Truck Radiator Shells

CHuDWah

CHuDWah

Well-known member
Following is my understanding of the subject and a couple questions – additions/corrections/answers appreciated

1. 28 – mid-30 A pickup and AA – same as 28 – 29 passenger except painted instead of plated

2. mid-30 – 31 A pickup – same as 30 passenger except painted steel instead of stainless (but stainless on deluxe models); not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger

3. mid-30 – 31 AA – similar to 30 passenger but straight across the top panel (i.e., without the “widow’s peak”) and thicker to accommodate 4-row radiator; painted steel except stainless on some “deluxe” models. Not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger.

Was the 3-row radiator used on any mid-30 – 31 AA? Was the 4-row radiator used on any 28 – mid-30 AA?
 
April 18, 1930 Service Letter states a new 4 row radiator will be used in production in the near future. This would be a 1928-29 style radiator. Also on page 450 of the
Service Bulletins.

Bob
 
Bob C said:
April 18, 1930 Service Letter states a new 4 row radiator will be used in production in the near future. This would be a 1928-29 style radiator. Also on page 450 of the
Service Bulletins.

Bob
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So, does that mean there was a thicker 28 - 29 style shell to accommodate the 4-row radiator? Or was this announcement in anticipation of the mid-30 changeover to 30 - 31 style truck?
 
No thicker shell. They punched the holes in the cross member farther forward to
gain clearance for the fan shaft which left an increased gap between the shell and hood.

Bob
 
Bob C said:
No thicker shell. They punched the holes in the cross member farther forward to
gain clearance for the fan shaft which left an increased gap between the shell and hood.

Bob
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Did not know that - thanks!

Kinda Rube Goldberg-y engineering but I suppose it didn't make sense to retool for a thicker 28 - 29 style shell when they were going to changeover to the 30 - 31 style in a couple months.
 
CHuDWah said:
Following is my understanding of the subject and a couple questions – additions/corrections/answers appreciated

1. 28 – mid-30 A pickup and AA – same as 28 – 29 passenger except painted instead of plated

2. mid-30 – 31 A pickup – same as 30 passenger except painted steel instead of stainless (but stainless on deluxe models); not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger

3. mid-30 – 31 AA – similar to 30 passenger but straight across the top panel (i.e., without the “widow’s peak”) and thicker to accommodate 4-row radiator; painted steel except stainless on some “deluxe” models. Not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger.

Was the 3-row radiator used on any mid-30 – 31 AA? Was the 4-row radiator used on any 28 – mid-30 AA?
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Minor correction on items 2 and 3. The 1931 shell used the 1931 stainless steel emblem not the 1930 blue one.

Charlie Stephens
 
I do not believe #1 is correct as the passenger cars had the widows peak. The AA and A trucks, were indeed painted, but they also did NOT have the widows peak.

Never Mind
 
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The only ones without the widows peak was the mid 30-31 AA.

Bob
 

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For the neophytes amongst us, it should be noted that we are making a distinction between a Model A TRUCK (more properly designated "AA") built on a heavy TRUCK chassis/frame; and a Model A Pickup, which is built on a standard Car chassis/frame.
 
Commercial A and AA Radiator Shells

FYI - Most (maybe all) of the above information is in the RGJS. It would be great if this document were available on the internet.

The above applies to the commercial A's (not just the pickup) and AA's.
 
DougVieyra said:
For the neophytes amongst us, it should be noted that we are making a distinction between a Model A TRUCK (more properly designated "AA") built on a heavy TRUCK chassis/frame; and a Model A Pickup, which is built on a standard Car chassis/frame.
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All Commercial trucks shared the same shells. Whether A or AA.
 
Charlie Stephens said:
Thought I would add the Model A truck shell (1930) for comparison.

Charlie Stephens
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See the raised area around the crank hole in the 30 truck shell above. it is bell shaped, like the car.while the 30 raised area on the car shell is round, encircling the crank hole. Can any body tell me if the raised area oround the crank hole is round on the 31 truck like the car or bell shaped like thw 30?
 

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Dave Mellor NJ said:
See the raised area around the crank hole in the 30 truck shell above. it is bell shaped, like the car.while the 30 raised area on the car shell is round, encircling the crank hole. Can any body tell me if the raised area oround the crank hole is round on the 31 truck like the car or bell shaped like thw 30?
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The 'A' trucks used the same shell in '31 as they did in '30.
Refer to "2." in the first post of this thread.
 
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The A truck, used the same radiator that the cars did, and are thinner by about 1/2" than are the AA radiators. Therefore the shells are different size as well.

The AA radiator can be used on an A, but the AA shell has to be used with it. Conversely, an A radiator can be used on an AA, but the A shell would have to be used there as well.

Disclaimer: My experience in doing that is only on 1931 models, so it may be different on the 28-29's
 
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