37 Ford build--IE: old Header issues thread /37 Ford/5.0/GT40P heads

[Irelands child]

Interesting thread to anyone who has ever put a Ford in a Ford street rod. I am new to this site and hope you don't mind an unrelated question. I recently sold my 32 5 window (302/C4) and am in the market for my next project. I am thinking real hard about a Brookville 30/31 A on their 32 chassis with a 302 or 351/AOD combination. Brookville says that I do not need a recessed firewall with this combination but I would need to use the Motorsport short water pump. My 5 window was a Downs body and chassis combination and there were some clearance issues on the front of the engine and the fan shroud. Since you have experience with Brookville products, do you think a 302/AOD would fit without a recessed firewall (it will be on a 32 chassis)? I have had good luck with the Cooling Components electric fan and shroud combination (it gets hot down here) and I would like to use that on this car. Thanks.

Don,
There is one thing about Brookville - that sometimes they do NOT know their own product. Even with a '32 chassis, the '30-'31 firewall will need to be recessed. The '32 firewall is to a certain extent, already recessed about an inch plus for all intents and purposes, flat. The '30-'31 firewall intrudes into the engine compartment ~3". Take a look at the attached and even with the added couple of inches or so of chassis does NOT make for a fit. If I were to do it again, I would purchase my Brookville with no firewall or a stock type if they insisted I have one, then install a Bitchin' or Direct if they make one. Both are neater looking then the OEM style. I am using a CCS fan with a '32 Walker radiator with a Brookville '32 grille shell. Do a search in CHR on my name to see some of my other Brookville complaints as well as here: http://hotrodders.com/cgibin/rls/mag...1&icon-status=
If Brent deletes this competitors link, PM me and I'll send it to you.

Good luck if you go this way

[Deuce Don]

Thanks Dave, that helps a lot. I have built two Downs 32s, a roadster and a 5 window, and have been pleased with them. I did purchase both cars with recessed firewalls and the only issue I have had was that the motor mounts were too far forward on the 5 window and that was corrected with the short waterpump. What I should have done was to move the motor mounts back to where they should have been. Live and learn. Thanks again.

Don

[Irelands child]

Thanks Dave, that helps a lot. I have built two Downs 32s, a roadster and a 5 window, and have been pleased with them. I did purchase both cars with recessed firewalls and the only issue I have had was that the motor mounts were too far forward on the 5 window and that was corrected with the short waterpump. What I should have done was to move the motor mounts back to where they should have been. Live and learn. Thanks again.

Don

I had a bit of the same problem with my TCI chassis - but they were an inch plus too far back. The guy that I bought it from (Dick Spadaro) now advises customers to order a chassis with the mounts not welded in place - which would have saved me a lot of added work.

[Deuce Don]

Good point! I think I will try that next time.