The Ford Barn

Automotive Stud · 04-26-2016, 12:11 PM

I've done some research but everyone says that all 32 firewalls are the same. My friend has two that are different. These are not them but I found pictures online and circled them in red to show the two differences. Can someone in the know fill us in?

37 Cab · 04-26-2016, 12:17 PM

For one thing the second pic looks like the lower half has been sectioned in. the bead roll on the right looks to not match the section.

Automotive Stud · 04-26-2016, 12:20 PM

Well that may be, but the question remains. The two red circles highlight the main differences I am inquiring about. Again these are not our firewalls pictured, but we have one of each style. One has an extra bead and the other has an extra dimple.

OLDTINDEALER · 04-26-2016, 12:31 PM

Several different styles where used through out the year. Get David Rehor's book the 1932 Ford Book. The first firewall you have is a very early (and rare) pre May firewall. The indent was removed for more foot room. I believe without looking there are at least 8 different versions of the firewall thru the year.

Bruce Lancaster · 04-26-2016, 12:33 PM

Left one has the little dent that looks like a good place to park an oil can...that is an earlier one, set up for the power assist system that almost made it into production. The other later is pushed out in that area for more toe room. Both are normal.

Mart · 04-26-2016, 12:34 PM

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The indent was there for a vacuum assisted clutch canister that did not get adopted into production. Once the stock of that style firewall had been exhausted the indent was deleted. The indent denotes it as a very early firewall.

All this from what I have read somewhere, I'm not an expert.

Mart.

Edit: Typing at the same time as Bruce.

DavidG · 04-26-2016, 12:50 PM

Mart,

Actually the late fire wall continues to provide for the never-released vacuum tank. That's why the upper red-circled clinch nut in the first photo ended up higher in the second photo. The bottom of the tank rested on top of the protrusion to increase the toe room in front of the clutch pedal which retains a slight indentation above it to center the tank.

There were twelve different versions that I can think of but eight of those have only minor variations.

Charlie Stephens · 04-26-2016, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Automotive Stud

I've done some research but everyone says that all 32 firewalls are the same. My friend has two that are different. These are not them but I found pictures online and circled them in red to show the two differences. Can someone in the know fill us in?

If "everyone" tells you the firewalls are all the same you must be hanging around with a bunch of hot rod guys (nothing negative intended). It would probably best to say that all firewalls are functionally interchangeable. If you are doing a high point restoration post the serial number of your car (use XXX for the last 3 digits) and someone can help. Quoting from OLDTINDEALER "Get David Rehor's book the 1932 Ford Book."

Charlie Stephens

Bruce Lancaster · 04-26-2016, 01:15 PM

There is a pretty good look at the power assist system, or at least a version of it, in a Ford patent...I think I once posted the number here.
Things I can think of that made it into the world: That dent in firewall and the empty screw insert that all the firewalls have...the big (3/8 pipe, I think) vac port in early B intake manifolds...bellhousing clutch levers with an extra hole for the assist have turned up...
I think darn near EVERYTHING on '32's came in multiple versions, mostly not documented in the parts books. The wonderful '32 restoration book is filled with examples, and I'm sure more will continue to appear.

DavidG · 04-26-2016, 01:46 PM

Bruce,

You're right, while I've never filled out a score card, the number of parts that were changed at least once or where there were variations due to different suppliers' manufacturing capabilities probably way outnumber those that remained unchanged from the beginning to the end of the model year. The number of parts unchanged in the engine compartment, for example, could likely be counted out on your fingers.

Charlie Stephens · 04-26-2016, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

There is a pretty good look at the power assist system, or at least a version of it, in a Ford patent...I think I once posted the number here.
Things I can think of that made it into the world: That dent in firewall and the empty screw insert that all the firewalls have...the big (3/8 pipe, I think) vac port in early B intake manifolds...bellhousing clutch levers with an extra hole for the assist have turned up...
I think darn near EVERYTHING on '32's came in multiple versions, mostly not documented in the parts books. The wonderful '32 restoration book is filled with examples, and I'm sure more will continue to appear.

Bruce,

Another thing that made it into production was the large boss on the front drivers side of early Model B engines designed to mount the unit.

Charlie Stephens

DavidG · 04-26-2016, 05:36 PM

Like so.

my4dv8 · 04-26-2016, 10:39 PM

Well there you go, our early 32 with the early cowl vent etc has most likely had a later firewall fitted. "That's never happened before"
Interesting info.

GSCOV · 04-26-2016, 10:58 PM

my4dv8- If your car was built outside the USA then a lot of interesting things may be in the assembly.

Bored&Stroked · 04-27-2016, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidG

Like so.

Very interesting stuff . . . kind of wild that Ford was attempting to make the clutch engagement all that much easier . . . never seemed like a problem to me. I guess they were busy working on "Power Clutches" . . . long before we all got used to "Power Brakes". Fascinating . . .

DavidG · 04-27-2016, 09:26 AM

Look closely at the back end of the transmission and you'll likely conclude what's attached there also did not make it into production.

Corn Fed · 04-27-2016, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my4dv8

Well there you go, our early 32 with the early cowl vent etc has most likely had a later firewall fitted. "That's never happened before"
Interesting info.

My older bro has a pretty much unmolested Tudor with an early vent, early front crossmember, early hood hood sides, early hood hooks, but a later firewall. I highly doubt his firewall was switched out. So there is no telling when all these changes exactly occured.

DavidG · 04-27-2016, 01:56 PM

Because of Ford's formal engineering release process, we have a pretty good idea when a change was made to an individual part, but when that part ended up being used in a vehicle depended on a number of important variables such as existing inventories of the previously-used part (when they did not immediately stop using a particular version as was the case in a few instances), when a particular assembly plant launched production at the beginning of the model year (it was more than two months before the last U.S. assembly plant started up at the beginning of the '32 model year), and the distance between the origin of a part and its assembly plant destination. As a result, Corn Fed's example is completely believable.

alchemy · 05-04-2016, 11:45 AM

I'm Corn Fed's brother. My tudor is #180 produced at the Des Moines plant. SN something in the 50,000's for a 4 cylinder. I always guessed the reason for the later firewall on a car with so much other early stuff is that the train car originally loaded with firewalls destined for Des Moines from Detroit got hijacked. Henry had to send another shipment, and by then they were producing the later firewalls.

The car also has early brake/clutch pedals, dashboard, visors, and probably many other parts I don't know about.

04-26-2016, 12:17 PM	#2
37 Cab Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Miami Oklahoma Posts: 535	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences For one thing the second pic looks like the lower half has been sectioned in. the bead roll on the right looks to not match the section. __________________ Tommy

04-26-2016, 12:20 PM	#3
Automotive Stud Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 832	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Well that may be, but the question remains. The two red circles highlight the main differences I am inquiring about. Again these are not our firewalls pictured, but we have one of each style. One has an extra bead and the other has an extra dimple.

04-26-2016, 12:31 PM	#4
OLDTINDEALER Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 165	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Several different styles where used through out the year. Get David Rehor's book the 1932 Ford Book. The first firewall you have is a very early (and rare) pre May firewall. The indent was removed for more foot room. I believe without looking there are at least 8 different versions of the firewall thru the year.

04-26-2016, 12:33 PM	#5
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Left one has the little dent that looks like a good place to park an oil can...that is an earlier one, set up for the power assist system that almost made it into production. The other later is pushed out in that area for more toe room. Both are normal.

04-26-2016, 12:34 PM	#6
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The indent was there for a vacuum assisted clutch canister that did not get adopted into production. Once the stock of that style firewall had been exhausted the indent was deleted. The indent denotes it as a very early firewall. All this from what I have read somewhere, I'm not an expert. Mart. Edit: Typing at the same time as Bruce.

04-26-2016, 12:50 PM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Mart, Actually the late fire wall continues to provide for the never-released vacuum tank. That's why the upper red-circled clinch nut in the first photo ended up higher in the second photo. The bottom of the tank rested on top of the protrusion to increase the toe room in front of the clutch pedal which retains a slight indentation above it to center the tank. There were twelve different versions that I can think of but eight of those have only minor variations.

04-26-2016, 01:15 PM	#9
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences There is a pretty good look at the power assist system, or at least a version of it, in a Ford patent...I think I once posted the number here. Things I can think of that made it into the world: That dent in firewall and the empty screw insert that all the firewalls have...the big (3/8 pipe, I think) vac port in early B intake manifolds...bellhousing clutch levers with an extra hole for the assist have turned up... I think darn near EVERYTHING on '32's came in multiple versions, mostly not documented in the parts books. The wonderful '32 restoration book is filled with examples, and I'm sure more will continue to appear.

04-26-2016, 01:46 PM	#10
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Bruce, You're right, while I've never filled out a score card, the number of parts that were changed at least once or where there were variations due to different suppliers' manufacturing capabilities probably way outnumber those that remained unchanged from the beginning to the end of the model year. The number of parts unchanged in the engine compartment, for example, could likely be counted out on your fingers.

04-26-2016, 10:39 PM	#13
my4dv8 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,112	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Well there you go, our early 32 with the early cowl vent etc has most likely had a later firewall fitted. "That's never happened before" Interesting info.

04-26-2016, 10:58 PM	#14
GSCOV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Connecticut Posts: 960	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences my4dv8- If your car was built outside the USA then a lot of interesting things may be in the assembly.

04-27-2016, 09:26 AM	#16
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Look closely at the back end of the transmission and you'll likely conclude what's attached there also did not make it into production.

04-27-2016, 01:56 PM	#18
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences Because of Ford's formal engineering release process, we have a pretty good idea when a change was made to an individual part, but when that part ended up being used in a vehicle depended on a number of important variables such as existing inventories of the previously-used part (when they did not immediately stop using a particular version as was the case in a few instances), when a particular assembly plant launched production at the beginning of the model year (it was more than two months before the last U.S. assembly plant started up at the beginning of the '32 model year), and the distance between the origin of a part and its assembly plant destination. As a result, Corn Fed's example is completely believable.

05-04-2016, 11:45 AM	#19
alchemy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: middle of Iowa Posts: 647	Re: 1932 Ford firewall differences I'm Corn Fed's brother. My tudor is #180 produced at the Des Moines plant. SN something in the 50,000's for a 4 cylinder. I always guessed the reason for the later firewall on a car with so much other early stuff is that the train car originally loaded with firewalls destined for Des Moines from Detroit got hijacked. Henry had to send another shipment, and by then they were producing the later firewalls. The car also has early brake/clutch pedals, dashboard, visors, and probably many other parts I don't know about.