1929 front crossmember
 

I have a 29 Roadster pickup and I am looking for a stock front crossmember. Does anyone know if only a 1929 will fit this or will other years also work? I cannot find one of these at Mac's or anywhere so I guess I will need one that someone has removed from a vehicle. I have been watching EBAY and have not found anything that does not say HOT ROD for the part so I think they have been modified.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

Yes. You will need to find a 29 cross member that has been taken from an original frame. The 29 front cross member will have slightly raised mounts for the radiator. The 30-31 cross member will have slightly indented radiator mounts.

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

Crossmember. Delete posting of front axle.

Repops work, but not well. Best to find a "cut down" frame from a doodlebug, or a rear-rust-out.

A fellow restorer took the front "half" of a Model A frame, cut it in two ahead of the motor mount bolt holes, cut the better part of a near duplicate frame loose using the same locational bolt holes (there are differences between frames depending on year of production), and then welded the two together using the bolt holes as a guide. This saved him from having to develop the skill of "riveting," or the fall back of welding the frame components at riveted joints.

28-29 crossmember radiator mount pads are AT the level of the side rails or slightly above. 30-31 front crossmembers are "sunk below" the side rails by a skosh (technical term.) 28-29 CAN use the 30-31 crossmember with suitable "adaptor pads" which even Ford used for transitional production late in 1929.

Joe K

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

There are some early 1928 AR type cross members out there but they would be few and very far between now days. The common 1928/29 cross members are still out there. They show up on Flea-Pay now and then.

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

You may want to try Bert's in Denver. They may have what you need. They have lots of used parts.

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

I think they made a change in the cross member during 29 in preparation for the 30s and used them on the 29 style with different mounting some how. So if my memory is right, they were interchangeable for a few months.

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

I have a 30-31 front crossmember on my 29 CCPU. I had to have 2 adapter pads fabricated in order to put my 29 radiator on. The pads are simple. A piece of metal (aluminum or steel) with the same footprint as the rubber radiator pad and a thickness of 1/8 in. With the pads, the radiator lines up perfectly. I do still use the rubber radiator pads, and it does require the radiator mounting bolts to be 1/8" longer that the original bolts.

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

I have one listed with pictures in the model a swap section

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

Thank you all for the information, VERY HELPFUL!!!

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

Ford Service Bulletins discusses the new longer bolt page 377 (Sept 1929) and the change in the cross-member pad and the thick "shim" is discussed page 387 (Oct 1929)

At least five different bolt numbers are mentioned between the Service Bulletins and the Parts Price List.

No details in the Service Bulletins, but the two radiator hold down bolt numbers here are A20968 (Longer) and A20913 (Shorter) I could look these up in Mick Isbell's book, but it's not in front of me.

Three radiator hold down bolts and their year/applications are shown in the Parts Price List (July 1, 1931)

A20984 is 2-1/8" and has application on the later frame A-5005-C
A20975 is 2" and has application through 1931
A20916 is 1-7/8" and has application through 1930

I assume these last two are for the earlier A-5005-B frame, perhaps the difference in length is for body fit-up purposes?

A8126-R is the shim for 1928-30 when used with the later C frame.

Joe K

Re: 1929 front crossmember
 

Hi, Excalibur...jumping ahead a bit, but recently fought the same battle as you (only in reverse) for my 1930 Cabriolet--the original front cross member had been replaced with one from a 28-29. Getting the correct front cross member is step one, but if you need some advice on what works (and what doesn't) when it comes to getting the old one out and riveting in the new one, just send me a PM...I had to make and buy some fixtures and tools to set the 14 new rivets, but there are a few things I learned that might help. Cheers! --Don