VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 radiator lacing for 31

need to know ......
what do I use to fasten my radiator lacing ?
small slotted screws/and nuts, rivits, or
elmers glue and red gaffers tape? ha ha.
Stanman

Use very small rivets... I just added my lacing last week and it took about an hour with two people. Bending the rivets takes two pliers simultaneously.

Send me a PM with your address and I'll send you a rivet that I have left over. Or just go to
tfs
and buy them.
Part number: FS-11683

A tip: If you are installing lacing to the shell BEFORE you insert the radiator core, then insert the six screws into the holes BEFORE you attach the lacing with the rivets.

must be the same split rivits that are used for the sidemount wheel pads.
Thanks again
Stan

Now Bill!
An ingenious fella like you should have discovered that a small screw driver pushed between the legs of the split rivet while pushing on the head to create tension will get the legs a bending at the right place. Then squish the legs flat with a pair of pliers. Worked every time for me and don't need to hear "I told you so." or "Now what do you want me to do? Stand on my head?"

Also the welting can be pushed out of the way enough to get the screws in after installing. If it is stretched a bit it will return to its taut position fairly quickly. I think it is easier than to try to get the screws angled just right to be able to install them in the slots or holes in the radiator bracket. But to each his own.

By the way did you remove one of the cords so there was only one on the radiator welting?

one of the cords??
fill me in before I go any further. The shell is on the car with radiator core.
stan

A little known fact is that 1931 Chevys used a welting on the radiator shell with only one cord not two as supplied today. The '32 shells I have also only have one cord.

It is easy to remove one of the two cords. Take a sharp knife or razor blade or exacto knife and slit the inside of the fabric surrounding one cord. Open it up and remove the cording. Push it back together. I have never had to iron it for it to stay flat. Then just rivet it to the shell with the remaining cord toward the hood.

Don't ask me why only one cord but never found an original '31 shell with two. Have found several that obviously have replaced welting with double corded welting.

My 60,000 original one owner 31 Chevrolet that I purchased in 1960 had two cords on the radiator shell and the cowl.

hhhmmmm...do I remove the cord or do I leave it alone ?
now I'm not sure.
mixed signals.
Stanman.

I have a ? is the welting 2 pieces?stopping at the fill neck and start on the other side? Long needle nose pliers make install a one move job...thanks blu38

Wow.. a new topic that has the potential to cause angst for new, and old, members. I will check tomorrow and see what my original lacing was... I'm pretty sure that I still have it in the attic. (Hording?)

<<I just deleted a couple of paragraphs. Instead I am going to post them in the Members Only area.>>

I'll come back here and add the link.

HERE IT IS (Note: Only available to VCCA members.)
https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/204773#Post204773

Catalogues sell both "rivet" lacing and "internal wire" lacing. Which one is original, or are both original equipment? The cwmax.com online catalogue indicates internal wire lacing is original. I am working on my 31 roadster and want to use the correct lacing.

Both are correct! The internal wire lacing goes on the cowl and the rivet type of lacing goes on the radiator shell.

Thanks J. Dog. I also have a 60,000, one owner '31 roadster that I am almost positive came with facgtory original two cord lacing.
Al

The internal wire two cord lacing was used on the cowl. All internal wire lacing I know of is flat not two corded. I have made the internal wire by feeding mechanics wire carefully down one of the cords.