Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

Got my restoration guide for the 41/48 Fords and it mentions on the 42 Mercury some sort of sheet metal that directed air flow under the hood through the radiator. I'm picturing some sort of sheet metal screwed into the front hood support area, along the inner fender sheet metal and attaches or lays on top of the radiator to keep air from coming in through the grill and being dispersed before it gets to the radiator. But no pictures in the guide as to my envision.
Any one confirm this set up, have a pic or any additional guideance? I cannot feel any attachment holes in any of these areas I mention and my radiator is a reproduction, so nothing on it.
Any guideance appreciated.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

I am not familiar with 42 Mercuries, but the 42-48 Fords have a sheet metal piece that encloses the area in front of the radiator and goes to the top of the radiator core. The top tank is exposed. You can see a picture of one here: https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/bag...luxe-sportsman

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

The sheet metal deflecter for '42 Mercury & Ford is unique to 1942.
It is a piece bolted to the hood that fills the gap between the top of the radiator and the hood.
PM your Email & I'll send a photo.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

My 42 Ford was missing that piece. I've never seen it for sale anywhere and I've looked.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

Now that I know what to feel for, it appears that the side mounted sheet metal is well aft of the headlight buckets and deflects air from the inner fenders to the radiator mounting braces, so pretty flush on the sides. And, what I was calling a hood brace that I drilled a small hole in one side for my Bubba hood support to latch into is actually the top air dam. I don't know how tight a fit this will be to my reproduction radiator, but my game plan is to install the radiator, close the hood and use my fibre optic camera on a long rod to see under the hood through the grill and see how close this dam gets to my radiator. doesn't have to be air tight, but needs to be close. Don't know if it will come down in front of the radiator or on top, I suspect the former as I do not feel a cut out for the radiator cap. The military vehicles of this era would use some sort of thick felt strips stapled to radiator shrouds to keep air flow to a maximum.
So, I've got all the pieces, I think. Thanks for the guideance.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

Glad to hear all the pieces are there. Took a quick look at the 1944 parts book and the piece on the hood is different for Ford and Mercury. P/N 21A-16613 for Ford and 29A-16613 for Mercury. Liquidmatic drive used 29AS-16613.Don't think any of those exist!

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

if it would help the hobby, I am more than happy to not only take pics and ost, but it appears that only three small nuts hold the shield in place, one at each side on the hood lip and one using a hood top center trim strip bolt and nut, so not a big deal to remove and take pics and measurements if it would help.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

[ATTACH]563805[
Photo of a 42 Mercury owned by "Todd" Sloan, who was the Ford dealer in Primghar Iowa from 1935-1954. His son had a 1942 Ford convertible until he went to serve in WWII. I owned the dealership 1996-2004 until Ford bought me out and closed the point after 90 years.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

So, here is the air dam off my 42 Mercury Town Sedan. Held in place with two slotted bolts through a hole in the underside hood lip and picks up the hood center trim strip first bolt and nut. All the rubber is gone and the staples remain. Have no idea what shape or form the rubber would have been, but the gap between the top of the deflector and the center mounting bracket appears to be about 1/4" thick. For future reference. Aproximately 27" wide.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

Found a picture of a '42 Ford hood I had, shows the piece and where it is bolted to hood; but can't see any rubber.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

Signsup and Rich, thanks for posting those photos!

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

Rich, by the wire staples left in my air dam, it appears that some sort of rubber or material was attached to the top to prevent air flow from passing between the dam and the hood. Only about 1/4" gap, so perhaps a bit of over kill. Do you see any wire staples or holes for them in the top of the air dam on your hood? Perhaps a Mercury thing? There was one small remnant of a very brittle hard rubber piece left on mine, so I'm presuming rubber and not a cloth wind lace or other fabric due to the heat. If I can't find any difinitive reference, I may just roll some inner tube rubber and reuse the wire staples. Anything thicker or denser, to me would be difficult to wire staple through.

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

I’ve used garage door bottom seal in applications similar to this . It’s inexpensive, durable and easily worked .

Re: Radiator air flow sheet metal on 1942 Mercury question.
 

I hunted for years to get two of these for my '42 Sedan Delivery's. Nearly as hard to find as the spare wheel hold down bracket for a Sedan Delivery. All made out of unobtainium, it would seem :P