1929 Coka-Cola Truck Restoration Questions

[Josrocket]

I have a Cokacola truck that we are sure is a AA...its been in the family since the 40s...We have 3 original motors (one still new in a crate) and tons of parts and I have so many questions....I have two titles and everyone in my family that knew anything about it is long dead...all i know is it is def. a cocacola truck. Its been sitting in our car port/garage since the 70s...We recently put rust converter on it to protect the metal and the cokacola sign came through on the door

1. What year is this thing??? I think its a 29 from looking on internet
Here is a link to my facebook which contains photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 74386bba9f

2. We are not sure of the color scheme...we can see yellow on the back cab, black on the running boards, and the frame and rims are red. We would love to see a pic of a replica or actual so we do it right.

3. We would like to find out how to read the vin number because we have two titles for it for some reason and they are very different (Family lore dictates that there may have been 2 trucks and one got hit by a train...which would also explain why we have 3 motors). Reading the vin number would help figure it out

4. My mechanic told me the motor in it should run...we changed the oil, we sent off the starter and generator to a specialist and had them reconditioned...We need a gas tank

Once some of these are answered things might go a bit smoother.

Thanks for the Info.

Thanks for any info.

[Drew Mashburn]

Joshua:

It's newer than a Model AA. It's possibly a '32 which would make it a Model BB. I'm certain that you'll get other replies that will assist you in determining what you have. You've got a good start to having a nice old, running truck.

-- Drew

[Josrocket]

can you elaborate on why us speculate that year and model...just so i know

[Drew Mashburn]

Joshua:

The raised band around the middle of the cab is different than on an AA. Your rear springs are elliptical. AA's have cantilever. AA's have runningboard splash aprons. Your truck does not. These are the things I noticed right off the bat, but there are a lot more too. I'm not real familiar with BB's which I think were only '32 models.

Get yourself a copy of the "Ford Trucks Since 1905" by James K. Wagner. Great photos, but the written material will enlighten you too.

The '32 engine was similar to the A and AA engines, but they were referred to as the "Improved Four Cylinder Engine" by Ford.

-- Drew

[Mike in Maine]

Drew is pretty much right. The Cab is a 1932 I believe. Note the picture I enclosed and the location of the hinges and the all steel top.
Mike

[Reds34]

I would also say that is a '32. Not an AA and I highly doubt that it it's a '33 or '34. Looks like a great start.

Red

[Reds34]

I would say that it was probably an express originally.

Red

[Drew Mashburn]

Joshua:

An AA's horn hangs from the driver's-side of the headlight-bar. The horn is under the hood on your truck. Your truck has a differnent firewall than an AA's. I believe your radiator shell is a '32, it's definitely not an AA's. I don't believe it's a '33 or '34 radiator shell. The cabs really changed a lot in '35. It's definitely not a '35.

-- Drew

[flatford39]

Definately a 32. I can see the fuel pump on the right side of the engine. Model A's didn't have fuel pumps as they were gravity feed. I think your gas tank might be behind the seat. I have an old picture of a 28 Coca Cola truck and they were the long running board with rear fenders like an express but it has a very large bed on the box that doesn't resemble an express bed at all. Also the Coca Cola drivers wore white shirts with black bow ties. I am not sure how I would scan it as it is kinda large but let me get creative.

[Drew Mashburn]

Joshua:

Red said he thinks your truck most likely had an express body on it. I agree with him after looking at the photos in the book which I mentioned to you. The running boards on your truck almost reach the rear tires. The only trucks that have such running boards in the book are the ones that have express bodies. I'll tell ya........that Red is a darn genius!

-- Drew

[flatford39]

Joshua:

Red said he thinks your truck most likely had an express body on it. I agree with him after looking at the photos in the book which I mentioned to you. The running boards on your truck almost reach the rear tires. The only trucks that have such running boards in the book are the ones that have express bodies. I'll tell ya........that Red is a darn genius!

-- Drew

As I said just above your post Drew, I have a picture of an AA Coca Cola truck and it has the long running boards and rear fenders but an entirely different bed. I would post it but I don't have the ability to scan it right now as it is so large. I doubt that this was an express truck. I would trust the original logo on the doors.

Tom

[Drew Mashburn]

Tom:

You're quite possibly correct and quite possibly more of a genius than Red. You're definitely smarter than I!

-- Drew

[TomH]

I think it is a 32, so it could either be an AAB early 32 or a BB later 32. The running boards look like they came with an Express body. The easiest way to tell a 32 engine is the 3 bolt water pump. The fuel tank should be under the seat. In 33, and 34 the cab is basically the same but have another belt line, so doors will interchange but be different. Also 32's don't have the panel that extends from the running boards covering the frame. There is no VIN on a 32 engine, it is on the top of the trans. adapter (bellhousing) and also on the top of the D.S. frame in the area of the firewall. I think that what you have is a pretty rare. The family history is its real value. Hotrodders love 32's so be prepared for lots of offers to buy it.
Here is an very good site with lots of info on 32 Fords.
http://idisk.mac.com/forever4/Public/index.htm
I have been working on an AAB that has been in the family since 46, and have learned quite a bit about them, however I am far from an expert. I think you have a very nice piece there. This (AA Fords) is a great site for info, and there are a few of us on here with 32's. I would be happy to share any info. I am in eastern PA.
Tom H

[Josrocket]

Those pics are close especially the interior... but the mirrors are different if you look at the pics closely it has that one that sticks up into the air, it has red reflectors on front fenders, and its a dualie....By the way it was def. a coke-a-cola truck...we have owned it since the 40s my grandfathers name is on the title for crying out loud lol...granted its falling apart.

[TomH]

Joshua,
My apologies, I didn't realize that your grandfather was the one who used it as a Coka Cola DELIVERY truck. I was thinking more on the lines of it being used by a bottler as a utility truck. Also I was thinking that if it was a delivery type truck it would have had the longer 157" frame. I would think that the wider the body the longer mirror arm needed. It is hard to see details in the 4 facebook pictures but as for the reflectors on the fenders and it being a dually, it looked like turn signals that were added at a later date, and the hubs looked like single wheel type. Detailed pictures are a big help in identification of parts. I am far from being an expert and just offered my opinion. A few things to keep in mind are that it is 78 years old and lots of things could have been changed along the way. After all the idea back in the day was to keep em running, not keep em original. Also, I have been told that due to the depression and suppliers closing up that the 32 model year had more changes within the year than any other. Also there were probably quite a few different suppliers of bodies all over the country, just as there are now. Every picture that I have seen of 32 commercial trucks show minor differences.
Anyway, best of luck to you and your truck
Tom H