Thread: Front fender support bracket--clearance issue on model A car

Tweet

When I built the roadster pick-up, I used repoduction pressed steel front fender supports. These are about 2" wide, formed like a c channel, with 3/4" flanges. When entering or leaving steep driveways, with front wheels turned to the max, I am experiencing tire scrub on these flanges. A friend of mine has some original Henry Ford front fender support irons for a 31 Ford, which he has offered to give me. My front fenders are off a 1928/1929 model A. Does anybody know if the original 28/29 fender support brackets are different than the original 30/31 fender support brackets?

I'm not sure. But, if your friend lives close by, it might be worth a shot just to see if they will fit up. If they don't work, I don't think it would be to hard to build your own.

If the ones you have are only 3/4" deep, there isn't much room to play with. Try smaller tires. I think the later "A" fenders and supports are different.

Originally posted by brianrupnow
Does anybody know if the original 28/29 fender support brackets are different than the original 30/31 fender support brackets?

'28 & '29 front fender supports ARE different from '30 - '31.

'28 & '29 uses a forged steel support. (round) The ones you are using are for '30 - '31.

With '28 fenders the later supports (30/31) may be pulling the fender down slightly.

Both types bolt to the same location; so it might be worth finding a pair of 28/29's, and try them before you do anything else.

Also keep in mind the original tire size was pretty narrow.

The brackets I am using are reproduction units. You can not buy the 28/29 round steel forged ones any more. The 1930 model A fords changed to the pressed steel bracket part way through 1930. What I am trying to find out is if the forged steel round Henry original units were the same for 28,29, and the first half of 30?---If so. then any round forged Henry original units should fit my 29.

Originally posted by brianrupnow
The brackets I am using are reproduction units. You can not buy the 28/29 round steel forged ones any more. The 1930 model A fords changed to the pressed steel bracket part way through 1930. What I am trying to find out is if the forged steel round Henry original units were the same for 28,29, and the first half of 30?---If so. then any round forged Henry original units should fit my 29.

YES, sorry if I didn't make that clear.
Try ebay, saw a couple of the forged supports ('28 - '29) on there the other day.

I have the same delima on my pickup bed ,round fender brackets,need new 1s and clearance issues.Heres my plan ,get 5/16 or so solid steel round,cut to size,hammer the ends on a anvil ,to make them flat for mounting bolts, shape as needed............Whats the oil and water for ?To forge it?

Brian...here is a website that references quite a few Model A dealers. THere is one close to Buffalo, NY.

http://www.fordbarn.com/modela/

Brian...don't know if this will help but here are some on eBay for the 1930 Ford.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Model...spagenameZWDVW

I just checked on a model A website, and the general opinion is that the forged steel original 1930 front fender braces do have a decidedly different contour than the 28/29 series model A Fords.

This is all very interesting since I wondered why the C-channel type fender braces I got via BeBops do not line up hole-for-hole with the stainless (dropped) headlight bar. It looks to me, just setting the bar on the fender braces which are bolted up to the frame that I would have to loosen the brackets and let them flop outward more, but the holes are only off by about 1/2" and I have heard stories about difficulties in aligning Model-A fenders and spash aprons so I figured I would just have to play around when I drill the holes in the fenders. Are you now telling me I have the repro later braces which are the wrong shape for the '29?

Don Shillady
Retired SCientist/teen rodder

Don---I found that area to be pretty "loosey-goosey" when I assembled my car. I ended up having to heat and bend the pressed steel fender brackets and redrill the holes for the headlight bar to make things fit----it is not an exact science.

Originally posted by Don Shillady
This is all very interesting since I wondered why the C-channel type fender braces I got via BeBops do not line up hole-for-hole with the stainless (dropped) headlight bar. It looks to me, just setting the bar on the fender braces which are bolted up to the frame that I would have to loosen the brackets and let them flop outward more, but the holes are only off by about 1/2" and I have heard stories about difficulties in aligning Model-A fenders and spash aprons so I figured I would just have to play around when I drill the holes in the fenders. Are you now telling me I have the repro later braces which are the wrong shape for the '29?

Don Shillady
Retired SCientist/teen rodder

YES, you need '28/'29 FORGED fender braces to have everything line up properly.

You CAN; BEND, FORCE, REDRILL and beat the hell out of the wrong ones, (later braces with early fenders) BUT you might have the same experience that started this thread. As well as the fenders looking slightly "out of place."

I offered Brian a pair on another forum because I thought they would be a problem with my M2 front end but after reading this I wonder if I'd be better making the forged fit somehow rather than trying something else.