A 29 Roadster

[imtb]

I took a chance and bought this non running 1929 Model A. Body looked decent and pretty complete car. Top is complete but torn up.
Tires dry rotted and one wouldn't hold air.
Here is how it looked when dragged it home.
I bought a 6V battery and got it started but wouldn't stay running. I did test gears and moved no grinding or crunching sounds.
Well, it's a start on a good project. Planning on keeping the 4 banger and doing some mods.

 

[Chuck Dempsey]

Congrats! It looks really nice. Can you give us some background on it? Who was selling? Garage find? Looks like it's been sitting a while.

 

[imtb]

It would be a candidate to keep all orginal but I am building it how I want and can always be changed back. I Ordered a few parts. It needed exhaust and went this head style cast iron manifold. I didnt want to mess with the updraft carb and decide on the strombergh 97. I converted to 12V and installed FSI distributor. Picked up some 1935 wires and tires that hold air! I went through brakes and all new pins and adjusted brakes and stopping somewhat decent. I put on modern shocks. I made a couple laps around the neighborhood and seemed okay. I journeyed out of the neighborhood and returning to my street it died. I coasted in and would start then die. Low on fuel. run home get some gas and fired up. Gas gauge needs to be fixed. I have driven around further each time out and no issues. The 3 speed non-sync ****** is not ideal. I like the sound of the straight cut gears but non practical around town.
Pics of the progress.

 

[imtb]

It was on FB market place about hour from my house, went and looked and thought about it. I decided to give a low ball offer and haggled back and forth and worked out a deal and he delivered it to me.
I had couple A's years ago roadster pickup I built up and Phaeton with flathead v8 but neither was complete and fender less. This one look nice.
I was in Breckenridge CO a few weeks ago when they had the MACF meeting there and got drawn into the Model A vortex.

 

[Chuck Dempsey]

'The Vortex' - I like that! Good Luck.

 

[Planojc]

Looks like it found a good home. Have fun with it.

 

[imtb]

I received my Burtz engine. Going to install when I do 5 speed conversion.

 

[imtb]

I was originally going to install the T5 and the Burtz at the same time but, decide the to install the T5 first and get it working since it a fairly big job. T5 installed and really happy with the results. I went ahead and pulled old tired engine and installed the Burtz. It was a job getting engine between frame mounts but got it finally. The engine looks good and fired right up. Waiting on new rad and some other misc. parts, temp gauge.
Pics

 

[Chuck Dempsey]

Not sure where you are located (CO?), but hope you get it on the road a bit before cold weather hits. Looks great.

 

[imtb]

Burtz engine in and getting it fine-tuned. Really good running engine and with the 5 speed makes it such a fun car. Drove it to work today!

 

[imtb]

It was a nice drive to work.

 

[Bruce of MN]

Regarding the later wheels, do they need the spacer ring to have good support against the drums?

 

[Chuck Dempsey]

Yeah!

 

[imtb]

No issues with later wheels. I thought I might need a center ring spacer, but these hubs have a centering ring. I will be replacing with cast iron drums and sure about those.

I didn't want to but, I had to add small electric fuel pump because when did the long hill test the engine wanted to die with the full tank and gravity. I made it up the hill, but it would accelerate then kind of miss or fall on its face then gravity would kick in go some more and made it up. Got the fuel pump installed fits in frame rail nice and tidy and put a ballast resistor in front of fuel pump power supply and it to knocks down the psi. I can now cruise right up long hills with speed and not just drive around on flat roads.