1912 Firewall Question

[Tod Wirth, WI]

I am replacing my early to mid April (?) firewall on my 1912 slab side bodied touring. Looking for the correct location of the firewall to windshield bolt holes. The current firewall on the car is not original so I can't rely on it for correct dimensions (especially considering all the other things that are wrong with it).

Did the windshield mounting brackets originally just go over the brass trim on the edge of the firewall, or was the brass trim notched out for the brackets to set between, so that it didn't crush the brass trim when tightened down? This one has been notched out.

Lastly, wasn't the windshield mounted right on top of the brass trim on the firewall? I thought that is why the screw heads for the brass trim on the top of the firewall needed to be flat heads. There has been some sort of padding installed on mine in the past.

Thanks for the help.

Tod.

[Tod Wirth, WI]

Finally found some of the information I was looking for on an image in another thread.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1543334612

916823.jpg (7.37 KiB) Viewed 2750 times

It looks like it was drawn by John Regan so I am confident it is correct.

It confirms what I suspected. The brackets are in the wrong place on my current dash.

The image is not very clear, due to the low resolution, but it looks like it is 24 1/4" between the sets of holes. The top hole looks to be 21/32" from the top edge of the firewall and the lower hole is 1" below that. I suspect these are 9/32" holes like the side lamp bracket holes. Someone can correct me if I am wrong (and please do!).

These dimensions match the original October of 1914 firewall that I have.

Just a note, This drawing does not show the second mixture rod hole that made the dash reversible.

Still looking for answers to my other two questions on the first post.

Also, does anyone know when the hole for the horn showed up in the dash (shown in this drawing)? Going from memory (dangerous), I think my car was built right before that. My horn is on the outside, but if it was drilled for it at this point in time, I would like to make it right.

[Allan]

Tod, the brass trim is not notched. The clamps have a second bend so they clear the trim. The windscreen does sit on the trim with no packing/gasket. I would not drill the clamp holes until you get the correct clamps. Then set the screen in place, set the brackets in place and then drill the holes to suit.
Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

[Colin Mavins]

if you enlarge you can see the clamps cheers Colin

[Colin Mavins]

Cheers Colin

[Colin Mavins]

here is a close up the brass trim is original as are the brackets Cheers Colin