I know some but NEED more! What fits what years? Let's say juice brakes off what year ranges will bolt onto a '32 or '33 or beyond? Rearends or front axles from what will bolt into what? Or is there a interchange manual or online source I could look at? It may be basic but gotta find out somehow. Looks like I'm going have an open wheeled car again that I am DETERMINED to finish this time so I need help!!!
'28-48 Ford interchange is vast and confusing. There is lots of direct interchange (snap, click, drive it away...) and even more hotrod interchage (cut, bend, file that hole a tad longer...). Hotrod interchange is essentially total, and usually fairly simple compared to splicing stuff in from other races of car. Hydraulics on a '32 are a bit more than bolt on, but pretty simple--specific questions, listing what you have and what you want, are needed. Remember, every time Ford altered a part, a hotrodder was eyeballing it the next day, trying to figgerout if there was some possible advantage over what he already had and doping out what was necessary to fit it in place of the earlier version. An A-V8 is simply one A Model and one '48 Ford dropped into a blender and stirred...
A 1928-48 parts manual is essential reference. It gives you the direct interchanges, and gives you many clues on hotrodding through pictures and hardware info. If two parts are different, but you notice they use the same gaskets and seals, Hmmmm....how do you think the first rodder to discover Zephyr gears figured out they woulg go in his '34 trans?? It's also good to have the complete range of body-chassis-hardware-catalogs for the actual year of your car, as many parts were dropped or replaced by later ones. Note the catalogs even give you the bolt specs--you can figure out what you need at the hardware store without even getting your hands dirty!
Wow. Thanks Bruce. I just read the kinpins post which also was very helpful. I have access to '37,'39 & '40 parts cars for a '33-'34 project. I guess I'll go start rounding up parts and that manual. Thanks again.
You can buy the "Green Bible" aka Ford Chassis Parts & Accessories Catalogue (1928-48 cars/1928-47 pickups) on ebay or Bob Drake has them for $115. It is 800 pages long and is 8 1/2"x 11"x1 1/2" thick. I bought a smaller size repop 1967 version on ebay for $20. Great reference book w/ lots of illustrations. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7902861621&category=34200
In my opinion, the Green Bible isn't worth it. It was (I'm sure) a great resource a while ago. It's hard to read, and the part numbers don't really tell you anything, unless you take considerable time to cross-reference them. You're better off asking questions on the internet. Plus, they're too damn expensive! --Matt
The Ford system becomes very compact and usable once you realize the basic structure and internalize the bits of interest to you. Each group of thousands is one area of the car, i.e. 1000-1999 are wheels, 2000's are brakes, and so on essentially starting at the ground and working up through the car. If a part has a 6000 PN, it will be for an engine, 7000 trans/clutch and so on. The prefix--B, 18, 40 etc. tells you model year of intro of the part (number stays the same as long as part is used unchanged), and can contain other bits of info like passenger-truck-commercial use, identify Canadian or RHD parts, etc. This system is a bit screwy because Ford changed the rules a couple of times, but it's easy to remember at least the prefix for your car. Any suffix info denotes minor design changes, different colors or oversizes, etc. A wrinkle to know is that all Model A parts that were still being used in production got converted to B numbers in 1932. Otherwise, part numbers are changeless... A 7213 will always be a shift knob, and I would guess that it still is in 2004. The pictures in the catalog are useful to ID and name a part so you can then see what years fit in the charts. Areas with lots of confusing variations, such as '32-48 transmissions, have special charts so you can dope out which cluster gear goes with which input and so on.
While the Green Bible has errors and ommissions, it is ESSENTIAL for old Ford enthusiasts. It is often on Ebay starting at $45
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7901519505&category=6759&sspagename=WD1V "muthaheads"
A fairly simple numbering system. Thanks guys. That book is on my list of must haves. It will make those junkyard trips a little more productive.
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