Stiff, noisy, uncomfortable ride

1

1967 Ford

Member
I have a stock very good condition driver quality 29 A. It is my first pre-1930 car. I also have a somewhat nicer stock 1937 Chevrolet that I recently brought back from a 10 year slumber. The ride, power, & overall smoothness of the Chevy beats the A hands down. Neither the Ford nor Chevy are modified in anyway.
I did not think that 8 years could make that much difference. Is it just me or are 1920's cars that far behind the 1930's?
Is it possible to get an A to ride as well as a somewhat newer car while adhering to originality?

My A has new tires and a new exhaust system from Bert's but I am thinking the springs and shocks could stand replacing, & maybe that would close the gap somewhat.

Also my 1949 Cadillac beats the 1929 Ford in every way for comfort, power and smoothness....what's up with that? (OK, that's a joke......not exactly apples to apples...)
 
My seat does a fair job of shock absorption:rolleyes: What you described does sounds like a Model A:o


I need an air adjustable seat in WV

dusty
 
Do your shocks function. My pickup was rough until I found that 2 of the shocks were frozen in place. Did you grease your shackles? Check your front and rear springs for rust. There is some spray stuff(I forget the name) the you can jack the car by the frame to spread the springs and spray on the working surface of each spring. Then drive your car 100, 000 happy miles. You will find you will grow to love the ride. A test of a proper ride is if you have to stop and pee once an hour, it is riding perfectly.
 
My stock model A has a nice ride for a 1930 medium priced car ,but my friends 38 ford tudor is way better - you have to compair oranges to oranges :confused:
 
If your springs haven't been taken apart and cleaned and greased, then you won't know how much better the ride can be.

From 1929 to 1937 all cars gained weight and made big strides in comfort, and smoothness of ride.
 
Plus one on Tom's comments on greasing the springs. But also one should look to the "dampener" part of the Model A suspension. Others have commented on looking after the shocks and linkages - and shocks are wont to freeze up - or worse give up altogether.

It's a system - and the two parts work together.

Friction shocks or friction springs are an answer too - but they're a passing grade only answer.

AND look to a late 1930s ford and Henry put what he learned on the Model A on steroids. Spring lengths became longer, geometry became better.

Joe K
 
My 1933 Chevy coupe had a much better ride than my Model A. The Model A was not designed for state of the art performance and comfort. Rather it was designed for low cost\performance and durability.

Marc
 
That's normal for the Model A, My daughter followed my wife and I and said at times we looked like a couple of bobble head dolls thru the rear window. Most back roads here in WV. are crooked and hilly. But that's the fun part about driving the Model A.
 
Have you disconnected the shocks and evaluated if they are empty, giving no damper, frozen, making you feel every bump, or in other was non functioning.

I had a new Model A owner make a similar comment. When I checked, he had no shocks at all. This is a common error, people see a car that has great paint, nice interior, and missing shocks, engine pans, leaking water pumps, and a distributer that you can move 40 degrees back and forth.

Remember this was a time of huge growth. During the time of the Model A there was less than a thousand miles of paved road in the entire U.S.

Tell me, is your computer, or better yet your phone from 10 years ago similar to your current equipment ? Huge changes.

Another consideration that the comparison between a 29 Ford at $350, compared to your car that was more than twice the cost. The Ford was meant to be basic transportation for the lowest price, and built by a man who fought anything above a basic need, vs Chevy that had so many features. Kind of like saying my Pinto does not ride as well as me BMW.

1937 Chevrolet Master and Master DeLuxe Facts


Model Master
Weight range (lbs.) 2,770-2,885 lbs
Price range (new) $616 - $725
Number built 296,396

Model Master DeLuxe
Weight range (lbs) 2,840-2,960
Price range (new) $685-$788
Number built ­519,024


The Model A is a far distance to your other car. Compared to your other car listed as :

A trend-setting highlight, referred to by GM chief designer Harley Earl as the "diamond crown speedline," was a body crease that started in the valley between the engine compartment and front fender, and extended across the cowl and onto the front door. Smaller 16-inch wheels contributed to a lower profile.
A strengthened version of the box girder frame, introduced on the 1936 Standard cars, was used throughout the 1937 line. Bodies, wider and roomier than before, were made entirely of steel instead of the traditional composite construction, and weight was reduced by more than 150 pounds.
Beneath the hood was a brand new engine. Still featuring overhead valves, it had a shorter stroke and a larger bore than the previous unit. Displacement was increased slightly, to 216.5 cubic inches, and four main bearings were fitted instead of three. Horsepower was rated at 85, same as the Ford V-8. All models now enjoyed the advantage of an improved synchromesh transmission.
The Standard cars were gone. This time the two series, both using a 112.5-inch chassis, were called Master and Master DeLuxe. Each came in a choice of six body types, the two-door Town Sedan (with built-in trunk) being by far the most popular in both lines.
Master DeLuxe models, in addition to upgraded upholstery and appointments, came with Knee-Action front suspension as standard equipment. They were also fitted with a 4.22:1 "performance" axle, while Master models employed a 3.73:1 "economy" ratio. Both series used hypoid gears in lieu of 1936's spiral bevel cogs.
Prices were increased by about a hundred dollars.

There is a world of difference.
 
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When you think about/read your own written statements, you answer your own questions, i.e.- TEN years of advance / development AND (don't take this lightly) the chevy SHOCKS !
I used to own a lot of old chevs. The vintage that you mention...take a real good look at the shocks, compared to model a ! Hey, the good news is that your chev shocks must be still working real well..from you description.
AND, from memory..don't you have parallel spring set up on the chev(brain does not spark right without enough coffee anymore:(). These springs will also make huge ride difference ! Give me a pic of that chev,eh...as it brings back good memories :)
 
If your springs look to be leaking red powder spray oil on them, then you will know if the shocks work

oil them good, drive around the block and oil them again ---spray them down with a pump oil can

One of the more neglected lubrication points is the oil hole in the bottom of the hand crank "bearing" ----there is a hole in there to oil starting in 29, for lubing the spring up in the frame crossmember
 
I have driven a friend's 1932 Tudor Model B on several occasions and the difference in ride and handling compared to a 1931 Model A Tudor is striking. What a difference only one year made!
 
my puzzlement might be, who is still living from when these cars were new or reasonably new, to compare a restorer's ride to the original. add in the fact that old roads were often, if not usually, bumpier than our roads and it becomes even more problematic.
 
If you have the time to do some research, you can make your A ride as good as your other car.
You need to understand springs (stock) and how they can be modified.
Likewise for shocks. (stock)
All the info is available in your local library.
Look under race car suspensions for additional info. Much of it can be applied to a stock model A's without showing.
 
Could the type of roads that the cars were built to drive on have to do with the type of ride the cars offer? Road construction had got a lot better in a decade as well. Smoother roads meant that car companies could offer softer shocks.
 
I'd say that's what you should experience. My 37 Chevy coupe rode very very nice, and it was bone stock. Eight years is a huge difference. I oils also expect the 37 Chevy to ride better than the Ford. The Chevy was a much heavier car.
 
just for your information 37 chev front suspension came with a straight axel or optional independent suspension known as knee action.
I owned a knee action 37 and it was very nice riding car.

well almost as good as my 30 town sedan!?

fredski
 
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