Truck restoration manual?

1

1Metalbender

Member
Is there a restoration manual for the model a trucks? I bought one and it's for the cars and sedans...can somebody point me in the right direction if one exists? Perhaps the author would help as well
 
Do you have a "big truck" (Model AA) or a small truck on the passenger chassis (Model A)? There is some information in the Model A judging standards.

Charlie Stephens
 
As you learn more you will probably be thankful you have the A and not the AA. The AA was slower because it weighed more. The top end was lower because the rear end ratios were low to accommodate the additional weight. The AA might be good for a nearby parade but not for a tour that involved highway driving. Having said that the pickup truck was the same as any other passenger car with a few exceptions:

The radiator shell was black instead of stainless. It was shaped like the '30 passenger car shell both years. It had a blue emblem in '30 and a stainless one in '31. Don't confuse the shell with the AA radiator shell that was designed for a thicker radiator and did not have the peak in the center. The headlight and tail light buckets were black with the rings stainless.

You need to check the judging standards for the paint colors. There were actually a few that were used on trucks only in '31. If I remember correctly you could get 38 standard colors on the trucks in '31 but the '30's had a much more limited selection.

The trucks were all standard vehicles (no cowl lights etc) except for a few rare deluxe trucks that were slab sided instead of having the usual bed.

The rear end ratio was usually lower than the passenger cars (4.11). Since they used the passenger car differential you can install higher gears (I have 3.54 gears in my '31 RDPU and they are just right for highway driving).

The trucks had slightly heavier springs. I took out the heavier springs and replaced them with ones designed for a roadster. I probably can't carry as much but it definitely rides nicer.

All trucks carried their spare in a fender well as there was no place to mount it in the rear. If something became obsolete for passenger car production it was common to use up the excess inventory on the trucks making the change over date for new parts a little later.

I am sure if I missed anything some will add it.

Please post any questions you have.

Is your truck a '30 or a '31? There might be some small differences that are also common to the passenger vehicles.

How about some pictures?

Charlie Stephens
 
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There's a 48 page book titled "Restoring the Model A Pickup".
It may not be as useful as it sounds, but every bit helps.
 
Forgot to mention earlier that the headlight wires pass through fabric conduits between the headlight bucket and the radiator shell. The conduits are stainless on the regular cars. Still wondering, what year, '30 or '31? Another thing is the trucks have a dispatch box on the right front cowl panel. These show up in the for sale section as well as being available as a reproduction. The running boards were all metal and not covered with rubber like the passenger cars.

Charlie Stephens
 
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Tom Wesenberg said:
There's a 48 page book titled "Restoring the Model A Pickup".
It may not be as useful as it sounds, but every bit helps.
Click to expand...
Try to find a copy at a local vendor that you can thumb through. If I remember correctly I bought a copy and didn't find it very useful.

A good source for truck parts is (660) 263-7444, wwwmackhils.com. I think his company is the author of "Restoring the Model A Pickup".

By the way, what year is your truck?

Charlie Stephens
 
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My truck technically is a 30 cause it doesn't have the teardrop impression in the firewall...but my paperwork says 31...the reason I'm looking for the book is the wood and some of the sheet metal in the cab is different from the cars, not all of it mind you but enough to cause headaches to somebody like me that don't know the difference in pieces...
 
1Metalbender said:
My truck technically is a 30 cause it doesn't have the teardrop impression in the firewall...but my paperwork says 31...the reason I'm looking for the book is the wood and some of the sheet metal in the cab is different from the cars, not all of it mind you but enough to cause headaches to somebody like me that don't know the difference in pieces...
Click to expand...

The indented firewall didn't come out until about May of 1931.

Bob
 
One more thing and I make it a new post instead of burying it in an update of a previous post. The cowl band on the pickups was painted regular steel. If I remember correctly a few of the first ones for the 1930 style were painted black but then the rest were painted body color. Check the judging standards.

If you get a little more specific about what you want maybe someone will run across a body when they are carrying a camera. These iPhone cameras are sure great.

Charlie Stephens
 
Bob C said:
The indented firewall didn't come out until about May of 1931.

Bob
Click to expand...

That's interesting! Mine also has a stainless cowl band on it...from the condition of it and the cowl I believe it to be the original...I'm only looking for a manual to know what is supposed to go where so I'll know what I'm missing and what's correct kinda thing...have always had a book for everything I've owned, just helped to have it for a reference if nothing else...
 
Re: I'm also doing a 1930 closed cab Pickup. CCPU

Volume II of the Mechanics Handbook has a very good section on replacing the top wood. Pictures are great. You can purchase all the top wood and the cab wood from most of the catalogs. I found a supplier to work with me on the various pieces I needed. I'll try to get a picture of my cab wood to upload,
Or check my avatar
 
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