Looking to Get Started...

And no, I didn’t spray the engine. Didn’t even open the hood. It was supposed to be just a quick rinse before I got some gas and I went over to my buddy’s house.


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Ran fine at an idle, shut it off and then it froze up? That don't add up. It's going to be something simple like maybe in the Trans. Hung in 2 gears at once. To check that put it in N and see if the car rolls. Ahh silly me. It did roll freely off the stretcher right?

 

Yes. Goes through the gears. Rolls in neutral. Could the starter be jammed against the flywheel/ring gear?

There was no strange noise. Just the starter stopped and stopped responding. Doesn’t make any noise at all when trying to start now. When I went to hand crank it in neutral the crank was completely locked up(in neutral).


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starters do get stuck.

 

I think I jammed my starter. I hope that is all it is. Tomorrow. [emoji2]


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Yes to the 331. The banger locking up is a sign you should install a Caddy.

 

A shot in the dark here. If your 12 Volts I'd bet you broke a Bendix drive. That will sure jamb up the flywheel. Hard to give good advice from this far away. I do believe I'd remove the starter and do a visual inspection before going much deeper. With the starter off go the next step and remove all 4 spark plugs and try the hand crank again. If the motor rolls over you probably have the problem laying on the floor. If it don't turn over put it in High gear and rock the car backwards. If something is lodged between the flywheel and the mid plate turning it backwards should kick it loose.
Several years back I got involved in an issue where the owner had just installed a new clutch and pressure plate. Somehow one of the 5/16 P.P. bolts worked all the way out and lodged under the Ring gear and stuck the motor. Since noting made any sense I went to the last thing worked on and there it was. Pure luck cause nothing added up to his problem.

 

Yep.
A stuck Bendix is the #1 suspect.


The Model A Hand Crank, I do believe, is made to turn the engine one way. It will not turn the engine backwards. That's a safety feature, not necessarily for "kickback" but to keep the crank from spinning once the engine is started. It spins off so cant turn the engine backwards with the crank.
Turning the engine backwards will sometimes unwind a stuck bendix. I stress sometimes. Sometimes the engine may turn backwards but the bendix still stays out. The engine will turn backwards but not forwards as the stuck bendix locks it again..

I would try to turn the engine backwards before I pulled the starter. It may be tricky to pull the starter. Hopefully it will pull out easy once it's unbolted. If it's jammed really bad, you may have to try to turn the engine by hand...wiggle the starter back and fourth.
Hopefully the starter bendix is the issue.

 

...That's good news.

 

Thanks F-ONE - I’ll dig into it later today. Work interfering with fun again.

I also found this video.

 

arkiehotrods - Very cool. Someday....

 

As far as the 331....
Consider a 1932 frame.
That may be a fun project right there on it's own...
Leave your Model A intact, enjoy it as is until the body swap.
Build your hot rod chassis and suspension.
I like fooling with old junk so if it were me, I would try to use original stuff.
Ford 32 Chassis....
V8 axles wish bones and springs...
F1 stuff
V8 top shift 3 speed to go with the enclosed drive banjo....

For a full fendered car...
I would use a Model A frame...

 

Sounds really fun. I see this in my future at some point.

 

Was the starter. Jammed against the flywheel. I had to remove the starter with a good bump from a rubber mallet. Pushing reverse in 3rd didn’t work. tires stayed locked. Running now.


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Being you may entertain building a different chassis in the future here's some food for thought. I totally get the "use a 32 frame" guys. I also get the "use the Caddy" line of thinking. Fenders or no fenders, ya, I can go either way. But here's the deal, these decisions determine where the finished project fits. We've all seen drivers with so much Mix-n-Match stuff done that we just walk on shaking our heads. Kool pieces but not all in one unit. Just think about that before jumping in any direction.
Using a Model A Frame with the Caddy will mean the Frame needs some help. Going to a 32 chassis means a big spend up front and some kind of work setting the Body on top of it. For some of us Time and Date stamps mean a lot, not so much for others. One thing we all seem to have in common is, when we see it done Right we all agree on it.
I like the Red Roadster that arkiehotrods posted. If it does something for you figure out what that is and build according to that.
Boxing frames seems to be the normal anymore but it wasn't always like that. Building a frame out of square tube also isn't a good look for Old School. A solid chassis is a must have today. Something over looked is the AA Frames. Not hard to find, Look like a stock Model A set of rails but much heavier wall material (I used to know the numbers). My list of to do's has this unit sitting on it. A Blown 392 and unboxed AA with a 36-40 X member and yes it will be a solid unit. Unless I told ya you would think it's just a Model A frame.
Again, just food for thought.

 

Here's a good build that may give you some ideas https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/model-a-body-on-‘32-chassis-with-fenders-help.1133905/

 

I know there is a fine line between brave and stupid. I just don’t know where it is.


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However, no good deed...

Leaking gas gauge. Didn’t see that coming.


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I hear ya. I’m developing/learning my preference as I go along here. Thanks for all the wise words.


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Cool! I’ll check it out.


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I'm with you. I just learned to keep my AAA membership current and carry a big First Aid kit.

 

Some people jump out of airplanes
Some hang glide
Some climb mountains, explore the ocean depths, or cliff dive into waves.

I drive old junk.

 

Yeah. Nothing like hurling yourself through space on curvy/hilly maryland roads, with no seatbelts, in a car that has sketchy brakes, not enough body mount bolts, crazy bad vibrations, and look down and realize that fuel is leaking onto a live light socket. Good stuff.


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We call that “adventure driving”

 

Next work is to lower the front. (After I fix my fuel leak of course.) My initial plan is to do the reverse eye main leaf and also remove a few leaves. I’ll use some of the good build threads here like drdave’ s as reference.

 

I thought the brakes were working fine?

 

Yeah. They are actually working much better. I thought it would make my description more dramatic.


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Just made me laugh! True words!

 

Just made a trip to Tractor Supply just right down the road from me. It’s a beautiful day and the parking lot was packed. I could barely get out of there for all the guys wanting to check out the car and ask questions. Very cool. I’ve never felt more like a celebrity until I got home and realized I had been driving for about three miles with my blinker on. :-/


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The self canceling feature was a rare option on Model A turn signals. You will look long and hard to find one. Most guys installed the aftermarket Armstrong turn signals.