Thread: 32 grill shell and insert

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Ok its time to buy a grill shell and insert and rad.
Who sells a good one at a good price
Let me know and thanks Dave

I bought an AFCO aluminum radiator. Grill shell (steel) and insert (chromed sterel) I got from Bob Drake at a terrific sale price. From time to time, usually summers they have really good sales.

There are lots of sources for all the above ................

Good luck, Kitz

I have had experience with Dales manufacturing grill inserts.
They are alot better quality than the chinese ones that cw moss, (vintique),sells and they will fit a Brookville steel shell alot better also. The quality is compareable to Bob Drake. Here is a link to the manufacturer.
http://www.dalesmfg.com/new.html# I think the price is around 375.00

You could get a brookville shell and insert, The price is around 575.00 for both.
http://www.brookville-roadster.com/rod/index.html

Griffin, Walker and Brassworks all make good radiators for that 32.

Hope this helps,
Mikey

Just a note - most Brookville steel shells need work to correct their poor manufacturing quality. There is a kink down both sides, low spots both sides of the top crown area and a bulge in the raised detail area at the top right 'corner' which has to be fixed before the hood fits right. The raised detail is also inconsistant as far as width and height. I have too many hours in fixing mine - to the point I almost scrapped it.

My Dale's grille is really nice.

I have been very pleased with Walker radiators - they fit perfectly. Get a concensus on the others as I talked to guys with them before I bought my current projects piece. Several had some fitment problems - tho the Griffen and AFCO do look nice. Not sure if you need an A/C condenser but that has to factor in as well.

I have been seeing a good number of original grill and insert on ebay lately... They can get a bit pricey, but in my opinion, nothing beats an original nose .

I also see reproductions come up there, not sure quality price, but if you want to check one up in 19 hours see:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1932-...spagenameZWDVW

Originally Posted by HiboyGal

I have been seeing a good number of original grill and insert on ebay lately... They can get a bit pricey, but in my opinion, nothing beats an original nose .

I also see reproductions come up there, not sure quality price, but if you want to check one up in 19 hours see:

Faith,
It looks nice - but then so does my crummy Brookville with a coat of primer (and a bunch of hours on it and more to go). My guess is that it is possibly a Bob Drake with the drain and crank holes. Before I spent $269 (or more) on it would want to rub my grimey hands on it to make sure it wasn't the proverbial pig-in-a- pokesack as my West Virginia granny used to say.

Caveat emptor with eBay. This guy needs some help with his photography as well.

A very good original would start at $1000 and could possibly peak at 3 to 5K, depending on the seller's rep and the condition. Big money people make it tough for us everyday folks - just watch an hour of the idiots at the Barrett auctions - a mil seven for a Mopar???

Its a Vintique.

B-ville has the filled ones, Vintique has both ways. Only two places making them.

I had no issues with the Brookville shell (either of them, don't ask) as far as the shape and fitment to the frame and radiator. However getting the insert to fit and go back into place took me a bit of reshaping with the ball peen hammer. All the work took place behind the insert and is not visble. I got mine at a rod show where they are usually $500 or so for both. It takes a keen eye to tell a Henry from a Brookville or Vintique for my money but I don't have an affinity nor pocketbook for the "real" parts nohow.

Offy, Thanks for the reminder - and to add to my rant above, the shell needed massaging before the grille would fit. Mine fit the frame and radiator just fine with minor tweaking - and as expected I did have to drill the mount holes for the Walker radiator and the grille itself. My complaints are the quality of the metal work (or lack thereof).

A note - the shells they bring to shows seem to be better than what they ship out. A buddy bought his shell and grill at York and the shell is much better than mine - which I brought to K. Golohan's attention and got a real run around as to how their quality was improved, blah, blah, blah. And if that were so, why this February did my supplier still have crap on his shelf ? (My supplier is Dick Spadaro - Early Ford Reproductions in Altamont, NY)

Vintique has a new shell that fits the Dales grill perfectly. It is not the old Brookville shell that they used to sell. This is a brand new part. A original grill fits it good also. Their own grill does not fit very well but they are going to modify it to fit soon. They have it in filled and stock versions.

well my b vill came and it all fit just fine!! grill and inster

My aluminum rad started leaking from under the support rod tab.
I have heard from a local rod-smith that the Walker is probably
the best. And, it has that 2 year warranty. It was $883.
It is the big version with A/C condenser attached.
It is on it's way so I haven't seen it yet.
Dave

Here's a Jim Rench(SP) insert. One of twelve or so I'm told.

I have a Dan Fink grill insert, and I have to tell you they are worth every penny. They are truly works of art and strong enough to withstand some abuse--small birds, etc. And it fit my Outlaw grill shell very well. Check them out at his website: www.hotrodproducts.com/grille_inserts.htm