Need Topics For Tech Presentations

Bob Bidonde

Bob Bidonde

Well-known member
I prepare a PowerPoint presentation each month for my local Model "A" club meetings. From these presentations, I cherry pick slides and turn them into the tips that I often post on the Ford Barn for you to download.
Having been doing this for many years, I am running out of ideas / topics to present. So I am asking you all, "What aspects of the Model "A" would you suggest that I present?"
 
With many of us here on the East Coast battling this long stretch into nice driving weather, the annual checks for those prepping a vehicle for the season holds great value. In the haste to "get out and drive", there are items that could be overlooked, and one little mis-step could cause a delay (or worse) in your Spring driving experience. Just a thought.. kb
 
one of the most repeated topics, which you may have already shared........


Why my A wont start electrical?


Why my A wont start fuel?
 
“Tubes, Cans, and Jars.”

When you first start working on cars, you might have a grease gun and a tube of RTV, and that’s it. Once you’re 10 years into it, you’ll probably have eight types of grease, 10 kinds of sealant and epoxy, and six mason jars with unidentified liquids in them. It would be fun to do a presentation that lists common substances found in tubes, cans, and jars that come in handy when working on your model A. Particularly the more esoteric stuff like sealant for gasoline lines, lapping compound, and homebrew penetrating oil.
 
How about the process to true (or shave) an out of round tire? Maybe balancing a tire using a bubble balancer if you haven't already? No one within a 40 mile radius of where I live has the knowledge or the equipment to do either.

By the way, love your slides, they've been helpful to a newbie like me
 
One of our club Guru's taught me how to get a little more room in a pickup driver's compartment if you are blessed with some extra girth around your mid section (fat belly). There are two vertical wooden pieces behind the seat back. Unbolt both of them from their bottom, make a 1" or so spacer out of hardwood or metal, and space these two vertical wooden pieces backwards towards the truck bed (spacer between bottom of wood pieces and seat frame). This will move the bottom of the seat back backwards, and allow you an extra inch or so between your belly and the steering wheel. Did it to mine and it was well worth the 15 minutes of work. So simple and it works like magic.
 
One that has came up once or twice with us, but really has not been resolved 100% is HOW TO TOUR. We have a pretty good outline (list), and have all talked about the way we travel is somewhat disorganized at time. However, that is as far as we have gotten.
 
I have a 6 volt generator Powerpoint presentation I give to clubs in my area. It is very informative and always well received.
Steve
 
Thanks all for your suggestions. I will work on them. More to follow. I still would like to have more ideas for presentations.
 
Kurt in NJ said:
Modifications and the problems they cause needing more modifications
Click to expand...

IMO, every modification causes other issues somewhere else. One of the worst for that is the soft rear engine mounts (Flota Mota). When they are fitted, the car is "mushy" on the road. How much it is affected becomes very obvious when you go back to the solid mounts. The car feels like it is on rails afterwards.
Maybe a topic for a talk.
Another might be the absurdity of fitting a water pump with small impellor vanes to prevent over heating. DON'T get me started on that one!
 
Re Float-A-Motor engine mounts, most of the issues I have seen occur because only the rear mounts are installed. The front Float-A-Motor mount is very important and often not used!
 

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I have a couple of ideas for a presentation;

1) Steps need to de rust or clean a Gas Tank after a Car has sat for a number of years and the fuel has "varnished"..

2) Steps needed to replace broken wheel studs (removal of old and installation of new)

3) Diy arching of brake shoes

4) Modifying the Generator output by adjusting the Brushes..

5) Shock Rebuilding..

Some of these ideas might be a little ambitious, mechanically but very doable for the average DIY mechanic..
 
Bob Bidonde said:
Re Float-A-Motor engine mounts, most of the issues I have seen occur because only the rear mounts are installed. The front Float-A-Motor mount is very important and often not used!
Click to expand...

How is the front FAM mount an improvement on the stock yoke-type mount? One uses rubber pads and the other uses springs but I don't see why it would be a critical modification.
 
alexiskai said:
“Tubes, Cans, and Jars.”

When you first start working on cars, you might have a grease gun and a tube of RTV, and that’s it. Once you’re 10 years into it, you’ll probably have eight types of grease, 10 kinds of sealant and epoxy, and six mason jars with unidentified liquids in them. It would be fun to do a presentation that lists common substances found in tubes, cans, and jars that come in handy when working on your model A. Particularly the more esoteric stuff like sealant for gasoline lines, lapping compound, and homebrew penetrating oil.
Click to expand...


This is huge. While everyone has their own opinions on oil, etc I think it would be great for a club meeting to have a handful of experienced members talk about what fluids, greases, and oils they think everyone should have. Mainly so the differences are debated as well. You could do this one every other year as membership changes and people’s opinions and experiences change.

I’m debating doing my “at home nickel plating” as a tech talk in ours one month.

Good ones I’ve seen that stuck with me:
-Troubleshooting the electrical system (with a probe)
-Changing a tire (only for me to realize it’s just like changing tubeless bicycle tires and I own a bicycle wheel company and have done tens of thousands of those) [emoji1787]
-brakes. Anything with brakes. I could watch brake presentations a billion times and learn something new each time.
-carb service/rebuild
 
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