The Ford Barn

jimTN · 08-13-2018, 04:46 PM

I saw a cast steel Ford O1A wrench today that had a large open end wrench on one end that must have been 1 3/4", the prongs were thin, not a good 5/16" and had a box end wrench on the other end of about 3/4 or 13/16". Wrench was bent at both ends so it was C shaped. Could not tell if it was made that way or the original design One guess it was for the beg oil pan plug and maybe small plug. Anyone seen anything like this? It was cast with the raised Ford and O1A on it.

rotorwrench · 08-13-2018, 06:17 PM

If it was a Ford Wrench it would have been forged from a steel blank and a lot of them have the Ford script on there. 01A indicates 1940 passenger type with 221 engine. A lot of C shaped wrenches would have been made that way for clearance purposes. A previous owner may have done some work on it to make that shape for some reason or another. Maybe someone else can answer that question. I just don't recall a C-shaped wrench that large but I've seen them curved a bit on both ends. Some have an S-curve and some a U-curve.

A photo is worth a thousand words.

51 MERC-CT · 08-14-2018, 04:26 AM

Sounds like a caster/camber adjustment tool used on '49 and later front suspensions.

jimTN · 08-14-2018, 07:49 AM

Its the odd sizes that are different, I agree with Rotorwrench that it likely was bent the way it is.

51 MERC-CT · 08-14-2018, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimTN

Its the odd sizes that are different, I agree with Rotorwrench that it likely was bent the way it is.

What is the actual size of the open end?

rotorwrench · 08-14-2018, 09:54 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Most of the special; tools of the mid century era were made by Manzel and should have their name or number on them.

The second and third ones down in this link are the U and S curve(respectively) types I was referring too. C shaped wrenches are usually referred to as starter wrenches.
Ford tools: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-Vint...YAAOSwXSRbSWaj
Starter wrenches: https://www.harryepstein.com/index.p...-wrenches.html

deuce_roadster · 08-14-2018, 10:10 AM

I believe the open end of that wrench was for the spark plugs (and maybe modified) and was tapered on the backside to not interfere with the depression in the head and the box end fits the head nuts. There were 2 versions of that 01A wrench, the later having both ends as box. The later version was used in tool kits maybe as late as 48. At least that is my understanding. A picture would be good.

08-13-2018, 04:46 PM	#1
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Odd O1A Ford wrench I saw a cast steel Ford O1A wrench today that had a large open end wrench on one end that must have been 1 3/4", the prongs were thin, not a good 5/16" and had a box end wrench on the other end of about 3/4 or 13/16". Wrench was bent at both ends so it was C shaped. Could not tell if it was made that way or the original design One guess it was for the beg oil pan plug and maybe small plug. Anyone seen anything like this? It was cast with the raised Ford and O1A on it.

08-13-2018, 06:17 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Odd O1A Ford wrench If it was a Ford Wrench it would have been forged from a steel blank and a lot of them have the Ford script on there. 01A indicates 1940 passenger type with 221 engine. A lot of C shaped wrenches would have been made that way for clearance purposes. A previous owner may have done some work on it to make that shape for some reason or another. Maybe someone else can answer that question. I just don't recall a C-shaped wrench that large but I've seen them curved a bit on both ends. Some have an S-curve and some a U-curve. A photo is worth a thousand words.

08-14-2018, 04:26 AM	#3
51 MERC-CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Hartford, Ct Posts: 5,898	Re: Odd O1A Ford wrench Sounds like a caster/camber adjustment tool used on '49 and later front suspensions. __________________ DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES Last edited by 51 MERC-CT; 08-14-2018 at 05:48 AM.

08-14-2018, 07:49 AM	#4
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Re: Odd O1A Ford wrench Its the odd sizes that are different, I agree with Rotorwrench that it likely was bent the way it is.

08-14-2018, 09:54 AM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Odd O1A Ford wrench Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Most of the special; tools of the mid century era were made by Manzel and should have their name or number on them. The second and third ones down in this link are the U and S curve(respectively) types I was referring too. C shaped wrenches are usually referred to as starter wrenches. Ford tools: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-Vint...YAAOSwXSRbSWaj Starter wrenches: https://www.harryepstein.com/index.p...-wrenches.html

08-14-2018, 10:10 AM	#7
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Odd O1A Ford wrench I believe the open end of that wrench was for the spark plugs (and maybe modified) and was tapered on the backside to not interfere with the depression in the head and the box end fits the head nuts. There were 2 versions of that 01A wrench, the later having both ends as box. The later version was used in tool kits maybe as late as 48. At least that is my understanding. A picture would be good.