EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Can someone post photos to show the differance? Back in the 1950's, maybe even earlier it was the in thing to use an "Early" roadster cowl on a Dry Lakes or Bonneville car, I was told or read some were. Is there a differance in the pillar of side panels, the tanks are the same as far as I know. Bob

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Bob,
There is an early roadster/phaeton cowl and A pillar listed on eBay right now. It looks like an early 28 as the cowl don't appear to have the cowl extensions where the hood lacing goes, that later 28's and 29's have. The link is below.
Rusty Nelson

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1928-1929-Fo...6da2e5&vxp=mtr

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

It would be for more streamlining and not catching as much wind as it slips around the firewall.

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Yes, but just what part is different, the door post or something else? Bob

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Where the lower cowl sides /rear bonnet lacing fits .

The section of steel facing forward under the bonnet is larger/smaller.

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Another feature that is different is the location of the starter rod hole in the cowl; if very early, requires off set starter rod.

Ron

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Like Ron said, there were 2 styles of the earlier firewalls. The one in
the photo is the 2nd style...

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attach...6&d=1419842569

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Another feature to look for is a recess around the rivet head below the cowl post. I can't see if it has it in the pictures above.

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

I recently sold a very early 28 rdstr. cowl & gas tank. It had never been apart. The gas tanks are diff. The choke rod bracket is further under the tank & is a flat strap. The choke rods were much shorter for use on the early cowls. This had the left hand e-brake hole & didn't have the depression for the right hand steering.

I tried to download three pics but it said "a security token was missing" what ever that means??

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

I've seen that posted as well; the main difference I see in the early vs. late cowls is the width of the 'step down' for the hood lacing;

early - about the width of the lacing;
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...orfirewall.jpg

late - slightly wider;
http://www.model-a-ford.com/images/proj_8/Proj_8_32.jpg

Thanks to Tom Wesenberg for the top photo & Brent Terry for the bottom one.

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Here are three pictures of my mid-Jan 1928 cowl. Note the offset starter rod hole and the front cowling area mentioned in the posts.
Fred

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

All the features mentioned above have nothing to do with the aero effect of either cowl as I can see it. Maybe this was just a myth without any proven wind tunnel testing, even if some cowl side panel to "Coupe Pilar" door jam fitmet may look different in photos. Someone needs a plastic ruler and a gathering of 28-29 Roadsters and a notepad. Bob

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

Huh ?

A lakes roadster would probably run without a hood.

The extensions of the side cowl pieces would definitely catch the air as it escaped around firewall at high speed.

Re: EARLY 1928 Roadster Cowl
 

From the 1947 SCTA competition rules;

Speeds pre-WWII were fairly low (generally less than 115), so I doubt the early cowl would have made any measurable difference. IMO, the lower profile of a 26-7 T would have been a much better option had the speeds warranted it.

Eventually - as speeds increased - the 26-7 T became the body of choice until they were reclassified as "lakesters" in 1949.