VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 32 Roadster details

Some more info on my 32 roadster … hope someone can help me to understand what I have and particularly if it is a US or Canadian made vehicle.

First some background:
I bought the car in Canada around 1999 and it had been in Canada since at least the mid 1970’s based on participation plaques from Canadian events. It does not have an identification plate either on the firewall or the body sill, but has an assigned number from when it was registered in Canada. It has a 1932 cylinder head (May ’32 cast date) 1932 free wheeling transmission (March '32 cast date) but a 1931 engine block (March '31 cast date). The block serial number is 2307028 which I believe indicates it was originally in a Canadian car, but since it appears that this is a replacement block I still don’t know if the car was built in US or Canada. Is there any way to check if the other major 32 driveline parts were originally on a Canadian car? Any concerns about compatibility of the 32 parts with the 31 block?

I’d appreciate any comments on differences between Canadian and US cars that I can check. I have noticed a few odd things on my car, but don't know if they are original or significant:
1) Interior door handles are the rotating type as used on closed cars rather than the pivot style I have seen on US roadsters
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ydblcjodn2fdyw/Door%201.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/82wgpxuo5jnf8ve/Door%202.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cvffdgbu1rp7kat/Door%203.jpg

2) The manifold fitting for the vacuum wiper motor uses a reducing pipe (to the size in the windshield post) and the hose is a small diameter that goes through the cowl near left side rather than middle. Photos of US roadster appear to show a larger line which goes through the cowl in the recessed center section.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lm72j47a9hgwm9g/Wiper%201.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6gyign29kghl7aq/Wiper%202.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qpo2l3wvdjgfi6i/Wiper%203.JPG

3) Two heavy castings are used at the water outlet from the cylinder head rather than the single casting I have seen on all US 1932 cars. This may have been changed over the years since the casting numbers on the pieces (3053255 and 3053265) do not seem to be a Chevrolet sequence, but I’d like to know if there is any reason for using this style.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ud4ie5br42enp8f/Engine%201.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9s1r52oejs1j65l/Engine%202.jpg

I am not familiar enough with the differences between '32 Canadian and USA vehicles to help on that issue.

The water outlet is the one that was supplied with the hot water heater both in 1931 and '32. So that doesn't help.

My roadster is a Canadian car .My door pulls are the same as what I have seen on us cars. elongated bezel and just pulls straight back. Yours might be from a cabriolet door.
I have the same outlet nozzle on the head. It should house a thermostat. and a bypass valve.
My sedan dosent have the heater in it but the holes are in the firewall to accept it.
Both my sedan and roadster vacuum hoses go through the firewall just above were the side mount bracket is on the drivers side .both of the fittings on the manifold are 1/8 npt. on the manifold to 1/4 copper tubing . The flexible tubing should have a larger outside diameter than normal tubing so probably 3/8 inch or so.

I AGREE WITH JACK, THE DOOR OPENER MECHANISM, is from a closed car.

A roadster uses a pull type handle that mounts up near the front of the door. It pivots on a screw into the wood from below. From there a twisted piece of 3/4--1" wide attaches to the handle and also the locking mechanism. And when handle is pulled it activates the twist flat metal and pulls the latch to the open position.

In the upholstery is mounted the OVAL bezel. There is some on ebay. Cannot get the link to work properly , look it up under 1932 Chevrolet roadster bezel


I bought the set ( oval bezels.. twisted metal and the handles ) are ones for a 1932 ford roadster and look identical to the Chevrolet ones.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-1932-3...ries&hash=item43bdc3c081&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/290829283030?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

anyway this one of the links works, but AMMUSCLE...seller has all the parts....handle , twisted rod....bezel

mike lynch

The www.fillingstation.com sells door handles, pivot bracket and trim piece.
GR-602 , GR-219. GR- 514

yes they do at the following listed prices..........

GR 514 page 115.................OVALS ........$35.00 pair
GR 219 page 115 REMOTE DOOR HANDLE...........$170.00 pair
GR 603 page 124 twisted metal connector.......$24.50 pair
GR 602 page 124 remote handle mount bracket...$27.50 pair

GR601 door latch assembly L & R..............$119.50 each
Sold out aug 2013 illustrated page #`127

buying the reproduction 32 ford parts is seriously less than these prices and if you look at them , they are the same .

mike lynch

Mike,
These ones for the 32 ford.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Roadst...arts_Accessories&hash=item3f0b648bec

The inside handles the filling station sells are investment cast stainless steel, and the handles on the these are die cast zinc alloy.
The shapes of the handles are also different. So you probably get what you pay for.

The most obvious difference between '31 Canadian built Chevy's and US built Chevy's were in the details of the fenders. For '31, the Canadian fenders had a double bead along edges while American fenders had a single bead, and Canadian front fenders had 2 support brackets while American cars had a single support bracket.

Did these types of variations continue into '32, especially in relation to the extra front fender support bracket. If so, that may help you ID your car.

On another possibility, do we know if any Roadsters were actually manufactured in Canada? Since these bodies were manufactured by Chevrolet and not Fisher Body, could it be that there is really no difference between Canadian and American models in regard to Raodsters, and they were brought into Canada as completed cars?

Thanks for the comments.
I had hoped the different door latch was a Canadian feature - particularly as it seemed something unlikely to be changed. At least the handles work properly so I can use them for now and add the conversion to my list of things to do.

I'll check the front fender braces tomorrow to be sure, but I think there is only one brace per fender on my '32.

Perhaps someone with an original Canadian roadster can comment if it was manufactured in Canada. Does it show Confederation as the model on the id plate? Does the engine serial number fall in the sequence assigned to Canada? Even if the car was assembled in Canada, were the bodies imported? Maybe this history does not exist, but who knows?

Actually the roadster and touring bodys 1929---1935 was supplied by an outside supplier, delivered to the assembly line and placed on a chassis.

I believe the outside supplier was Hercules, who also built the woodies.

I would have to assume that the body was stamped out in the usa and the body components shipped to Canada for assembly at the Oshawa Ontario plant.

The door latch's used is the same as on Chevrolet trucks 1929--1935. All the latches , hinges, strikers are common to the roadsters and phaetons only.

The body is different than a CLOSED CAR FISHER BODY. Except the cabriolet is a FISHER BODY.

Its my understanding that for 1932 roadsters ,there was a deluxe model that came as a 4 passenger with rumble seat, they also produced a standard model that did not have a rumble seat. It was posted on this site in a thread in the last 12 months.

mike lynch........

The quality stainless steel ones are probably from the guy in Australia, judging by the price.

The 32 ford parts I have are very nice and cost seriously less than filling station. There is nothing wrong with the quality of the ford parts. Most of the part is hidden under upholstery, so what diff does it make.???

I also bought wind wing brackets for 32-36 fords to use on my chevolet, because they are not available for Chevrolet roadsters & tourings 1932--1935

mike lynch

Headlighter, If you wanted to make sure if the inside door handles have been change or not, you could take the door lining off and have a look underneath, if the wood frame is still the original frame it will have screw holes on the upper timber piece , on the under side. you can also check to see how original the mounting is for the spline handle.

As far as I am aware, the filling station handle is a correct replacement for the original 1931 and 1932 handles. The original handle I have from the US is a die cast material, and die cast handles do eventually break, which may be why the change was made.

Does your car have a luggage rack? if so the Canadian cars had different trim to that of an American car .short strips running the length of the car as opposed to three long strips running the width of the car. The Canadian cars have a id tag that is similar to the closed bodied cars #146.it is riveted to the firewall. Are your bumper ends rounded or flat, I've been told that the American cars have rounded ends. Mine are more flat.
I was also told that the side mount bars were chrome on Canadian cars and painted on the American cars .Keep in mind that all of these things could have been changed over the years.
As for the fender supports there is one under the front that incorporates the headlight bars, and the second support is behind the side mount. If you remove your tires you should see three bolts This bracket also holds your vertical rod on your side mount brackets.

Besides the trim being different on the Canadian folding luggage rack, the rack itself is different as well.

For '31 Canadian cars, there was a 3rd front fender bracket just ahead of the sidemount well. This 3rd bracket is not on American manufactured '31's. See pic posted at left.

Considering how little these cars get actually used, I think the diecast ones will be more than sufficient to last long term.

mike

Thanks for the thoughts on Canadian differences.

I have a luggage rack, but expect it is not factory original. Is this close to either the US or Canadian shape?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kv8woeqlz1m1o9x/Luggage%20rack.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0dohsf41at0u3e9/Bumper%20end.jpg?dl=0

The second photo also shows the bumper end which look quite flat to me. Any comments if this is a Canadian shape?

My front fender braces are as Jack describes and the side mount bars are chromed on my car. As mentioned earlier there is no id tag on the car - either on the firewall or wooden seat frame, so the other clues are all I can use.

Bumpers were dealer installed accessories and two different types of bumper face bars were used on cars made in the USA. One had a barrel end and the other had a flat end.

Thanks for the insight on the bumper face bars. I thought they were factory installed. It's great to learn new details!

Hey Headlighter… are you going to step back and take a photo (or ten) of that whole car, or just keep teasing us with the close-ups??!! Dying to see more!

The sidemount hardware on my '31 Canadian Chev Deluxe (aka Special) Coach had a lot of what appeared to be the original chrome still on them, suggesting perhaps that this hardware was chromed for Canadian models. My postulation is that Canadian cars were subjected to much harsher and varied weather in general than US models, especially in winter, and thus the chrome versus painted hardware, and the extra brace on front fenders (for those dives into the snow banks or into other cars on slipperty roads etc). Just speculating.

OK - I've put up a picture in the Member Photos section. I've taken it apart a bit more since this picture - so nothing better to show for now.

So....If you want your car to have the correct inside door handles, then buy the correct ones, they are not the same as Ford. Also there is another option now for handles, since the Filling Station used mine to copy.

Also your rack looks to be the Canadian 31/32 rack. Also your side mount hardware being chrome would also indicate that it could have been made in Canada. From what I have been told, the quality of workmanship up in Canada was not as good as the US. Rivets would not be installed correctly, this is what I was told from a friend. Long story as to why I know this.

Also your casting numbers would be different then the US if I remember right, so your head and black casting numbers would not match. You might try posting them for us to see.

Also if you have the holes on the firewall where the ID Tag might have been would be a good clue.

If you want to know more about 32 roadster/phaeton's let me know.

Otherwise, if the car was a US or Canadian it would be really hard to tell since everything that would tell you was a bolt on item.

Bruce

Now stop dissing the caw .My front fenders only had two rivets on them. The rear underside frame splash guards were welded on ( way stronger)..

Hi Bruce - Thanks for the thoughts so far and keep them coming!

There are no visible holes in the firewall for an ID plate, but they may have been filled. I haven't yet removed the paint on the firewall or the insulating pad on the back side to check for further evidence.

The castings are:
Head: 863718 - cast date E 11 2 (May 11, 1932)
Transmission case: 590532 - cast date C 1 2 (March 1, 1932)

As mentioned earlier, I believe the engine block was changed - it has casting number 836409 - cast date C 19 1 (March 19, 1931). The serial number stamped on the block is 2307028, which I believe is in the correct range for Canadian engines. The car was in Canada for many years (if not always?), so the engine may have been changed there, but I don't know the original block.