newbie with a barn find...

mustangbrandon

mustangbrandon

Member
Hey all! New to the Ford Barn although I've read posts for years. I'm lucky enough to score a pretty nice "barn find" (well, it was more like a shed) 1930 Tudor. (this is my first "A") Someone played with it years ago but didn't mess anything up. I'm really surprised what is all there (I really think everything, except tires) and for the most part is in really great shape. First, I hope everyone enjoys the pics. There are cups inside from the 1985 Wisconsin State Fair so it must have been on the road then.

I would really like to try and get it running. Any tips on that? It needs spark plug wires, those are gone. What should the process be? I haven't tried to turn the motor over yet.

Beyond that, the fenders are good for the most part, dented up pretty good and where they meet the running boards they are a little rusty. Left running board is shot but the right one is mint. It's a pine 2x10. :) Almost no rust anywhere else besides some surface rust underneath in some spots. A couple small pinholes in the bottom corner of driver's door.

Anyway, Long story short, I think this thing could be a driver pretty quick, but long way from a show car. Any tips would be appreciated.

Brandon
 

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You're going to have a blast with her. Before you try to turn the motor over, change the oil, pour a little engine oil down the cylinders through the spark plug holes and pull the distributor and dump a quart down there as it lubes the camshaft and the crankshaft, then try turning it with the plugs still removed. Yes you'll have to re time the engine after.
All the guys on here are great, they'll all tell you get Les Andrews Red book on model A's, change all the oils, look to join a local club as a mentor is a great thing to have. Enjoy your new toy!


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Blow off any dirt around the plugs before removing them. Spark plug straps come in soft brass or springier bronze. Best to buy the bronze ones, and I think Bert's, Bratton's, and Snyder's all carry them. They are a bit more redish than the yellow brass.

If any valves are sticking, try a can of Sea-Foam in the gas, and another can in the oil.
 
Watch out for old gas or a contaminated tank.... You don't want to pump crap into the carb and motor... Use a gravity fed auxiliary fuel supply at first.. Sometimes the inside of the existing lines can have crap in them...make sure you have spark first by manually operating the points
 
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Looks like a nice project. After adding the oil as described above and letting it sit for a couple of hours or days.. try turning it over with the crank not the starter motor until you find it to be free and turning OK.
The "plug wires" are brass strips that have a hole on one end and a slot din the other end.
The hole end is attached to the threaded end of the spark plug, the slot slips onto the distributor cap. Welcome to the Barn, if you have a model A it is the best place to be.
 
Welcome to the Barn. With the posts above you have some good advise. Just another thing is that you should check all of your fluids like in the ******, rear end, oil the dist. etc.. Like mentioned above, Les Andrews book is a good one to start with to get the info you need for some of the basic things you need to do. Also if you have a Model A club in your area, think about joining it. The members will give you help if you need it. Good luck and it looks like you have a great rig.
 
Great find, WELCOME TO THE HOBBY. You will have fun making it a driver and then who knows. Enjoy it at first before you decide to restore her. The above suggestions are great, follow them and you will be driving it soon. May I suggest you join a local club and both National Organizations, MAFCA and MARC. Also purchase the 3 mechanic books from Andrews and you will be able to repair almost anything. Don't be afraid to ask any questions in this Forum. This is a great resource.

Enjoy the great adventure of the Model A Hobby, You meet the nicest people driving the Model A.
 
burner31 said:
Wow...it sat so long that the tires evaporated!
Click to expand...

Ha! yea, there's one inside but that does not do me a lot of good :)

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've been through a few cars but this is my first Model A so I figured I'd better check with the experts before I screw something up!

Good and bad is that the trans is leaking fluid from somewhere towards the rear, but it's really clean, not all gummy. I'm hoping someone had just started to fix it up and the engine ins't junk. I am EXTREMELY surprised how clean the chassis and body are. It was pulled from long term WI storage but there's no sign of "Wisconsin" type corrosion anywhere on it. The visor was removed for transport (almost came off as it was only lightly attached). I am in no rush so I'll dump some oil in the recommended places and let it sit for a bit. As I get any substantial progress I'll post some updates...
Thanks everyone!
 
Looks like a new head gasket so maybe someone went through it for you. You have a lot to work with, I would drive it for awhile and get to know how it works. Lots of places to get tires, a local tire shop can order them sometimes and put them on for you if need be.
 
Great looking car..Did vandals steal your hub caps and tires too? Welcome.
This is the right place.
The guys on here will get your car running in no time.
Start with tires...Then buy a hand crank so that you can slowly turn the engine and lubricate cylinders with Marvel Mystery oil before you use the starter.
 
Drain the gas from the tank and lines and put fresh gas in.

Drain the crankcase of the old oil and fill it with 4 quarts of fresh oil. Do not overfill the crankcase.

Run that for an hour or so and drain it and again put new oil in it.

Drain and flush the radiator several times and fill with 50/50 antifreeze.
 
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Congratulations and Welcome!!

If I were you;

Get a Bratton's catalog as they are close to you so shipping time is real short. The catalog has pictures that the web site does not have. When you order your catalog get the Les Andrews red book at the same time. This is one of the best books for the repair and rebuilding of the Model A.

Now you can begin your lists, yes lists, you want a list on exterior, engine, transmission, brakes, interior.

I would get tire/tubes first so you roll it out of that small garage (can you say gas chamber?). Next the engine/fuel tank, and so on. If you make just one long list you may feel overwhelmed. Smaller lists will give a sense of accomplishment as you proceed to get it on the road.

One more thing, I know you have little intention to make this car anything but a driver but when you order parts try to get the ones that are listed closest to original. Nothing worse, in my opinion, then shinny chrome hardware and parts on a beautiful patinaed car such as yours.

Best of luck and I speak for all of us when I say we are standing by to assist you in any way we can. Remember a stupid question is the one NOT asked.
 
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