Recent content by Earle

Hi, Popeye31. Your automotive credentials and Model A experience are impressive. It's obvious that you'd have no problem doing any conversion or modification on any car very successfully. But I'm still curious about what the benefits are in removing the torque tube from the Model A drive...

Hey, George, You and I must really be missing something about how this "open drive shaft conversion kit" works and the reasons for doing it. I've heard of folks talking about this conversion previously here so it must work and handle all the related load conditions properly. But I still...

Just a thought: Whenever you consider a change to an existing design, ask yourself - why was it designed this way in the first place? Henry wouldn't have incorporated the torque tube just because he enjoyed adding extra weight, expense and manufacturing complexity to the car - for no...

Nice ArmorAll job on those tires! (Did they have ArmorAll back then?!)

Eisenhower and Churchill expected up to 20,000 total Allied K.I.A's at Normandy on the first day. It turned out to be about half of that. God bless them all - including all the Vets here, "old" and "new".

How old is The Boy? Did he show a sincere interest in Model A's or other old cars? Don't give up on love. Even if it's a one-way street. We have a couple of very dear grandchildren who have begun demonstrating early teen-age "shenenagins" (to put it mildly) after being practically angels...

Hey, Mike, Welcome! And welcome to your challenging but exciting A project too! A's are tough. She'll come back to life with lots of loving care. Along with the literature recommended here, you won't find a better source of expert, very-experienced, advice for getting your new "baby"...

Thanks, Gents. Good stuff. And I'll give Ora a call. In the past he has simply said that he has matched the correct lining material for the cast iron drums per his usual brake jobs and that all Model A brakes make noise at one time or another. I'll see what he says about the hardened shiny...

Thanks, t-head! Great historic photo of the best body style of all the Model A's! And just to think that I could actually go to 600 Whitehead Rd in Trenton, NJ (right across the Delaware River from me) and stand - or park my own Roadster! - on the very spot where that gorgous Roadster once...

'Getting confused here (not hard to do) - when you guys say "composite" are you referring to the woven lining with the "metallic fibers" in it or the molded solid-looking material that's usually bonded to the shoe? And is the "soft woven" material that Juke Joint Johnny mentioned different...

50 miles round trip to the show today and no brake squealing. The only significant thing I did was to tighten the left brake operating wedge stud nut as Lindy suggested. 'Had to be it - or MOSTLY it.... I'm concerned about other possible contributors that were mentioned here as well: >...

RHD - Do you have a name and source for that gray, softer lining? And I would suppose that you have to use it on both the front and rear brakes for consistant braking friction? Thanks.

Gents, I spoke too soon. I made an assumption after checking only one (right side), and before getting to the other, operating wedge stud nut tightness. The nut on the operating wedge stud outside the left backing plate was dead loose! Not even finger tight! And it was cotter-pinned in that...

I just pulled the drums. Everything looks clean, normal and dry. Checked tightness of nuts on operating wedge studs. They were very tight, both wheels. I couldn't begin to get another cotter pin hole without breaking something from over-torqueing. The woven fabric (asbestos?) linings are...

Front brakes squeal as I'm coming to a stop. Started only a couple hundred miles ago (embarrasing in public!). It's reduced somewhat, but still there, after driving a while and the brakes get warmed up. The noise is increased while in a turn as compared to rolling straight. All new...