Knock on Model A's door

DRG-ler

DRG-ler

Senior Member
Hello Guys, sorry for my bad english, but I come from Germany and write with Google Translator. My school English has rusted for 20 years. :D

About my problem.

I own a 1930 Tudor, and while driving over short, hard bumps I have a thud from the vicinity of the door lock on the driver's side. The smell does not come from the door itself, but from the body! I've already removed the rear side panel, but I couldn't see anything unusual. The rear window guide and window regulator also look fine.
The shock absorbers are also firm.

The door lock in the door latch does not rattle. The door does not open anywhere, it closes cleanly. Now I'm running out of options. Does anyone else have an idea? I'm afraid that the wood of the B-pillar has come loose. How can you control something like that? The problem is only on the driver side!

Best regards from Berlin

Andy


Fordbarn.jpg
 
I had a similar problem. 2 years to track it down. The 2 screws holding the front windscreen to the body were loose and periodically loosen again.
 
Andy,

Welcome...Nice Deluxe Tudor!

OK...I am sure you did not mean this: "The smell does not come from the door itself, but from the body!". But what I think you meant to say was that "The SOUND....from the body"???

You may have to remove some upholstery panels to find out the problem. Have you taken it for a drive with the panels removed?

I like your blinkers!

Pluck

Pluck
 
Check your hinge pins they maybe to loose

Überprüfen Sie Ihre Scharnierstifte, die sich möglicherweise lösen
 
In a largely unsuccessful attempt to prevent those noises, Ford installed a rubber pad on the door sill that the door sat on and another at the top. The idea was that the door would be held between them and not move. There is also a dovetail fitting (male side on the door post and female in the door) to support the door. It is very much inferior to what we have come to expect from cars these days. The whole approach to making the body for a car has changed, largely because the old way was inadequate. I experience the same bangs and thuds when I drive my Tudor but it is all part of the experience of driving a piece of history.
I have expained before on this forum how I and my wife travel thousands of miles at a time through the Australian outback (supposed to be doing it now but the virus has prevented it). We use a Phaeton because a closed car like yours will not survive the rough roads. The doors fall off them.
My advice is do the best you car to stop the noises but don't expect a 90 years old car to be like a new one.
Oh, By THe Way, welcome to the hobby and the forum. You are at the beginning of one heck of a ride.
 
I had a similar noise when I bought my 30 tudor a few years ago. It was on the passenger side. I found that it was the body mount on the back corner had broken. I can't remember how I repaired it now but I remember all I did was take out the back seat and fixed it through that opening. I didn't do any welding I remember. I guess old age is creeping up on me.
 
I had a friend sit in the back seat with a heater hose up to his ear moving it until he had zeroed in on the sound. Not scientific but it worked.
 
A guy in our club had an elusive noise we could not find. We shook it, removed shock arms, wiggled things, etc. Finally found it was the body mount bolts loose on the drivers side on the car. Just a thought...

Good luck, I'm casing a couple of annoying rattles myself in my Town Sedan.
 
Greetings Andy! I would also check the rubber pads. One at the top of the door and one at the bottom. Also, check that the dovetail (Middle of the pillar) is not loose and check that inside the edge of the door where the doveetail meets, there should be some rubber and the little brass clip.

By the way, your English is much better than my Deutsch! I took German in high school 50 years ago, and if I am hearing German spoken, I can maybe get 5 or 10% of it. Welcome to the forum!
 
Oh WOW, so many answers. Thank you for that.


OK...I am sure you did not mean this: "The smell does not come from the door itself, but from the body!". But what I think you meant to say was that "The SOUND....from the body"???
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Yes sorry. That is why I hate translator programs! They write a lot of nonsense.
We are actually talking about noises/sounds from the body. I am not a gravedigger. :D


@ Franklin
If I stopped all rattles and knocks in my car I would think it had finally died.
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Basically, I see it that way, but this rattle is very massive. That makes you think.

@t farr

I had a similar problem. 2 years to track it down. The 2 screws holding the front windscreen to the body were loose and periodically loosen again.
Click to expand...
I have already found this error and fixed it with a rubber pad. :rolleyes:



@ Steve
You may have to remove some upholstery panels to find out the problem. Have you taken it for a drive with the panels removed?
Click to expand...

I haven't done it yet, but I'll do it.
Turn signals are made in the USA. Freshly restored and assembled four days ago. Look really good!


@ Joop
Thanks, but the doors are really tight in the frame. Hinges are great.


@ Synchro909
I experience the same bangs and thuds when I drive my Tudor but it is all part of the experience of driving a piece of history.
Click to expand...

Yes ... I would also see it if this sound came from both doors.
I checked this dovetail fitting. Slightly rubbed off but intact. I have to try driving with the door slightly open.


@ Gold Digger and Y-Blockhead

I found that it was the body mount on the back corner had broken.
Click to expand...
Finally found it was the body mount bolts loose on the drivers side on the car.
Click to expand...


My thoughts go there too and these scare me a little. How is the body attached to the frame? Can someone say that or does someone have pictures?


@ Magicbox51
I would also check the rubber pads. One at the top of the door and one at the bottom.
Click to expand...
I mean that I don't have these rubbers. But not on the passenger side either. Are these original parts that you get from Mac’s or something?
Also, check that the dovetail (Middle of the pillar) is not loose and check that inside the edge of the door where the doveetail meets, there should be some rubber and the little brass clip.
Click to expand...
I'll control, but I mean it's firm. A plastic part has broken behind the door latch cover in the B-pillar. :confused:
...I took German in high school 50 years ago...
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I studied Russian for four years at the time, I know nothing more! :D:D


@ Brad
As for the clunking noise, do you have all of your door bumpers installed?
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I do not think so. Where are these parts installed? Are there any pictures?


love the original German license plate!
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Yes, it is a historical original part here from Berlin from the 30s.:rolleyes:



Best regards from Berlin
Andy
 
Here are some quick pictures...

The rubber at the bottom of the driver's door. Probably no longer fulfills its purpose.
On the top i have not a rubber.



Gummi.jpg



Then the dovetail fitting ...


1.jpg


2.jpg


And finally the broken parts on the B-pillar.


3.jpg


4.jpg


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The last picture looks to be the original hard rubber piece used as a nailing block for the upholstery panel. There are replacement blocks made of wood but you will likely need to take the upholstery panels off to replace them. Believe me, replacing it can lead to lots of other projects. First off, the replacement blocks need to be shaped to fit. You can just see the new block in the upper left hand corner of the picture.

Among other things, I ened up taking out all the panels to add sound insulation, repairing the door panels, installing seat belts, heat insulation under floor...and it's still ongoing. Being retired and sheltering in place, it keeps the boredom away.
 

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Andy, welcome to the Barn.


<My thoughts go there too and these scare me a little. How is the body attached to the frame? Can someone say that or does someone have pictures?>


The Body is held to the frame by several bolts. I think there are 4-6 on each side of the car. There will be two up front that I know of for sure two in the middle I think and two in the back. If you go under the car you will see them coming through the top of the frame.


Mike
 
If you end up installing door bumpers, lubricate then after installation with Bees Wax, or from part of an old wax toilet bowl ring. Keeps the bumpers from squeaking. I usually carry a small piece in a zip lock bag with my on the road spares.
 
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