Which Cowl Lacing set is correct for 1924?

[SurveyKing]

Which of the two cowl lacing sets would be correct for 1924 steel firewall? The one on the left is 3/8" the right is 1/2"

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[RajoRacer]

That appears to be radiator shell lacing - cowl lacing has a depression in the center for the peened rivet ends to sit down in so as to not scratch your paint.

[jiminbartow]

I’d say the 3/8” is for the radiator shell since the shell has holes the lacing must go through and the 1/2” is for the cowl as the cowl has no holes that need to be laced through. Jim Patrick

[DanTreace]

The flat 3/8" is correct for '23-'25 steel dash. Typical install by factory line folds the split rivet into the fabric, just like a transmission band.

Original flat lacing on my '23:

On my '24 used the later '26-'27 style double bead lacing, that is wider, thicker and has center space to fold the rivet tangs to keep them below the lacing. But it does let the hood sit a bit higher and adjustment to the hood clip springs is needed by countersinking the holes in the hood shelf wood blocks a tad deeper!

[Original Smith]

What Dan says is correct. I have a NOS firewall to prove it.

[SurveyKing]

Dan, Are the rivet heads or tangs exposed on the outer surface on your original 24?

[SurveyKing]

Also like to mention that both sets came from vendors marked "Cowl Lacing" with rivets so could not be mistaken for radiator shell lacing

[DanTreace]

Daniel

Close up of 1923 original low steel dash (firewall) lacing, the split rivet tang is folded into the lacing. Head of rivet on metal underside. Just like tranny band lining install.

[Original Smith]

Everyone should have a copy of the Ford Service book. It answers a lot of these kind of questions. I prefer original copies which aren't too hard to find.

[SurveyKing]

Larry, I could not find in the Ford Service Manual where it talks about the cowl lacing size. It does have a few photos one of which shows the head of the rivet to be exposed to the outside. Another thing is the two sets from venders have either black or nickel rivets not brass. It seems that brass is what is shown in the FS Manuel. Hopefully, we can get some other input here regarding these details. Perhaps they were nickel which later faded.

[DanTreace]

This older post on topic of in or out! Have seen both ways, of course the wood firewall nail heads into fabric lacing, on 26-27 rivet heads inside, as impossible to crimp from inside on those deep cowl firewalls. On metal firewall most I see original are crimped into fabric, while some are seen rivet head on lacing and crimp on the metal. Probably depended on which assembly branch and on what day of assembly!

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