Most Unreliable Model "A" Parts

The condenser due to the amount of heat its is exposed to. Then there are the current low quality ones that are out there, another story. I always have an extra under the seat.

Charlie Stephens
 
Those rubber brake and clutch pedal pads that are designed to come off when you slightly brush against them.
 
Probably very few when the car was new. Most problems now involve repro parts, we are fortunate to have reproduced parts available but there are some clunkers. Then there are the parts designed to "improve" the A, often with mixed results. YMMV :)
 
The elcheepo repro brake light switches, both the early and late types.

For the later 30-31 type pay the extra to get the good one, you won't regret it.
 
My grandfather sold them new,he said the first thing to go was the gas guage float.sometimes they were resting on the bottom when the cars came in.He said the shocks were next,or maybe the roof would leak.Those were kind of neck and neck for timing.A year and a half or so.He said the fenders would crack in a couple of years.The roads were not paved,and they would rack the cars terribly.Until about 1939 it was about 20 miles to a good road.With good float material now the floats won't sink,good seals and oils the shocks won't leak out,modern seam sealers and the edges of the roofs won't open up,and with smoother roads the fenders aren't so prone to cracking.
 
If you are talking original parts and design, I would think the short list would be found within anything that did not move from the VE27's to continued 28 and later "A" production and those mechanical and body/frame parts that saw major change during the transition to the '32 "B" design and specs.

Some items: 1/2" shaft Abel starter drive, block, flywheel housing, and banjo castings without adequate reinforcement ribs, float hinge direction on A Zeniths, wood framed bodies, . . .
 
Last edited:
Them STUPID gas valves, that don't shut off, entirely & you dump a quarter tank of gas, on the FLOOR & your Sweet Wife makes you sell your stupid car, CHEAP!
Bill Ticked
 
Most unreliable OEM parts / designs in my opinion:
Fan;
Service brakes;

Water pump;
Babbitt bearings;
Starter Bendix;
Generator cutout;
Ignition condenser;
Non-adjustable valves;
Exhaust manifold;

Distributor lower plate wire;

Cooling system;
Engine mount system;

Single wire electrical system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top