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HARLEYJOE

HARLEYJOE

Member
I just bought 29 A Pickup Looks Done and Beautiful off e bay with shipping
from Texas to NJ for 18k..
I can not wait to see it and see if I made the right purchase..
I have been reading a lot on forum and thinking Mitchell Transmission
in future and electronic ignition .
But then think maybe should leave it totally stock and enjoy the little
problems that pop up and deal with it..
The trans change would be for my wife to drive it so she did not have to double
clutch .

Living in NJ I will have a wait with all the snow we have and salt on roads
before I can drive it.
But hopefully delivery will be in a few weeks and really can not wait to see it.
Joe waiting for new toy

So those of you who have made modern changes were you pleased with changes or wish you left it alone...Looking forward to this forum .
 
Hello Harley Joe and congrats on your purchase. Leave the trans alone and teach her how to do it. My harley riding Momma can do it so can yours. Only changes I want to make are in the areas of safety. Brakes, Belts, and I recently put the signal lights on.
Can't wait fer pics when you get it home. Fire it up and drive it like you stole it.
Good luck!
 
Thanks for sharing your excitement!

Try three things before you make any modifications:

1) Stock,
2) Stock, and
3) Stock.

There's a reason (actually many reasons) these cars are still around after all these years.

Adapt to the car, not vice versa.

Enjoy!!
 
When you get it, tune it up, adjust everything in accordance with specifications and you will find that nothing needs to be "upgraded". Save your money for gas.
 
I hope you thought to make sure that it had enough anti-freeze for this time of year. The one I bought from Southern California last year had plain water in it when they shipped it and it froze on the way up here. Ruined a nice "B" police head!
 
Connecticut, Florida, and Alaska responses, and we're all on the same page! Fordbarn is the closest we can come to the small-town corner garage of my adolescence ('60's) when all of the "old guys" (mostly cigar smokers) knew "everything" about Model A's!
 
I e mailed the buyer and told him to please check the anti freeze rating'
in the truck before shipping..

I thank you all who have posted and will leave it stock..

Will enjoy the truck as it was built and do the speeds that it was
meant to do..

It looks like most say stock model A will cruise 40 to 45 ..
Do any or you know what the MPG is on stock model A..

I will post pictures as soon as it arrives.

So Carl what damage was done with lack of Anti Freeze?
 
HARLEYJOE said:
I e mailed the buyer and told him to please check the anti freeze rating'
in the truck before shipping..

I thank you all who have posted and will leave it stock..

Will enjoy the truck as it was built and do the speeds that it was
meant to do..

It looks like most say stock model A will cruise 40 to 45 ..
Do any or you know what the MPG is on stock model A..

I will post pictures as soon as it arrives.

So Carl what damage was done with lack of Anti Freeze?
Click to expand...

Mine get about 18 mpg
 
I like my electronic ignition and no need to double clutch if everything is in good working order. just shift slow. I usually count to 5. example: from shifting from 1st to 2nd- push in the clutch and put it in nuetral and count 1-2-3-4-5. And then shift into 2nd. same for 3rd and down shifting. I never grind.
 
A wise man that has since passed said, "you can always make them faster, but it will always have four drum brakes. The more mods you do, the less of a Model A it becomes. Keep it stock.
 
Factory ignition properly rebuilt should last decades unless you are putting 40,000 miles a year on a car. My brothers car has been running with the same use original style points since 1970 he did put on a super high strand count ignition wire between the plates.

The Ford Fargo Service Letters on January 12, 1928 last paragraph:

In making actual demonstrations, you should not be required to offer any apologies for the car. We advertise 60 to 65 miles per hour and your will do that if it is properly handled. You have very efficient brakes, you have a wonderful pick-up, and when you give demonstrations these factors should all be brought to the attention of the prospects riding with you.


So the A was built for and advertised to run 60 MPH.

Ford was claiming as high as 30 MPG. Low to mid twenties might be more realistic.

Most cars are not rebuilt mechanically and so they can not be safely run 60 MPH.

My wife had no problems with the A. The best change you can make is a change to a lighter flywheel with the flyweight pressure plate. This will significantly reduce the clutch pressure at the pedal.

We live near Atlantic City. If you wander this way we will be happy to teach how to drive an A and run them as they were designed.
 
HARLEYJOE said:
I e mailed the buyer and told him to please check the anti freeze rating'
in the truck before shipping..

So Carl what damage was done with lack of Anti Freeze?
Click to expand...

Fortunately it only cracked the head. Sad part was that it was one of the coveted "B" police heads. I was able to get that resolved by purchasing a new Snyder head, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Just p****d me off, especially when I reminded him of the fact that it's cold in Alaska in February and he said that he would take care of it. Other than that, it has been a great truck!
 
stock aesthetically but depending on how you plan to drive your "A" the two best things you can do for touring are a high compression head & and overdrive trans
 
yes it is a closed cab truck and really caught my eye..
did not like paying shipping but I had to have it.
Thank You All for your time to respond..Joe
 
Lots of good advice here, as well as personal opinion. A lot will depend on just how much you drive it and where. If you are just going to drive it around town, and do not need to go 55+ very often, you do not need an overdrive or hc head. I also like the lightened flywheel and v-8 pressure plate....much easier to shift...double clutching is second nature to me. Sensible safety adds such as turn signals, LED and dual tail lights, seat belts, and bright headlights are also highly recommended unless you are showing the car. I would get the car, learn to drive and enjoy it, and then consider what your needs are and go from there.
 
Welcome to the Model A hobby. Remember it is your car to enjoy the way you would like. You will get the purist who thinks stock is the only way to go, and you will hear from the person who wants all the latest and greatest improvements. Join a local chapter and see how they have their cars equipped. Some will be stock some will be "improved" watch and see how they run and choose the direction you want to go. Or have more than one car...I have a bone stock Model A and one for the long distance drives!
 
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