Kevin in NJ
Well-known member
It is not about a single material. The following comments are for building the car for driving everyday and able to run the 60 MPH like they could from the factory. Show car correct is a different ball game that involves all of this below plus a lot more.
Every book out there have errors. Understanding how to find the problems and merge the information is the real problem.
Some of the books highlighting the history likely the most important start point. You need to know what the car was when it was new. The Legendary Model A Ford will give you a picture of how the cars were driven when they were just an everyday car. Hint, they ran them fast and hard everyday on crappy roads. Fordlandia is about the rubber plantation and an interesting read. In the middle of the book they talk about Ford setting up the Model A Factory and the delays while they perfected super precision manufacturing. This comes back to the point building the A engine is like building a race car engine, it is needs to built to high degree of precision.
Andrews book is a great reference. The is lacking in size reference so you can determine if a part is beyond use and has some errors. Plus he pushes using the V8 points and such which is really a mistake. His drawings and details are important to have and if they put in data from prints it could be the book to have. There is another mechanics book which has more the specs but it s tougher read.
A lot of the early books are full of interesting comments that have long been corrected in various places.
Finally, Blueprints, collect what you can. Some are just parts of prints people post and some are just out there. From the prints you know what Ford's machining precision was and materials.
The best resource is to always ask questions on a forum before you do a major project.
Finally, it must be remembered that in restoration doing it right is often not quick, easy or cheap.
Every book out there have errors. Understanding how to find the problems and merge the information is the real problem.
Some of the books highlighting the history likely the most important start point. You need to know what the car was when it was new. The Legendary Model A Ford will give you a picture of how the cars were driven when they were just an everyday car. Hint, they ran them fast and hard everyday on crappy roads. Fordlandia is about the rubber plantation and an interesting read. In the middle of the book they talk about Ford setting up the Model A Factory and the delays while they perfected super precision manufacturing. This comes back to the point building the A engine is like building a race car engine, it is needs to built to high degree of precision.
Andrews book is a great reference. The is lacking in size reference so you can determine if a part is beyond use and has some errors. Plus he pushes using the V8 points and such which is really a mistake. His drawings and details are important to have and if they put in data from prints it could be the book to have. There is another mechanics book which has more the specs but it s tougher read.
A lot of the early books are full of interesting comments that have long been corrected in various places.
Finally, Blueprints, collect what you can. Some are just parts of prints people post and some are just out there. From the prints you know what Ford's machining precision was and materials.
The best resource is to always ask questions on a forum before you do a major project.
Finally, it must be remembered that in restoration doing it right is often not quick, easy or cheap.
