Body assembly and Woody plans

Russell Reay

Russell Reay

Well-known member
Greetings all--newbie here. I just bought my first Model A, and am coming to grips with how much I have to learn. Have joined MAFCA and received vols I and II of Les Andrews' handbook. My car runs fine, but is an assemblage of at least two vehicles, plus some Jed Clampett / Home Depot fabrication. Before I start disassembly I need a manual which shows the correct assembly details. Twenty years ago I built a 57 Chevy pickup, and found the factory assembly manual to be absolutely indispensable, but have not been able to find a similar book for the model A. There are a number of restoration books --are these what I need?? Aft of the windshield the only authentic body parts are the running boards and rear fenders. I think a woody is the most versatile body style to create under these circumstances since I have a good shop and plenty of hardwood lumber. Google has located Pleasantville bodies, and a number of leads to plans, but nothing recent. Are there good plans for a woody body out there? Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Russell Reay said:
Google has located Pleasantville bodies, and a number of leads to plans, but nothing recent. Are there good plans for a woody body out there? Thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

Russell, welcome to Fordbarn.

The owner of Pleasantville passed away a few years ago and so it is no more. There was some plans floating around of a generic Station Wagon body but when compared to the original Ford-built body, it was not close in aesthetics.

If you are not set exactly on originality, I would suggest you do a search here for Huckster. If you are seeking the plans to create something that looks correct, the Benson Ford library has most of the original Engineering Blue Prints for each of the different body parts that makeup a 150 Station Wagon body. FWIW, I have collected most of the blueprints and we are presently remaking a couple of 150B bodies for customers however do understand there are many metal parts (brackets, braces, hinges, latches, fender panels, pans, etc.) that accompany these pieces that are way harder to replicate than the wood pieces. Not trying to discourage you, but to make you aware that those bodies are more complicated than they appear.
 
Hi Russell:


Welcome again to Ford Barn. I purchased my Station Wagon Body from Mike Nickels in Traverse City, Michigan. I can give you his phone if you want it.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. Mike Nickel's contact info would be most appreciated. The huckster is actually closer to my wishes than the standard station wagon. I am not wedded to originality, but I don't want to modify what I have so as to further compromise its future 'cultural' value. They aren't making any more Model A's and one-off rods can be assembled from junk or fiberglass. The idea of fabricating brackets and braces is mostly within my capability , but I would prefer to copy or modify an existing design than to engineer my own, only to discover fatal flaws later. What about an assembly manual--any such thing? If not, what is a good restoration book?
 
on a huckster body, you are mostly on your own. there is a huckster group here that you can join. look them all over and then finalize your wishes with your creation. there is no real right or wrong, as many companies and individuals created there own, back in the day when you could buy your own chassis. also WW2 caused many bodies to be chopped into "trucks" for greater gas rations.
You arent going to have any structural issues, unless you plan on making it out of balsa wood! lol
 
Ronn-
How do I find the huckster group on this site? For the past several days I have been watching Youtube videos, ordering several Model A restoration books and manuals, and seeing how my car compares to what I have seen and read. I have many questions, but they may be answered in the books--yet to arrive.
 
Go to the top of the page. Look at the black color menu tab bar. Open the drop down Community tab. Open Social Groups. Open Huckster group tab. Lots of pixs and useful info here…
 
I am looking for any diagram's, pictures or assembly instructions for a 1931 A fodoor sedan with a Briggs body. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I would encourage you to open a new thread if you have questions. The older threads don't always help folks get drawn to a question and especially if it is a different body type.

In 1931, Ford contracted Briggs and Murray to build the slant windshield Fordor designs mid year. Yours may or may not be that design and the differences are many. Ford wood has illustrations of the body wood and there are articles on Fordors in various publications from MAFCA and MARC clubs. Les Andrews mechanics handbook volume 2 also has wood assembly information but it is limited.

Ford commissioned bodies in white cut aways and there are original photos of those floating around. The book "The Model A Ford as Henry Built it has a lot of photos and information about all model A types with factory photos.

Unfortunately, there are no assembly manuals that I know of currently. B. Terry has photos of an earlier Fordor restored by his company on his site. They are complicated bodies just due to all the wood used in those early designs. The Slant Windshield bodies were made with mostly steel by comparison and both Briggs and Murray bodies are basically the same design. Earlier designs were distinctly different.
 
Each of the Model A component pieces exist at a drawing currently contained on Microfiche at the Henry Ford Museum. The microfiche have been indexed and the index exists at the MAFFI (Model A Ford Foundation) You can begin or continue a search at least for the title/information at https://www.maffi.org/WSContent/Parts.html

It takes a fair amount on insight to use the database. They don't show you the drawing, but merely information from the title block - which is subject to all the nuance and abbreviation that ANY industrial documentation tends to revert to.

Once you have selected a drawing THEN you contact the staff at the Henry Ford to actually confirm that a microfiche exists (i.e. not a blank image) and that it is "reproducible." There is a cost for this research. (IIRC $35 per hour, expect an hour) THEN there is the cost of copying and sending you a hard copy. (IIRC $35 per sheet)

To research this "in person" might give one more confidence that one actually gets a usable drawing. The microfiche reader is available at considerable savings at Henry Ford.

I have complained that digitalization SHOULD be making even the microfiche available online at considerable savings. But alas. A system exists, such as it is.

Of course there is the usual caveat regarding "commercial use." Ford doesn't necessarily want you to reproduce Ford parts without some sort of "licensing." A single one-off for an individual not in the business is probably not a problem.

One of the reasons that wood structure parts for the 82A Truck Cab (1928-29) are as expensive as they are is this licensing. Truck roof wood (8 pieces) exceeds $600 from the aftermarket suppliers.

Unfortunately, individual part drawings MAY be available, or not. It takes a finer tooth examination to determine the "assembly" drawings - which may or may not exist. A lot of Ford assembly was literally done by "we've always used this part at this location" and the same methodology tended to follow even beyond model years and layouts. Hence the resemblance of a Model T body to Model A bodies - and the later 30-31 bodies, at least in assembly methodology.

I have seen some VERY good hucksters over the years. It was not uncommon even in the day for a car to be totaled in an accident, and then someone, a tradesman, farmer, or mechanic "recycle" the usable parts into something that could be used. Vehicles of trade would be more common for this.

Best would be to inhabit those places that show these sorts of vehicles - and then collect pictures of those that attract.

A recent visit to "Bean Farm Dust Off" here in midstate NH in April revealed at least three of these "homebrew" Model A - including one that was intended to replicate an entire 76A 1929 Roadster Pickup - but done in wood. One could stand back and truly envy the woodwork on that vehicle - owner was good!

It was the 1930s. One thinks of the "Walton" premise. "Use it up wear it out make it do or do without."


Joe K
 
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