The Ford Barn

marty in Ohio · 11-02-2011, 09:58 PM

Here's one for you guys. My '30 Town Sedan was restored about 45 years ago. It has half inch bars welded to the frame by the front axle and ending by the rear end. The bars are held below the frame by angle iron about 3 inches long welded vertically between the beginning and end of the bars. In the middle of the bars,between the angle iron, are turnbuckles on each side. It appears that you could stiffen the frame by turning the turnbuckles. I am the fourth owner and the man I bought the car from, twenty years ago, said the original owner drove the "A" in the oil fields in West Virgina. Could these have been installed to fortify the frame?
The frame looks very sound to me and I'm considering removing these turnbuckles. They don't hurt anything but they make it hard to install an exhaust system and it's close quarters on the left side by the battery.
Anybody out there ever heard of this?

Tom Wesenberg · 11-03-2011, 02:48 AM

This was a common sight on older railroad cars for added strength, but I've never heard of it being done on a Model A. I'd remove the bars and make sure the frame has no cracks.

1931 flamingo · 11-03-2011, 08:35 AM

Depending on where you are with assembly/dis-assembly, it might be easier to get another frame.......JMO
Paul in CT

Jim Brierley · 11-03-2011, 10:13 AM

OR ... if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

marty in Ohio · 11-03-2011, 02:58 PM

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to Paul in CT. I'm not assembling or disassembling, I have had this car for twenty years and these "stiffeners" have always been there. I think I may take Jim 's advise and do nothing about them. Thanks for all the messages, guys.

11-02-2011, 09:58 PM	#1
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 806	Frame Stiffeners?? Here's one for you guys. My '30 Town Sedan was restored about 45 years ago. It has half inch bars welded to the frame by the front axle and ending by the rear end. The bars are held below the frame by angle iron about 3 inches long welded vertically between the beginning and end of the bars. In the middle of the bars,between the angle iron, are turnbuckles on each side. It appears that you could stiffen the frame by turning the turnbuckles. I am the fourth owner and the man I bought the car from, twenty years ago, said the original owner drove the "A" in the oil fields in West Virgina. Could these have been installed to fortify the frame? The frame looks very sound to me and I'm considering removing these turnbuckles. They don't hurt anything but they make it hard to install an exhaust system and it's close quarters on the left side by the battery. Anybody out there ever heard of this?

11-03-2011, 02:48 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Frame Stiffeners?? This was a common sight on older railroad cars for added strength, but I've never heard of it being done on a Model A. I'd remove the bars and make sure the frame has no cracks.

11-03-2011, 08:35 AM	#3
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Frame Stiffeners?? Depending on where you are with assembly/dis-assembly, it might be easier to get another frame.......JMO Paul in CT

11-03-2011, 10:13 AM	#4
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,251	Re: Frame Stiffeners?? OR ... if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

11-03-2011, 02:58 PM	#5
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 806	Re: Frame Stiffeners?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) to Paul in CT. I'm not assembling or disassembling, I have had this car for twenty years and these "stiffeners" have always been there. I think I may take Jim 's advise and do nothing about them. Thanks for all the messages, guys.