Well, I THOUGHT I was ready to assemble the front sheet metal on my 1926 roadster pickup for the first time in fifty two years. After putting the radiator installation kit in place I thought to myself you better see how the hood shelves are going to fit. No where in the instructions for the radiator installation kit does it tell you the hood shelves are also involved and to make matters even worse so are the front fenders. And the thing is if all those parts the front apron, the radiator, the radiator shell, the hood shelf, and the fender use the same hole the stud provided in the kit isn't long enough. Not to mention I have no idea what the order of assembly is. A little help please!!!

Possible help here:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/166891.html

Patience needed !!

wEell bBob have FUN and DO NOT GET FRUSTRATED,.
As some of my friends say you will have fun HAHA. You will assemble three things and ind the first one is wrong, take apart then start over again . I am in the process of a Ruckstell rebuild. It is order parts, opps I needed that item also, order again, opps I knew I should have looked a bit closer, order again. Well maybe it will all fit together.
Go out and enjoy the ride in the "T" and have fun. They can be a pain in the backside and fun in the front.
Bill D #14079

This neat sketch will help too, along with Ford Service manual instructions.

On the first install of a new kit it helps to block up the stud from the bottom with scrap wood. Compress the spring as much as you can and use a wood block to hold it in place while you put everything else on.

Hey Bob,

Once you do get all the radiator/mudgaurd/clash panels installed... the next trick is to install the cowl and see how the bonnet fits.

We have found that by spacing the front body mounts, moving the center hinge point on the cowl or fiddling with the radiator mounts themselves, you can successfully drive yourself insane trying to get the bonnet to fit properly;)

It's not always a nightmare in 3D but a little time spent now can really pay off in the future, otherwise you loose a lot of paint or plating as the bonnet rubs it's way into a place it's comfortable.

Have fun!

A

You should know if you follow Dan's illustration above the hole in the apron for the hand crank starter is not going to line up. Put the tabs under the hood shelf and it's wood for a better fit.

Bob

Good check....that drawing may have been a draft.

The radiator apron should go on top of the fender, and under the hood shelf block, as you noted.

Ford Service photo: