My new old Model B

32B

32B

Member
OK guys, I just signed up on Ford Barn last week because I knew this was coming, so please don't think less of me for being a newbie. I have always been a muscle car guy and have an 11 sec Olds in the garage to prove it. I came across an opportunity to own a 32 model B truck last year and finally got to get it this summer. The truck is not at my home so time to work on it has been thin. But I took a week this August and went to go resurrect it. This weekend I finally got back to it and brought some parts that I found out it needed when I first dragged it out of the woods. It actually runs really well. I am told that the motor was rebuilt and only has about an hour or two on it. It was very cheaply restored about 30 years ago, and has sat outside since. It has one of the first Garwood lift beds and it actually works. I checked it out last summer and knew about what I would need to see if it would run, so this summer I picked up a new 6V battery and rigged a fuel supply system, vroom! Started right up more or less. Had a very weak spark so picked up a new coil, condenser, cleaned all ignition parts, and fixed the points, now its big and blue. Rebuilt the carb and now it runs really good. i drove it around the woods all weekend until what was left of the left rear tires came off. Then I parked it next to the garage. My plan is to do the bed over, new tires, go through the brakes, fix the leaky radiator, make it safe, and drive it! Oh, it needs a drivers door, someone cut up a passenger door and slapped it on this driver side, anyone have one?
 

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Looks like you got a pretty solid truck. I think that you have either an AAB (early 32) or a BB. What are the fist 4 #,s of the VIN? I have been working on a 32 AAB truck for about a year, and I have learned that 32 trucks are fairley rare. There are probably doors out there, but there might be some sticker shock involved. 33-34 doors will fit but they have an extra body line. Is it a 4banger or V-8? I'm in east central PA about 2 hrs. from you.
Tom H
 
Guys...I thought I would make you aware of an auction this coming Saturday south of Portland, IN. It is the Ron Stauffer Collection Auction. Here is the link: http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auctions_details.php?detail=65&allimages=NO

He is selling, among many other nice vehicles, a '32 Ford BB truck that he donated to the Early Ford V-8 Foundation, with the proceeds going to the Foundation Museum. He has restored many early Fords over the years and is "thinning" out his collection. Many of the vehicles have won Dearborn Awards from the Early Ford V-8 Club. Some are projects, and some are all original. I will attempt to post a few pictures of the BB truck.
 

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Doors are going to be a problem...seems like everyone is looking for those, and the ones with six inches rusted right off are still valuable the supply is so low. Some replacement paneling is available once you find the shell.
 
Thanks for all the kind words guys. Tom, I am not sure myself exactly what it is, I am only going off what I have been told by the former owner. Next time I get back up to it I will try and get the VIN. Here is another pic. Oh, I have the headlights, just took them off so they didn't get swiped. Also, its a 4 cylinder.
 

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I also have an interest in 32 BB trucks. I restored this fuel truck in 1994/95. While it's time to let it go now, I have proudly enjoyed having it be part of my little collection. Good luck with your project.
 

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Wow Ron, very nice. Beautiful truck. Can I ask did you add the chrome headlights? I was told that the commercial versions had painted ones?
 
Can someone tell me where I can find ID numbers on this thing? I have it home now and would like to research it as much as possible. I found a nice door on here for $600 and passed. I just saw a whole cab for $1000, but too far away. Off to Hershey this friday to see what I can find. Trying to track down some decent used tires as I just cant bring myself to pay $160 each plus tubes for 6 tires.
 
$600 for a good door seems to be the going rate. The ID on my 32 BB was stamped on the left frame rail close to the steering box.

Tom H, I thought 32/34 truck doors were all the same, what added body line on the 33/34?
 
Serial # is atop the bellhousing casting on left side...look above starter and to the rear a bit. Never looked on a big truck, but I would assume that like on a passenger or commercial the serial is repeated on frame by or near firewall bracket, also on left. If they match, at least the bellhousing is original to the truck.
Should be *AAB or BB 5 million and something*, stars bracketing the number.
 
32B,

The serial number means that the engine was the 33504th accepted along with its attached transmission. This number should appear on the flywheel housing (not the engine). When the engine was installed in the chassis the same number was stamped into the frame. The 4 cylinder serial numbers started at 5000001. The AAB means the transmission was for a big truck (a passenger car would have has just AB). I assume you forgot to mention there was a star before and after the number.

Charlie Stephens
 
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