1933 Ford BB truck

[chevy43]

Here's my dad's 1933 Ford BB same year he was born. It's a tribute to him now and a great truck for me.

283 Chevy, stock everything else. It does have a vacuum brake booster over the mechanical brakes.

[mercman from oz]

chevy43, welcome to Ford Barn.
Your 1933 Ford BB Truck looks amazing.

[mercman from oz]

In Memory of Capt John D. Baker. 1933-2023

[ndnchf]

Wow - neat truck, thanks for sharing!

[rockfla]

Man I love that truck

[KDL]

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That is a cool truck!

[pistonbroke]

The bigger the better! Cool truck, Tim

[1952henry]

Nice truck, and tribute.

[GB SISSON]

I love a truck in it's work clothes. Tell us about the history.

[al's28/33]

trucks are the best ... my Mom will be 90 on Sunday.

[corvette8n]

Originally Posted by al's28/33

trucks are the best ... my Mom will be 90 on Sunday.

Tell her Happy Birthday. I’m sure she has some great stories about the vehicles of the past.

[DavidG]

Once it is stovebolt powered, it's no longer a Ford.

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Once it is stovebolt powered, it's no longer a Ford.

I guess the Studebaker bed on my '39 p/u means it's no longer a Ford?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 51504bat

I guess the Studebaker bed on my '39 p/u means it's no longer a Ford?

[DavidG]

Hardly the same as the heart, the engine.

[sugarmaker]

Chevy43,
I like your big Ford truck it looks to be in great condition too. Welcome to the Ford Barn!
I am sure your truck has many stories. Looks like you use it for actual work. Those mirrors are what i am looking for sometimes on my ragged ol' truck!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by 51504bat

I guess the Studebaker bed on my '39 p/u means it's no longer a Ford?

I will add that's it's a very handsome pickup box with those art deco stake pockets and good looking rear fenders. So, while it isn't original it does get some style points.

[chevy43]

I'll be running down to the Bay Area again to get more antique trucks out of my dads place. I'm pulling this 18' tilt deck trailer. I'll get a picture of the load I'm pulling home with the 33BB if I make it!

All bakes carefully adjusted. Surge brakes on the trailer and Vacuum boosted mechanical on the truck.

It turns out this truck has the 5.14 gears that somebody swapped into it at some point in the past!
Too bad they didn't get the right speedo drive gear to go with it.

[GB SISSON]

'Down to the Bay area from WHERE?' Holy Cow, even if it's close I consider this to be a real life adventure. I did similar trips in my younger days, but not in modern day traffic. I wish you a great and safe trip. AND get some good pictures!

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

I'll be running down to the Bay Area again to get more antique trucks out of my dads place. I'm pulling this 18' tilt deck trailer. I'll get a picture of the load I'm pulling home with the 33BB if I make it!

All bakes carefully adjusted. Surge brakes on the trailer and Vacuum boosted mechanical on the truck.

It turns out this truck has the 5.14 gears that somebody swapped into it at some point in the past!
Too bad they didn't get the right speedo drive gear to go with it.

[deuce lover]

What speedo gear tooth count do you have?

[chevy43]

From San Andreas. It's fine on the highway unloaded. On the way back - loaded heavy, I'll go through Niles Canyon, up the side road next to 680 -then through Livermore and over the Altimont pass Highway - through the Delta and into Stockton on hwy 4 then up 26 and 12 home. I plan to do it about about 9 - midnight. 280 miles round trip - it's not the first trip. My dad is gone and he has a lot of stuff I'm trying to save. I enjoy driving antique trucks. I have a big rig but it won't go up his windy road. He has a F250 with a 7.3 but it has huge rats nests all in it and i haven't had time to try and save that otherwise I might pull with it. But I like a ton and a half better anyway.

[chevy43]

I'm not sure. I wonder if it is the same as model A cars? I see that you can get different ones for model A's

[deuce lover]

Different ratios are available for your 33 truck. How accurate is your speedo? You need to pull the turtle or wipe the top to see what's embossed on it. 19,20,21,22 teeth are some examples.

[flathead48]

Sounds like a great adventure, best of luck on your trip

[Bored&Stroked]

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As long as it is mechanically sound (I'm thinking brakes) - should be an interesting trip. Best of luck, be safe and take your time!

[Model51]

Sounds like a grand adventure. Good luck.
I've attached a table from my book showing the various driveshaft gearing for the two different rear end ratios and tire sizes. I realize the table is for 1935-1939 full-floating rear axle Trucks but I figured it would give some references as the rear end ratios and tire sizes are the primary factors. The standard Ford chassis parts books are a bit thin on details in this area.

[Bob C]

The BB doesn't have a turtle. Here are some pictures of the driven gear. You can unscrew the driven gear bearing and the ratio should be stamped on the gear.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Bob C

The BB doesn't have a turtle. Here are some pictures of the driven gear. You can unscrew the driven gear bearing and the ratio should be stamped on the gear.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Model51

Sounds like a grand adventure. Good luck.
I've attached a table from my book showing the various driveshaft gearing for the two different rear end ratios and tire sizes. I realize the table is for 1935-1939 full-floating rear axle Trucks but I figured it would give some references as the rear end ratios and tire sizes are the primary factors. The standard Ford chassis parts books are a bit thin on details in this area.

[chevy43]

Hi Bob, What's a "Turtle"?? - I've never heard that one before.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

Hi Bob, What's a "Turtle"?? - I've never heard that one before.

[chevy43]

Thanks for the info Pete, Model51, Bob!

My dad traded a 1932 Chrysler Business man's coup 6cyl for this truck back around 1994. They thought they got a screaming deal and I though my dad made a mistake but then I've had a lot more fun with an old truck over the years than I would have with the Chrysler - so - thanks dad!

I hauled a fair # of loads with this truck over the last 30 years.

Here's one I wouldn't do again. 20 or more years agao I drove up to a machine shop in San Francisco and they offered me this huge Leblond lathe for cheap and then loaded it onto the BB with the bridge crane. I drove down Hwy 280 to woodside and had lunch with my dad and then over 84 over the coastal mountains and down HWY 1 to Santa Cruz. I never went above second gear going down the mountain! I never let the brakes get hot 'cause I knew that might be death.

[chevy43]

I'd like to find a king pin set for this truck on ebay. There are lots of them for '35 and up but none for '34 and down. I don't understand why.
AA- 3111 looks like it might be the part #.
Anyone know where I might get a set for the future?
I'd also like to find front spring shackles but it looks like the wouldn't be too hard to make if needed.

[chevy43]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Thanks, thanks, thanks! Your picture of the gears gave me the part # I'm looking for!

[chevy43]

Bob - is there any chance that gear is something that fits a model A car? - or is it going to be super rare?

[chevy43]

Last night I pulled out the speedo cable and oiled it and oiled the back of the old Stewart Warner speedo. Now the needle is nice and steady!

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by chevy43

Bob - is there any chance that gear is something that fits a model A car? - or is it going to be super rare?

The gears are for big trucks only and good hi speed gears are fairly hard to find. The driven gear was reproduce some years ago but don't see them any longer. The drive gear fits 1932-35 and the driven gear 1930-35. The 5.14 driven gear is BB-17271-B (was AA-17271-H).

[Model51]

Chevy43 - Try Brattons Model A parts:
https://www.brattons.com/AA-TRUCK-PARTS/products/3/
They carry some AA Truck parts some of which carry over to the 1932-34 BB Trucks.
I've found that Truck parts are out there, you just have to search a bit harder to find them and don't give up.

[Bob C]

The front shackles are the same as Model A rears.

[chevy43]

Originally Posted by Bob C

The front shackles are the same as Model A rears.

More great info! Thanks!

[Bored&Stroked]

Post some pictures on your trip . . . love the whole plan and the fact that you're far from new to trucks and Big Rigs!

[chevy43]

Will do but I'm going to travel at night - when traffic is low - timing is very important! And I'm getting fully prepared - don't need any trouble!

I have a 30 gallon side tank and whatever is under the seat 15 gal? I figure 8 mpg pulling the trailer at 55 MPH. Gas is down to 4.23 and I can't believe it but I think that's a deal after all the abuse we get in California!

Tools, coolant, oil, jacks, spare tires, lug wrenches, head lamps, safety triangles, chains, binders, straps, registrations, insurance, glasses, jacket, Hi-Lo, big pry bar, extra ignition points - etc.

[chevy43]

Back home safe. Trailer somewhere around 10,500 lbs and around 2,500 lbs on the truck. I stayed under 45MPH and off all crowded roads.

It would have been a great trip but the hitch isn't strong enough and I need to redesign it and I was worried about it so I stopped a lot to check it.

Also I think I can make the truck breaks better. I'd like to true up the drums a little and check all the linings to make sure they're clean and soft enough (high friction) material.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

Back home safe. Trailer somewhere around 10,500 lbs and around 2,500 lbs on the truck. I stayed under 45MPH and off all crowded roads.

It would have been a great trip but the hitch isn't strong enough and I need to redesign it and I was worried about it so I stopped a lot to check it.

Also I think I can make the truck breaks better. I'd like to true up the drums a little and check all the linings to make sure they're clean and soft enough (high friction) material.

[chevy43]

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I meant to say improve the truck's brakes.

[chevy43]

I wonder if you took a brand new Ford BB off the lot with 3,000 lbs on it and did a brake test - would the wheels skid on dry pavement or not?

[sugarmaker]

Chevy43
I must admit you have a pair? To haul that with your truck! Thanks for the pictures and updates! My guess you got a lot of looks!!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[chevy43]

To be honest,
I'd rather haul with something else but my dad passed and I'm trying to save stuff fast and this is the only truck that is big enough and yet small enough to go up his road at the moment.

That's A 1943 International on the back he let me drive to high school a few times after doing work of some kind to earn it. There's more cool stuff I'm trying to save.

Also the BB had deteriorated badly and I think it's better to use and enjoy something than let this happen to it!:

[chevy43]

It looked like this a couple of months ago. That's all wood rats - they are the worst and so terrible at his house!

[chevy43]

Here's the inside of the International - which I also got running after 15+ years of sitting.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

It looked like this a couple of months ago. That's all wood rats - they are the worst and so terrible at his house!

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

Here's the inside of the International - which I also got running after 15+ years of sitting.

[GB SISSON]

It's a good thing we get to have pictures with the internet. Otherwise some folks might think you were 'exaggerating a bit' on the details. Holy Freaking Cow! What a trip!.... And those damn Rats!!!!!

[chevy43]

Ran another 300 mile trip in and out of the Bay Area. This GVW was around 18,000 to 19,000 lbs. when I got to the flat area of the freeway I used that instead of back roads since it seemed to run fine and felt good at 55 MPH.

[chevy43]

I built a strong pintle hitch since the receiver hitch that was bolted on was weak and failing. I built it out of 4x7x1/2" angle iron bolted in 5 places on each side and up through the bed tie down plates.

[1952henry]

Nice cargo on trailer, an IHC USMC M-2-4 1 ton cargo truck. Is the cab original or transplant? Most were open cabs, but a few were built with the K series cab. Wasn’t unusual for a cab transplant from a K or KB IHC.

I had an IHC M-1-4 USMC frontline ambulance. That was a .5 ton. Same chassis, albeit a foot shorter and a few less spring leaves. Stout old devil. The front axle was a cast, crudely machined chunk designed to accept the same 3rd member as the Eaton derived civilian K series 1 ton rearend.

More pics please.

[1952henry]

Top pic, the late great USMC Korean War vet Shirley Laird of North Bend with his restored IHC ambulance. Other than the M-1-4 cargo, he had one of every IHC military vehicle built, he restored them himself. Bottom pic is the ambulance I pulled out of the Oregon mountains. Took it down to the frame, had it half done before I sold it to a collector in preparation to moving back to my home state. Not an easy task finding engine parts for the Green Diamond flathead six. Shirley Laird was a blessing to meet. He didn’t have the original rear door hinges, my pile did. He borrowed them to have castings made. In return, I got to raid his parts vehicles. Transmission was the same spur gear T 9 as early Fords, but where does one find guts for an obsolete transfer case, other than Shirley. Sorry for the rambling, I have a soft spot for old IHCs.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

Ran another 300 mile trip in and out of the Bay Area. This GVW was around 18,000 to 19,000 lbs. when I got to the flat area of the freeway I used that instead of back roads since it seemed to run fine and felt good at 55 MPH.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

I built a strong pintle hitch since the receiver hitch that was bolted on was weak and failing. I built it out of 4x7x1/2" angle iron bolted in 5 places on each side and up through the bed tie down plates.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 1952henry

Here goes

[chevy43]

Scroll back to see the other one I moved. This one is the open cab and the other has the closed cab retrofitted.
I've never seen the Ambulance version in person.
I have more IHC's to move.

[1952henry]

Shirley had an open cab in his bone pile. Had to rebuild part of it, due to rust, but there it was. The side floorboards were the same from closed cab to open cab, so the closed cab was of use to me. Up til late 42, they had the civilian gauge panel. After the military standardization requirement, all had the universal round gauges.

There were only 800 ambulances built. Boyertown built the knock down bodies for them. Funny story; Shirley wanted to take a few of his IHs to Hawaii to a MV show. He knew the owners of a barge company in Coos Bay. They let him drive his trucks onto the logs on the barge. He rode along to Hawaii.

[1952henry]

I had missed the open cab. Nice.

[chevy43]

Did you live in Oregon near Shirley? I remember him and liked him.

Are the two pictures of your truck or trucks? or was one Shirley's?

I love your bio line!

[1952henry]

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We lived in Grants Pass. Took a trip to the central coast. Driving north of North Bend, there appeared a sign advertising WW2 vehicle tours of the dunes and a 155 Long Tom. Had to investigate. Ended up meeting Shirley that day. I described the IHC I had spotted. He told me it was an ambulance and to get it. Made many parts runs to his place. One of the last times I got a ride in the dunes on his M60 tank. He and his buddies had just stabbed a NOS engine in it. Great guy!

Restored ambulance is Shirley’s, that’s him in the seat After he died his collection, or some of it, ended up in PA, I believe.

[chevy43]

Auction haul - Two vintage Cummins engines and some other junk.
One 401 ci J130 24 valve Cummins and one V8 470 Cummins with 4 valves per cylinder. both supposed to run well. $160 each.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

Auction haul - Two vintage Cummins engines and some other junk.
One 401 ci J130 24 valve Cummins and one V8 470 Cummins with 4 valves per cylinder. both supposed to run well. $160 each.

[corvette8n]

What kind of fuel mileage did you average on your trips?

[pistonbroke]

Speaking of the Studebaker beds. I would love to know why the stock one owner all original 36 Dodge pickup I had used the exact same bed as Studebakers. Any thoughts out there?

[chevy43]

Not very good, 8-10 mpg but I'm pulling a trailer a lot. But you saw what engine is in it? 283 V8 Chevy.

[chevy43]

Originally Posted by pistonbroke

Speaking of the Studebaker beds. I would love to know why the stock one owner all original 36 Dodge pickup I had used the exact same bed as Studebakers. Any thoughts out there?

Did you mean to ask that here? I'll take a guess. Budd manufacturing made lots of truck bodies and I'd guess that they were bought from Budd.

[sugarmaker]

Chevy43,
post 13 and 14 had a ref to the Studebaker bed.
Your doing some good work with the old Ford!
Thanks for the updates.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[chevy43]

I'm trying to improve the Ford Bendix brakes.

I cleaned them and sanded the shoes. The shoes feel quite hard to me and there is a lot of brass wire in them.

[chevy43]

I didn't see anything wrong other than broken brake springs which I replaced.

Drums are smooth and clean and within .015" larger than 14 inches so they are in great shape.

I definitely broke the glaze on the shoes and cleaned everything.

I really wonder if it is the right lining.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by chevy43

I'm trying to improve the Ford Bendix brakes.

I cleaned them and sanded the shoes. The shoes feel quite hard to me and there is a lot of brass wire in them.

[chevy43]

I like this high friction woven material - I might try it.

https://www.stillchampion.com/green-gripper.html

[corvette8n]

The brakes may say Bendix but they look more like Lockheed style to me which means they don’t self energize, I thought Ford didn’t go to self energized brakes until 1949.

[chevy43]

Originally Posted by corvette8n

The brakes may say Bendix but they look more like Lockheed style to me which means they don’t self energize, I thought Ford didn’t go to self energized brakes until 1949.

Thanks for your comment because it got me doing some research:

From this article: https://forums.aaca.org/topic/77546-...-1918-to-1942/

Bendix opened a plant in South Bend, Ind. and began the manufacture of his Bendix mechanical four-wheel brakes. Production climbed from 650,000 brakes in 1926 to 3.6 million in 1928 mostly in supplying Bendix mechanical brakes to General Motors.

In the 1920's there were two schools of thought about the mechanical vs hydraulic brakes as to what was the better brake.

Bendix argued that mechanical brakes did not have any fluids "to leak out all over the garage floor." and that they were sure, safe and reliable.

Lockheed claimed the safety of equal application of force at each wheel made hydraulic better able to control skidding. The said there were no complicated mechanical rods and cables to stretch. They claimed rust and dirt made mechanical brakes unreliable, did not last long without problems, and were dangerous and in need of constant maintenance.

[chevy43]

Malcolm Lockheed died poor about 5 miles from where I sit right now:

Malcolm Lockheed sold his brake company to Bendix in 1932 for $1,000,000 and returned to California, and, ever the optimist, began gold mining again at his Ilex mine. He lived the last twenty-nine years of his life at Mokelumne Hill, in Calaveras County, CA. eventually forced to become a welfare recipient until his death on August 13, 1958. It was a sad end for a great--if stubbornly independent--inventor and entrepreneur.

[chevy43]

I just ordered 15 feet of .54 friction coefficient woven lining and rivets 2 1/2" x 1/4"

This was the highest friction coefficient that I could find.

[chevy43]

"Malcolm Lockheed sold his brake company to Bendix in 1932 for $1,000,000"

That's $22M. in todays dollars. He had 26 years left in his life and lost it all. I wonder if he spent it all at his mine or some other bad investments?