Model A Frame interchange

[1928 Sport Coupe]

I have access to a frame that has for the most part been restored. I do not know for sure but I think it is from a 1931 Model A Victoria or a Tudor. Would it be possible to use this frame under a 1930 Briggs body Town Sedan? It would save me a lot of time and expense over restoring my frame. Neither frame has a stamped ID that I can find. What parts/brackets, etc. would be different and need to be switched?
Thanks for the help.

 

[Oldbluoval]

The brake crossmember setup could be different. The bracket under the two bolts for cowl might not match up.

 

[Charlie Stephens]

Get with your DMV about registration. Could be easy or could be impossible. Work the paper first!!


Charlie Stephens

 

[Bob C]

Seems strange neither frame has a number.

 

[Keith True]

I've seen quite a few frames with no numbers.My 30 pickup,in the cellar right now with the body off,has no numbers or any sign of there ever being one.I stripped my 30 coupe that was damaged in the fire,and no sign of any numbers on that one either.If they were ground off there would be signs of it,to get deep enough to get rid of the number you will leave divots.Perfectly flat,with no signs of grinding.I had a coupe that had the number stamped just ahead of the rear crossmember.That car was assembled in Somerville Mass.

 

[JayJay]

Get with your DMV about registration. Could be easy or could be impossible. Work the paper first!!


Charlie Stephens

I would think that the last organization you would want involved in this is DMV. there is absolutely no upside to involving them, and plenty of obstructive downside.

If neither frame has a number, this is your opportunity to go to the title and stamp that number in your frame and in your engine.

I think I heard somewhere that it was not uncommon for Canadian cars to not have a frame number.

Vickies take a different overdrive than the Fordor sedans but I believe that has to do with the arrangment of the floor pans, not anything inherent in the frame.

 

[norcalal]

Victorias and slant windows require the extra brackets installed on the later frames theses will fit earlier models

 

[midgetracer]

I hope I am not hyjacking this post, but I have a 29 roadster that came when purchased on a very nice 30-1 frame. I wonder if fenders and hood will fit on this setup. Finding a 29 frame that is straight has been elusive at this point. I am not looking for a show car, but something to keep me working in my shop.

 

[Oldbluoval]

Front crossmember is different and will affect the position of the radiator
That will cause misalignment of the grill and hood

 

[nkaminar]

If you stamp the frame and engine to match the serial number on the title, then OK. But if a random number it may end up matching a car that already has that number.

I was able to buy the original engine from my car and stick it in the basement. My fear was that another car would end up with the same serial number on the title as my car.

 

[Keith True]

The 30-31 crossmember isn't a problem to use with a 28-29 radiator.You have to shim it up a little to gain the height you need.It's not a lot.Ford even made shims to do just that.When they used the 28-9 style cab,hood and radiator on the early 30 trucks they used the newer style crossmsmber,and shimmed it up.There is a Ford part number for those shims.Using a 30-31 radiator on a 28-29 crossmember is a different story though.On that 2 hole L bracket by the door post not all cars used both holes.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

I just did a study of the radiator mountings, and I agree that the non-dimpled A-2050-A of 1928 & '29 and the dimpled A-2050-B Front Cross-Members will work with the 1928 thru 1931 radiators.

 

[Joe K]

I just did a study of the radiator mountings, and I agree that the non-dimpled A-2050-A of 1928 & '29 and the dimpled A-2050-B Front Cross-Members will work with the 1928 thru 1931 radiators.

The 1930-31 AA front cross-members are "wider" where the front spring mounts. The later AA truck the front spring was "widened" to be equal to the rear spring width of the A Car. The 30-31 AA front spring is an entirely different spring from either the car rear or the car front.

As far as frame difference between Model A models, I believe they all start with the same frame. Attachments may differ between body mounts or fender brackets, brake attachments, indents, but the basic frame outline is the same.

The same principle applies to closed car windshields - at least until the slant windshields. (i.e. they all take the same glass)

Joe K