32 truck & Pass frames
- Thread starter sjsca
- Start date
Jerry Parr WI
Well-known member
DavidG
Well-known member
Regardless of what that 'COM' may or may not stood for, there is no difference between '32 passenger car and commercial chassis frame. They carry the same part number for the whole assembly and the same part number for the center cross member. I've had numerous examples of both and there were no differences between them except those associated with the numerous changes that were made to both the side rails and cross members during the course of the model year. (Nor was there a difference in the gauge in the steel used for the side rails and cross members between the frames used on passenger cars and commercial vehicles.)
Jerry Parr WI
Well-known member
I have always wondered if perhaps since this is a frame punched only for 4 cy stabilizer rods if this may have been to identify that it could not be used for a V8.
DavidG
Well-known member
Jerry,
That type of center cross member is relatively scarce and I presume is like that shown below, but it still can accommodate a V-8 with the right combination of engine steady rods and the early V-8 engines with separate steady rod brackets (similar to, but distinctly different from, those used on four-cylinder engine flywheel housings).
It cannot accommodate a later '32 V-8 without adding the appropriate holes to it once Ford eliminated the separate steady rod brackets and incorporated their mounting holes into the block's flywheel housing.
That type of center cross member is relatively scarce and I presume is like that shown below, but it still can accommodate a V-8 with the right combination of engine steady rods and the early V-8 engines with separate steady rod brackets (similar to, but distinctly different from, those used on four-cylinder engine flywheel housings).
It cannot accommodate a later '32 V-8 without adding the appropriate holes to it once Ford eliminated the separate steady rod brackets and incorporated their mounting holes into the block's flywheel housing.
PeteVS
Well-known member
The Bishop-Tardel book on building an AV8 shows two methods of modifying a K member to fit a Model A frame. One is for a "V8" K member and one for a "B" K member. But, 4 cylinder and 8 cylinder K members are the same?
Added comparison photo (early '32, but not that early.)
Added comparison photo (early '32, but not that early.)
Attachments
Last edited:
DavidG
Well-known member
Like most '32 K members, the one in your photos has the holes for both V-8 and 4-cylinder engine steady rods and the transmissions for both those engines use the same rear mount, so it was intended to be used with either engine. It is a later version than the photo I posted earlier, but that one isn't the earliest one either. On the earliest version, the V-8 and four steady rods are mounted in the same outboard position and they do not pass through the center cross member as shown below.
I don't have the book referred to, so I can't comment on its content.
I don't have the book referred to, so I can't comment on its content.
