My First Flathead! 35 Standard
- Thread starter TNTim
- Start date
tubman
Well-known member
Very nice car. My first old Ford (in 1959) was also a "flatback" tudor, except mine was a '36 DeLuxe.
I agree with the rest about preserving it stock, and will go so far as to say that you should replace the carb setup with a proper Stromberg 97 and an original air cleaner.
I agree with the rest about preserving it stock, and will go so far as to say that you should replace the carb setup with a proper Stromberg 97 and an original air cleaner.
The mods that I know of are the following.
40’s hydraulic brakes (floor cut)
Coil and distributor.
59 Carb
Added water temp and oil pressure gauge.
Moved starter button from floor to dash.
Distributor switch ??
Another question. Previous owner has added a switch to provide power directly to the “-“ post of the coil. When I got the car, that wire at the distributor was disconnected. Why would you put this wire on the same side that goes to the distributor? Isn’t that bypassing the resistance in the coil?
Also has the battery been relocated from original?
40’s hydraulic brakes (floor cut)
Coil and distributor.
59 Carb
Added water temp and oil pressure gauge.
Moved starter button from floor to dash.
Distributor switch ??
Another question. Previous owner has added a switch to provide power directly to the “-“ post of the coil. When I got the car, that wire at the distributor was disconnected. Why would you put this wire on the same side that goes to the distributor? Isn’t that bypassing the resistance in the coil?
Also has the battery been relocated from original?
Attachments
I completely understand everybody’s feeling about keeping it original. I have no plans to do any extreme modifications. I’m not touching the interior or really the exterior for that matter.
What I considered was some way to slightly lower the car and maybe bolt on engine modifications.
Not doing anything major now. I want to get it running and enjoy as is for awhile.
Here is an example of a friends and the inspiration to buy one.
What I considered was some way to slightly lower the car and maybe bolt on engine modifications.
Not doing anything major now. I want to get it running and enjoy as is for awhile.
Here is an example of a friends and the inspiration to buy one.
Attachments
petehoovie
Well-known member
petehoovie
Well-known member
DavidG
Well-known member
Nice car, but beware of that hot air manifold heater, short of having a portable carbon monoxide gauge, there is no way of telling if there are no leaks internally that would permit CO to enter the passenger compartment. I'd remove it and have its integrity thoroughly checked.
Model51
Well-known member
TNTim,
Great car! Congratulations on getting a great original example.
You are very lucky to live reasonably close to ThirdGen located in McMinnville, TN. It's a small family-owned business, so be patient if you call as they get super busy.
I also suggest that purchase the 1935-1936 Ford Car book from the Early Ford V8 Club of America. It's a wealth of information and might help you figure out a few things.
I'll jump on the bandwagon of those encouraging you to keep things as original as possible. The helmet coil distributor and 6 volts iginition system works just fine as long as you go through all of the parts. I suspect that after 20 years of not running, your starting issue might be the fuel system, but just a guess.
Keep posting your progress and questions. There are lot's of folks here willing to help.
Great car! Congratulations on getting a great original example.
You are very lucky to live reasonably close to ThirdGen located in McMinnville, TN. It's a small family-owned business, so be patient if you call as they get super busy.
I also suggest that purchase the 1935-1936 Ford Car book from the Early Ford V8 Club of America. It's a wealth of information and might help you figure out a few things.
I'll jump on the bandwagon of those encouraging you to keep things as original as possible. The helmet coil distributor and 6 volts iginition system works just fine as long as you go through all of the parts. I suspect that after 20 years of not running, your starting issue might be the fuel system, but just a guess.
Keep posting your progress and questions. There are lot's of folks here willing to help.
Seth Swoboda
Well-known member
That is one hell of a nice car! That's a car you can have a lot of fun in. If it were mine, I'd already have 100 miles on it.
A few folks here got it right.
Clean the points with some emery and try starting it again.
Contact Michael Driskell at 3rd Gen in McMinnville for the distributor service. You will not regret it. He can also rebuild your fuel pump.
I'd go back to using the stock coil. Those adapters and goofy looking.
One other suggestion. I'd get rid of the modern gauges. Go back with the stock Ford Gauges. Also, find and original air cleaner. It'll make your car look even better.
Lastly, join the Early Ford V8 Club and bring the beauty to a National Meet. You'll have a blast.
Oh and drive this car!.
A few folks here got it right.
Clean the points with some emery and try starting it again.
Contact Michael Driskell at 3rd Gen in McMinnville for the distributor service. You will not regret it. He can also rebuild your fuel pump.
I'd go back to using the stock coil. Those adapters and goofy looking.
One other suggestion. I'd get rid of the modern gauges. Go back with the stock Ford Gauges. Also, find and original air cleaner. It'll make your car look even better.
Lastly, join the Early Ford V8 Club and bring the beauty to a National Meet. You'll have a blast.
Oh and drive this car!.
I’ll be contacting you for some needed items. Glad to know someone is somewhat close.
Someone help me out with that heating system. Is the black pipe on pass side just getting heat from the radiator then bringing it to passenger floor? There is a knob to left of the glove cpt that manually opens a round heater port on passenger side? It can't be all that effecient unless there is a port on driver side as well. Very nice 35 you have there! terry
Not good photos of the heater, but it seems to be a hot air system that is usually a tin cover around the exhaust manifold, and the pipe up to the radiator is just using the fan to push air thru the system. As noted by David G, they can rust out and leak exhaust in with the hot air.
Update:
I got very lucky and found a local guy Jim (JimTN). He is a super nice guy and a lifetime of knowledge. We figured out I had a weak spark going to the Distributor. Discovered the adapter on top of the distributor was not making a connection at the 6V terminal. Was able to get an original style coil from him. Cleaned up the points and installed. Immediately fired up!
Drove it around a little today and it ran great. Weeping water I think from a water pulley maybe not sure.
Turned it off and now wont start back. Checked voltage at the coil and only have 2.6 V. Possibly that resistor under the dash is going bad?
I got very lucky and found a local guy Jim (JimTN). He is a super nice guy and a lifetime of knowledge. We figured out I had a weak spark going to the Distributor. Discovered the adapter on top of the distributor was not making a connection at the 6V terminal. Was able to get an original style coil from him. Cleaned up the points and installed. Immediately fired up!
Drove it around a little today and it ran great. Weeping water I think from a water pulley maybe not sure.
Turned it off and now wont start back. Checked voltage at the coil and only have 2.6 V. Possibly that resistor under the dash is going bad?
38 coupe
Well-known member
Check voltage at each connection between the battery and the coil. The only significant drop should be through the resistor. Voltage drop through the resistor varies with engine speed, more drop when the engine is running slower, less drop when the engine is running faster and needs a hotter ignition.
38convsedan
Senior Member
Second the motion on sending distributor to Charlie in NY.
While you’re at it, I would also send him your carb and fuel pump.
He will completely rebuild them, and even run your rebuilt carb on his test engine for fine tuning. You will eliminate three areas of concern with his fine work.
He’s done these things for me—and my car runs great!
While you’re at it, I would also send him your carb and fuel pump.
He will completely rebuild them, and even run your rebuilt carb on his test engine for fine tuning. You will eliminate three areas of concern with his fine work.
He’s done these things for me—and my car runs great!