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I have heard that some folks play down the value of paddle seals used in the repair kits for vacuum wipers. Is this something that originated years ago? The same material is being used today for the kit seals, I'm told. Any info appreciated.

I am rebuilding my TR-01A vacuum wiper for my Deluxe Roadster. I am looking for another 3" shaft that runs through the upper portion of the paddle. I haven't been able to locate a non-working motor from which I could remove the shaft and possibly use it. The parts vendors obviously don't...

What is the latest assessment of the type of lubricant to use for the rear fitting? Bratton's advertises a low-temp grease, which presumably will dissolve if it makes it to the radiator, while Snyder's advertises a high-temp grease. And, for the rear shackles, I suppose that there is no way to...

I have a friend up in Mass. that does admirable machine work and restorations for Model A's and T's. I have known him for several years and have seen his shop and his work. He recently was asked to refurbish the interior of a T. He ordered the material from Classtique. They sent him...

My accelerator control assembly is essentially inoperative. When I pull the gas rod down at the steering column, increased rpms do not kick in until the lever is almost all the way down. I have attached a photo from the right side of the engine compartment. You can see the gray exhaust...

There is a 1994 written procedure for overhauling the oval speedo. I would like to take a stab at overhauling the '30-'31 Round speedo, which is supposedly not quite as complicated. Do you know of anyone who has done a write-up on the '30-'31? (Or, who would like to talk me out of it, because...

I have ten of the repro Champion 3X plugs with the flat top on the number "3." These should have an upper and lower copper seal in the interior, which in this case are quite worn. Are these seals even available commercially, or do the seals provide little value in the firing of the plugs?

Do synthetic oils in the Model "A" add much from a lubrication perspective, or are the standard motor oils equally as effective? I have been restoring a '68 bug for my daughter, and the respondents there say to avoid the synthetics (bug engines are air-cooled). These folks have worked in VW...

A friend called to tell me of an engine block that came out of a '31 Roadster with the number 260WA stamped on the block. Would Ford have sold this to a farm tractor dealer, for example, for resale? If it is indeed a '31 block, would it qualify for judging as a '31?

A friend has been restoring a T fire engine, which he has converted to an A frame and block. I assisted in the conversion of the wiring. Started up and ran like a charm. Because of the electrical power demands that he has since added, he has installed a Powermaster alternator and a 12 volt...

I have two original float valves that have performed well in my Zenith carb over the last few years. Recently, one of them appears to be failing to close fully when the engine is shut down, allowing gasoline to leak from the carb. When I blow into the top of the valve with the valve open, the...

I need to test the capacitors in my HP printer/scanner. Because there are about ten of same, I would prefer not de-solder each one and then test. However, to test them in circuit, I believe that I need an ESR meter. Fluke, for example, sells them, but their meter prices are in the hundreds of...

I am restoring an early Sparton horn (late 1927-early 1928; flat screen; no stampings on the projector nor motor housing flanges). The motor cover did not have SPARTON in raised letters until after March 1928. Does anyone know of folks who may sell such covers? I have tried to reach Bill...

Les Andrews' Mechaniccs Handbook says that each of the field coils consists of 20-guage insulated copper with 48 turns, or windings. The horn that I have disassembled has maybe five turns on each side, but the armature does spin. From appearance, it had to have been wound many, many decades...

I recently purchased one of Bill Stipe's Model "B" cams for my '31 Roadster. I was already running with an older "B" cam (from Bratton's, I believe). Lo and behold, the cam will not fit onto the distributor shaft. The shaft is knurled at the upper end, which I believe is standard. It is a...

Are seat belts with a should strap even possible to install in the rumble seat area? If so, has anyone written up this procedure for the "A?" I couldn't find anything in the archives.

I note that the Bratton's catalog carries the Sept. '30 to EOP running board with a stainless steel moulding. For some reason, I believe that the trim was originally zinc. In fact, I purchased the zinc trim from Bratton's about twelve years or so ago. The zinc finish deteriorates badly over...

A couple of months ago I posted a question about a generator armature that suffered water flooding. Where there was supposed to be no continuity contained lots of continuity. But, after two months, a few oven treatments and periodic containment in white rice, the armature has returned to...

I completed a ground-up restoration of my '31 Model "A" Roadster here in NJ several years ago. Since I reside in Texas, I have decided to part with both my compressor and Skat Blast cabinet, which I had purchased for the undertaking. As you will note in the summary below, both have received...

I completed a ground-up restoration of my '31 Model "A" Roadster here in NJ several years ago. Since I reside in Texas, I have decided to part with both my compressor and Skat Blast cabinet, which I had purchased for the undertaking. As you will note in the summary below, both have received...