Greetings and a question.
 

Hello, Y'all,

Long time lurker from the Windy City.

New to Model A's, but a raised an automobile enthusiast.

I frequently reference this site, and really appreciate the technical knowledge, as well as the gamut of opinions. I lean towards period correct performance, and aesthetic modifications, myself. That being said, I have a growing admiration for the stubbornness of Ol' Henry, and simple elegance of his ageless lady.

Now, my question:

I am in the middle of an engine swap (a rebuilt banger, guys! insert bearings, balanced crank, and that's about it), and noticed the cross member was a little loose. I though maybe a couple rivets had rusted or worn away over 80-some years, but when I inspected the area I found that the cross member had cracked through completely along both sides where it rivets to the frame!

I'm wondering if anyone has seen this before; if it is indicative of major frame damage; if it could be repaired; if new exist or used ones readily available?

Thank you for your reading. Please respond at your earliest convenience.

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Is it the front or middle cross member? Front cross members do break, if fact my coupe had a broken one that someone repaired. When I swap the engine, I did buy one from EBay, and will replace it. If it is the front member, be sure you get the right one for your car. The 28-29 were a bit different than the 30-31's. If you don't want to go on EBay, try Bert's in Denver. The have a yard full of used parts.

I have noticed not only the front cross members on EBay but sometimes there are the middle ones also. Good luck.

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Thanks, Fred!

It is the front cross member. It looks like it could be salvageable, but you'd be surprised how hard it is to find a competent mechanic in the city.

Any ballparks on what I could expect to pay for a used one?

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

I have sold a couple for around 30.00, they needed blasted, and painted but were not cracked.

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

I think I paid around $50 or so for mine. But maybe someone here on Ford Barn may have one for sale. You may want to put a want ad in the swap section of the Barn.

Or if you are in a hurry, call Bert's in Denver and they may have one you could get in a hurry.

BTW I mentioned the difference between the years. If I remember the 28-29 have the round hold on top on each end and the 30-31 have an elongated hole. Others on the Barn may know more about this than I do. The difference is that the radiator is lower on one than the other.

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Geeze, I remember at Merryllville a few years ago that someone threw out a perfectly good center cross member in the garbage. I guess it did not sell at the swap meet! It did not stay there too long!!

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Welcome, I have seen many chassis with the front crossmember damaged, some welded with reinforcements, In the Past time, many people do not fixed the leaks from your radiator and daily filled the radiator with new water, which gradually corroded the front crossmember

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

I modified a model A truck front crossmember to accept my model A ford passenger car chassis, The truck crossmember have a major steel thickness, but It's a bit more higher to fixing in the rails, so I cut and hammering the lower places where the crossmember is attached from below the chassis, reducing its height to fit in the rails

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Johnny,

If you told us what city you are looking in maybe someone could help.



Charlie Stephens

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Charlie,
I pretty sure The Windy City is Chicago. I may be wrong but I've heard it referred to as The Windy City. Yes? No?

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Some cracks can be mig welded - requires veeing out the crack or welding both sides and grinding with a finish trim with a dremmel tool. Takes patients and time. A novice can be good at mig welding after one hour of practice. Not to mention you grind away all the mistakes. Just a thought if you are on a budget and you can get your hands on a welder.

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

The coupe I purchased last year had it's front cross member "rebuilt". And that is why I am replacing it. It has an angle iron welded in front of the member with the other part of the angle going under the front spring. No U bolts on the spring. Just hope I can get the spring and front end out when I plan to replace it. BTW this is not the way to fix it-reminds me of how I fix things. (well sometimes).

Re: Greetings and a question.
 

Good clue and you are probably right but I didn't pick up on it.

Charlie Stephens