1931 pickup radiator shell

[clay co 27]

Does anyone know if a 1931 pickup radiator shell looks like a1930 with
no top insert, but steel and painted black. thanks

[Tudortomnz]

They used the steel '30 style , painted.

[clay co 27]

Thanks a lot for your message from down under , I have a lot of respect for New Zealand
folks. Keep on driving Model A Fords and I hope it is warmer there than it is in arkansas.

[Afordman31]

Originally Posted by clay co 27

Does anyone know if a 1931 pickup radiator shell looks like a1930 with
no top insert, but steel and painted black. thanks

Clay, this is what I have on my 31 Pickup. Afordman31

[clay co 27]

thanks, afordman I bought one on ebay and it looks like that. Also I received the growler
and it looks almost like new, haven't tried it out yet.

[Marco Tahtaras]

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Originally Posted by Afordman31

Clay, this is what I have on my 31 Pickup. Afordman31

That is a stainless '31 car shell painted to look a little more like a commercial shell. Many folks choose to do that or leave the stainless portion polished to "dress up" their otherwise simple commercial model. Your example looks very nice but as noted the original commercial "A" shell was shaped like the common '30 shell but made from plain steel and dipped in Black enamel like the fenders. This applies to both 1930 and 1931 models beginning June 1930 when the "new" bodies were introduced.

[Charlie Stephens]

Minor point but be sure the emblem is stainless and not blue like the 1930.

Charlie Stephens

[chiliman]

don't for get the head light shells are also painted steel very few were stainless some of the Ambulance is that right Marco

[RonC]

I have a pair of factory painted 30-31 painted stainless shells. The stainless that shows has never been buffed. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116405

[Bick in New Zealand]

How big is the pickup?

[mass A man]

Clay co 27, Here's a snapshot of an original, steel '31 shell on a '31 pickup. It has been recoated with black paint, nothing done to the emblem. I recently had to put a new core in her from Berg's.

P.S.- Do you know where my old Dixie town of Marked Tree is?, Best regards, Pete.

[1928Fordman]

Hey Bick that is a cool looking shell. What is it off of?

[quickchange]

I have a painted shell that is straight accross, not peaked like the ones shown , Was that only on the AA & not the P/U ?? It came from a closed cab cab, which may have been off an AA & not the p/u. Can do picture if you wish,

[1928Fordman]

Originally Posted by quickchange

I have a painted shell that is straight accross, not peaked like the ones shown , Was that only on the AA & not the P/U ?? It came from a closed cab cab, which may have been off an AA & not the p/u. Can do picture if you wish,

Yes the shell that is straight at the top with no peak is an AA.

[clay co 27]

Originally Posted by mass A man

Clay co 27, Here's a snapshot of an original, steel '31 shell on a '31 pickup. It has been recoated with black paint, nothing done to the emblem. I recently had to put a new core in her from Berg's.

P.S.- Do you know where my old Dixie town of Marked Tree is?, Best regards, Pete.

MASS A MAN, small world, I was at marked Tree thursday and again friday on a big trade
and purchase from a fine man. It's about seventy miles south of me

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by chiliman

don't for get the head light shells are also painted steel very few were stainless some of the Ambulance is that right Marco

Yes. There were certain "DeLuxe" commercial models on both "A" and "AA" chassis which would of course had bright stainless. The Ambulance was one of those models on the "AA" chassis.

Originally Posted by quickchange

I have a painted shell that is straight accross, not peaked like the ones shown , Was that only on the AA & not the P/U ?? It came from a closed cab cab, which may have been off an AA & not the p/u. Can do picture if you wish,

Hi Derek, That is typical from an "AA" truck. All the AA models with the "new" 1930 type body had a thicker radiator which included four rows of tubes in the core. The shell you describe was thicker and used on all the AA trucks except those special "DeLuxe" AA models which used a stainless version of what you have.

[Afordman31]

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

That is a stainless '31 car shell painted to look a little more like a commercial shell. Many folks choose to do that or leave the stainless portion polished to "dress up" their otherwise simple commercial model. Your example looks very nice but as noted the original commercial "A" shell was shaped like the common '30 shell but made from plain steel and dipped in Black enamel like the fenders. This applies to both 1930 and 1931 models beginning June 1930 when the "new" bodies were introduced.

Marco
I bought that shell and had to have it repaired. It was not the stainless type shell as I remember. Afordman31

[RonC]

Stainless shell painted black. The outside shell surface is virgin unpolished stainless painted black.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by forever4

The stainless AA deluxe shell was also thick for the 4 row rad, and not the same as the A commercial.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/AArustlessradiatorshell.htm

I think that's what I said??? Yep, I'd seen two or three of the stainless AA shells by the time I finally got my first "A".

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by Afordman31

Marco
I bought that shell and had to have it repaired. It was not the stainless type shell as I remember. Afordman31

If you put a magnet to it on the sides it will not stick. The top front face will be a different story. Pad the magnet.

[CarlG]

My first Model A was an AA 280A (Ambulance). It had the HD thicker radiator with a stainless shell, also stainless headlight buckets.

[Bick in New Zealand]

"Hey Bick that is a cool looking shell. What is it off of? "

1931 English AAF Truck. It was used in the TV series "Dad's Army"

I have also seen another 1931 English badge that said One Ton.

[Afordman31]

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

If you put a magnet to it on the sides it will not stick. The top front face will be a different story. Pad the magnet.

Marco, you are exactly right about the magnet sticking to the front face and not the shell.
When I bought it, it was painted black so I thought it was the proper shell. Now I know. Thank you for the information. Afordman31

[Roadster62]

I'm posting this photo of a 1931 Pick Up shell for you to discuss. It is steel, has a stainless Ford oval. Was the 1930 the exact same shell with a blue oval? Was this used on the AA as well or did all 30-31 AA trucks have the flat botton on the top face? Bob

[Bob C]

The AA didn't have the widows peak and was deeper for the thicker
radiator core.

Bob

[Roadster62]

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Thanks Bob, did the deeper radiator cause the shell to get closer to the headlight bar? Bob

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by Roadster62

Thanks Bob, did the deeper radiator cause the shell to get closer to the headlight bar? Bob

Yes, that is exactly why it was thicker. As I noted previously, the radiator was thicker having four rows of tubes instead of three. They maintained approximately the same distance (I don't know exactly) from the fan at the rear. That means the added thickness had to go forward. This required either a thicker shell or a longer hood and they made the logical choice.

[Mafman]

Originally Posted by Bick in New Zealand

How big is the pickup?

That is a very cool shell on your truck!