Late 31 or not?

[Crazy For Model A]

Hello all, I need to purchase seat springs for my 1931 Model A but as I look they are asking if it is a late 31. Am I correct in saying it is a late model because it has the indented firewall? Thank you very much.

[Patrick L.]

I didn't realize the seat springs were different. Learn something every day I guess. But as far as I know the indented firewall vehicles are considered late model.

[Crazy For Model A]

All that I have is the frame of where the spring would mount. with the knob for adjusting forward and back. the sides are of metal but the base is wood. does this help? Thank you. Brattons is where I was looking for the springs. Here.. http://www.brattons.com/prodtype.asp...SearchCriteria=

[Patrick L.]

I sure just learned something, thanks.

[SteveB31]

If it has a knob you turn , then it is the regular 1930-early 1931 seat. In mid 1931, as stated above, they changed several things on coupes. The front seat was changed to the steel bottom seat with the handle and "sawtooth" adjuster, and the rear window wood and frame was made deeper (thicker) , to make it so the roll down window could be installed (which came on late 1931 deluxe coupes).

Steve Becker
Berts Model A Center

[Crazy For Model A]

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Thank you everyone for your help! I do appreciate it.

[Bob Bidonde]

The difference in the seats is their adjustment technique. The earlier seat uses a screw adjuster and the later seat has a ratchet adjuster. The seat bottom spring is significantly different for the ratchet type adjuster because it was lowered to give more head room.

[Crazy For Model A]

Thanks Bob, I have learned something and I am grateful.

[James Rogers]

If I am not mistaken, the seat for the late 31 coupe is the same as the seat for the June on 68C cabriolet. These are hard to find and are often mistaken for the 32 coupe/cabriolet seat but are slightly different.

[Bob Bidonde]

The same late seat spring is also in the Sport Coupe.

[Kevin in NJ]

A summary.

The late seat fits all coupes and slant window cabriolet.

The advantage is they seat you a bit lower and give a little bit more room. Tall people take note.

The late 31 seat frame and the 32 frame look very close to each other. BUT they are not the same. They have different placement of the tracks by like an inch (I have the details at home in my note book I had a 32 frame and springs I bought by accident).

The springs are different when compared to what is found on the earlier springs.. The seat bottom has two rows in the center that are not as long to make room for the ratchet mech. Not sure how the back is different. The 32 springs are not usable for the 31.

The slides for the seat are different. They had a T shaped rail that was riveted to the steel sub-frame on the coupe type bodies. The cabriolet had countersunk screws and so the rail is set up for the screws. The C shaped mate was bolted on with square head nuts and lock washers, at least that is what I took off.

If anyone has a need to properly ID the parts for the late 31 seat please contact me on my regular email as I do have pictures.

[Crazy For Model A]

Kevin Thank you. I have a 31 Sport coupe and just didn't know which springs to buy. Now I really don't know..lol.

[TinCup]

Is it safe to say if you have the saw tooth seat adjuster you need the late 31 spring like on my July 31 Coupe and if you have the round chrome seat adjuster you need the earlier springs.

[Kevin in NJ]

The seat frame slider attachment points will be 31" apart for a 31 seat. The 32 seat frame will be wider as I recall.

The seat spring bottom will have a flat row of springs in the middle to clear the ratchet. I believe the picture Tinbasher showed did not have a flat middle row of springs. I have seen a picture of supposed repro spring from Synders and it appeared to have the middle row dip down, but I am not sure if that was a corrrect picture. Something to keep in mind if you order a repro seat spring as you might have to educate them. Obviously, you have to check for interferance with the adjuster if you plan on using springs that dip down on the middle section.

You will also see the T section of the slider that attaches to the sills. These are coupe parts that I was making into cabriolet parts. Thought I could get away with just countersinking using a drill. I had not seen an original till I got the one on the right. I made a tool and pressed in a countersink to get the head of the screw low enough for the seat to slide properly. These should be cad plated. The plating is about 50% covered on the one on the right, as I found out when I cleaned it up. Made the coupe ones look nice with some bondo and sprayed with rustolieum stainless paint. Not show quality, but within my budget and looks ok.

The green spring picture is by Marco.