Re: Bumper Height

Posted by Rick Black on August 09, 1998 at 00:22:17

In Reply to: Bumper Height
posted by Don Elson on August 08, 1998 at 19:17:18

: I have the original front bumper brackets for my '31 S/W Town Sedan.The problem is the hole (on center) is 20 inches from the floor on one bracket and 19 inches on the other.What is the correct height for the front bumper?While I'm at it, what about the rear bumper height?I assumed these dimentions were listed in the Standards, but I could not find them.
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Hi Don.The following information is from the "Ford Model A Restoration Manual", a small paperback published by FoMoCo in 1955 and reproduced by Polyprints.
This book has several Ford factory drawings of different Model A body styles.Although the SW sedans aren't listed, the 1930 Tudor Sedan is, and since I have a restored 1931 Sedan, experience tells me that all the 30-31 front ends of sedans (at least) were the same.
The book has a measurement of 18 11/16 from the ground to the center of the front bumper - or where the holes are in the bumper arms. Just to get a reality check, I measured the bumper on my '31 Tudor.Once side was 18 1/4 and the other side was 18 5/8.Looks like the book is accurate.
If your car measures 19 and 20", I wonder if you have the engine and all the other mechanical items in place.If not, the lack of that weight will definitely throw the front bumper measurement off.
There was a lot of up-and-down play in my front bumper arms when I put my bumper assembly on the car, so it's possible that your 19" side could be lowered 5/16 and be right on the money. Check the 20" side bracket and make sure it's not been hit and straightened (if the brackets are off the car, put them on the ground and compare their shapes.)
Since the front bumper arms have taken a lot of abuse over the years, the chances of getting ones that fit perfectly the first time are rather slim.However, it doesn't take too much effort to get these hammered back in shape so that the front bumper sits level to the ground.Good luck.

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