The Evolution Of THE MODEL A FORD FRAME …

1 12 The Restorer May/June 2007 The following is an evolutionary study ofthe 1928-1931 MODEL A ford FrameAssembly A-5005-A, B, C and D, accord-ing to the ford Releases. The main reasonfor the A, B and C changes all related toa major change in the Front Cross MemberA-5020, except for D. This study con-tains most of the major changes thatoccurred, which I tried to confirm withactual FRAME information where some features were not con-firmed as noted. If reading the FRAME assembly releasescorrectly, every time ford made a series ofchanges or updates to a part or a series ofparts over a period of time, which mayhave been a week to a month or two, theywould then bring the FRAME assembly upto date, incorporating the new versioninto production.

2 During the four years ofproduction, there were at least 19 timesthe FRAME assembly was brought up todate through January 20, 1930. Therewere other times after this that the framewas brought up to date, however theframe assembly information does not indi-cate this but this data is there to justify fully understand the Evolution of theModel A FRAME , one must first have anidea of how the ford engineering depart-ment worked their release program, theirterminology and their thought an idea was to improve a specific part(as in an assembly ) or in this case theframe assembly , which is a major assem-bly of plus or minus 53 parts in itself, notincluding the rivets, the ford engineersassigned a release number for thatchange within the total matter if it was just one part within thetotal assembly or a combination of partswithin the total assembly , the majorassembly was assigned a release number,and so did the specific part or parts thatwere being changed.

3 In either case, both,the individual parts and the full assemblygot the samerelease instance, if a change was made in thesize of rivet holes in four specific parts ofthe FRAME assembly , the FRAME assemblyitself, A-5005-A, B, C or D, would beassigned a release number. Those fourparts that were also affected by the changein rivet hole size, and only those fourparts, would also get the same releasenumber assigned to those specific example, on December 7, 1927,Release Number 5555 indicated that theframe side members were to have all therivet holes changed from 17/64-inch to21/64-inch diameter. In conjunction withthis, all the related parts that were going tobe attached to the FRAME side membersalso indicated that their rivet holes were tobe changed to accomplish the assemblywith the same release number.

4 Thus FrameAssembly A-5005-B was brought up todate with changes in parts. One must remember that it took some timeto tool up and get these changes going inthe assembly process after the ford engi-neers were done. Since ford used whatev-er old style parts were on hand beforethe new parts were implemented, thenewer parts soon came into the productionline process weeks and in some casesmonths after the Engineering Release dates mentioned in this study repre-sent the release dates for which the newchange in the part or parts were sent to theproduction plant and are not to be con-fused with actual assembly dates unlessotherwise noted. For a more precise viewof actual assembly dates, please refer tothe MARC/MAFCA Restoration Guide-lines and Judging Standards*, availablethrough the MODEL A Restorers Club, MODEL A ford Club of America and/ormany MODEL A ford parts on the new MODEL A ford com-menced and plans for the new style FrameAssembly A-5005-A was finally releasedon June 3, 1927, with Release Number403.

5 Between this date and up to October28, 1927, when production started at theRouge Plant in Detroit, Michigan, manyexperimental FRAME and chassis weredeveloped by the ford EngineeringDepartment. Some of these experimentalframes and other related parts might havefound their way into some of the reallyearly production vehicles such as frameswith straight FRAME rails*. Whatever thecase, a new number and design, FrameAssembly A-5005-B, was also in the pro-cess of being designed with ReleaseNumber assembly A-5005-AFrame assembly A-5005-A had what iscalled a 3-piece front cross member ( ). It consisted of parts A-5023 and A-5024, which were referred to as the FrontCross Member To Side Member Bracket,R.

6 H. and L. H and were riveted to thefront corners of the cross member. Thesewere specified on October 27, 1927,Release Number 3574 as New number,new part, 1 req. right hand and left hand Achassis 1928. It also indicated that thisthree-piece front cross member assemblywas to be used on the first 200 cars middle portion of the 3-piece frontcross member was referred to as the FrameFront Cross Member, A-5020. The mid-dle part had two raised lugs on either sideof center of the cross member, that heldthe Starting Crank Bearing, A-5461, (Style1) in place, thus keeping it from shiftingfrom side to side. Holes for locating theStarting Crank Bearing were later added tothe cross member in January, was it the first 200 cars that thethree-piece front cross member wasspecifically used on?

7 According to theMARC/MAFCA Restoration GuidelinesThe Evolution OfTHE MODEL A ford FRAME ASSEMBLYA-5005-A, B, C and DAccording To ford Engineering ReleasesBy Steve Plucker, Touchet, WashingtonFig. 113 May/June 2007 The Restorerand Judging Standards*, it is thought thatthis number was more like up to enginenumber A1200. This can be attested byengine/ FRAME number A1031, owned byMr. Steve Ciccalone, which was stampedon December 1, 1927, and sent to finalassembly on December 3, 1927, and wasthe 1,016 vehicle out of the Rouge has the three-piece front cross mem-ber, not to mention the 140 plus otherengines and frames that were sent to otherassembly other features that were noted added to FRAME assembly , A-5005-A,on October 28, 1927, were holes for therear shock absorber and front may have been on these very earlychassis, not one, but two EqualizerOperating Shaft Springs, A-2492, as itspecified on February 15, 1928, in theIndianapolis ford Service Letter, Onsome of the old cars you will find two (2)

8 A-2492, Equalizer Operating ShaftSprings, to be removed. Just what thisstatement meant is not readily known norjust how the second spring, if it indeedwas there, was installed. On November 2, the number of holes forattaching the (rear) bumper (bracket)changed from 2 to 4 on the FRAME RearCross Member, A-5030 (not confirmed). On November 4, Release Number 4315,indicated that a 25/64-inch hole was addedfor the retracting spring stud to the leftframe side member, A-5016. Could thismean that the very early production frameshad a different set-up for the spring attach-ment? Could this have been what theIndianapolis ford Service Letter ofFebruary 15, 1928, (above) was referring to?The Rear Engine Support Brackets ( ),A-5090-A, were originally riveted(Fig.)

9 3) to the FRAME with four 3/16-inchrivets*. These brackets can be seen in theFebruary, 1928 ford Service Bulletin, , page 222 (Fig. 4). Some bracketsmay have been bolted with 1/2 inch boltsand castle nuts and appeared on the first1000 vehicles*.A new style Rear Engine Support Bracket,A-5090-B, and related parts were adoptedon November 12, 1927. On November 15,1927, Release Number 4762, all relatedparts went from four to three holes forattachment to the FRAME side members andremained as such throughout bracket was designed to use either onthe right or left side of the FRAME as a totalof six holes were added to the flangewhich attached to the FRAME but only threewere used per side. Some very earlybrackets may not have had the rectangularholes stamped in them.

10 The FRAME toEngine Rear Support Plate, A-5095-A1,was a forging as were all of the other attachments on the FRAME such as HoodShelf Support Brackets, Running BoardBrackets and Front Body November 19, 1927, all changes were brought up to date with changes in theside members. This FRAME also possessed two holes tobolt the muffler bracket in the right rearflange of the Center Cross Member. Thisassembly consisted of two parts theMuffler Bracket Foot A-5246, that wasattached to the cross member and MufflerBracket Collar A-5245, that was attachedto the Muffler Bracket Foot and the middleof the tapered muffler. However, onNovember 21, 1927, it was decided by theengineering department that a new andless complicated bracket be brought intoproduction so the holes and bracket wereeliminated by the end of December,1927*.