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Old 11-24-2011, 01:08 AM   #1
darrylkmc
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Default Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

I have been wondering about this for a long time.
What Model A parts were never changed throughout the entire production of Model A Fords. This would be parts that are common throughout all production, not just interchangeable.
Bearings, Hardware, Bushings, etc.

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Old 11-24-2011, 03:05 AM   #2
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Was the Transmission case? The Muffler? Muffler Clamp? Terminal Box? The Front and Rear springs? Rear motor mounts? Maybe the coupe/roadster deck lid? convertable top rest?
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Old 11-24-2011, 06:41 AM   #3
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

The tranny case had at least a few changes. I've seen two styles of terminal box covers. Early spring leaves had FORD script.

This question was asked by a club member about 10 years ago, and it's hard to name parts that never changed. Maybe crank and cam gears?
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Old 11-24-2011, 07:27 AM   #4
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Great thought-provoking question!!

Yes, Tom is correct, ...and top rests were initially brass before stainless, and recently as a bystander in a conversation between JSC members Don Bivens & Jerry Lyons, they were looking at an original muffler assy and pointed out detail differences between early & late mufflers, ....so I would say that one is a "no go" too. Motor mounts had revisions, and the deck/rumble lids have revisions too.

While I realize this 'exercise' is not for everyone, I find it REALLY interesting to go to the archives at Bensen and look at old drawings. It is 'wild' to look at an old Assembly Drawing that has several sub-components drawn and then go to that specific part number in the box and see all of the revisions that were made on that little sub-component. In some cases there are Engineering Releases outlining the chronological order of the changes. Often times I found the Engineers would redraw/re-engineer an entire assembly just to change the bolt hole size or the location by just a slight amount.

For example, on a recent trip up to the archives I was looking at 28/29 front fenders and I think I found where there were 7 different variations of a front fender used during production on the 1928-29 passenger cars alone. When you take this same mindset and apply it throughout the entire vehicle, it is mind boggling to think about the effort it took to convey to the engineers that a change needed to happen (for whatever reason), then have the item redrawn (w/o any type of C.A.D.) and then prototyped to ensure it works as needed, and then all of the re-tooling time/costs (at all locations!) to impliment that change ....all for the sake of streamlining production efficiency or costs!! (Remember this was being done for the owner of an automobile company who reportedly didn't like change!!)
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Old 11-24-2011, 09:59 AM   #5
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Uh, mmmm- the nut behind the wheel?
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Old 11-24-2011, 10:04 AM   #6
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

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Windshield comes to mind.
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Old 11-24-2011, 10:19 AM   #7
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Having restored early 28 to late 31 this is a mental exercise I have done. Really haven't come up with many things that didn't change in the 4 years. Bearings, some bolts, some small springs and fasteners but they are hidden or minor.

Windshield did change.
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Old 11-24-2011, 10:20 AM   #8
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stinch View Post
Windshield comes to mind.
28-9 windshields are different from 30-31, not to mention all the changes for various wiper motor assemblies.

As for parts that didn't change my guess would be-

Front wheel bearings, spindle nut, king pin and several other mechanical parts.
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Old 11-24-2011, 11:04 AM   #9
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Deck lids from 28-29 are slightly different than 30-31 where they latch. They can interchange but there are slight changes

Would a bare engine block be the same?
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Old 11-24-2011, 11:07 AM   #10
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

The springs changed. Early ones had FORD in raised letters. I duno if the black paint formula changed.
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Old 11-24-2011, 11:08 AM   #11
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Quote:
Originally Posted by LukeDahlinger View Post
28-9 windshields are different from 30-31, not to mention all the changes for various wiper motor assemblies.

As for parts that didn't change my guess would be-

Front wheel bearings, spindle nut, king pin and several other mechanical parts.
This is s good example of just how tough this is! Of the three items above only the industry standard bearings are believed to have remain unchanged throughout production. There were a minimum of two versions of the others.

Having pondered this question for a few minutes I can only think of various bearings and a few (very few) nuts and bolts on the chassis which were used throughout production and remained unchanged including finish. I can't think of a single body part that fit's the criteria except floor board screws.

As a good example of the obscure, even the 1/4" diameter rivets used to rivet the model A frame together went through a design/specification change.
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Old 11-24-2011, 11:17 AM   #12
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Rear axle and pinon keys. Front wheel bearings. Maybe rear end bearings.
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Old 11-24-2011, 11:39 AM   #13
Ray in La Mesa
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Along the same lines, what automobile part has been the same since the late 1800's?
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Old 11-24-2011, 11:41 AM   #14
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

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Rear axle and pinon keys. Front wheel bearings. Maybe rear end bearings.

Ok, This got me thinking more. Rereading the original question I'm not sure I'm staying within the spirit or scope of the question. These items are indeed interchangeable throughout production. However they were not without change. The first thing that came to my mind is that I've seen both Ford script and non-script versions of these items. I decided to look up the rear differential bearing cones, bearing cups, and axle keys. I found that each of these items show no less than five documented changes on file. I have no clue just what those changes were (other than script), but they were changes of some type.
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Old 11-24-2011, 11:53 AM   #15
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

How about the air valve in the tire stem? They started with the "T" and are still used today.

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Old 11-24-2011, 12:17 PM   #16
Ray in La Mesa
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Right you are Charlie! Actully the were used in the first pnuematic tires on early bicycles.
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Old 11-24-2011, 01:03 PM   #17
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

the valve cores may not have changed during the model A era ,but they are not the same as the ones availible today
the windshield changed with the slant window models
some of the early terminal boxes were Fordensite and the rest were hard rubber
the cover had ford script early on

what about the zerk fittings
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Old 11-24-2011, 01:50 PM   #18
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

What about the brackets that the rumble hinges are bolted too?

The braces that were welded to the bottom of the rumble pan?
How about the rumble pan itself?
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Old 11-24-2011, 03:37 PM   #19
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

Quote:
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What about the brackets that the rumble hinges are bolted too?

The braces that were welded to the bottom of the rumble pan?
How about the rumble pan itself?

Again, unless one looks at the original prints and then compares drawings will someone know if this is indeed fact. I have learned that many folks never know if there is a subtile change on many components. Over the years I have heard many excuses for these slight differences from such things as "differences from different manufacturers" or "different plants did it different ways". The more I know these days, the more I realize their theories are not all that correct.
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Old 11-24-2011, 04:02 PM   #20
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Default Re: Model A Parts That Never Changed Throughout Production

screwdivers, tire size, horn conduit, head, fan, the coolant it left the factory with
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