Model A Ford.... I keep threatening.....

[3930dave]

Model A Doc here... at least that was my name for decades starting when in High School I was the weekend manager for the Early Ford Store...

Only fitting since a Ford Model A is the first car I owned and bought at age 12 with money I earned...

Working at the shop proved to be a
great way to support my hobby and meet a lot of interesting people from a wide cross section as my customers ranged from truck drivers, judges, airline pilots, doctors and even did a brake job for the chief of police in my teens...

Model A's were high enough on the evolutionary scale to be able to be able to transverse the globe... club members drove the Alcan highway, coast to coast tours, around the world tours and to the tip of South America...

With 5 million made and made with quality materials such as forgings, four wheel brakes, shock absorbers, safety glass windshields, and readily available parts Model A's continue to stand the test of time...

They also tend to store well because of mechanical brakes avoid having to rebuild wheel and master cylinders from long periods of inactivity...

I've pulled a boat with mine... taken vacation trips and even towed a modern car off the Bay Bridge to the delight of many...

I'd end up being the Eh Doc , being up here .

I think I've seen one pic of your yellow one b4 ur, thanks much for the other two today as well.

I'm not surprised you have deep experience with these, given your collection..... they were design milestones in many respects.... I remember Leno talking about picking up old Ford parts from a classic supplier in New England - just goes outside his shop, brushes off some snow and comes back with a vanadium steel part. Overbuilding like that today..... an automotive engineer would get fired pdq....

Back to my blue-language day that initiated this thread.... the other comment my neighbour made today was about another customer at the shop he goes to..... he was told to just keep driving his 2018 Sprinter in Limp mode..... no emission sensors that he needs are in stock anywhere, not even Germany.

Maybe this is why we need a Mission to Mars.... is that where modern auto-parts are now stocked ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

A well maintained Model A will stop straight and sure, top speed about 65 depending on year and axle ratio.

The sweet spot for touring is about 45.

I enjoy the classic roadster with rumble seat but my basket case pickup actually gets used for Home Depot runs...

It you your a lot or bring friends a sedan might be a better fit...

The 28-29 models are not as sleek in styling and use nickle plating with 21" wheels.

The 30-31 use 19" wheels, stainless steel trim which buffs up great and have a sportier look as the bodies are more refined...

The popular engine upgrade is often referred to as a B or C engine...

Simple drop in swap but in stock form the later engines have a beefier crank with pressure lube and the C also had counter weights...

With a stouter bottom end compression increased providing a substantial HP increase over the A 40 HP.

A Police Head with high compression was available for the A giving same HP but higher compression is harder on stock crank...

A simple oil filter kit is popular for those long distance tours...

A weak spot is the original two bladed radiator fan as they tended to rust internally after about 50 years!

Also a thermostats in radiator hose for those in cold climates...

"A" Tribal Knowledge ^^^^^^^

Thank you, very much A Doc !

Rgds, D.

 

[Jstpssng]

Since Ultrarunner tuned in I"m starting to get the bug. I think that I have enough projects, but still it would be a fun toy to have. I was down in back of the family homestead where there's some old sheet metal, but it's way too far gone to be of use to anybody.

 

[Tinhack]

After I quit the corporate rat race I made a pretty good living painting or restoring Model Ts and Model As. I also restored generators and starters and made many sheet metal parts. (Hence the TinHack name.) I own a 1925 Model T Touring car. Some day, maybe, I'll get around to restoring it.

 

[3930dave]

Since Ultrarunner tuned in I"m starting to get the bug. I think that I have enough projects, but still it would be a fun toy to have. I was down in back of the family homestead where there's some old sheet metal, but it's way too far gone to be of use to anybody.

ur can be a dangerous guy to hang around with, even digitally....

..... a few glimpses of his collection is a lot like going the gym with a buddy.....

.... one who warms up doing 400# presses.....

Pretty quick, you end up thinking "Dang, I really need to step-up my game"

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

After I quit the corporate rat race I made a pretty good living painting or restoring Model Ts and Model As. I also restored generators and starters and made many sheet metal parts. (Hence the TinHack name.) I own a 1925 Model T Touring car. Some day, maybe, I'll get around to restoring it.

Shoemaker's children

We (or at least I) could always use more RoundTuIts !

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

There is a method to my obsession but as the years go by it looks less and less likely...

Would love to have that old restored barn and be able to display the vehicles through the years... along with the vintage tractors...

If I had to thin the herd the last 3 to go would be the 38 Bantam, 05 Olds and 31Dlx Model A Roadster...

The new iron would go first...

 

[fried1765]

I'd end up being hthe Eh Doc , being up here .

I think I've seen one pic of your yellow one b4 ur, thanks much for the other two today as well.

I'm not surprised you have deep experience with these, given your collection..... they were design milestones in many respects.... I remember Leno talking about picking up old Ford parts from a classic supplier in New England - just goes outside his shop, brushes off some snow and comes back with a vanadium steel part. Overbuilding like that today..... an automotive engineer would get fired pdq....

Back to my blue-language day that initiated this thread.... the other comment my neighbour made today was about another customer at the shop he goes to..... he was told to just keep driving his 2018 Sprinter in Limp mode..... no emission sensors that he needs are in stock anywhere, not even Germany.

Maybe this is why we need a Mission to Mars.... is that where modern auto-parts are now stocked ?

Rgds, D.

That "classic supplier in New England" would be Richmond Bell in Wellfleet, MA.
Just 4 miles from my house.
Richmond Bell died at age 95, on June 14th 2020.
Known to virtually everybody in the model A community.

I think his heirs still have a lot of model A parts to be sold.

 

[3930dave]

The new iron would go first...

Amen, on all you posted there......

It's not just Supply/Demand.... there's a lot more to why we are drawn to the old stuff.....

My wife's uncle sent me an email, with GM Detroit billboard ads recently, one attached.

I sent it along to a buddy of mine.... his comment came back about everything today looking the same..... I said "I'd given up the Walk Thru Parking Lot, Mentally Blank Out Badges, Then Guess Model game quite some time back......as I'm not into losing all the time.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

That "classic supplier in New England" would be Richmond Bell in Wellfleet, MA.
Just 4 miles from my house.
Richmond Bell died at age 95, on June 14th 2020.
Known to virtually everybody in the model A community.

I think his heirs still have a lot of model A parts to be sold.

Small world indeed.

Thanks for the name..... it didn't come up in the recent video, but I'm sure long before that, someone like Mr. Bell would have been a first-name reference amongst the A community.

Thanks for adding that info here, as anybody new to A's will appreciate it.

Rgds, D.