New Member---'28 Model A Mods----help!

[woodiewagon46]

The CA before the numerals does indicate a Canadian car. If I was you I would purchase a copy of the Model A Judging Standards, available from the Model A Restorers Club. It's filled with facts and figures and answers just about any question you could want answered. Something does not look right with the later steering wheel on an early vehicle. All 1928 cars had a reddish brown steering wheel that was phased out in March of '29. The early wheels were splined and the '30-'31 wheel was tapered and keyed. The early, left hand emergency brake with the squeeze type grip was discontinued in June of 1928 so your car is earlier than that date. The 2 tooth steering column did not appear until February of 1929. On Canadian cars the date of manufacture was usually stamped on the left firewall until approximately September of 1928. If you give me the engine number I can give you a production date.

 

[Gary Karr]

The rear drum that you have pictured is an early '28 single brake drum and unfortunately will not fit the wheel(s) that you have pictured. As mentioned above, the edge of the wheel hub must seat completely against the drum otherwise it will most likely develop cracks around the lug holes from undue stress and poor fit.

 

[jayvee34]

Seek, and ye shall find.
Ask, and the door will be opened.

Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened unto you.
Although I do like what you said.

 

[nkaminar]

Gary Karr, The wheels look to me to be the early type, but Stevie will have to put them on the car to be sure. I could be wrong. I was wrong once before, in 1956.

 

[700rpm]

Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened unto you.
Although I do like what you said.

Thanks. I was trying to recall something my great aunt said to me about 60 years ago. Your quote is closer to what I remember. Matthew seems to have had many translators and variations on his wisdom.

 

[700rpm]

Regarding the steering wheel: Later 2 tooth steering boxes were sometimes put on early cars. The later steering boxes have a different attachment for the steering wheel. I think some red steering wheels were made to fit later boxes and it looks like there may be one in a plastic bag.

Regarding the voltage regulator: I am surprised to see it there because alternators usually have internal voltage regulators. That may explain the disconnected wire.

Regarding the wiring: Rip everything out and start over. You can buy old looking wires of different gauges and colors from https://restorationstuff.com/

I would go one step further: rip out anything that is not original and put it back to stock. Then all restoration questions can be addressed by referring to Model A Ford specs.

 

[Stevie649]

Ill mount up the wheels and see how they fit and also check the firewall for a stamped serial number.
I would like to bring it back to stock specs eventually and think a re-wire would be a good thing also.
Does anyone know of a place in Canada that sells reproduction early 1928 Model A parts? Or are most parts found on classified ads?



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[700rpm]

There are several Model A merchants who offer good repro parts. Snyders, Brattons, Mikes are three, but not all. They have web sites. These are US stores, of course. i don’t know about Canadian suppliers. Almost all repro parts come from the same manufacturers.

 

[nkaminar]

Quick Google search found this: https://www.oldcarcentre.com/catalogs/cat_modela.pdf

Canada's Largest Stocking Street Rod Shop, Vintage Ford, Chevy Parts - Classifieds, Located in Langley B.C. Canada. ... Parts Dealer For... Street Rods; Ford Model 'A'; Ford Cars 1932-72; Ford Pickups 1909-66. Square Body Pickups 1974-91; Chevy ... Print Catalogues are available for purchase: Catalogs: $5.00 each ...

Start out by buying some books.

 

[katy]

Regarding the voltage regulator: I am surprised to see it there because alternators usually have internal voltage regulators.

The external regulators were used for years before the internal regulators were developed.

 

[katy]

Does anyone know of a place in Canada that sells reproduction early 1928 Model A parts?

There's also: George Moir Antique Auto parts in Stony Plain Alberta

I would suspect that there's also 1 or more suppliers in southern Ontario

 

[dwines]

There’s Twiss in Milton and Dixie in Kitchener.
Also check out Model A Owners Club Inc. I think there are 6 Ontario chapters.

 

[Badpuppy]

There are good arguments for going with 12V and for negative ground. Consider the expense of converting everything back before you decide.

In the meantime, tape off the bare wire ends until you find out where they go and put a grommet in the firewall where the solenoid wires pass through. Unfused battery is dangerous when the insulation chafes through.

Alternators with internal regulators are GM, used as well by all their competitors, including Ford, for a lot of years.

 

[katy]

Some, maybe all, of the newer cars have the VR as part of the ECM or PCM (on-board computers)

 

[Stevie649]

Thanks for all the great information regarding this car. My focus right now is to just get it back on road and making it safe to drive (wiring, tyres). In time i would like to bring it back to stock but realize it will take time/money and like most of us those are the two things hardest to come by.


I fit the wheels on this morning. There is no gap between the hub and the drum and I have lots of threads showing.
I cant however find a stamped SN on the forward firewall.

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[springerpete]

Stevie: Check on the internet for Model A Ford Club of Canada. Hopefully there will be a club or some club members in your area who can help get you going. Bill

 

[burner31]

Welcome

Early 1928 Model A's had a particular name attached to them...but for the life of me I can't remember it now.
It's because more then a few of the early A's got some left over model T parts on them.

AR
1928 Ford Model A AR...that's what it was...finally came to me

 

[katy]

To me it looks like there is only part of the stud protruding through the wheel.

Measure how much of the stud is protruding and then measure the length of the stud. That will tell you if the inner portion of the wheel is mating up to the hub.

 

[katy]

Check on the internet for Model A Ford Club of Canada.

Bill, thanks for that. It's the first time that I heard there was a national club in Canada, and I've lived here all my life (don't ask)

 

[nkaminar]

The older style wheels are slightly dished near the outer diameter of the hub. The picture shows that the wheels have this dish so I would conclude that the wheels are the older style. If the brake drums were the newer style and the older wheels were mounted on them there would be a gap. So I think you are good to go on the wheels. This subject is covered on page 328 of the "Model A Ford Service Bulletins Complete" book (March 1929 bulletin).