Next Steps

dekberg

dekberg

Junior Member
Good Morning All,

In trying to get my 1930 up and running after 30+ years I was wonder about the next logical step in getting it fired up. I have made sure the coolant system is good, pulled and cleaned out the oil pan, gave it a good degreasing, and am starting to test the fuel system. Should I try to fire it from there or go ahead and rebuild the distributer or carb or what? Not going to try and drive it till I drain, clean, and fill the transmission and rear end just fire the engine. Also the wiring is shot going to the lights and horn and need replaced. How do I test the horn before running a new harness? Excited about getting closer to waking up this car but don't want to make a wrong step. My dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa would haunt me for the rest of my life if I screw this up.

Thanks,
Doug
 
Did you clean out the valve chamber area? When doing that you should block the main feed holes so poop doesn't go down into them,,, pipe cleaners or such works well
 
Mitch//pa said:
Did you clean out the valve chamber area? When doing that you should block the main feed holes so poop doesn't go down into them,,, pipe cleaners or such works well
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Sorry for not know all of the correct terms for things but do you mean pulling the head and cleaning? I have turned the motor and it spins free very easy but didn't think about doing that before I turned it.
 
dekberg said:
Sorry for not know all of the correct terms for things but do you mean pulling the head and cleaning? I have turned the motor and it spins free very easy but didn't think about doing that before I turned it.
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No behind the manifolds is a valve cover gasket...remove the cover and clean out any sludge in there.. As mentioned block the main oil feed holes first
 
I wouldn't start replacing / rebuilding parts unless you know they are bad... I like your systematic approach.. To many don't check squat and cruise only to find out they have no oil in the trans / rear ...
 
Mitch//pa said:
No behind the manifolds is a valve cover gasket...remove the cover and clean out any sludge in there.. As mentioned block the main oil feed holes first
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Ok I know what and where the manifolds are. Didn't think about them much since I am replacing the exhaust manifold at some point. My grandpa was very creative with creating a heating system. Also thanks for letting me know I am at least heading in the right direction.
 
Another thing to think about is replacing the carb gasket. It might be dry enough to let fuel leak out and down the side of the carb. As long as you are in there look around and maybe blow some air through the jets to make sure they are clear. Also take a look in the tank for rust or other crud.

Mike
 
i would not start it untill you check the trans and clutch area. lots of critters like to build nests and introduce nature to the clutch area.

also the input of the trans will be spinning and id hate for the bearings/teeth to get chewed up due to no oil or get shredded from metallic debris circulating in the oil.
 
dekberg said:
Good Morning All,

In trying to get my 1930 up and running after 30+ years I was wonder about the next logical step in getting it fired up. I have made sure the coolant system is good, pulled and cleaned out the oil pan, gave it a good degreasing, and am starting to test the fuel system. Should I try to fire it from there or go ahead and rebuild the distributer or carb or what? Not going to try and drive it till I drain, clean, and fill the transmission and rear end just fire the engine. Also the wiring is shot going to the lights and horn and need replaced. How do I test the horn before running a new harness? Excited about getting closer to waking up this car but don't want to make a wrong step. My dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa would haunt me for the rest of my life if I screw this up.

Thanks,
Doug
Click to expand...

Hey Doug,
Relative to horn question: just attach a battery ,6v, if still that. It the horn is at all in working condition...it should make you jump :)

Relative to bad wiring; I would not run an A with rotten wiring. If you just want the engine to run, you can rewire car first OR run new wiring in engine area only, i.e.- bat cables, coil to dist and coil to battery. With GOOD grounds a must. Most likely more Model As burned to a crisp from using with rotten wire, than any other reason, IMO.
Pictures help here also.
 
Have you made any contacts in your area that you could learn from, or help you?
There should Be a local club you could join.
Getting some first hand advice would help you get the rig running.
I would do this before I started diving into doing too much before you learn what not to do.
Bob
 
Brentwood Bob said:
Have you made any contacts in your area that you could learn from, or help you?
There should Be a local club you could join.
Getting some first hand advice would help you get the rig running.
I would do this before I started diving into doing too much before you learn what not to do.
Bob
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Excellent advise. Someone in your local Model A club will be glad to help you.
 
Brentwood Bob said:
Have you made any contacts in your area that you could learn from, or help you?
There should Be a local club you could join.
Getting some first hand advice would help you get the rig running.
I would do this before I started diving into doing too much before you learn what not to do.
Bob
Click to expand...

I have met a few folks and have made some good contacts but the meeting times are hard for me to make with my kids schedule. They have all been very helpful with what I have started doing. I guess I don't want to continually bug them with questions and stuff and still trying to get comfortable with everything. Working on this car is still a healing process from losing my dad and not being able to ask him questions. I know when I start really digging in rebuilding things I will definitely be working with some of them. All of the cables (battery, coil, ground, etc..) will be replaced before starting just because of that reason. Thanks again for all of the help and advise.
 
Don't be surprised if the club members check up on you.
They are probably very willing to help you.
Start a journal. It is difficult after the fact to reconstruct how something came apart, what parts went where, what you did in what order. Try doing one thing at a time.
Bob
 
And pictures are excellent reference. Buy a big chip. I can't do the phone thing, and don't want to learn. So I use a separate camera.
Bob
 
Brentwood Bob said:
And pictures are excellent reference. Buy a big chip. I can't do the phone thing, and don't want to learn. So I use a separate camera.
Bob
Click to expand...
ya a picture is worth a thousand words. Take as many as you can at every conceivable angle. Even if the bolts break off or the heads have whittled thier way to metric sizes take a picture of how it all went together.

I ran into the problem of not taking enough pictures so I couldn't clearly see how it all went together.
 
Dekberg,
I KNOW how sad it is to lose your DAD & all the questions you forgot to ask him.
Those that still have a Dad, make a list of questions!
Once, Chief, my Dad, told me of making a SEMI, out of a cut off Essex Sedan, with a Model T engine & trans, with another trans behind it!!! I asked, "What did you build the fifth wheel from"?-----"WOOD"!---I wish I had asked for a DRAWING???
Bill W.
 
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