Test
- Thread starter 29fordoor
- Start date
29fordoor
Member
Driving into the driveway noted 1/2 turn of the wheel in play. My first time driving my A or any model A. Second time inside an A, first time was about 1976.
Found cotter pins missing from pitman arm nut and both steering box nuts. Tightened and cotter pined , 4” of slack in the wheel after that.
Found cotter pins missing from pitman arm nut and both steering box nuts. Tightened and cotter pined , 4” of slack in the wheel after that.
29fordoor
Member
First breakdown , driving along and started to backfire, turned down side road and smelled a lot of gas, shut off fuel and looked. Previously I had noticed a rubber hose in the middle of the fuel line and thought that was odd so I put it on the list.
The rubber hose slipped down and gas had been pouring out. Glad it didn’t light!
Couple days later I realized why there was a section of rubber hose in the gas line the old carb was a tilotsen so the gas line was too short for the zenith.
The rubber hose slipped down and gas had been pouring out. Glad it didn’t light!
Couple days later I realized why there was a section of rubber hose in the gas line the old carb was a tilotsen so the gas line was too short for the zenith.
29fordoor
Member
Todo list Speedo not working. Downloaded an app and did 48 before I was out of room. 48 sounded like peak torque in the motor. at .76 that would be about 61
Think I may get a T5.
Fuel gauge only shows when full so bent rod or sunk float.
Looking at Katie doing a vinyl upholstery job
Think I may get a T5.
Fuel gauge only shows when full so bent rod or sunk float.
Looking at Katie doing a vinyl upholstery job
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29fordoor
Member
7.5 gallons today - going to say it’s my first 100 miles.
GAV rod grommets done, steering column rubber piece in. Heater outlet and valve ordered, move speedo cable then. El wiper motor returned exchange for man wiper. Waiting on more electrical for left headlight and waiting on rear door glass. Then on to brakes and go through all steering again after I get the grease fitting adaptor.
Refurbed tools today.
Ohh next order get a gas cap gasket, leaks when close to full.
GAV rod grommets done, steering column rubber piece in. Heater outlet and valve ordered, move speedo cable then. El wiper motor returned exchange for man wiper. Waiting on more electrical for left headlight and waiting on rear door glass. Then on to brakes and go through all steering again after I get the grease fitting adaptor.
Refurbed tools today.
Ohh next order get a gas cap gasket, leaks when close to full.
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29fordoor
Member
Moved Speedo cable just “ out “ for now, checked speedo does not turn cable broke 5 ft back, getting a rebuilt speedo or getting mine rebuilt.
Checked steering again the only play I get is definitely at the steering box. Checked brakes , pads are woven type and 3/16” + thick. Drums are stamped steel with some light grooving and mic out at .140”. Will switch to cast drums from Randy Gross.
Checked steering again the only play I get is definitely at the steering box. Checked brakes , pads are woven type and 3/16” + thick. Drums are stamped steel with some light grooving and mic out at .140”. Will switch to cast drums from Randy Gross.
29fordoor
Member
Got the 600w filled steering box, better yet -slightly tighter/ less lash. . Also transmission, acts different shifting now, not worse but changes downshift dbl clutch timing. Diff was full, will drain and refill soon. Got the adaptor for old grease fittings finally everything is greased now. Waiting on rebuilt speedo. Got the manual wiper, fit perfectly, works great. Received the heater door and housing and installed, just need a short piece of hose to cover gap inside engine compartment, went with AL flex 2”(ordered). Heater works slick, love it. Zenith lower half was loose , tightened the sole bolt, may rebuild in Jan.
Last post didn’t mention kingpins had Almost imperceptible play .. almost but there was the slightest so may look at bushing them overwinter.
Still pondering T5, or the 3+1, Michell OD or rear end ratio
The speedo gear drive on the trans indicates the rear end ratio is 3.73:1
Still want to get everything up to par, then Cast Drums and Then look at cruise speed.
Last post didn’t mention kingpins had Almost imperceptible play .. almost but there was the slightest so may look at bushing them overwinter.
Still pondering T5, or the 3+1, Michell OD or rear end ratio
The speedo gear drive on the trans indicates the rear end ratio is 3.73:1
Still want to get everything up to par, then Cast Drums and Then look at cruise speed.
29fordoor
Member
Got the conduits in for both headlamps, need to buy the conduit for the horn.
I am still not happy with the headlight or horn wiring, it was a disaster to start with, someone had cut both lamp wires then just twisted and taped decades ago so that will bug me till I get a new harness also the connectors from the conduit to back of buckets are way too tight and the sockets in the buckets under the rivets may need to be replaced so… “ fixed” for now but not how it will remain. Waiting on speedo and speedo cable. Love having the heater door on, it makes a difference, wiper stays up nice, having all the glass in is great and went through and timed screws on the doors and other areas and btw, they close better now as some screws were loose.
I am still not happy with the headlight or horn wiring, it was a disaster to start with, someone had cut both lamp wires then just twisted and taped decades ago so that will bug me till I get a new harness also the connectors from the conduit to back of buckets are way too tight and the sockets in the buckets under the rivets may need to be replaced so… “ fixed” for now but not how it will remain. Waiting on speedo and speedo cable. Love having the heater door on, it makes a difference, wiper stays up nice, having all the glass in is great and went through and timed screws on the doors and other areas and btw, they close better now as some screws were loose.
29fordoor
Member
So this test thread has turned into a bit of a journal for me and that’s ok I can’t change the thread title but it’s all been a “test” anyhow and if someone else reads this … cool 
One thing that has surprised me greatly is the amount of love the old gal gets, I mean honestly it’s a “dog” in the most adoring manner of calling your vehicle a “dog” it’s probably not the right word but it’s got the same upholstery it left the factory with, no headliner, no inner panels, some jackwagon painted it with a rattle can over 20 years ago (for sure as the previous owner had it for 20 years) I still got the registration papers in the little visor holder from 1960-1962 plus mine now. The back driver side window has grind marks in it but yet at 20 feet and 20 mph it does present pretty well LOL, so I have been thinking of this a bit, this phenomenon of people appreciating it So much and I imagine since I am 63 now and hung around from my earliest age with car guys of the 50’s and Aviation guys from WWII, home builders from the early years of sport aviation, motorcycle guys and btw gals for all the above too, I was more raised up around vehicles like this. Most people even my age and certainly any much younger were not. So perhaps instead of a dog I should call her a driver and work in progress and when the 10 yo boy came up, jaw wide open and amazed it was a bit humbling and really cute and special as I told him about the car. He had never seen anything like it, maybe on the Internet but for that boy this was in person. I drive it near daily to the antique mall and bring boxes to fill in my booths and I get thumbs up and waves every single time. Grocery store, over to NAPA, restaurants all the same so it really surprised me but as I think about it, I have never passed another A in my travels so yeah, a 97 year old car is driving around town now with some old goofball smiling.
As I approach the 200 mile mark I realized I will be around $25 per mile and counting down. Although I had been around a ton of old cars and worked on the aviation A modified engines, I only had one ride in one when I was a kid, I did get to drive an early Jag 1931 or 2 I think, it was the first year with the Jaguar name on it, When I was 16. So I paid the price of admission now and bought my own… so far worth every penny. I’d like to get a ride in a T some day or even see if I’d actually fit in one. But yeah I like it
For todays fun it was light rain and 59 degrees so I decided to see if the wiper worked, how brakes were in the rain, if my light wiring held up. Drive to the antique mall with the heater door open, yeah too hot lol. Lights worked so did the wiper But I had to apply inward pressure. Actually upwards on the handle so I need at the minimum a washer but I’m thinking I may bush the hole through the window frame too. There were no leaks other than when I had to roll down the window to “activate” my turn signal (my arm) she ran strong loved the humidity and slightly cooler weather, I noted this the other day when it was 39 degrees too. One of the guys at the mall made a remark about my driving it in the rain and I smiled and said ”it’s got a wiper now, all the glass is in and the lights work and I got heat so why not?!”
I did drive back with the heater door closed.
Speedo should arrive today, waiting on cable though.
One thing that has surprised me greatly is the amount of love the old gal gets, I mean honestly it’s a “dog” in the most adoring manner of calling your vehicle a “dog” it’s probably not the right word but it’s got the same upholstery it left the factory with, no headliner, no inner panels, some jackwagon painted it with a rattle can over 20 years ago (for sure as the previous owner had it for 20 years) I still got the registration papers in the little visor holder from 1960-1962 plus mine now. The back driver side window has grind marks in it but yet at 20 feet and 20 mph it does present pretty well LOL, so I have been thinking of this a bit, this phenomenon of people appreciating it So much and I imagine since I am 63 now and hung around from my earliest age with car guys of the 50’s and Aviation guys from WWII, home builders from the early years of sport aviation, motorcycle guys and btw gals for all the above too, I was more raised up around vehicles like this. Most people even my age and certainly any much younger were not. So perhaps instead of a dog I should call her a driver and work in progress and when the 10 yo boy came up, jaw wide open and amazed it was a bit humbling and really cute and special as I told him about the car. He had never seen anything like it, maybe on the Internet but for that boy this was in person. I drive it near daily to the antique mall and bring boxes to fill in my booths and I get thumbs up and waves every single time. Grocery store, over to NAPA, restaurants all the same so it really surprised me but as I think about it, I have never passed another A in my travels so yeah, a 97 year old car is driving around town now with some old goofball smiling.
As I approach the 200 mile mark I realized I will be around $25 per mile and counting down. Although I had been around a ton of old cars and worked on the aviation A modified engines, I only had one ride in one when I was a kid, I did get to drive an early Jag 1931 or 2 I think, it was the first year with the Jaguar name on it, When I was 16. So I paid the price of admission now and bought my own… so far worth every penny. I’d like to get a ride in a T some day or even see if I’d actually fit in one. But yeah I like it
For todays fun it was light rain and 59 degrees so I decided to see if the wiper worked, how brakes were in the rain, if my light wiring held up. Drive to the antique mall with the heater door open, yeah too hot lol. Lights worked so did the wiper But I had to apply inward pressure. Actually upwards on the handle so I need at the minimum a washer but I’m thinking I may bush the hole through the window frame too. There were no leaks other than when I had to roll down the window to “activate” my turn signal (my arm) she ran strong loved the humidity and slightly cooler weather, I noted this the other day when it was 39 degrees too. One of the guys at the mall made a remark about my driving it in the rain and I smiled and said ”it’s got a wiper now, all the glass is in and the lights work and I got heat so why not?!”
I did drive back with the heater door closed.
Speedo should arrive today, waiting on cable though.
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29fordoor
Member
Very nice drive today, engine ran great. Shifting is easier with the heavy oil in, you don’t need to dbl clutch up and I am getting better at dbl clutching down from 3 to 2. I had driven no synchro before but that big jump from 3 to 2 going down is something to be cognizant of. Engine stayed nice and cool and since I drive the same route daily I am getting better at picking gears and the two roundabouts. It’s just becoming all more second nature. It’s a lot like when I got the M35-a2 after a bit its old hat.
Waiting on the speedo cable then I will order the cast drums.
Waiting on the speedo cable then I will order the cast drums.
29fordoor
Member
Took the time to adjust the headlights tonight, taped off 37” on the garage and 15” each side of center. In the owners manual it wasn’t clear to me if both the focusing and aiming/aligning was done with high beams on but in the red book it was written more clearly and you do both with high beams on. Looks good.
29fordoor
Member
Got the cheapo Chinese tach, ran the wire through the shifter floor plate and up around the speedo cable then over to clip on the coil wire. Seems accurate at the setting I have it as 520 rpm idle i will leave it connected for now and see where my shift points are and what my rpm is at 50 mph. Then I can take it back out.
Talked to Randy about the brakes over winter.
Also contacted the upholstery place and they won’t do partial kits … too bad really but I’ll just do it myself then. I’m sure between all the sewing machine I have in storage for the antique shop a couple will work. I have one with about a 24” throat half are commercial but still I did want to buy from them , they do good work. Frustrating.
Waiting on the speedo cable still.
Talked to Randy about the brakes over winter.
Also contacted the upholstery place and they won’t do partial kits … too bad really but I’ll just do it myself then. I’m sure between all the sewing machine I have in storage for the antique shop a couple will work. I have one with about a 24” throat half are commercial but still I did want to buy from them , they do good work. Frustrating.
Waiting on the speedo cable still.
29fordoor
Member
Changed to 50/50 coolant now, it’s getting to freezing in the AM now. Got the conduit over the horn wire now so all three conduits are on. Took it for a run down a flat road but had misfires, backfires etc etc, found the problem, overfilled the radiator and the slop sprayed back over the coil and coil wires and plug wires. Dried off and it was fine, next day dropped a half a gallon, so level is 1 inch below baffle, no more leaks and got my “speed run” in.
I’ll have to see why the radiator is leaking at the top.
I’ll have to see why the radiator is leaking at the top.
29fordoor
Member
The radiator will need work and I replaced the top hose. I found that this radiator inlet is not aligned with the pump outlet. It looks like the top tank plate is bent in maybe. I will bring both that radiator and the spare in over winter and pick one. Finally got a speedometer cable. It reads about 5mph under at all speeds not what I’d expect if the rear end ratio was mismatched to the drive gear. I pulled the drive gear and cleaned/greased, the stamp and the tooth count match the 1:3.78 rear and the woodruff key was in etc also the gear on the driveshaft was tight, no teeth broke. Will run tests and make a chart of speed variance this weekend, may have to contact seller.
Working on door panels so far it’s working out well, 1/8” hardboard. Will use #8 5/8” brass screws and stainless #8 cup washers and paint satin black or black wrinkle abd may put jeweled aluminum kick panels at the bottom. Also got sound deadening material.
Working on door panels so far it’s working out well, 1/8” hardboard. Will use #8 5/8” brass screws and stainless #8 cup washers and paint satin black or black wrinkle abd may put jeweled aluminum kick panels at the bottom. Also got sound deadening material.