Model A project question

G

Gil Sissons

Senior Member
Looking at a A project
How much does a bare frame weigh?
And... if we were to consider juice brakes
Do you need front and rear or just front only?

Thank you
 
First of all, we need a little more information as to what you are trying to do.


As far as the brakes, you need them on all four wheels and if you are converting to hydraulic, you better find someone who is knowledgeable to help you. You can get into a real mess with brakes, both mechanical and hydraulic if you do not know what you are doing.


Chris W.
 
Thank you Chris.
The question re the bare frame.... we are just trying to figure out logistics
if we were to move a project... and the available frame is bare now.
Thinking we could haul it on a roof rack if not too heavy as we brought
the project home.
Have never installed juice brakes before.... understand your reply in we
should have juice on all four.
Appreciate the response.
 
It fits on a roof rack, that is how I took mine out to my brothers to sandblast it. I use my Mercedes 300SD with Thule roof racks. I can pick it up by standing in the middle and lifting with my legs. I would move it around one end at a time. So my guess is in the 150lb to 250lb range, I am not very strong. Two guys can easily move it.

Juice brakes are a mistake. They really do not like to sit around and take just as much work to set up initially. Mechanical brakes done right will just keep working aside from occasional adjusting. We used to own a 39 Ford- first year for juice brakes- it was a pain to keep the brakes all working. I did a survey once at a local car show which was all years all makes. Found most of the cars with juice brakes had one or more wheels likely not working. I will add I live in NJ where large temp swings and humidity are common. Dry desert areas may have different results.

The key with brakes, either type, is careful building. Good brakes are not cheap or easy to do. You MUST have shoes that fit the drums and are properly centered. This requires special tooling and you are likely much better off paying one of the shops that do brakes to set up the drums to the backing plates for you.
 
Hydraulic brakes are the way to go, for safety. If you use silicone fluid, DOT 5, they will not absorb moisture, so never cause a problem. They are easier to adjust, have more contact area, were designed for heavier cars, etc. I have been using them since 1959, had some problems early-on because regular fluid attracts moisture, and the cylinders will rust and bind.
 
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