VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 38 Grille

At the bottom of the front grille on a 38 there are two holes. What type of fastener is used to hold the grille to the bottom of the radiator shell? Is there anything that covers the heads of the fasteners so you don't see them?

Thanks,
Brian

Every '38 that I have ever seen (at meets etc.) had "truss head" slotted screws-not covered-chrome or stainless.Always looked rather "crude"....

If you are talking about the two screws just below and on either side of the crank hole along the bottom of the grill, I just took a look at mine and it has phillips head sheet metal screws, exposed. Stuart

Phillips would be more logical

Phillips would be more logical

Thanks guys! Now, Pan head or Truss head? Washer? Lock washer?

Brian

I just went out and pulled one out of my car and here is the best I can do. No washer. The screw threads (threads only)are 5/8"L x 5/32" O.D. The head is 5/16" O.D. with a 1/16" high, flat shoulder that rounds up to a crown and the total height of the head (bottom of shoulder to top of crown) is 3/32" at the center. It is a sheet metal screw that appears to be plated as it is not rusted. It is not chrome plated but perhaps it is zinc. It has been in the grill for a long, long time without rusting and that's why I think it is plated.
Hope this helps. I don't have a digital camera or I would take a picture and mail it to you. Stuart

Thanks Stuart, you're a real trooper. I owe you one. I finished the dash, except for woodgraining, check it out on my profile.

Brian

Brian,

The dash color looks great.1938 dash colors are difficult to duplicate.Have you done any of the woodgraining??
Need a correct heater switch??

Gene

That is a very nice instrument panel that you have there! Good going!!

Gene,

The heater switch on the left was in the car when I got it. The one on the right is a similar type switch from the filling station or the like, it lights when on and the brightness is an indication of the speed of the motor. The left one is for the heater and the right is for the defrost. Until now I hadn't thought much about the switches. What does a correct switch look like?

The upper dash color is replicated from a section of the dash color that was on the delete plate behind the glove box door. It looked really good and you could still see some of the sparkle from the original metallic in the paint. The lower dash color is replicated from a section of the steering column that was covered by the floor seals.

I've tried 10 different techniques to replicate the original woodgrain, a sort of dark olive on a dark gray base. If my next attempts fail I was thinking of doing dry transfer or just a standard woodgrain.

JYD, Thanks! It's been 6 years +

Brian

Brian: To do things right and with quality takes time and you have done a great job. On the woodgraining issue, you might want to try this dude: Mike Benton, 1109 Applewood Drive, Patillion, Nebraska 68046. (402) 339-8283.

Brian,The original heater, defroster and fog light switches mounted to the left of the steering column.There should be three holes in the lower flange of the dash -they mount thru the holes and point down.The 1938-39 are the same except for the color.The '38's are the "knob" gray and the '39's tan.!937 used a slightly different shape knob (and color).Will check my "inventory" to see what I have.