corvette8n
Well-known member
What determines if an ‘AA’ truck has single or dual rear wheels, at car/truck shows I’ve seen both styles.
AA truck question.
- Thread starter corvette8n
- Start date
Osage Orange
Senior Member
I don't believe the '28-29s had dual rear wheels, only the '30-31s. A lot depends on the beds behind the cabs on the later models. I'd be interested to hear from those of you out there who know the facts.
1930artdeco
Well-known member
I think that 28/9 could have duallies-think. Maybe I am thinking of early 30's.
Mike
Mike
Joe K
Well-known member
Part of the reason for the development of 6 hole "disk" wheels in 1929 was to better allow the possibility of dual rear wheels.
The development of the 5 hole "dish" wheels for 1930 allowed dual rears without "spacers."
Generally a single rear wheel AA truck is considered a 1 ton, while the dual wheel truck in any year is considered 1-1/2 ton.
Having owned and compared a 1930 AA truck to a 1929 CC pickup (front end nearly the same as the 1929 AA) I can verify the 30-31 truck with the Borg Warner rear end is a "real" truck no question.
Neil has a good part of the sordid details at https://aafords.com/aa-chassis/index-aa-chassis-parts/ Many segments are not completed, but one can pick up the drift from other sections.
Joe K
corvette8n
Well-known member
Thanks that link was very helpful.
You can physically put duals on a 29/9 rear axle, but it would not be safe. The way the hubs are designed, the lugs don't come out enough to get a decent amount of threads on the lug nuts. This being said, they were aftermarket manufacturers that made dual wheel adapters for the 28/9 trucks.
Red
Red
Joe K
Well-known member
The bolt hole centers on the earlier A hub are like 5-1/2." These got revised for the AA to 6-7/8" with the April 29 rework/recall (Indianapolis Service Letters) There should not be many of the earlier AAs around since the recall was free and would result in a stronger truck. (Spindle Recall https://aafords.com/aa-chassis/aa-3030-front-axle/)
Car lug nut studs are 1/2-20. AA truck lug nuts studs were all made 3/4-16 after April '29.
The 1929 6 hole "disk" wheels were the upgrade which would allow dual rear wheels. As mentioned, the upgrade did not include immediately spacers from Ford for attachment of rear duals. These were used for only 9 months, remainder of 1929.
The 1930 5 hole wheels included better designed bolting (still 3/4-16 stud size) which did allow placement of dual rear wheels. The cantilever of the wheels (i.e. wheel offset) better carried the load.
Late in 1931 a new "spoke" wheel (20") was offered which used hubs drilled for 8" bolt circle/span - but these were not offered in dual rears IIRC.
Again, Neil to the documentation rescue. https://aafords.com/aa-chassis/aa-1000-wheels/
Joe K
spdway1
Well-known member
Gary, Do you have a copy of this factory information you could email me?
I would appreciate it. Thank you. spdway1@aol.com
Also there is a big difference between the words Duel and DuAl, LOL!
Osage Orange
Senior Member
Thank you, Joe K and Neil, for providing the facts! We are so fortunate to have knowledgeable folks in this community that can deliver solid information and teach us these valuable details. Personally I like the dual wheels and know the frames and cantilever springs on these AAs can handle a lot of weight. Those four-bangers weren't abundant generators of horsepower but Ford knew how to put it all together to pull some amazing vehicles back in the day.
Something that hasn’t been mentioned is the attachment of the duals. The Budd wheels used two nuts per stud on duals. The inner nut held the inner wheel then the outer nut secured the outer wheel. Truck came with a wheel wrench that had a square socket on one end for the inner nut and a hex on opposite end for outer nut. This end fit nuts for front and single wheel applications too. When running single rear the same nuts as front were used. Remember left hand threads on left side of vehicle.