Late '29 Radiator Mounting Shims Redux

[ericr]

It was a crazy idea for the Company to be changing front cross members so as to require a total of 4 steel shims and 2 rubber pads...obviously some production aspect got out of sync regarding the new 1930 models. Anyway, how is one supposed to acquire these metal shims? And why not a single thicker shim instead of two thin ones?

[msmaron]

you can very very easily make them out of either steel stock or washers are very very easy to use.. Find the thickness you need, weld the washers together and you are done. simple and fast.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by ericr

It was a crazy idea for the Company to be changing front cross members so as to require a total of 4 steel shims and 2 rubber pads...obviously some production aspect got out of sync regarding the new 1930 models. Anyway, how is one supposed to acquire these metal shims? And why not a single thicker shim instead of two thin ones?

Nothing was "out of sync". They didn't want to produce two types of frames. The shims were required on commercial models until early June 1930.

[ericr]

oh I wasn't suggesting they should be making multiple frames ad infinitum, I meant that the timing was off. As other observors have thought, or maybe it was you, Marco, the Company was anticipating the advent of the higher radiators of the '30 models. I am puzzled as why all '29s couldn't have kept the high-boss design. But of course we face issues on the cars that were far from their imagination and concern in 1929.

[Marco Tahtaras]

I think you missed one important point. They made both '29 STYLE models and the "new" models simultaneously for over seven months so it wasn't a clean transition from one to the other.

[ericr]

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

I think you missed one important point. They made both '29 STYLE models and the "new" models simultaneously for over seven months so it wasn't a clean transition from one to the other.

Huh! I'm glad to know that, it explains my neuroses LOL. I have been puzzling over this for years. Now I would like to know why the parts suppliers sell just one mounting set for all years while not explaining that it won't work on a late '29.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I would make my own shims out of 1/4" thick fabric reinforced rubber. The original radiator pads in my 1928 Phaeton are made from brake lining material that looks like it was run through a roller to press it thinner.