1928 Ford Model A Truck

[Brianhd409]

I am just completing the full restoration of my Schurmeir Whitney truck.
When we put the spare tire in the fender, it fit perfectly and lined up with bracket perfectly.
However, you can't open the drivers door with the spare tire in place. I'm shocked and don't know of a solution.


Any suggestions?


Thanks, Brian

[Joe K]

Short retaining strap.

The vendors USED to sell a short strap in rubber just for this purpose.

But alas - the rubber straps of that era were/are noted for cracking where they fold "double" - and being used more the drivers door cracked FASTER. Low quality foreign sourced rubber no doubt.

Many doors of the 82A pickup are "punched in" as a result of banging against the spare tire. Maybe it was a common defect - kind of like "squeezing" into the cab and barely having room to place your feet around the clutch and brake pedals. And why many sell the "extended cab corners" which really mess with the vehicle layout for a bed.

Some, a rare few, have provided a non-standard "pocket" on the drivers door skin for the tire to hit into. Probably the most sensible solution for the door - but very non-standard. Anyone who owns a truck like it and sees it will be possessed of critique for the pocket - and envy for you for having done it.

I went to the Sanbornville, NH "Dust Off" at the Bean Farm last weekend. There were two 82A trucks there. One was a recent restoration and had not been punched in yet - the other the owner had provided a "non-welled" fender on the left side - and a bracket made special to allow the spare to sit "outboard" of the bed on the left and directly behind the drivers door. I think he used the same bracket as is found passing through the fender skirt - but had changed the dimension/offset and bottom where it attaches to the bed side. You could see the entire bracket unlike how it appears when used in the fender location. I wish I had a pix.

Another solution I've considered is to put the spare on the "passenger" side. But then you count on your passengers for care against denting the door.

I suspect 82A is a truck cab Ford developed using Model T parts for the Model AA truck - which has the spare in at least two other locations. See Neil Wilson's entries on the AA at his search result https://aafords.com/?s=spare+tire 5 references depending on body style. It's use in combination with the short bed on the car chassis a sort of Ford "afterthought." But it seems a very popular afterthought.

I am always amazed watching the AA Express Truck on the Waltons, how easily they slip into and out of the cab - and how it seems to generously fit three full size adults.

Joe K

[Bigsnapper43]

Am I going off or what ? Some where in my past I have seen a door with the pocket on a AA truck. Some one either tell me I'm crazy or having bad dreams.

[Brianhd409]

My Schurmeier Whitney is not a AA.

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by Brianhd409

My Schurmeier Whitney is not a AA.

Very possible. Still, the 82A body is the 82A body - and would have been used on various "commercial" vehicles.

AND - other parts were used. The "nose" of the 28-29 150A Woody is all 82A Ford back to the A (Front) door pillar the door normally hangs from. (Woodys have an "add on" wooden door surround.)

AND - the nose and back to the B (middle) post of the "Commercial Delivery" was the same 82A configuration. I have seen only that the door interior is a little different on those with the window crank being in a different spot. Ford perhaps taking advantage of the better interior room?

A Commercial Drivers Door came up on the Classified - which would fit my AA truck. I almost bought it simply to have a door that would fit the 82A cab the outline dimensions and external appearance are the same - but it would not match the other side on the inside. I ultimately decided not to go there to leave the door for someone with the Commercial rig who needs the correct door.

For some reason 82A drivers side doors are like hen's teeth. I have three passenger side doors which are "typical rust." and one drivers side door which is "poor at best." May not be recoverable without extensive fiberglass.

Someone joked to me on a hot day the driver's side door was the first to be taken off and left on the farmer's stone wall - where it stayed and surrendered to the New England elements. Resulting in now a shortage of drivers doors locally.

Anyway, yes - if you have pix of your commercial rig - you should post them. Half a dozen years from now someone may be looking for info on Schurmeier Whitney.

Joe K

[Bob C]

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Originally Posted by Bigsnapper43

Am I going off or what ? Some where in my past I have seen a door with the pocket on a AA truck. Some one either tell me I'm crazy or having bad dreams.

The door with the indent was used on dump trucks with side mount spare. Here's a picture on one that ended up on a pickup.

[nkaminar]

All the movies of people entering and exiting Model A's during the production showed then going in and out from the passenger side and sliding over to the driving position. I think it was considered safer to enter from the passenger side that was next to the curb. Most Model T's did not have a driver side door.

[J Franklin]

Just get used to entering from the passenger side.

[Keith True]

On page 189 of the book,The Model A Ford As Henry built it there is a picture of a 30-31 AA with the dent in the door.I've never seen a picture of the square cab with the indented door,but that means nothing,just that I haven't seen one.