Is it possible to date my 28CCPU?

Eccentric Old Guy

Eccentric Old Guy

Senior Member
When I bought it, it had a model B engine already installed. I think maybe the engine was re-stamped to match the original title....but, I don't know for sure. There was no data plate on the firewall.

It has the red steering wheel, hand brake by the gear shift.

Except for the engine change and rear bumpers, everything seems correct for a 1928......what else can identify the date of manufacture.

The engine number is 5031333

Thanks in advance....EOG
 

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I'm not sure if this applies to the 28's but on my 29 there is a date stamped up-side-down on the fuel tank, driver side, just above the seam, in the engine compartment.

There has been much discussion on just what this date means, whether it is the tank assembly date, test date or date it was assembled to a body, or something else, but it is interesting.

Here is a picture of mine.
 

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Gas tank firewall section should have a date stamped on it. This is the date stamped in mine, but this tank is not original to this car.
 

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You may have a gas tank date like others have said.

If you have the restoration guidelines you can start going through things to narrow down a date of assembly. There's as much a chance that your truck is a Frankenstein of parts as it possible its all original so don't hang your hat on one thing. The center mounted pistol grip brake is June-Nov of '28. But look at other components and you'll whiitle it down to a month or so time-frame.

https://model-a-ford.org/product/model-a-restoration-guidelines-judging-standards-complete-set/

You can use this resource to check very specific details on your frame as well.
http://www.plucks329s.org/pdf/frame/Evolution of the frame assembly.pdf
 
Not directly helpful on vehicle dating but you are starting to loose that head gasket. I wish I hadn't learned that one the hard way.......
 
That's a beautiful truck, drive her and enjoy her. As suggested, look at the guidelines, I see many 1929 features. LRF
 
jb-ob said:
Not directly helpful on vehicle dating but you are starting to loose that head gasket. I wish I hadn't learned that one the hard way.......
Click to expand...

Thanks.....I'll check into that.

On the drivers side of the engine, there is dark staining from the head gasket. I believe that is what you are referring to. That staining appears to be dry, and may have been there for some time.....definitely prior to the time I have owned this ccpu...just shy of two years now.

I checked compression, and is about 60 lbs on all cylinders. The gage is an old one, so not sure how accurate the measurement is, but it was consistent with all cylinders.

eoc
 
40-A Twins said:
Gas tank firewall section should have a date stamped on it. This is the date stamped in mine, but this tank is not original to this car.
Click to expand...

1955cj5 said:
I'm not sure if this applies to the 28's but on my 29 there is a date stamped up-side-down on the fuel tank, driver side, just above the seam, in the engine compartment.

There has been much discussion on just what this date means, whether it is the tank assembly date, test date or date it was assembled to a body, or something else, but it is interesting.

Here is a picture of mine.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this information.....I will be checking for this date on the gas tank soon.

Like someone else said, there is always the possibility that my 28ccpu is a "Frankenstein", and could be a number of parts are not original to it. I'm not sure when, but there was a frame up restoration at some point in it's lifetime. When I bought it, the gas was very old and discolored. My best guess is that it's been at least 10-15 years since it was last driven.

There was a terrible oil leak in the rear main crankshaft bearing, and the truck is currently at a local model A Ford club member's place, who is now repairing the oil leak. I probably won't have it back in my possession for a couple more months.

eoc
 
Whatever month & year your pickup was produced, she sure is a Beaut. I do have a question regarding the date stamp on the left side of firewall. My 1929 does not have a date stamp. I was wondering if some A’s did not get date stamped in production or perhaps it is a replacement tank from Ford?? John
 
Thanks WTSHNN, that link does a nice job of detailing the gas tank date code. It describes that date codes were before or even after engine #s. Probably a function of lead times of body to the production of complete vehicle. My engine # is from 2nd week of September 1929 and would go along with the described no date stamp era of the A.
 
I see it has the "early" doors, the same as "26-'27 model T. Methinks the back of the cab is "early" also.
 
Bob C said:
Are these threaded bolt hole here?
Click to expand...

As I mentioned earlier, the truck is at a club members place for doing some work, so I can't check at the moment. Here's a closer photo, which looks like they might be threaded holes. They are not on the passenger side. If they are, what significance would it be?

Most of the photos I'm showing you here, are from the original eBay add when I purchased it. The title was from TX, but it was physically in NM, and owned by a classic car outfit in CA. I had it shipped to MT.
 

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If it has a model B engine which the number seems to indicate then the frame number is going to be the best way to find out the general time of production. The only problem is that it's under the front left corner of the cab. The cab will have to be lifted & apron moved to see it.

Not all gas tanks were dated and they are too easy to swap out. Characteristics may help but it has been too many years for them to have any accuracy. There are plenty of "Bista" model As out there with bits a this or bits a that.
 
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