1941 grill to radiator baffle missing

[Steve Passmore]

None of the 41s I've owned has ever had that particular baffle Scott only the small one that it shows in your parts book illustration so I can't help you on fixings.  As for the extra hole you mention, thats definitely a drill hole and not a factory pressed hole so added for something later. An extra horn perhaps when the originals failed?

[harry s]

Scott, I checked again and the baffle in my car is like the one you show. There are three bolts holding the top portion. The lower one is just behind the guide hole for the hood and there is one in the middle and 5" up for the third one. The bolts go in from the top and are held by threaded inserts in the baffle. The bolts in mine are 1/4-20 with a "w" on the head. Bobby B had an explanation on a recent thread for the markings on the bolts which designates the manufacturer.    Harry

[Scott Anderson CLC#26068]

Harry, thanks for looking and getting back to me. I'll use the 'w' bolts then. I've run a chaser down all the threaded inserts and cleaned up the threads on the 'w' bots.

Last thing, I'd asked about color - natural, cadmium, or black painted like the shroud?

- Scott

[Paul Phillips]

Scott
My 41 60S came to me w/o this baffle, and I also chose to find and install one. In case the later production story is true, my car was a March 41 build, and it also did not have the 2 support rods from the firewall.

I would beg to differ on the value of this part. Without it there is less support for the hood latch mechanism and I did note that the top panel of the core support assembly was distorted a bit in that area. There is also reduced stiffening of the core support assembly to the grille.

Paul

[Tlentz]

This is a funny topic for me mostly because I am possibly ADD and a huge procrastinator...When I bought the my 41 it had a bent front panel that was damaged from the previous owner loading it on a trailer.  I took the entire front end apart to replace it and ofcourse explore.  After I put it all back together, you guessed it, forgot the brace.  It is still floating around between the trunk and my shop.  Cannot really tell you where it right now is but I promise to put it back on...someday.  That is my theory.  It also appears to be apart of the strength of the upper "grill area"  I do notice without it I have probably a  slight measurable sag. 

[harry s]

I'm not sure about the color or finish on the bolts. I definitely agree about that baffle adding strength to the core support.    Harry

[Paul Phillips]

I couldn't find anything in Authenticity Manual on bolt finish. Would likely depend on how well they wanted the subassembly parts painted. If they didn't care about care metal areas on the core support and brace, they could have assembled, then painted. If they did care, paint then assemble would be the sequence, and bolt heads would be natural finish. FWIW,  I did paint then assemble route.  I used 18-8 stainless hardware, bead blasted to dull finish similar to original zinc.

Paul

[Scott Anderson CLC#26068]

Thanks Paul and Harry.

I know my front end is lopsided, by nearly 1/2 inch side to side as I recall although it's been quite awhile since I measured it. Do understand that the 41 front end takes some work to line up but suspect some shipping damage may have occurred and the stars in my eyes blinded me to it at the time...

I've only seen one original car since this was on my mind, as a favor from a friend. It's fasteners were natural and so that 's what I'm going to do with mine as well as you describe with the paint then assemble method. I figure I will either be correct, or if I find out they went black with the shroud it's easier to remove and paint them than to remove paint and polish them up again. (The parts car from which I obtained them had been spray bombed flat black in the entire underhood area except the motor so all fastener heads are black). While as I'd noted earlier I obtained a variety of fasteners with the baffle I should be able to put together 3 with the 'W' stamping for the top, and for the underneath will likely use stainless I already have which are prepared in the manner you describe plus a clearcoat. I did this with the original mudpan bolts I was given and it's worked out well so far.   

Paul, thank you for looking through the Authenticity Manual. I do have one, but still stumble. For example my recent post on the heater ducting.  Although I'd read through the relevant sections to that area I'd missed a photo of it shown in the Accessories section. <slapping forehead>.

Harry, I've looked and can't seem to find the post by Bobby. I have emailed him directly about either a link or the information itself. 

Thanks again gentlemen.
-Scott

[Paul Phillips]

Scott
Your baffle is the same as the one I added back to my car, except I do not have the hole you circled in mine. Perhaps this is a hole added by its previous owner for some unknown use?  There is no reason I recall for factory wiring to pass thru this area.

Paul

[Scott Anderson CLC#26068]

Thanks Paul. I'm of the same opinion regarding the hole. And Harry, thanks again for the tip regarding bolt head markings - Bobby kindly sent me the link. Makes me feel much better about some of the randomization I found on the parts car (factory was random vs all being mechanics over the years swapping stuff around).

[JoeKarasinski]

Finally took a look at my 41 today and yes I do have that support bracket installed.

[Scott Anderson CLC#26068]

Interesting Joe. Did you happen to notice if the boltheads were natural or painted black like the shroud?

Scott