Model B firewall stabilizer?

[37 Coupe]

So at 78 years old and 60 years of Model A and Early V8 I would like one final car soft project a '32 Ford preferably a roadster.I always figured if I ever could get one it would have to be a V8 but several nice ones lately are Model B engines.I have heard the B engine was better than the Model A but also heard they were prone to cracks,wonder why after four years of Model A engine production? My real point or question is this what is the part on a Model B firewall bottom center,someone tried to tell me it was a stabilizer? For the engine mounting? I don't think I have evr seen a Model B hood open or ever thought to ask if there was one at a car show what it was for so I am asking now.Thanks.

[DavidG]

It is a stabilizer or vibration dampner. Four cylinder engines are inherently prone to vibration, including those in modern cars. In a modern car, that vibration is addressed by sophisticated means. In a '32, the firewall-mounted stabilizer dampens the engine vibration much like a shock absorber.


With the sloped radiator of the '33s and '34s which required the four cylinder engine to be set back a couple of inches , there was no longer sufficient room to accommodate the stabilizer.



For what it's worth, a '32 four when set up properly will deliver just as much driver satisfaction as an original '32 V8 (and I've had plenty of both).

[deuce lover]

Originally Posted by 37 Coupe

So at 78 years old and 60 years of Model A and Early V8 I would like one final car soft project a '32 Ford preferably a roadster.I always figured if I ever could get one it would have to be a V8 but several nice ones lately are Model B engines.I have heard the B engine was better than the Model A but also heard they were prone to cracks,wonder why after four years of Model A engine production? My real point or question is this what is the part on a Model B firewall bottom center,someone tried to tell me it was a stabilizer? For the engine mounting? I don't think I have evr seen a Model B hood open or ever thought to ask if there was one at a car show what it was for so I am asking now.Thanks.

Here are pics of my friend's 4 cyl 32 roadster he found here in Jan.He has since repainted the engine close to the correct colors.The carb and dist are not correct and Euro ad on repairs.Engine pans have arrived from US and correct fuel pump also.I suggest you purchase or obtain a copy of the V8 Club 32, 2 volume Restoration Book,written by David.Its an invaluable source of information.

[alchemy]

B’s are more prone to cracks than A’s? Huh?

[38 coupe]

Dave Cole did a nice article in the July/August 1989 V8 Times on Ford's efforts to smooth out the 1932 four cylinder models. It is one of many excellent articles he wrote. If you are serious about getting a 1932 Ford and want to learn about them there are three sources of information:
1. as mentioned earlier the V8 Club's 1932 Book written by Dave Rehor (DavidG)
2. The Early Ford V-8 as Henry built it
3. The V8 Times, available on a flash drive

[rotorwrench]

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In order to get the 50 HP out of the same basic design, it had to be altered a bit more around the valves. This and a few other things required an all new casting. The idea was to get it to cool better around the exhaust valves. This made the casting thinner in that area. The rest of the block was pretty much the same as model A but with a pad for the fuel pump and a new design valve cover with oil fed direct to the cam & mains plus some other subtle differences in head design and of course it eventually had the counterbalanced crankshaft.

[37 Coupe]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

In order to get the 50 HP out of the same basic design, it had to be altered a bit more around the valves. This and a few other things required an all new casting. The idea was to get it to cool better around the exhaust valves. This made the casting thinner in that area. The rest of the block was pretty much the same as model A but with a pad for the fuel pump and a new design valve cover with oil fed direct to the cam & mains plus some other subtle differences in head design and of course it eventually had the counterbalanced crankshaft.

So that is why they were more prone to cracks?

[37 Coupe]

Thank you all for your helpful post. I definitely will buy the Early V8Club books that David authored. I have been a member since I was 25 years old in 1971. I bought the '37 and '39 books when working on those V8 Fords. I am surprised that so far all of the roadster I have seen for sale a broker is involved not the actual owner or restorer probably another aged out situation but sure does elevate the cost. Also I had aModel A roadster,'31 with sidemounts and one rear mount and definitely would want a rear mount on a '32. It seems like Model A Fords that most have been upgraded to Deluxe and welled fenders added on in restoration. Thanks again.