Newbie to Model A's looking at a '30

socalplanedoc

socalplanedoc

Senior Member
Hi guys. I'm a Newbie to Model A's looking at a '30 Fordor. Been in storage for a number of years - was owned by an enthusiast with 2 As and a 41 flatbed truck who passed away a few years ago.
The Fordor has a tiny water leak appearing around one of the heat nuts once it warms up.


ModealAHeadleak.jpg


I realise the bolt might go though a water jacket but I thought I'd ask if this is a concern or does it just need to be sealed?
The water pump shaft had about 3/16" of fore/aft movement while it was running and the radiator had some physical damage adjacent to the pump shaft like it had been bumped during pump work. light rust stains all over from radiator spills...
The car has had lots of changes, the son told me he was always trying to get more speed out of it. Modified intake, unknown down draft carb on it, electric fuel pump, alternator. Starts and runs nice though. I drove it a few miles and was suprised at how nice the brakes felt given they're mechanical.
Rare to stumble on barn finds anymore, let alone 3 vehicles.
What do ya think?
 
Head could juswt need to be re-torqued or??
Any more pictures??
As long as radiator not leaking where fins may be damaged I wouldn't be concerned (as long as it's clean), and i would repl the w/pump.

Paul in CT
 
That stud that is leaking is longer than the other short ones, because it originally held a clamp for the large cable to the distributor that has been replaced with an aftermarket small cable. It is possible the nut is feeling tight, but is not clamping down on the head tightly. I would take off that nut and put a flat washer under it to simulate the missing clamp and retighten, then see what happens.
 
I would move the spark advance rod to be OVER the ignition cable, so they don't rub on each other. Also that much end play on the water pump shaft needs to be fixed. I'll start a new thread about that.

You might need to go back and buy the other two. That 41 flatbed sounds interesting.
 
That is sure is one purdy fine car, albiet I am slightly biased. It sounds as though it was taken care of and that you may just need to do the normal tune up stuff from the car sitting.

Mike
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
I would move the spark advance rod to be OVER the ignition cable, so they don't rub on each other. Also that much end play on the water pump shaft needs to be fixed. I'll start a new thread about that.

You might need to go back and buy the other two. That 41 flatbed sounds interesting.
Click to expand...

All great advice, I'm sure I'll be going through everything eventually. I'd like to use it for backup transpo when my kids come into town and want to borrow my truck :)
Buying all three is a possibility but I have enough to do as it is, only room for one in the hanger.

Thanks everyone, you guys are awesome.
 
very nice looking car. I like the flag on back also, SEMPER FI to whoever owns the flag. have fun modelAtony lafayette,la
 
modelAtony said:
very nice looking car. I like the flag on back also, SEMPER FI to whoever owns the flag. have fun modelAtony lafayette,la
Click to expand...

The previous owner was retired military (air force I think) and often drove the car in parades. There are Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force flags on all 4 corners.
I have sons in the Army and Marine Corps so, I'll be keeping those flags on the car :)

I just found out here in California if I put a historical vehicle plate ont he car it's limited to driving in parades and club activites and such.. that bites.
 
socalplanedoc said:
...I just found out here in California if I put a historical vehicle plate ont he car it's limited to driving in parades and club activites and such.. that bites.
Click to expand...
That is one of the reasons why my truck has "collector car" plates on it rather than historical. Collector plates have no restrictions on them as far as use. When I can, mine is a daily driver -- work, store, church, etc.
 
I have had historical plates on a few of my cars for almost 20yrs. and have never been
stopped or questioned about them. It is more fun to find year of manufacture plates
and use those. I am in Northern Caif.
 
About the head nut ... if you loosen the head nut to clean up the stud threads, do not leave it un-torqued for very long without draining antifreeze or anti-freeze may leak into the oil pan! Antifreeze and babbit bearings do not mix very well!

Yes just one nut loose sometimes is a problem ... not worth the risk to leave Antifreeze in there.

Very nice car!



socalplanedoc said:
Hi guys. I'm a Newbie to Model A's looking at a '30 Fordor. Been in storage for a number of years - was owned by an enthusiast with 2 As and a 41 flatbed truck who passed away a few years ago.
The Fordor has a tiny water leak appearing around one of the heat nuts once it warms up.


ModealAHeadleak.jpg


I realise the bolt might go though a water jacket but I thought I'd ask if this is a concern or does it just need to be sealed?
The water pump shaft had about 3/16" of fore/aft movement while it was running and the radiator had some physical damage adjacent to the pump shaft like it had been bumped during pump work. light rust stains all over from radiator spills...
The car has had lots of changes, the son told me he was always trying to get more speed out of it. Modified intake, unknown down draft carb on it, electric fuel pump, alternator. Starts and runs nice though. I drove it a few miles and was suprised at how nice the brakes felt given they're mechanical.
Rare to stumble on barn finds anymore, let alone 3 vehicles.
What do ya think?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Jeff/Illinois said:
socalplanedoc---NICE!!

You'll have a lot of fun with that 'A' and welcome to the Fordbarn.

As your name suggests, you probably know your way around tools!! Feel free to post any tidbits you may discover while working on that Model A.
Click to expand...

Well, tools maybe but as for Model A's, I'm a total newbie.
I'm a mechanical engineer for a living, design medical robots. BUT, my hobby has always been aviation, particularly vintage planes and aviation history. I've restored and flown several vintage planes in my time, currently I'm flying a 1959 Bellanca Cruisemaster - it's the newest plane I've ever owned :)
Pretty rare now, less than 100 are on the books, a lot fewer are actually flying.

N8805RatFrenchValley.jpg
 
Nice car . I assume one of the modification made was to get rid of the original two blade fan . They are dangerous . If not, suggest you do a search on fans for replacement suggestions. Would also suggest you read all ( 500 + ) posts on this forum . Time well spent .
 
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