is my m-a coupe a 30 or a 31?????

i have searched but i cant find the info i need to figure out if my coupe is a 30 or 31. i have heard that there is a diferance in the firewall but i dont know what the differance is. any info is good i have pics in my albums or just post some pics or whatever. it was just a body when i bought it.
~Mike

 

I been told if there is a chrome mldg on the cowl it's a 31...my guess...

 

1930 and early 31 have the same firewall mid to the end had a fire wall the has a tear drop indent in the fire wall (on p***enger side) where the fuel shut off valve goes the 30 and early 31 has the fuel shut off is in the p***enger compartment at bottom of the fuel tank

 

31’s have a indented area were the fuel line comes out…..are all 31’s like that?
Yours is flat there

 

yeah, mine seems to be flat there. i remember the fuel shut off was on the botttom of the tank inside the car, i think. so its a 30 or early 31. that kind of helps. lol
~Mike

 

No just late 31 I forgot the date for the change

 

The other distinguishing characteristic is the splash apron, 2-piece in 1930 model and single piece in 1931. I think Ford also relocated the steering column support on late '31 to the back of the dash instead of the tank.

 

Also the grille shell on the '30 is smooth stainless on the top, while the '31 has a painted insert.

 

well, it didnt have the splash apron or a grill, has the column mount on the tank. prob never will be able to figure out if its a 30 or a early 31. oh well ill just call it a 30.

 

guage cluster is different, 30 are more round, 31's kinda oval

 

Isn't the date of manufacture stamped on the driver side firewall 6" from the top?

 

nope
thats only in 28-29 and it was on the tank
you could also look at the foot of the firewall
if it has a reinforcing strap on the inside to stop it from cracking where the front body bolt is then its a 31
tk

 

right

 

Do you have a ***le or something else with the original VIN #...if you do, it easy to trace the year. The original engine # is helpful as well.

Murph

 

your radiator shell is a 30 . ... steve

 

no ***le or frame, got the grill at a swap meet and there was no gauge cluster in the car when i purchesed it.

 

i would call it what ever you wanted . take your pick ! ... steve

 

ive heard 31's have 2 reinforced pieces of metal on back of the firewall, on the back of were the support rods mount.

 

With the chrome strip and without the pet**** indent... sounds like early 31 from the above info.

 

That was only on '28 and some '29's.

Charlie Stephens

 

The indented firewall started in May of 1931.

 

here is some helpful info
http://www.mafca.com/whatyear.html

 

The best way to tell is inside the truck/rumble seat area. There are 2 support channels that are attached to the qrts at the top of the trunk one for each side. If they go all the way to the floor/subrail its a 30. and if it stops at and attaches to the fenderwell, its a 31.

 

Great info on that brace. I've fished some out of fields that were body only and wondered if they were a 30 or 31; now I'll know. Here's a shot of the later 31 firewall with the recessed area around the fuel valve.

 

I've done lots of model A's stock and rods, and have learn alot over the yrs.

 

Dead on way to tell if it is a 30 or 31 has already been mentioned. In 1931 Ford put two spot welded reinforcing rectangle pieces on the inside of the firewall behind the gas tank to better support the radiator support rods. 1930 does not have these.

 

i dont see any support pieces on the firewall, it even has a crack where the suport rods mount.
~Mike

 

Also some of the bodys were stamped on the floor brace that goes right under the front seat this stamping ***embly plant and body number. you can use this to get close to the year you have. this info is also on the MAFCA website.

 

ok so, im still kinda stumped. it has the rear braces that mount to the fenderwell at the front of the trunk, (westexgasrguy) mentionend that if they mount to the fender wells it a 31, but it dosant have the extra suports on the firewall for the rad support rods. maybe its a early 31??? thats my best guess.

 

Remember that some of them have been in fender benders and repaired with wrecking yard parts at one time long ago. I have seen a few with mismatched parts. Doesn't make sense until you realize if your not the original owner and don't know the complete history of the car, who knows what the guy before you did to it in 42 or whenever. I think some of that is kind of fun playing detective.