Original fan belt

[spdway1]

 

[Tiny]

No comedy intended. It was sarcasm.
In the same amount of time it took to look up the page, the question could have been answered.
I prefer straight up answers. If asked the time, I would not explain how to build a clock. I'd answer with the time.

Prior to one month ago I had never had a Model A.
I am going to my first local meeting this Tuesday.
Mine is to be a daily driver so I have no interest in judging standards.
Why would I spend any time reading something of no interest to me?

As a new Model A owner you should have a copy. It would probably surprise you what an interesting read it is. My car is a daily driver/fun/stupid car also but I find them very informative and interesting to read. I started a post a few weeks ago about them as a matter a fact. The are definatlly not just for "show" cars. The poster could have had there answer in 2 minutes time if they had an answer.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

I did not mean to start a fight I apologize for not being more thorough in my question.

As we can see, the RGJS does not say anything about the printing inside the belt as shown in the pictures, thus the reason for the question and my thanks for the pictures.

As for MrWzrd, you will find it is often just as easy to use parts that match the standards as it is to use just any part. I know of many many owners of drivers like Tiny, that replace broken/missing parts with standards correct parts. Do you have to, no, will you be asked to turn in you A and get a Chevy?...... well maybe.

 

[MrWzrd]

Tiny,
So what you are saying is that the active word in the title of the document is "STANDARDS". Now it is a document that interests me.

Thank you for bringing up that very important fact. Too bad others were so busy chastising and looking down on me that they failed to convey the "other" side of the document.

I have a lot of time on a lot of other cars but this is my first Ford. In the last 25 days I have taken this one from trailerable to drivable, mostly using general knowledge and by reading posts here. Since there doesn't seem to be a complete repair manual for these cars and I didn't want to float a loan to buy all of the 100's of different publications I've run across I was waiting till my first local chapter meeting in hopes of getting direction on the ones to have vs going broke.

Mike V - I'll keep the Ford...but I do have a 48 Chevy Fleetmaster project. The body is on a rotisserie and striped of paint, fabricating panels to replace rust, frame and drive train have been restored. Also have a 55 dodge royal lancer with the body freshly attached to the restored frame. (270 hemi)

But both of those projects went on hiatus when the A followed me home. It makes the others look downright complicated.

 

[Arcieri]

Hi Mike V

I think one correct stamping for the B-8620 fan belt ends in A3.
It is probably a belt for the model B Ford. I do not have any documentation for this but it seems reasonable. Picture of one of mine.

Ray

 

[Arcieri]

Hi Keith,

Double check your belt. It may be -A3 instead of -AB.

Here is a picture of my other A3 belt. Kind of hard to read
compared to the first one.

Ray

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I can think of 3 books to start with that I think every Model A owner should have and would find interesting reading and very informative. The owner's manual, Restoration Guidelines, Service Bulletins. For a how to service manual, it seems most people go for Les Andrew's Vol 1, the red book.
A book I wouldn't be without is "The Model A Ford as Henry Built It".

 

[MrWzrd]

Reference material

I can think of 3 books to start with that I think every Model A owner should have and would find interesting reading and very informative. The owner's manual, Restoration Guidelines, Service Bulletins. For a how to service manual, it seems most people go for Les Andrew's Vol 1, the red book.
A book I wouldn't be without is "The Model A Ford as Henry Built It".

I have the owners manual and vol 1 red book. both have been helpful in getting the A on its feet but lack depth and detail.
I'll look into the other books. maybe the local chapter has a library where I can see and possibly buy.
thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Keith True]

Mine IS molded A3.I wrote it going by memory,and I just went down to look at it.I had a few of these over the years,this one has to be a much later replacement going by the condition.It looks better than most new belts that have been hanging on the wall for five years.I have to call the letters molded,they are raised,not stamped in.

 

[5window]

By the sound of things, I think MrWzrd needs a tune up !!

This is what is wrong with the FordBarn-or at least some of it's participants. Someone asks a legitimate question and instead of giving him the answer, he gets largely a lot of drivel about fanbelts without any markings, told to get judging standards, drummed out of the A Corps because he doesn't want a 400 point car,etc. Your 4 posts add nothing to moving the OP or any reader toward an answer.

I'm with PHIL-if you can't contribute positively,stay quiet!

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

In the 1950 FORD CHASSIS PARTS AND ACCESSORIES CATALOGUE it lists (B 8620-A Pass, Comm, Trucks (4 cyl) 28-34) there is no 1-2 or 3 after the A in the parts book but the Judging Standards states A-1 was molded, A-2 had 6 layers so the 1-2-3 must be different types of construction. Since the Judging Standards only mention 1 and 2 then 3 must have been on a Ford replacement belt made after 1931.

Good call. The parts books rarely included any numeric suffixes as they weren't relevant in most cases. Suffixes -A, -B, -C, etc., signified a change rendering the part incompatible with one or more existing parts. A numeric suffix following any of those signified completely compatible alternate designs, generally from different suppliers.

 

[LofL&D]

"The Model A Ford as Henry Built It".

Agree !!! A Great Read !!!!!

 

[Tiny]

This is what is wrong with the FordBarn-or at least some of it's participants. Someone asks a legitimate question and instead of giving him the answer, he gets largely a lot of drivel about fanbelts without any markings, told to get judging standards, drummed out of the A Corps because he doesn't want a 400 point car,etc. Your 4 posts add nothing to moving the OP or any reader toward an answer.

I'm with PHIL-if you can't contribute positively,stay quiet!

Now that's funny!!! You have replied in a similar manner to my questions on the HAMB !!!

 

[Roadster62]

I was going to buy a copy of the Judging Standards at Hershey but the rain messed up things. Besides being a guide to EVERYTHING you need to know about Model A bits and pieces I would think it would help in listing things on "That Auction Site" for all out maximum profit. Bob

 

[Mike V. Florida]

This is what is wrong with the FordBarn-or at least some of it's participants. Someone asks a legitimate question and instead of giving him the answer, he gets largely a lot of drivel about fanbelts without any markings, told to get judging standards, drummed out of the A Corps because he doesn't want a 400 point car,etc. Your 4 posts add nothing to moving the OP or any reader toward an answer.

I'm with PHIL-if you can't contribute positively,stay quiet!

Sarcasm is near impossible to be read and add that to the fact of the standards do not answer all the possible questions and you sometimes end up with comments that seem out of place.

My question here could not be completely answered by the standards as proven by photos of the actual belt and the photo of what the book states. The book does not speak to markings but the real thing does.

If one were inclined to purchase a belt, any additional information to get a true Model A belt would be important since they get such a premium.

I took no offence with any posts, welcome all the information and hope other got use out of it as well.

 

[Charlie Stephens]

I have a belt I found hung up in the rear seat springs of my Tudor.It is Ford script,and the number is,B-8620-AB.I've actually gotten three answers as to what it is,but I've never checked to see which one was correct.Those markings are molded in on the outside of the belt.

The “B” prefix says the part was first introduced for use in 1932. The 4 cylinder parts and parts common with the V8 carried a “B” prefix (the V8 unique parts carried an “18” prefix). Model A parts that carried over were also assigned a “B” prefix. Without looking at anything else the part would be correct for a production line ’32 to ’34 4 cylinder Ford. It is also the part a dealer would of used beginning in 1932 to replace the fan belt in a Model A but it was too late to be used on the Model A production line. The number ”8620” says that it is a fan belt. The suffix was added to track changes when the part changed (beginning with A and continuing through the alphabet as changes were made. I cannot explain the “B” in the suffix but I am sure the answer is hiding in the drawing archives at Ford if you are really curious. The Green bible shows the same fan belt, B 8620-A, being used as a replacement for 1928-34.

Charlie Stephens

 

[frank55a]

The RG & JS is lacking information on the belts prior to mid 31, specifically no numbers or marking given - may be there wasn't any?? I checked my belts and do have what appears to be a NOS red or may be reddish brown (per the RG & JS) belt with no numbers but it does have smooth Firestone label molded into the belt. There may be a number but it is not readable. By all measurements this belt appears to be the same length, width, and thickness as the repro Model A belts being sold today. Whether it was Ford supplied or vendor supplied I have no idea but I do believe it is of the Model A era.

 

[FL&WVMIKE]

Here is a NOS "A" sized, Ford script fan-belt, that I sold on Fordbarn, a couple years ago.
It had no numbers, but a definate raised Ford script. The script was on the inside.
As you can see, it is cloth covered.
MIKE

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE - Twice

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

The RG & JS is lacking information on the belts prior to mid 31, specifically no numbers or marking given - may be there wasn't any?? I checked my belts and do have what appears to be a NOS red or may be reddish brown (per the RG & JS) belt with no numbers but it does have smooth Firestone label molded into the belt. There may be a number but it is not readable. By all measurements this belt appears to be the same length, width, and thickness as the repro Model A belts being sold today. Whether it was Ford supplied or vendor supplied I have no idea but I do believe it is of the Model A era.

I suspect the detailed info on this in the Standards is incomplete. Unfortunately with thousands of items to be reviewed and possibly researched by just a few folks, some things must receive limited attention. For that reason we only offered facts that were substantiated. One definite improvement is the addition of my photo and caption. It has more value than most folks seem to realize.

I understand folks would like to have a marking that would quickly tell them with certainty "this is it!" There is one point that needs to be made. The "wrapping" as shown in my printed photo (in the Standards) as well as my photo below is nearly as positive for identification as any other marking. With only one exception in 35 years, every replacement "wrapped" type belt I've ever seen had the overlap along the inside. The one exception is of course black but still looks slightly different than the Ford/Firestone belts with the overlap almost along the very edge of the belt. Also review the archive photo I posted above.

As a final note, I really don't see any "reddish" in the original brown belts.

 

[Tom in SW VA]

The Model A Ford will never be considered a classic until we restore it to the original and not treat it like a jalopy. I own and drive my Model As, but it is important to me that they are original even if I can find an original fan belt. I am a purist who likes to drive my 'original' Model A Ford - a classic.