Greetings All I tried a search for my question but came up dry, so here it is: I get a whistling sound when I have the windshield open on my Model A. It only happens from about halfway to full open. Has anyone experienced this malady and if so, how did you get rid of it? I am now ready to receive all of the “whistling” comments that I know are inevitable. Thanks and be well Jeff
I been driving a 28 roadster for a bit of a long time. The round tubes that make up the frame for glass in 1928 to 1931 A roadster's ,are designed with a slot too hold rubber lip on the out side of frame=kind of a rain seal when windshield is closed! You still get wet,just not as wet! Often the rubber lip is gone,it fits on three sides. Not much help on a coupe,but some one should know about those. With out seal inplace,the open slot,at some angles an speeds can whistle. Our "A"'s are as aero as a brick,so can also whistle from a good number of other holes,even the drivers ears,from one side to the other,but most often though ears of cute little blond girl next to driver! [ you wish] LOL
you have an open end on something... swing it out and closely check the corners... stuff some twisted up paper towel into any holes or gaps... if that stops it break out the silicone... my $0.02.
“There’s a ship that lies sailing on the ocean” I guess I paid too much attention to those infomercials back when. No 8 track, no radio. Why would I want anything to interfere with the sweet bass notes of those glass packs? Oh, and my whistling windshield!
As I was hoping. Many good tips interspersed with a sprinkling of humor. I’ll hopefully get a chance to put them to the test this weekend. Standby for update. Thanks Jeff
I rebuilt the heater in my '54 3100 Chevy truck, and installed a new squirrel cage with more vanes. Fired it up and, wow!, it blew air like never before..then I turned the lever over to defrost and it was whistling so loud in the cab through the defrost vents that you can't carry on a conversation. I laugh about it every time I use it....
I just don't wear hearing aids and don't hear a lot of sounds. Have chased air noise in the past and tape seems to help isolate it.
it is easy to get rid of trade it in on a Hyundai. Hot rods are uncomfortable, they rattle are loud and have wind noise. They are not a modern car. If the windshield being opened makes a whistling noise try opening a window. That may of may not help but it is worth a try.
Mr Beaner Thanks for the tip. I have tried the windows open, closed, partially open, I guess partially open could also be partially closed too. Sunday here, according to the weather guessers is going to be a take out the hotrod weather day. So I’ll try the tape suggestion and see what happens. As for trading it for a modern car, not a chance! Nothing like going back out to the garage a couple of hours after a ride and gettin’ a snoot full of hotrod sweat!
Partly open seems to be just right for mine as it yields the least amount of wind noise. There was black silicone on both sides of the windshield and it was a pain to get off (ugly). Honestly, don’t remember if it made much difference! Good Luck, Whistler.
It must be a happy A, that's why it whistles....or you work it too hard and it is whistle'n while it works.... I'd whistle with it or try the tape thing.....
My remark was actually aimed at those who think that their hot rod should handle run and feel like a modern car. There are a lot of that type of person in our forum. I have an older buddy that has always been a rodder. He has had almost as many wives as he has had cars. One time when I was a younger man he came by my place and offered for me to drive a big block speed '47 Chebby for a weekend in trade for an S-10 that I had in my driveway at the time. When I asked why he said "I got this lady on the string and she said I needed something quieter if she was going to continue to go out with her." Now for the fun part. He ultimately just handed her a pair of ear plugs and she dropped him like a hot rock. I do not doubt that you will get it sorted out.
My chopped top truck is noisy with the windows open. But when I put my hand up at the top, front of the window opening the noise is greatly reduced. Perhaps I should get / fab one of those little vintage wind wings? I remember them coming in a variety of colors.
Update: A beautiful day here in Southern New England so I opened the windshield all of the way and put painters tape everywhere that I thought could possibly be the source of “the whistle “. I brought my twelve year old grandson along so that when we got up to whistlin’ speed, he could pull the pieces of tape on his side one at a time and together we would be victorious! We got up to whistlin’ speed, 30 mph, pretty quick. And sho’ nuff! There was the whistle! I made up my mind right there and then to live with “the whistle”. As I thought about it, it’s probably original equipment anyway. Thanks for all of the great input. On a positive note. We came up with a new name for flatulence during our mission. Ass whistles. Be well Jeff
Posibly could be something not directly related to the windshield, but something that is getting air flow that doesn't when then the windshield is closed.
The Jalopy Journal
