Wisconsinjimmy
Senior Member
As a Northerner here in cold NW WI I say if you drive in the winter or anytime for that matter use the parking brake as it will not rust to the point of seizing, but cold weather should have no effect.
New Class Being Considered
- Thread starter Wisconsinjimmy
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jrelliott
Well-known member
Henry did not believe Hydraulics were good at the time the A was built and long into the 30's. Chrysler and some GM's had hydraulics' before the A came out and the Bendix Corp that made hydraulics was owned by GM. They did have problems with them in the beginning, but Henry probably did not want to pay patent rights or buy anything connected to GM. Just my opinion and reading a lot of literature on Ford Corp.
SeaSlugs
Well-known member
yea that's what i meant lol. using it wont let it freeze (unless you get water in your drums which is rather hard) but if you have water in your brake cables they can and will freeze, or be partially froze so when you jam the parking brake down they get stuck. dont ask how i know that little bit
luckily i had my propane torch nearby...
DougVieyra
Well-known member
Wisconsinjimmy - If you have not yet joined the Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA), I highly recommend that you do so. Their latest issue (Nov-Dec 2013) of their bi-monthly magazine, THE RESTORER, (page 22) has all the pertinent information about the new "Restorer's Class" of judging.
The RESTORER article lists the twelve cars/owners who were awarded in this new judging class, at the MAFCA Northwest Regional Meet at Bend, Oregon this last September. The next official MAFCA judging of this new RESTORER'S CLASS will be at the 2014 MAFCA National Convention in Puyallup, Washington.
So Jimmy, this new class IS up and running !
P.S. - The MAFCA website (mafca.com) has lots of info about the Ford Model A and the club's many events and activities - including a CLASSIFIED advertising section, VEHICLE JUDGING, and a Technical Questions section.
The RESTORER article lists the twelve cars/owners who were awarded in this new judging class, at the MAFCA Northwest Regional Meet at Bend, Oregon this last September. The next official MAFCA judging of this new RESTORER'S CLASS will be at the 2014 MAFCA National Convention in Puyallup, Washington.
So Jimmy, this new class IS up and running !
P.S. - The MAFCA website (mafca.com) has lots of info about the Ford Model A and the club's many events and activities - including a CLASSIFIED advertising section, VEHICLE JUDGING, and a Technical Questions section.
quickchange
Well-known member
One point with the new class, Now that the modified section is judged similar to the other 3 class, throw in a 5th class of which i like BUT where will the extra judges come from ?? hard enough to get them now,
Re brakes, 2 rods early on was ok, 4 rods are better, juice are better again , abs & discs better still, Thats why we don,t have 2 wheel rod brakes now on new vehicles, Im more than happy with my rod brakes on 4 wheels , & Teds floaters even made them better,
Re brakes, 2 rods early on was ok, 4 rods are better, juice are better again , abs & discs better still, Thats why we don,t have 2 wheel rod brakes now on new vehicles, Im more than happy with my rod brakes on 4 wheels , & Teds floaters even made them better,
Wisconsinjimmy
Senior Member
I am a member and will do what ever to promote the club.
Pmsqrd
Senior Member
The best mechanical brakes I have ever driven were on a low mileage, less than 25K, 1937 Tudor. The pedal was smooth and firm. The brake came on right away. The worst were on a restored 1938 Fordor. You pushed down hard and kept your fingers crossed it would eventually stop.
rons49
Senior Member
37-38 indeed had cable brakes, and since the cables ran through a outer sleeve, water could get in and freeze over night. I can appreciate the remark regarding Henry not wanting to pay royalties... consistent with Ford. Chrysler never produced a car with mechanical brakes , except the last year of Maxwell. The issue was the propensity of brake fluids to absorb water, creating crushed ice & blowing seals. By the 30s this was mostly fixed. In 1936, Hudson Chief Engineer Stuart Baits was nearly killed test driving a new 36 Hudson, when the master cylinder failed. It was the first year Hudson went to hydraulic brakes. Baits designed a reserve mechanical system that if the pedal went to less than 2 inches from the floor the parking brake would be activated automatically and every Hudson, save the Jet, built at the Conner Plant would be installed as standard equipment. In 1955 AMC built the Hudson in Kenosha and until 1962 ( AMC & Cadillac) no US company had a Dual system 'till an act of Congress in 1967. Cost, and profit was, IMO, the reason. Ron
Jimmy, there really isn't anything to stir up. My mechanical brakes will do everything your hydraulic brakes will do, ...except for leak brake fluid all over the brake shoes and the garage floor. I can stop equally as well with restored mechanicals as what your hydraulic brakes can!!
As for "utilizing" a Model-A, have you ever stopped to think about how many years Model-A's were 'utilized' in stock form before some "restorers" decided they needed to be modified to become reliable? My suggest is for you to truly 'restore' instead of 'repair' and see exactly how reliable a Model-A truly is!!
.
Brent,
Well said..... I'll take my stock "restored" brakes any day!
Larry S
tbirdtbird
BANNED
Jimmy,
it is true that mechanical brakes on an A can work very effectively. Mine do, also.
But there are many places in the linkage to get the tolerances back to what they are supposed to be in order to make that happen. There are numerous posts here, and tech articles from various websites and books that will explain to you what has to be done.
Otherwise you have way too much lost motion and they indeed will not stop very well
it is true that mechanical brakes on an A can work very effectively. Mine do, also.
But there are many places in the linkage to get the tolerances back to what they are supposed to be in order to make that happen. There are numerous posts here, and tech articles from various websites and books that will explain to you what has to be done.
Otherwise you have way too much lost motion and they indeed will not stop very well
Barber31
Well-known member
Well my stock brakes proved themselves yesterday. After many many years of sitting parked and not moving under its own power I took her for her first drive. Picture a barn find cracked/bald tires and not even a glance at the condition of the braking system we were off and switching gears. She stopped well. I was expecting no stop at all.
Roadster62
Well-known member
Would it be out of line to ask how old he is? Bob
Here's how people think these days: My son won't even ride in my Model A until I install "disc brakes."I told him the mechanical brakes would make him hit this head on the windshield. Sorry; no dice... won't even get in.
DougVieyra
Well-known member
redmodelt writes: "I was hoping to read abut the new class of judging but I guess no one really has a comment except to judge other peoples brakes."
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Red Model T - You must have missed the post by Doug Vieyra, a couple of posts up the page, which writes about the new class of judging, and says nothing about other peoples brakes.
_____________________________________
Red Model T - You must have missed the post by Doug Vieyra, a couple of posts up the page, which writes about the new class of judging, and says nothing about other peoples brakes.
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Wisconsinjimmy
Senior Member
Well from what I understand after starting this thread is there are those who are pure to the heart and those who will stray a bit from the pure side. Each of you have made a good point and I have taken note, I am all for a class that is not 100% as I like the look of the "A" but do not like the engine or transmission, I would like to put in a small four banger and automatic ****** along with fluid brakes but leave the rest of the car 100% Ford. All I ask is that you do not turn your nose up at me for doing this.
Jim in SNOWING BIG TIME CUSHING, WI
Jim in SNOWING BIG TIME CUSHING, WI
SeaSlugs
Well-known member
bah but the engine wouldn't SOUND right! gotta appreciate the old technology. automatic trans....SHAME!!!unless you have a physical condition
but ehh as long as you dont go cutting up the body/frame someone can always put the standard running gear back in so im cool with it.
Wisconsinjimmy
Senior Member
Comment noted and appreciated for the understanding, I know something about the sound of them old engines that is music to the ear. Cutting the body and frame is or should be a crime especially since so many SEMA parts are available. Well gotta go plow the snow off the driveway Winter is here.
