Truck Radiator Shells

[CHuDWah]

Following is my understanding of the subject and a couple questions – additions/corrections/answers appreciated

1. 28 – mid-30 A pickup and AA – same as 28 – 29 passenger except painted instead of plated

2. mid-30 – 31 A pickup – same as 30 passenger except painted steel instead of stainless (but stainless on deluxe models); not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger

3. mid-30 – 31 AA – similar to 30 passenger but straight across the top panel (i.e., without the “widow’s peak”) and thicker to accommodate 4-row radiator; painted steel except stainless on some “deluxe” models. Not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger.

Was the 3-row radiator used on any mid-30 – 31 AA? Was the 4-row radiator used on any 28 – mid-30 AA?

[Bob C]

April 18, 1930 Service Letter states a new 4 row radiator will be used in production in the near future. This would be a 1928-29 style radiator. Also on page 450 of the
Service Bulletins.

Bob

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by Bob C

April 18, 1930 Service Letter states a new 4 row radiator will be used in production in the near future. This would be a 1928-29 style radiator. Also on page 450 of the
Service Bulletins.

Bob

So, does that mean there was a thicker 28 - 29 style shell to accommodate the 4-row radiator? Or was this announcement in anticipation of the mid-30 changeover to 30 - 31 style truck?

[Bob C]

No thicker shell. They punched the holes in the cross member farther forward to
gain clearance for the fan shaft which left an increased gap between the shell and hood.

Bob

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by Bob C

No thicker shell. They punched the holes in the cross member farther forward to
gain clearance for the fan shaft which left an increased gap between the shell and hood.

Bob

Did not know that - thanks!

Kinda Rube Goldberg-y engineering but I suppose it didn't make sense to retool for a thicker 28 - 29 style shell when they were going to changeover to the 30 - 31 style in a couple months.

[Charlie Stephens]

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Originally Posted by CHuDWah

Following is my understanding of the subject and a couple questions – additions/corrections/answers appreciated

1. 28 – mid-30 A pickup and AA – same as 28 – 29 passenger except painted instead of plated

2. mid-30 – 31 A pickup – same as 30 passenger except painted steel instead of stainless (but stainless on deluxe models); not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger

3. mid-30 – 31 AA – similar to 30 passenger but straight across the top panel (i.e., without the “widow’s peak”) and thicker to accommodate 4-row radiator; painted steel except stainless on some “deluxe” models. Not changed for 31 – i.e., top panel was not indented and bottom panel was not crimped on like passenger.

Was the 3-row radiator used on any mid-30 – 31 AA? Was the 4-row radiator used on any 28 – mid-30 AA?

Minor correction on items 2 and 3. The 1931 shell used the 1931 stainless steel emblem not the 1930 blue one.

Charlie Stephens

[RawhideKid]

I do not believe #1 is correct as the passenger cars had the widows peak. The AA and A trucks, were indeed painted, but they also did NOT have the widows peak.

Never Mind

[Bob C]

The only ones without the widows peak was the mid 30-31 AA.

Bob

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

Minor correction on items 2 and 3. The 1931 shell used the 1931 stainless steel emblem not the 1930 blue one.

Charlie Stephens

Correct. I forgot to mention that in post #1. I believe trucks also used the same crank hole covers as passenger cars.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Bob C

The only ones without the widows peak was the mid 30-31 AA.

Bob

Thought I would add the Model A truck shell (1930) for comparison.

Charlie Stephens

[DougVieyra]

For the neophytes amongst us, it should be noted that we are making a distinction between a Model A TRUCK (more properly designated "AA") built on a heavy TRUCK chassis/frame; and a Model A Pickup, which is built on a standard Car chassis/frame.

[1930-Pickup]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

Minor correction on items 2 and 3. The 1931 shell used the 1931 stainless steel emblem not the 1930 blue one.

Charlie Stephens

Does someone know the change over date for the cloisonné blue oval to the stainless oval? This is for the light commercial A pickup.

[Neil Wilson]

FYI - Most (maybe all) of the above information is in the RGJS. It would be great if this document were available on the internet.

The above applies to the commercial A's (not just the pickup) and AA's.

[Chris Haynes]

My May 1930 Early 30 has a four core radiator.

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by DougVieyra

For the neophytes amongst us, it should be noted that we are making a distinction between a Model A TRUCK (more properly designated "AA") built on a heavy TRUCK chassis/frame; and a Model A Pickup, which is built on a standard Car chassis/frame.

All Commercial trucks shared the same shells. Whether A or AA.

[1930-Pickup]

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

All Commercial trucks shared the same shells. Whether A or AA.

No. The original post in this thread is correct. This subject has been covered in other threads as well.

[Dave Mellor NJ]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

Thought I would add the Model A truck shell (1930) for comparison.

Charlie Stephens

See the raised area around the crank hole in the 30 truck shell above. it is bell shaped, like the car.while the 30 raised area on the car shell is round, encircling the crank hole. Can any body tell me if the raised area oround the crank hole is round on the 31 truck like the car or bell shaped like thw 30?

[1930-Pickup]

Originally Posted by Dave Mellor NJ

See the raised area around the crank hole in the 30 truck shell above. it is bell shaped, like the car.while the 30 raised area on the car shell is round, encircling the crank hole. Can any body tell me if the raised area oround the crank hole is round on the 31 truck like the car or bell shaped like thw 30?

The 'A' trucks used the same shell in '31 as they did in '30.
Refer to "2." in the first post of this thread.

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by 1930-Pickup

No. The original post in this thread is correct. This subject has been covered in other threads as well.

Please show where my post is wrong. In any year the A truck and AA trucks used the same shell. That is what is said in the original post.

[CarlG]

The A truck, used the same radiator that the cars did, and are thinner by about 1/2" than are the AA radiators. Therefore the shells are different size as well.

The AA radiator can be used on an A, but the AA shell has to be used with it. Conversely, an A radiator can be used on an AA, but the A shell would have to be used there as well.

Disclaimer: My experience in doing that is only on 1931 models, so it may be different on the 28-29's