All three frame stamps are on the top of the left rail. First near the firewall, usually inside the firewall leg. Second under the back edge of door, near the middle of the rail. Third is on the kickup above the axle or slightly in front of.
One more question. Front spring same as Model A? Same length? Not sure there is a front spring but he is pretty sure there is a '32 rear spring. Dave
You guys have your Model A hat on. The '32 had the numbers stamped three places on the frame when the engine was dropped into the chassis on the assembly line. The first one was on the top of the left frame rail just in front of the foot of the cowl. This number is visible when looking under the hood. The other two places were on top of the left frame rail where they were covered by the body. I believe pickup trucks omitted the second two numbers. These are the numbers that the DMV usually wants to see for registration. The numbers were also stamped into a pad on the top of the V8 transmission and on the a pad on the flywheel housing for the 4 cylinder units. There were no numbers stamped into the engines (although the 4 cylinder engine had a boss that looks like it is begging for a number). Charlie Stephens
The hole for the spring shackle at the end of the spring is larger on one than the other. I can't remember which year is larger. I am not sure about length. Charlie Stephens
There was no different frame designated for the Pickup, those were marketed as Commercial Cars, along with the Station Wagon and Sedan Delivery. The BB Trucks were on a larger, heavier frame that did not have a reveal but other than the frame horns it has little resemblance to the Passenger and Commercial frame. BB trucks were available with a 131 1/2” or a 157” wheelbase. A very few early, pre-production 106” wheelbase frames with no reveal did somehow get out, one was shown here before, it is in France and there is a Pickup in Canada that has no reveal. Probably a few others out there too.
I found the second number near the middle of the left frame rail and it of course is the same as the front one except no star before and after and no B (for 4 cyl). In front of rear crossmember it looks possible the number is there but is pitted enough it may just be imagination! So @Charlie Stephens , is the shackle pin the same size, just outside of bushing different? That wouldn't be a problem. Just 2 different bushings. Got the trailer hooked up, going after the axles tomorrow and whatever else I can throw in. Not much snow left, just in the shade but it sure feels like Christmas getting a '32 Ford! @Atwater Mike , yes the body is as nice as it looks. NO rust in floorboards. Mostly just the dent in front passenger door. Car came out of a farmers pasture in Crook County many many years ago. Dry as a bone around Central Oregon. Dave
Model A spring eyes are 11/16" id; while stock '32 eyes are 7/8" id. All the hot rod aftermarket spring eyes are 3/4" id.
Got the axles home today, plus a front spring. Do ya think Gates will warranty this tire? Tube is still good! Front tires are 4.00x18 Firestone motorcycle tires from back near war time. S-3's. I'm going to need '32 spring perch pins, he said he doesn't have those. The body is sitting on another '32 chassis with full Jag suspension. I will bring the body home on that chassis but I'm not keeping it. I'll be trying to sell it for him if anyone wants that sort of thing. His '32 3 window has the same setup under it. I wanted more traditional. Got a nice set of rear bumper brackets too. Here's some pics today. Dave
@51 mercules . I have a '28 or '29 AA front crossmember as well. They are HEAVY! I have a '28 AR frame that I needed a front crossmember for. Regular '28-9 & '30-1 crossmembers have a different rivet hole pattern. I found an AR crossmember on the HAMB for a great price, cut the engine mount ears off so I could use the later front mount, and it fit right in. I'll have to look at my AA crossmember and see if it has those ears. The AA used a wider spring than the A. Dave
Yes , yours is a heavy. I am one of the few that believe there were heavy and light, although none of us were actually there as they rolled off the assembly line. There are many threads on here about the differences and much debate on the topic. On one thread I posted pictures of both with serial numbers although that still doesn’t seem to convince most. Interesting reading if you want. I also can’t help wondering ‘ if ‘ there were no light ones made, who and why would someone come up with such a pointless topic. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/did-all-32s-have-heavy-front-axles.1082440/page-3 My original frame has no serial numbers, but was built in Canada, and obviously wasn’t stamped in NZ either. Probably due to low numbers here at the time and very low overall population. I thought all ‘32s came with 4:11 gears, so I am curious also about wether the diff has been swapped out with later gears, or earlier Model A. Do model A fit ?
@clem , I have been told that the common '32 rear end has basically Model A innards and most Model A's were 3.78 ratio. I don't know for a fact this one is 3.78 but as I said earlier the turtle is for 3.78 gears. @51 mercules , I looked at my '29 AA crossmember and it is not double wall anywhere and does not have the early engine mount ears like yours. I also have a '31 car crossmember and it is doubled up where the spring rides but it has been added later, I assume to reinforce or repair it. Dave
He brought me the firewall this morning! Yesterday I got the rear brake drums off and cleaned stuff up so it would roll. Also dug out some 16" rear tires and wheels and found a set of V8 caps that had come with my '31 Coupe with the B banger. Got a front spring from him the other day. He is still looking for the rear. I need to get some shackles. Working on clearing out a bay so it can all go inside. Dave
Will it work? And what are the differences? Dave Now that I think about it doesn't the later firewall have a bolt that kinda pinches it down or something? I remember looking at a few years ago. This one looks like it bolts down like most other kinds of old cars. Somehow this sounds like rambling......!
Early firewall is flatter on the left side. Late frame has inner doublers on the rear kickup. Will work just fine together.
Great start... The early model A one ton trucks used car front suspension... the truck front crossmembers were 1/4" wall as the cars were 3/16" wall... you can easily spot them by the 3/8" thick steel strip that is riveted to the underside of the crossmember to beef it up... heads of 2 rivets show from the top, 2 more are ground flush...
Thanks to all that answer questions. I can guarantee there will be many more! I've always had to just dream about owning a '32 Ford. This is a long ways from being a car but most of the hard to get things are there. Dave
Well, introduced a new twist today. I have been gathering stock pieces to setup original mechanical brakes since the appear in usable shape, however.... Today I was was delighted to get a '32 rear spring, which happens to be attached to a '32 rear end with good '40 hydraulic brakes! It is a 4:11 ratio. So, I stuffed the whole assembly in the chassis. One of the things I don't have yet is/was a stock '32 brake/clutch pedal assembly. Since I have decided it's probably best to go ahead with juice brakes, what pedal assembly should I look for? Dave
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