What do you regret?

Steve Plucker

Steve Plucker

BANNED
What is the worst thing that you did, and can admit to, to a Model A/AA, parts, body, whatever, that you regret doing and if you could do it all over again...you wouldnt?

My deal...I took apart about 4-5 steering columns (7-tooth) about 7 years ago...now I can not figure out what went to the original setups in the begining:mad::mad::mad:

Pluck
 
Being new to this, I haven't had much time to really screw up much, but I did one thing that is really a bummer. I tried to force off what I thought was a stubborn nut from the armature/ratchet of my Stewart Warner horn. So, I killed my ahooga. :(
 
Steve Plucker said:
What is the worst thing that you did, and can admit to, to a Model A/AA, parts, body, whatever, that you regret doing and if you could do it all over again...you wouldnt?

My deal...I took apart about 4-5 steering columns (7-tooth) about 7 years ago...now I can not figure out what went to the original setups in the begining:mad::mad::mad:

Pluck
Click to expand...

Took apart a dozen shocks in the early seventies. No idea what I was doing, put all pieces in five gallon buckets. There they sat, forever.
 
When I painted my frame, rearend,front axle, etc painted them gloss black :-( With time it looks better, but still to shiny
 
Stuck a prybar in a water neck stud hole to loosen a head,broke the outside of the stud hole,since It wasn't in the water jacket I reassembled...then broke the upper neck torquing the head...fixed the head with belzona,buddy had a used neck, back running. I'm a field mechanic for a construction equipment dealer, I fix a shop mechanics error in front of the customer.It can be a tough situation, it costs all involved money.I go by two rules,always back a brother mechanic,and let the customer vent...then follow through with the comeback repair.
 
Stuck a prybar in a water neck stud hole to loosen a head,broke the outside of the stud hole,since It wasn't in the water jacket I reassembled...then broke the upper neck torquing the head...fixed the head with belzona,buddy had a used neck, back running. I'm a field mechanic for a construction equipment dealer, I fix a shop mechanics error in front of the customer.It can be a tough situation, it costs all involved money.I go by two rules,always back a brother mechanic,and let the customer vent...then follow through with the comeback repair.
 
Took my short block to "the most reputable machine shop in the area". The shop foreman snickered about having to work on "that 'ol banger motor" and I still left it with him. I ended up paying a lot for what turned out to be the most shoddy work you can imagine. When I complained he just snickered something to the effect: " what did you expect me to do with an old engine like that?". Never again.
 
Tried pounding out a stuck lifter, broke the lifter tower on a perfectly good block. It's amazing how quickly we realize (within seconds) we've done something stupid!
 
threw out my vac wiper motor because it wasn't working. within the first few days of the resto. still shaking my head on that one.
 
I took a pickup cab to the dump in 1970 because it was rusted at the bottom. An easy fix today, with all the repro parts.
 

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I was told that the A motor that I had bought had recently been rebuilt. I rebuilt that A motor with all new valves, springs, guides, 0.040" over rings, etc. It didn't have a ring wear ridge in the cylinders so I assumed from what I was told by the seller, that the cylinder bore didn't have much wear and it was straight. So I didn't measure the cylinder taper. Wrong move... I found out when I started the engine up that the cylinders had too much taper and when cold, the pistons were slapping the walls. The block needed all four cylinders re-bored. What a waste of parts and time! Don't assume anything.
 
Had a cracked head and took it to a machine shop in 1980, was charged $80 for stitching, Thats when you could get a good used head for $10. Live and learn.
 
About 22 years ago, after moving my 1930 coupe from one location to another after having it for 38 years in one location, my wonderful 85 year old Post Mistress neighbor approached me when she saw my Model A back out of my old carriage house garage.

She walked up to me, smiled, and told me she always wanted to have a ride in my Model A, but never asked.

I told her to hop in and took her for a spin.

Something tells me she knew what was about to happen ...... her kin from far away later sold her house and property against her will, and placed her in a nursing home where she died not long after.

Often think about how many young and senior people back then I never offered a ride; where many would have loved to have ridden in a 1930 Model A ......... but they just never asked.
 
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