montanafordman
Well-known member
Thanks, and there was already evidence that an original fan did its trick on the old radiator. I had a 4 blade but still went ahead and installed a new aluminum one.
Hello from a new guy in Washington
- Thread starter montanafordman
- Start date
Thanks, and there was already evidence that an original fan did its trick on the old radiator. I had a 4 blade but still went ahead and installed a new aluminum one.
Fred K-OR
Well-known member
Nice looking car with all your work. It looks like you have done well for your grandfather's car. I to have my huckster that I restored a couple years ago that belonged to my uncle George. I thus know how you feel about keeping an old car in the family.
I know you must have had many recommendations from other Model A'ers. But based on what I have found in the short time I have worked and driven Model A's, a Mitchel Overdrive sure seems to be a worthwhile addition. I know a number of the members in our club have them and they are great when you go on longer cruises. Also being you live in the Seattle area where you have many hills, it could be usefull. Also I know the "hurt" in having to invest more money in your hobby but like I do, you could remind you wife that if you did not have your A, you could be out on the golf course spending $100 or so per round.
Good luck with your project. It looks great.
I know you must have had many recommendations from other Model A'ers. But based on what I have found in the short time I have worked and driven Model A's, a Mitchel Overdrive sure seems to be a worthwhile addition. I know a number of the members in our club have them and they are great when you go on longer cruises. Also being you live in the Seattle area where you have many hills, it could be usefull. Also I know the "hurt" in having to invest more money in your hobby but like I do, you could remind you wife that if you did not have your A, you could be out on the golf course spending $100 or so per round.
Good luck with your project. It looks great.
montanafordman
Well-known member
Thanks. I would love to install a mitchell overdrive and its deffinitly on the list of wants - but I'm too limited in my budget to spring for one now. My first goal is drivability and reliability so I'd like to run it down the road for a while first. I'd hate to break myself to put another $2,000 into the car with an overdrive and then need an engine overhaul! 
Its too bad my grandpa isn't still around to chat about the car because I really had no idea what had been addressed mechanically and to what extent. In the end I've found out some has, but a lot hasn't. I ended up compromising with a high speed rear end. I can then eventually invest in a strong running engine instead and I'll almost be there. After all that then I might spring for a mitchell but I might even be happy enough with the 3.54 rear end.
Its too bad my grandpa isn't still around to chat about the car because I really had no idea what had been addressed mechanically and to what extent. In the end I've found out some has, but a lot hasn't. I ended up compromising with a high speed rear end. I can then eventually invest in a strong running engine instead and I'll almost be there. After all that then I might spring for a mitchell but I might even be happy enough with the 3.54 rear end.
modela@aol.com
Well-known member
Re: August
Montanafordman,
Your saga on your restoration bought back many a fond memory as I restored my first 30 coupe when we were expecting the birth of our daughter . My loving wife allowed me the use of the two car garage while I was rebuilding the engine. Her car was parked outside for months on end. She had to scrape frost off her windshield to go to work in the mornings and not one complaint that I can recall....
We joined a local Model A club when the coupe was finally running and started going on tours. Our daughter attended our first National MARC meet at 6 months old. Our daughter was in a baby bucket seat on my wives lap for the first months and was toured with us in this coupe until she got big enough to start kicking the gear shift lever out of gear when we were moving. That was motivation enough for me to buy a "finished" 30 tudor as a new family touring car. I was then going to go back and officially restore my coupe. As it turns out sometimes, the finished car was more cosmetic good looking then mechanically sound. So I then found myself restoring two Model A's at the same time.
This was many years ago and my grown daughter doesn't ride with us on tours to much anymore. But she grew up seeing the USA and Canada from inside of a Model A. She said it was the best experiences of her life going on these Model A trips, National Meets, and meeting all of the great Model A folk... I hope your family can carry this on with the same joy as was given to our family. Welcome to the hobby (addiction)!!!!
I'm still reeling from the money I've invested this year but my goal is to have a safe and roadworthy car that can withstand Seattle area traffic. It will all pay off and I'm starting to see the end in sight! I'm assembling my rear end on Monday and hopefully the transmission, brakes and the other odds and ends will fall into place over the next few weeks so I'll hopefully be done by labor day or shortly thereafter. We have a fall tour in september sometime that I would REALLY like to participate in. Its going to be fun to have Grandpa's Model A back on the road and driving better than it has in decades. Too bad he couldn't be here to see it but I think he'd be impressed.
To recap the items addressed:
Engine and cooling:
Radiator, water pump, distributor rebuilt, crank pulley, gaskets, less dented oil pan, rebuilt generator, rebuilt carb, exhaust and intake manifolds, muffler.
Suspension and steering:
Straightened axle, new (to me) wishbone, front spring, spring shackles, new steering sector shaft, new tie rod, new tie rod and drag link inserts, rebuilt steering arms
Brakes and wheel bearings, cast iron drums, assorted hardware
rebuilt rear end, transmission, clutch bearings and clutch disk
New electrical wiring, horn rod, light switch (previous repop was shorted out) and a new orginal horn (the one on the car was not an ahooga but a delco remy from the same era)
I sure hope my engine runs fine because I've hit just about everything else!
I can see the wisdom in people saying fix one thing and drive the car and enjoy it. I can also understand how some people get everything apart and get discouraged and loose interest. It was tough in my case to do that because one thing usually led into another. I also am a bit of a perfectionist and have a hard time letting things be. It takes some committment to keep going sometimes - and of course money. Thankfully I inherited the car so its "special" to me and I didn't have the aquisition cost but its a bit of a hardship for a guy my age with a new mortgage and starting a family. I have no regrets however and have been enjoying the hobby and look forward to cruising in my A when its done. I've met a lot of great new friends and I'm sure the wife and family will be much more on board when we can enjoy the car and drive it. I also have the satisfaction that I did most of the work myself and returned a worn and forlorn model A to a much more safe and reliable driving status.
Thats all for my marathon update for now!
Cheers! (or 73 for you ham radio guys!)
-Aaron
Montanafordman,
Your saga on your restoration bought back many a fond memory as I restored my first 30 coupe when we were expecting the birth of our daughter . My loving wife allowed me the use of the two car garage while I was rebuilding the engine. Her car was parked outside for months on end. She had to scrape frost off her windshield to go to work in the mornings and not one complaint that I can recall....
We joined a local Model A club when the coupe was finally running and started going on tours. Our daughter attended our first National MARC meet at 6 months old. Our daughter was in a baby bucket seat on my wives lap for the first months and was toured with us in this coupe until she got big enough to start kicking the gear shift lever out of gear when we were moving. That was motivation enough for me to buy a "finished" 30 tudor as a new family touring car. I was then going to go back and officially restore my coupe. As it turns out sometimes, the finished car was more cosmetic good looking then mechanically sound. So I then found myself restoring two Model A's at the same time.
This was many years ago and my grown daughter doesn't ride with us on tours to much anymore. But she grew up seeing the USA and Canada from inside of a Model A. She said it was the best experiences of her life going on these Model A trips, National Meets, and meeting all of the great Model A folk... I hope your family can carry this on with the same joy as was given to our family. Welcome to the hobby (addiction)!!!!