Springtime!

[sconnors]

Greetings from Stephentown NY (the only one on earth!) in upstate New York! Spring is peeking its head around the corner and it’s that time of year to pull the cover off your collector car (in my case, a 1930 Ford Model A Deluxe Coupe) and get it ready for the summer.

I acquired Garbo (the nickname for my car) late in the year last year and didn’t have a lot of time with her before tucking her away for the winter when I discovered a radiator leak. I had the radiator repaired over the winter.

I’m sure like a lot of you folks, we all have a list of things we want to do before we get rolling for the summer. Over the winter I put new rim strips, tubes, tires on and had the wheels repainted Vermillion red to match the original color scheme for a car manufactured in June 1930 (my car is now black with Vermillion wheels and Vermillion pinstripe.

I thought I would share my list of spring projects. Aside from the above my list before getting her on the road are:
• Change all fluids, grease all fittings
• Change rotor, points, plugs, coil
• Install new carburetor
• Install new two-bladed fan
• Install new wiper motor
• Install new fuel filter
• Install new group 1 6v NAPA battery (current one is old)
• Remove air filter (after reading all threads in this group)

I’m very excited to get my car out of the garage and start driving and going to shows in the nice weather. I envy folks who live in nicer climates who get to drive their cars year-round. Up here in the northeast the winters are brutal and once we turn the corner, we are all chomping at the bit.

This group is an incredible resource with knowledgeable, respectful, experienced, and fun folks who all share the same passion.
Hope to see you on the road soon.

 

[Trapdoor2]

I think driving an A in the Finger lakes region would be wonderful. I have a music rally I go to in October (in Palmyra) and just love all the back-roads in the region. One of the guys has three 1920s Franklins and since he lives in the area, he always shows up in one. I'd have to tow my A there...750mi is a tad far to drive it at the moment and it would probably take 4 days!

I bought my Coupe in November...and here in the South, if it ain't raining, I'm driving the Coupe. Just installed an HEI alternator this morning. I'm basically doing all the minor tweaks and upgrades while keeping her drivable. However, I'm running out of "easy" and will have to address stuff like worn shackles, etc., soon.

I recently installed a rebuilt Marvel Schebler carb...but it is just not working out as it is "hard starting". I'm going to swap it out for a Zenith (once I get it rebuilt) and try again. If that doesn't work, I just rebuilt the original (on the car when I bought it) Tillotson that was leaky but otherwise ran fine.

 

[sconnors]

I think driving an A in the Finger lakes region would be wonderful. I have a music rally I go to in October (in Palmyra) and just love all the back-roads in the region. One of the guys has three 1920s Franklins and since he lives in the area, he always shows up in one. I'd have to tow my A there...750mi is a tad far to drive it at the moment and it would probably take 4 days!

I bought my Coupe in November...and here in the South, if it ain't raining, I'm driving the Coupe. Just installed an HEI alternator this morning. I'm basically doing all the minor tweaks and upgrades while keeping her drivable. However, I'm running out of "easy" and will have to address stuff like worn shackles, etc., soon.

I recently installed a rebuilt Marvel Schebler carb...but it is just not working out as it is "hard starting". I'm going to swap it out for a Zenith (once I get it rebuilt) and try again. If that doesn't work, I just rebuilt the original (on the car when I bought it) Tillotson that was leaky but otherwise ran fine.

I purchased a new Tillotson from the carb shed https://carbshed.com/ great people to deal with!!! I am planning on putting the new carb on soon!

It's great to drive around in upstate NY but I'm quite aways away from the Finger Lakes region. I'm on the MA/NY border and about 45 minutes from Albany. The back country roads where I live which is way out in the country are so much fun to drive a Model A on.