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

[Don Shillady]

Thanks for the kind words 34-40. This morning I received a '30-'31 center rod bracket which is much lower. It is a casting nicely powdercoated black from nearby Bratton's Model A parts in Mount Airy MD. It is too cold in the garage this morning to paint it to match the hood so I will wait a day or two to replace the existing casting which is too high. To answer IC2's question these brackets are small castings as reproduced in China! I have dreaded the problem of the hold downs for over a year but I can use a 2"x4" 14 gauge stainless plate under the rear hold downs as load-spreading washers. The only way I can see to prevent losing the hood at speed is to drill all the way through the frame under the front hold downs so I can get a nut on long bolts through the frame. I have drilled all the way through the Brookville frame for other mounting holes both vertical and horizontal so it can be done with the tubing frame. Does anyone out there have a genuine 1929 hood? I wonder if the strange rectangular cutout at the rear is for a Z-shaped bend in the center rod? I will get a picture when I finish this but it may be a week or two. 34-40 I really wish I had some local rodder to help with the wiring but so far I have not found a willing helper.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder