I'm starting to gather parts for a future project and recently found a '46-'48 59a flathead that has been stored inside an old barn. Actually the story starts out with a road trip a few weeks ago with my Dad and my son to look at what we were told was a '31 Chevy truck that had been parked in a barn years ago. Dad's looking for a Model A pickup after selling the Town Sedan and this lead sounded promising. Not a Ford but a '31 Chevy truck would be pretty much what he's looking for. We found the old farmhouse where the truck was supposed to be stored in the barn. We had spoken with the son in law of the woman who owned the truck and had agreed we could come look at the truck on this particular Sunday. This place is in the middle of nowhere and no one is home when we got there. We waited awhile in their driveway thinking maybe she had to run in to town cause she knew we were coming. After a half hour or so curiosity got the best of us and we decided to take our chances and peek in the barn to see if we could see anything. Found the barn door unlocked and looked in. Nothing in the first room so we walked in and entered the next room. Sitting in the front corner was a '32 Ford wide box pickup. Covered in dust. Solid as can be. 1964 New York plates and windshield stickers still on the truck. Right behind the truck is a 59a flatty. Man you talk about hearts starting to race!! This was like taking a step back in time. Old Atlas metal lathe sitting there covered in dust. Old compressors, old tractor and farm equipment all around. It was like the old guy just closed the doors and never went back in. Not wanting to chance getting met in the barn by a shotgun toting old farm woman we headed back outside. Decided to head back to town and get something to eat and plan how we were going to buy this thing. Spent an hour eating lunch and deciding how much to offer and how we could get it home, etc. Went back to the house and found the woman home. Her daughter (wife of our contact on the deal) took us out to the barn to show us the truck. We fessed up that we had been there earlier and already looked inside. No objections there. As we looked at the truck and started asking questions the daughter decided her mother might better come out and talk with us. Up until this point we were under the impresion the truck was for sale. That turned around when we spoke with the old woman. She said family members had showed interest in fixing it up. You all know the story... We figured might just be a tactic to see how serious we were. Flashed enough cash to make a fair offer deal. No deal- Not for sale. Well what about the engine, I asked? She said she would sell it and I offered her $200 bucks. She said she would have a friend of hers that looks after things on the farm take a look at it and tell her if that was a good deal and get back to me. She called back a few days later and said $250. So a deal was struck. Another solid offer on the truck was turned down but at least we got the engine! The engine appeared pretty complete from air cleaner to oil pan- just missing the generator and distributor. It was mounted on a cobbled up cart that consisted of a '37 Ford front axle ***embly with the tie rods cut off and welded to the sides of the wishbones so it would not steer. Some angle iron welded up to form a place for the motor mounts to sit and another angle iron welded across for the trans to bolt to. It had a framework of round bar made to hold a gas tank above the engine and what looks to be a radiator out of maybe a F2 truck was mounted to the front. Also had a panel welded on for a set of gauges and a voltage regulator. The whole thing resembled a "Home Hobblers" version of a crude engine test stand. The trans shaft has a PTO coupler welded on and I ***ume they used this thing to power some sort of farm equipment. Couldn't get much details from the woman as to it's use. Got the engine home and pretty much torn down. Doesn't appear to be any cracks in the usual places and looks very clean inside. I think it will make a good engine. I've heard so much about guys going through several blocks to find a good candidate I got real lucky I guess. This is my first flathead so I'm sure I'll be looking to pick the brains of the experts here. So- for the axle question. Is a '37 axle a good choice with split bones to put under a Model a frame if I was to find a frame with no axle or am I better off sticking with model A axle and adapting F1 brakes to that. The '37 has the wide five wheels, hubcaps and cable operated mechanical brakes. I'd sell the complete brake setup for the wide five and adapt the '37 axle to hydraulic if I go that route but I remember reading somewhere that the back of the tires are real close on tight turns with split bones on those axles. Any advice appreciated. Sorry for the long post I'm just psyched!
First, what is a 32 wide box pickup? Second, you can put hydraulic brakes on the 37 axle by simply bolting one hydraulic backing plates and using the wide-five 37 hubs and drums or, use the smaller pattern 40-48 hubs and drums. You ended up talking about a Model A frame, etc. Does this mean you have bouight a 31 Model A Deluxe Pickup with the wide bed?
hey just keep makin offers on that 32 truck...remember its a 32, you cant pay too much for it, only buy it too soon. as for the axle, Im fairly sure 37s have a wider perch pin spacing (short between perch pin and kingpin), and these axles arent the best for split bones on an A, your tyres will tend to hit the bones on turns. Better to get a 32-36 axle, and they are better to drop as well. Keep at em about the truck! and next time take your camera, love photos of stuff like that.
I may be incorrect in calling this a wide box. There's no spacer between the fender and box side like on the Model A. The roof is filled-no fabric top insert. Can't get to the front of the truck to see grill. It's jammed in this barn tight to tthe front wall. Appears to be '32 looking at it from the back and the box. No, I havent bought it. She won't sell it. 5 grand offer didn't sway her. I'm looking to collect parts to build a Model A pickup that's the reason for the axle question. If I come across a bare A frame would I be better off seeking an A axle as well or can I use the '37 axle adapting to Hydraulic? My hesitation is due to the tire clearance concern not the ability to adapt to hydraulic brakes.
just curious is this a 37 tube or I beam? are you sure of the year ?and are you planning on using 37 wishbones? what type of spring mount [in front of axle on top....?]
It is an I beam axle. Cable operated brakes and round back spindles tell me it's '37 ish. My thought was to use the '37 wishbones. I already have them with the axle and wide five setup. I like the look of the wide five wheels. I've been reading Paul's tech on attaching the spring with a fabbed up bracket welded around the wishbones with the spring behind the axle. It looks safe, well executed and I think this is the direction I'd like to go. I'm thinking way ahead of myself here as I'm still gathering parts. Just trying to decide whether the '37 axle is worth hanging onto for a Model A build or selling/trading the axle for Model A axle. Basically I got this whole axle setup with the flathead I bought as part of the cart they used on the farm to move this thing around to power whatever they used it for. I guess the cut and dried answer I'm looking for is what is a better choice for axle in a Model A- Model A or 37 Ford??
Wide 5, round spindles, & cable brakes makes it either a '37 or '38 axle. Lowsquire is rignt on the perch pin spacing..... but the difference is only about an inch. I wouldn't let that keep me from using it. Sounds like some decent front end parts there. JH
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