aa-fords.com

Hello, I am a rookie Model AA owner. Just purchased my AA at an auction. The Seller/Auction Company said the truck had a 3 speed transmission which seemed to jive with what I have read for 1928 AA's. However, when reverse was not up and to the left, I figured out it was down and to the right with a lever pull, and that I had in fact a 4 speed. As the Seller (he bought truck in pieces and had a restoration shop restore it for sale, not very knowledgeable) and the auction company also called my truck a "Model A pick-up" which even I knew was wrong even before I bid, I want to confirm what I have. Is there anyway to tell if maybe my truck is newer and had a 4 speed, or is a 1928 and just had a 4 speed installed at some point, or perhaps I am wrong that the 1928 trucks only came with 3 speeds?
Secondly as I intend to drive my truck as often as possible, the first thing I need for safety is a longer mirror extension arm for the stock left side mirror, and I want to install a passenger side mirror as well to see around my stake bed. I have lots of other questions (turn signals recommended, seat belts, etc. but I will save those for later).
I have added some pictures of my truck. Any advice/help anyone can provide would be much appreciated. I am very excited to own my first antique vehicle and that it is a Ford Model AA Truck!

That truck is a real Beauty!! The 4-spd was added later(3-spd was original in '28). Check in the books for exact year by serial number(should be on the title, so you don't need to dismantle the truck down to the frame to find it). Where are you located(not displayed in your log-in "handle") Someone else can jump-in about the mirrors.

nice truck, i saw it listed in hemmings and it was at the auction at casino? very nice. what state are you in? i am in ct. hope all is well.kevin

sure looks pretty, was rather common to swap in a 4 speed in the AA's at a later date.

Very nice looking truck indeed.
Sent you a p.m.

The pictured AA may actually be a 1929 based on the location of the mirror. Does this AA have emergency brakes?

Thanks for the replies. I am located in western Rhode Island about 5 miles from the center of the CT border. Yes I have a plated emergency brake w top button release. Dr. side mirror is mounted on the window frame not in the door hinge. Talked to restorer today (Enfield Auto Restorations) in CT. And Ray said the truck was apart when they restored it 10-15 years ago (he is going to check their records) and not running when they refreshed it before the auction. Most ancillary engine components rebuilt or replaced: starter, carborator, generator, water pump, etc.. Ray said 4 speed transmission was what came w truck to him and was inspected and fine. Nothing done to rear end. Brakes reworked. Truck over heated on the 40 mile drive home from auction and I had to fill radiator. I think I was running it rich as did not know then about control on end of choke. That might have contributed to over heating. Ray said he did not think radiator was replaced. The engine SN is AA2444395, what book do I look it up in? I understand frame number can't be read with cab installed. I have not looked for transmission build date.
Saw previous post on mirrors. Nothing I have found in catelogues so far seems long enough to see around stake bed. Any recommendations on turn signals? What about LED ones that hide in front bumper? I will post inside and engine pictures tomorrow. Cheers, Carl

carlsoncg wrote:Yes I have a plated emergency brake w top button release. Dr. side mirror is mounted on the window frame not in the door hinge.

Ray said 4 speed transmission was what came w truck to him and was inspected and fine. Ray said he did not think radiator was replaced. The engine SN is AA2444395, what book do I look it up in? I understand frame number can't be read with cab installed. I have not looked for transmission build date.

Saw previous post on mirrors. Nothing I have found in catelogues so far seems long enough to see around stake bed. Any recommendations on turn signals? What about LED ones that hide in front bumper? I will post inside and engine pictures tomorrow. Cheers, Carl

The emergency brake handle would not be on the left of the steering wheel. Therefore, the rear axle would have separate emergency brake bands. A truck with separate emergency brakes would normally be a 1929.

Ford used the 4-speed transmission starting in late 1929.

Monthly engine numbers can be found at http://aafords.com/aa-information/#men. AA2444395 would be October 1928 - so, that would be an October or November 1928 AA (assuming the engine is the original).

Post a picture of the left hinge pillar showing the center hinge upward please.

I have not information on turn signals or LED's.

Thanks Neil. Emergency brake is on right side of steering wheel (you can just see it in the attached interior picture. I guess I have to assume it is a 1928 truck with an added 4 speed, or a 1929 (or later) truck with an older 1928 engine (picture attached). At this point I will assume it is the former (1928 truck). I will take picture of the left hinge pillar showing the center hinge upward and post as soon as I can.

Driving the truck this weekend to a Clam Bake, wish I had better mirrors. I will get turn signals soon (I should be able to install them). How hard is it to put seat belts in? Any articles/U-Tube videos/advice on how to do the seat belts (or install the turn signals)?

Keep on Trucking...Carl (for you youngsters that was a 1970's saying and goofy poster )

If the 4-spd trans was added to a '28, they might very well have removed the E-brake handle from the left in order to use the one on the trans. What was the given vin number on the title? Without raising the body off the frame, you're stuck with that number or the engine number, either of which may not match the frame number. At some later date, if the ownership were to be challenged, the frame number is the important one! Fortunately on my truck the frame number & title matched, but those members whose numbers didn't, had to go through a process, which varies by state, to correct the issue. This is old news to most members, but new members need to be made aware of some of the pit-falls associated with "A-A"s, or any old vehicle for that matter.

if you end up needing a new radiator, woodstock radiator in woodstock, ct is great. he will use your top and bottom tank and does great work. his name is phil, neat old yankee.if you pull off bottom hose the radiator should drain in less than 5 seconds i think? there is a formula. anyone know it for sure. if not up to snuff, it looses it's ability to overcome heating up. points and timing will also effect heating. last week my model a car started to run hot; the points had closed half way. hope this helps. nice truck.

There might be a date stamped on the gas tank lower left hand corner engine compartment.

Bob

First thing I would do if I were you on the overheating is make sure that the timing is correct. Check to see that the arm coming out of the back side of the distributor moves fully from side to side touching each side at full movement. If it does not you will need to make adjustments to that first.
Then check your points for the correct gap and finally set the timing. Lots of information out there on how to set it. The simplest and easiest way is to use the Nu-Rex timing wrench sold by the vendors. I've run across two seriously over heating A's that I cured of over heating by getting the timing set right. Sure beats a $600+ radiator replacement.
Also make sure that the radiator is just not overfilled and acting as if it is overheating. When a radiator is too full it will spit out water until it finds the level that it likes. If you are constantly putting back a quart of water after each drive this just might be the case. As long as the tubes are covered in water all is fine.
Get a cheap dial meat thermometer from the grocery store or Bed Bath and Beyond and do several checks of the water temperature. This way you will know for sure what the engine temps are.

On my 28 the Vin # is visible just in front of the cab on the top of the frame. Open the Driver side hood and take a look. I had to wire brush and scratch out the numbers to find them all. Rubbed white chalk on them then scraped it off to "high lite" the details to read the Numbers. So it is not all ways under the cab. You may just get lucky.



KVO

Turn signals are up to you as to style. One thing I did was to locate the On off On switch for the Turn signals up under the dash panel way to the left out of site. Trying to keep it looking correct. also glued the wires to the frt. signals to the bottom of the bumper brackets to keep them out of site also. Used black wire and E 6000 adhesive to hold them in place. Most people can't find them.

Also a mirror mounted higher will alow you to see over the racks. A 28 mirror mounts the highest that I know of.

Good luck.. You got a sweet looking truck.

What rear end dose it have. Worm drive or ring and pinion?

KVO