The Ford Barn

MikeK · 01-23-2012, 11:45 AM

Is there any original spec for track width, the distance between the center of the left and right tire print? Is it identical front/rear or is there a slight difference? I could measure one of my A's, but I'm looking for an exact Ford spec. Anybody???

Jim Brierley · 01-23-2012, 03:11 PM

Measure a restored A, nothing has changed. Same axle, same wheels, same measurement.

MikeK · 01-23-2012, 05:21 PM

Thanks Jim, but as I stated I'm looking for exact Ford specs. My A's and several others I have measured vary over a 5/16" range.

columbiA · 01-24-2012, 11:09 PM

I would think the specs would vary a bit between cars on the front axle due to KP wear.WB adjustment,slight bend in axle etc.Myself,I am not worried about those specs at all as long as the car drives well & doesnt shimmy & shake.

MikeK · 01-25-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by columbiA

I would think the specs would vary a bit between cars on the front axle due to KP wear.WB adjustment,slight bend in axle etc.Myself,I am not worried about those specs at all as long as the car drives well & doesnt shimmy & shake.

Absolutely right! That's why I'm looking for the theoretical magic number that you would get if every part was exactly in the middle of its tolerance range. Ditto for the rear axle! The original Ford engineering must have specified some target design dimension. The search goes on. . . Next step: The MAFFI index and Benson Research in Dearborn. To me this is more like a fine-point obsession. Not a driveability issue.

Tom Wesenberg · 01-25-2012, 09:59 AM

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Ford put out a restoration booklet in the 50's that had a lot of specs. If I can find my book I'll check to see if track width is mentioned.

Bob C · 01-25-2012, 12:50 PM

In the book "Model A/AA Truck Owner" it says tread 56" there is also a diagram of a
model A chassis that shows 28" from center of chassis to center of tire.

Bob

Tom Wesenberg · 01-27-2012, 02:53 AM

Mike, I just looked in my "Model A Restoration Manual A-1" put out by Ford in 1955. Looking through the specs in the rear of the book it lists "TREAD" and simply says "STANDARD 56 inches".

On page 68 it lists the rear tire tread for the AA with duals and shows 55 1/2" center of one inside tire to the center of the other inside tire, then add 7 3/8" to the center of each outside tire. I wonder what time period this is for though, because the wheel offset did change at some point to add a little more space between the tires so they didn't rub each other when they met the pavement and spread out.

MikeK · 01-28-2012, 02:30 AM

Bob C and Tom W, thanks for the info. Exactly what I was looking for.

Cool Hand Lurker · 01-28-2012, 09:59 AM

Would this be the same as the hub/drum wheel flange to flange distance? Just curious.

Huckster Dave · 01-28-2012, 04:40 PM

Two guys come to mind with more nit picking information than any one person should know. I mean this in a complimentary way gents. Tom Wesenberg and Steve Plucker are the guys to which I refer. Just an absolute warehouse of information.

01-23-2012, 11:45 AM	#1
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Still Looking for a Track answer Is there any original spec for track width, the distance between the center of the left and right tire print? Is it identical front/rear or is there a slight difference? I could measure one of my A's, but I'm looking for an exact Ford spec. *Anybody???*

01-23-2012, 03:11 PM	#2
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,087	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer Measure a restored A, nothing has changed. Same axle, same wheels, same measurement.

01-23-2012, 05:21 PM	#3
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer Thanks Jim, but as I stated I'm looking for exact Ford specs. My A's and several others I have measured vary over a 5/16" range.

01-24-2012, 11:09 PM	#4
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer I would think the specs would vary a bit between cars on the front axle due to KP wear.WB adjustment,slight bend in axle etc.Myself,I am not worried about those specs at all as long as the car drives well & doesnt shimmy & shake.

01-25-2012, 09:59 AM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ford put out a restoration booklet in the 50's that had a lot of specs. If I can find my book I'll check to see if track width is mentioned. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 01-25-2012 at 01:24 PM.

01-25-2012, 12:50 PM	#7
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,749	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer In the book "Model A/AA Truck Owner" it says tread 56" there is also a diagram of a model A chassis that shows 28" from center of chassis to center of tire. Bob

01-27-2012, 02:53 AM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer Mike, I just looked in my "Model A Restoration Manual A-1" put out by Ford in 1955. Looking through the specs in the rear of the book it lists "TREAD" and simply says "STANDARD 56 inches". On page 68 it lists the rear tire tread for the AA with duals and shows 55 1/2" center of one inside tire to the center of the other inside tire, then add 7 3/8" to the center of each outside tire. I wonder what time period this is for though, because the wheel offset did change at some point to add a little more space between the tires so they didn't rub each other when they met the pavement and spread out.

01-28-2012, 02:30 AM	#9
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer Bob C and Tom W, thanks for the info. Exactly what I was looking for.

01-28-2012, 09:59 AM	#10
Cool Hand Lurker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Minn Posts: 1,565	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer Would this be the same as the hub/drum wheel flange to flange distance? Just curious.

01-28-2012, 04:40 PM	#11
Huckster Dave Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ronan, Montana Posts: 158	Re: Still Looking for a Track answer Two guys come to mind with more nit picking information than any one person should know. I mean this in a complimentary way gents. Tom Wesenberg and Steve Plucker are the guys to which I refer. Just an absolute warehouse of information.