1931 Passenger Bus

G

Grier

Member
Our Coastal Carolina A's Club has volunteered to help restore a 1931 Model AA Passenger Bus (330-B). Once this bus is restored it will go into service at the Gilmore Model A Ford Museum as a shuttle bus. This is a group effort among our club members, and the total restoration of the bus will be provided by other clubs and volunteers across the Model A community. Our club will be responsible for restoring the chassis to a "running chassis" condition.
We have a blogspot for our club and will be chronicling our progress.
Check it out at: http://coastalcarolinaas.blogspot.com
 
Where was it found??
Is the body being restored or a new one constructed? Pics of the body either "as is" or in progress would be most interesting.


Thanks
 
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This bus was donated by Ken Ehrenhofer to MAFFI. It was purchased by Ken at the Hartung auction a few years back.
 
The bus was bought at the Lee Roy Hartung auction in the Chicago Suburbs a few years ago. Do a search of "Hartung" in this forum and you'll find a lot of pictures. Ken Ehrenhofer regularly posts pictures of it on the MARC Facebook page as well.

-Tim
 
There was an article about this bus in the Model A times a couple of issues back. Very interesting,


TerryO
 
I love this project. Thanks for posting a blog link to follow your restoration progress. Do you have a list of parts that you might need in the restoration. I recently acquired some Model A parts and would be glad to donate some if there's a need.
 
What brand is the bus body? If its a "Thomas", the Thomas Built Buses home office and manufacturing plant is in High Point, NC. They might be willing to offer assistance.

Well, I see its a Union City Body......so much for that idea!
 
Hi Jim, Right off the bat we see a need for two parts that we believe will be hard to find. The first part is specific to the AA157 chassis (157 inch wheelbase) and it is the short shaft tube (the end has been pinched off). It mates into a stamped sheet metal shell that bolts to the 3rd cross member for the u-joint which we also need (split opened). I am attaching images. If anyone knows where to get these please drop us an email.
Thanks!
 

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15 years ago I needed some AA parts for the intermediate drive shaft on a 131" 1930 AA, and finally found them at Little Dearborn in Minneapolis.
 
Grier
If you have not found a LWB coupling shaft housing and support, I have one that I am willing to donate to the project. I also have the LWB coupling shaft, in very nice condition, and 2 brake rod extensions if you are interested in them.
 
Keep us posted on parts needed. I have a later trans that is supposed to be in good shape, the gears will interchange with AA gears. I will also donate a reground engine camshaft if needed.
 
We are coming along with the refurbishment of the bus chassis. Our latest workday was 10/24/2019. Please take a look at our progress at:
www.coastalcarolinaas.blogspot.com


We thank everyone for your support through either purchasing raffle tickets (still available) and outright donations of cash and parts.
 
The chassis is looking great. The coupling shaft housing rear support was most likely correct with the clipped bolt hole. I think this was done with the service replacement coupling shaft with the u-joint at the transmission end. It was done so you could leave the top bolt in the clam shell so the torque tube would remain in place at the cross member. I have four of those supports and three are clipped.


Bob
 

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That’s interesting Bob. We learn something everyday on this project. The beat up one that I used as the donor was actually the one that was on the bus originally. That’s why we thought it should be repaired. Guess we could have left it alone.
 
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