The Ford Barn

henry's 31 · 10-16-2016, 08:08 PM

Hi Dear Members:

Can anyone confirm if all the 30/31 headlight bar were the same?

Thanks for your help!

Ian in Mississauga · 10-16-2016, 08:40 PM

NO they are not, but I'm in Canada so maybe my info only applies to Canadian Model As. There is a bar that has a stamped steel center section. I have two friends who traded bars so they would both be correct.The stamped one was for the 31 slant windshield.

flatford39 · 10-16-2016, 08:44 PM

Kinda like what Ian just said. There is a stamped steel one out there but the thing is they all fit every 30 31 model whether they be the stamped steel or the solid bar style.

CarlG · 10-16-2016, 08:52 PM

A 28-29 headlight bar will fit a 30-31, but won't look right.

700rpm · 10-16-2016, 10:36 PM

The stamped bars are also prone to breakage. A good, unrepaired original is hard to find.

Mike V. Florida · 10-16-2016, 11:37 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Stamped bar used from May 1930 to August 1930
Forged end bar used from the introduction of the 1930 bodies through April 1930
and from September 1930 through the end of production.

jimalabam · 10-17-2016, 07:40 AM

Mike is correct, follow his direction...

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-17-2016, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlG

A 28-29 headlight bar will fit a 30-31, but won't look right.

Carl,
Is that like a face lift, GONE BAD?
Saw a '30 Coupe, with '29 Splash Shields & Fenders---"Did they fit OK"?----"Don't know, it was like that when I stole it"
Bill W.

henry's 31 · 10-17-2016, 09:29 AM

Thank you all for your help and information. As always you are very helpful.

coupe1942 · 10-17-2016, 11:56 AM

My light bar on my '30 ccpu has two holes centered from the mid point of the radiator which go through the bar itself. The two holes face forward and not downward. I am assuming that they may be there for license plate holders to be attached, but that is just an assumption on my part. They seem too far for he average license plate mounting of today. This is the bar that came on the pickup when I purchased it and I have no idea if it is original or not to the truck. Am I correct as to the purpose of those two holes or is this a light bar adapted on it from some other Model A?

I never had a front license plate on any of the previous Model A's I have owned and never remember noticing them or even checking for holes like these on my current pickup.

I saw a fellow at Chickasha carrying around a light bar with the buckets attached, but I forgot to look it over to see if it had the same holes in it.

CarlG · 10-17-2016, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlG

A 28-29 headlight bar will fit a 30-31, but won't look right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Carl,
Is that like a face lift, GONE BAD?
Bill W.

You should be able to see the difference here: The first picture is with the '29 light bar, the second one is with the '31 light bar. The earlier bar puts the head lights a couple inches higher on the truck.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-17-2016, 01:23 PM

If you have a round light bar with holes to mount the license plates, then some owner drilled them.

In the old days license plates with long numbers were often long plates with wider spaced mounting holes. That's one reason I'd like to find a 3 or 4 digit plate, rather than a 5 or 6 digit.

coupe1942 · 10-17-2016, 01:34 PM

Yes, in holding up a new stock license plate, the mounting holes are a good 1-1 1/2" further apart than the holes on the plate are.

I have a new custom license plate coming and I'll end up having to figure a way to mount it other than using these two pre-drilled holes. I want to secure it well enough that some 5 finger discount person won't just pull it off with a slight tug. Time to break out the 50 million megawatt, but only 1 amp, Miller welder, huh? The lights may soon dim in my neighborhood. It's alive! It's alive! :-)

Thanks for the info.

CarlG · 10-17-2016, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

If you have a round light bar with holes to mount the license plates, then some owner drilled them...

x2.

Doug in NJ · 10-17-2016, 01:57 PM

A few years ago I bought a nice bar at Hershey with holes exactly as you describe, and a few days later I realized that they were not original.
I filled them in (with metal, not bondo) and painted the bar, and it has been on my car ever since.

Doug

Quote:

Originally Posted by coupe1942

My light bar on my '30 ccpu has two holes centered from the mid point of the radiator which go through the bar itself. The two holes face forward and not downward. I am assuming that they may be there for license plate holders to be attached, but that is just an assumption on my part.

Bruce Lancaster · 10-17-2016, 05:34 PM

Holes would have been impractical for production, as license size varied a good deal between states. That's why stamped one had slots and the bar had the movable clamps.

10-16-2016, 08:08 PM	#1
henry's 31 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia Posts: 849	Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? Hi Dear Members: Can anyone confirm if all the 30/31 headlight bar were the same? Thanks for your help! __________________ Henry' s 31

10-16-2016, 08:40 PM	#2
Ian in Mississauga Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 136	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? NO they are not, but I'm in Canada so maybe my info only applies to Canadian Model As. There is a bar that has a stamped steel center section. I have two friends who traded bars so they would both be correct.The stamped one was for the 31 slant windshield.

10-16-2016, 08:44 PM	#3
flatford39 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NE Illinois Posts: 499	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? Kinda like what Ian just said. There is a stamped steel one out there but the thing is they all fit every 30 31 model whether they be the stamped steel or the solid bar style.

10-16-2016, 08:52 PM	#4
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? A 28-29 headlight bar will fit a 30-31, but won't look right. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

10-16-2016, 10:36 PM	#5
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? The stamped bars are also prone to breakage. A good, unrepaired original is hard to find. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

10-16-2016, 11:37 PM	#6
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Stamped bar used from May 1930 to August 1930 Forged end bar used from the introduction of the 1930 bodies through April 1930 and from September 1930 through the end of production. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

10-17-2016, 07:40 AM	#7
jimalabam Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee County Alabama Posts: 828	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? Mike is correct, follow his direction...

10-17-2016, 09:29 AM	#9
henry's 31 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia Posts: 849	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? Thank you all for your help and information. As always you are very helpful. __________________ Henry' s 31

10-17-2016, 11:56 AM	#10
coupe1942 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ada, Oklahoma Posts: 357	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? My light bar on my '30 ccpu has two holes centered from the mid point of the radiator which go through the bar itself. The two holes face forward and not downward. I am assuming that they may be there for license plate holders to be attached, but that is just an assumption on my part. They seem too far for he average license plate mounting of today. This is the bar that came on the pickup when I purchased it and I have no idea if it is original or not to the truck. Am I correct as to the purpose of those two holes or is this a light bar adapted on it from some other Model A? I never had a front license plate on any of the previous Model A's I have owned and never remember noticing them or even checking for holes like these on my current pickup. I saw a fellow at Chickasha carrying around a light bar with the buckets attached, but I forgot to look it over to see if it had the same holes in it.

10-17-2016, 01:23 PM	#12
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? If you have a round light bar with holes to mount the license plates, then some owner drilled them. In the old days license plates with long numbers were often long plates with wider spaced mounting holes. That's one reason I'd like to find a 3 or 4 digit plate, rather than a 5 or 6 digit.

10-17-2016, 01:34 PM	#13
coupe1942 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ada, Oklahoma Posts: 357	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? Yes, in holding up a new stock license plate, the mounting holes are a good 1-1 1/2" further apart than the holes on the plate are. I have a new custom license plate coming and I'll end up having to figure a way to mount it other than using these two pre-drilled holes. I want to secure it well enough that some 5 finger discount person won't just pull it off with a slight tug. Time to break out the 50 million megawatt, but only 1 amp, Miller welder, huh? The lights may soon dim in my neighborhood. It's alive! It's alive! :-) Thanks for the info.

10-17-2016, 05:34 PM	#16
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Are all 30/31 headlight bars the same? Holes would have been impractical for production, as license size varied a good deal between states. That's why stamped one had slots and the bar had the movable clamps.