Thread: Which radiator shell should I go with?

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This is what the PO had on my '29 Ford




And this is what it looks like now after he drove it into a 4-post lift, breaking the spreader bar and smacking the radiator






After some searching on Fleabay, I've found 3 basic replacement shells....

1) Same chrome shell with top cap and crank hole

2) Chrome smooth style with no top cap or crank hole

3) Unplated


Which one should I go with?

I'm leaning towards the Chrome smooth style since there really isn't a point in having a crank hole or a top cap

Also, where would be the best place to get one?

I'd much rather deal with a forum vendor than someone on Fleabay

Speedway Motors are your friend here

Even tho it's a '29 it might look really good with a cut down '32 shell, matching the height of your grill and radiator now? Just a thought...

Yep, '32 is my vote.

It's hard to beat the look of a 32 shell, but since everybody does it maybe stay with the 29 shell just to be different............

A couple thoughts.

Yeah, '32 passenger shells are pretty common, but if ya like 'em.......

The chrome, smoothy '29 repop is okay, fits the car looks wise, problem is the stampings are kinda so-so and if you've got a good eye you'll see lots of waves in 'em (friendly little cusses).

Or, another less used option is a '32-34 truck grille, this one pictured is a '32 shell that's had the rad cap hole filled and peaked with a '34 trim ring installed.

Originally Posted by roadster32

Speedway Motors are your friend here

I checked Speedway's site and they only have they don't have the chrome smoothie shell listed, only a standard chrome (w/crank hole) and a filled unplated shell

Originally Posted by dlotraf33

It's hard to beat the look of a 32 shell, but since everybody does it maybe stay with the 29 shell just to be different............

That's what I was thinking.

I love the look of the '32 shells, but I'd rather keep this one looking like the '29 that it is

Besides, adding a '32 shell and insert will easily triple the cost of an otherwise simple replacement

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I behold that a '28/'29 PAINTED BODY COLOR shell is about as nice as they come.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I behold that a '28/'29 PAINTED BODY COLOR shell is about as nice as they come.

I agree.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I behold that a '28/'29 PAINTED BODY COLOR shell is about as nice as they come.

If you're wanting to stay with the original look, then I agree that the shell painted to match your body color would be a better look than chrome, but as Tech says, you're the one it has to please.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I behold that a '28/'29 PAINTED BODY COLOR shell is about as nice as they come.

After reading this, I asked the photoshop crew on another messageboard to paint the shell orange and this is what I get






About 30 minutes later, I get this



I know it's a bad job, but I'm still kinda torn between colormatching and a chrome unit

I always liked the color match on the '29, but as metioned above - it has to please you - to heck with the rest of us hacks...

ps.... am I the only one that cannot see the pics, just have the dreaded red 'x'

David

Originally Posted by Dsprint2000

ps.... am I the only one that cannot see the pics, just have the dreaded red 'x'

David

Works fine on my end

Do you have a firewall?

Originally Posted by Dsprint2000

ps.... am I the only one that cannot see the pics, just have the dreaded red 'x'

David

You need to clean out your cache and reboot.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

You need to clean out your cache and reboot.

It could also be a filter for the word "s l u t" (I use my carclub website "fuelslut.net" to host all my photos)