Recent content by brucesp

Regardless of where you buy them, get 2-flute gun taps (3-flute in larger sizes). They're also called "spiral point taps". They throw the chip in front of the tool, so there's no backing out to clear the tap. Once you have a set of these, you'll never go back to standard straight-flute taps...

Model A Ford Works, 2810 N Ainsworth, just west of Greely. (503) 282-2212. Tom did an excellent, meticulous job on my engine.

Ditto what Al said. The looks on the faces. It's an instant parade every time you go out. The looks aren't always just smiles - you get jaw drops, blank surprise, poke the person next to them, and my favorite - how fast can they get the cell phone camera out. Unwritten rule: a thumbs-up gets an...

Take a look at SuperbrightLEDs (no affiliation - just a customer). You can put together turn signals for a whole lot less than $200. LED technology has come a long way in the past couple of years. Electronic flasher modules (with or without a clicking sound and 4-way hazard feature) are a...

Hmmm. Not sure I agree with your first point. I cut threads on grade 8 bolts all the time. A new, good (USA), sharp HSS die and RapidTap produces decent results. But that is why I suggested die cutting the coarse threads instead of the fine threads. The studs are designed to be hand-threaded on...

...or get some 4" 7/16-20 grade 8 bolts, cut off the heads, and die cut the 14TPI threads on the other end. It helps to have a lathe to face and chamfer the cut end, and to hold the die square during the cut - they tend to wander if hand-held.

I have a December '27 Tudor that had a '29 drive train installed somewhere in its history. All of the original AR brackets, mounting holes, etc. are still under the chassis, and every body detail is pure early '28. I haven't lifted the body yet to check the frame number, but I met one of the...

Here's how I did it... A: Everything you did up to "smear of grease". Grease collects both dirt and shoe dust and overpowers the return springs really quick (another "don't ask me how I know"). Maybe some LPS2 on a rag, but not grease. B: Put the car on jack stands and disconnect all four...

Nobody's metioned powder coated wheels. This came up in another thread somewhere. Be sure to grind/sand off the powder coating where the lug nuts make contact (if they weren't masked in the first place). Not doing that can be dangerous. I agree with others that the threads should be lubed. It's...

Yes, end-play is adjustable for both the worm and sector gear in a 7 tooth. Mesh is not. I was just hoping someone had come up with a reasonably easy fix similar to the 2 tooth's mesh adjustment. Installing a late model steering column won't really work for me.

I have a 7 tooth, which is missing an important adjustment the 2 tooth has - gear lash. On the 2 tooth, you can adjust the distance between the worm and sector gear. On the 7 tooth, any wear that loosens that up calls for replacing the whole gear set. Anyone have a suggestion for tightening up...

I just pulled a stuck head off my Model A last week. The head removal tool is a must if it's really stuck. Then once it's off, use a cam-operated stud extractor. The vendors sell them, but you can get one at HF for $5 (yeah, I know). They tend to chew up the studs, but you'll need a new grade-8...

Despite all the discussion about hue, saturation, value, and the rest of the pro designer jargon (which is part of my day job too), you have a really decently restored Model A. If you're not going to repaint the whole car to something more traditional and authentic, then there's nothing really...

Ditto what CCWKen said... I haven't used my battery charger, nor had to add water to the battery since I put a voltage regulator on my Model A. I just get in it and drive, day or night, lights or not. The battery's always happy and charged. Did the same with my T. Best money you can spend for...

I rarely have a question that hasn't been answered in an earlier post, and I rarely have an answer someone else hasn't already posted in a thread. There's a lot of collective knowledge in a group this size. I sure wish the search facility had the normal features most do: And/Or/Not/Whole...