Hot Rods 28 grill shell question

How could I tell if a grill is original

 

Looks like an original 1931 shell

 

x2

 

Yeah, 1931 Ford. HRP

 

Not at all original to 1928.

 

Like others said its for a ‘31

 

Probably on the drafting table in 1928.

 

Yep 31 shell

 

Thanks, it was an extra that came with a project I picked up over the weekend

 

You would have to cut it up to work on a '28, please don't.

Charlie Stephens

 

I'm not using it at all, I was also given a 32 grill that I will be using. I'll most likely put the 31 grill up for sale

 

curious if your 32 grille is a 32

 

And what project was that JJJmm?

 

31 tudor can't show picture because of the wheels the last owner had on .

 

So you bought a 31 Ford and it came with a 31 Ford grill shell.

 

Thats what he said it was. All I asked is how to tell if it's original or a repop. It also came with a 28 frame, which the numbers match the paperwork.

 

I don't think the 31 shell has ever been reproduced.

 

Thank you

 

[paste:font size="5"]1928 Model A Ford Instruction Book, Ford did in fact specify the engine number to be the 'serial number' of the vehicle, during the Model A (and B) era, and throughout the 1930's. The Specifications and License Data page above in the Instruction Book is quite clear and specific about this.

It is popularly but incorrectly claimed that the serial number of the vehicle was a frame number. Actually, not all Model A vehicles even had a frame number. A great many did not have a frame number stamped, and it varied depending on when and which of the more than two dozen ***embly plants completed the vehicle final ***embly. There is no Ford literature available indicating a frame number was ever intended for any primary identification of a vehicle by Ford.

When present, the frame number was a duplicate of the original engine number of that ch***is. The engine number was ***igned and stamped at the Rouge and was usually, but not always, later stamped on the top of the frame flange at the vehicle ***embly plant as a backup to aid in positive identification of stolen vehicles. In the 1930's, vehicle theft was actually quite a large problem.

A check for a possible frame number requires removal of the body and fender splash aprons from the frame. Any number present is frequently obscured or illegible due to corrosion and pitting from moisture held by the cotton frame webbing between the frame and body.

The engine number, not a frame number, was the original serial number of the vehicle for ***le and registration purposes. This is true throughout the Ford Model A and B US and Canadian production era.

reference; https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/ABenginenumbers.htm

 

How about some photos of the body etc?

Charlie Stephens

 

Yes I found this info 10 years ago when I built my 36

 

Or suspension!

 

yea not a fan of that, but I have a 28 frame too.

 

What did they do to the wheelwells?

 

I don't know what they were thinking. I'm going next weekend to find some fenders so I can recut the openings

 

FYI, All p***enger and pickup frames are the same for Model A's from 1928 - 1931.