - I just think an 'A' coupe (or sedan) bolted on the top any frame rails, 'A', '32, S-10 or whatever, IMO looks unfinished and looks wrong - like something is missing. And I assumed that is what you meant

( Now, if I've PO'd anyone that likes 'em that way - so be it )

THANKS a bunck for the info on putting 31 on 32 frame .

Go to this site http://www.wescottsauto.com/Tech/frame_specs.html and download the two pdf files for the '29 on '32 rails, and the '32 frame dimensions. You'll note that the area of the cowl has been narrowed nearly 1.5 inches to accomodate the narrower Model A cowl. This doesn't absolutely have to be done, but the frame sticks out on each side if you don't and looks a bit funky. Here's a pic of a Model A sedan on deuce rails, and if you like go to my photo gallery (click the camera icon next to my screen name on any post) and you'll see a '28 roadster on a deuce frame. Dave may think they look unfinished............but then he's lived in New York too long...........

They also sell a Deuce frame already pinched and with a flat top on it so you don't have to go through anything to make it fit right. It sure saves a whole lot of fab work.

Don

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Dave may think they look unfinished............but then he's lived in New York too long...........

You're right about living in Upstate NY too long. Rain, sleet snow, mud, mosquitos....... But try as you may, except for a roadster they STILL IMHO, look wrong w/o fenders