I read (or seem to remember reading) that some early rodders adapted VW brakes to Model A's with some success. Is anyone familiar and is that a viable option today. Running a mildly built four banger.
I have never heard of the VW option. If it was good I would think we would have heard more about it but given enough time and money anything is possible. I would suggest sticking with the old method of using '40-'48 Ford hydraulics. If you want to get fancy go with the reproduction Lincoln brakes. This is especially true if you want to run the '28-35 wires (or Kelsey's). Brakes are not a good place to get creative. How about a picture of your car? Charlie Stephens
I agree with Mr Stephens. While anything, including VW brakes, can be made to work, why go to all the hassle of reinventing the wheel (or trying to resurrect someone's old version of their wheel) when there is something so easy and plentiful as the '39-48 brake swap. Now, if your aim is to be different, I'm not gonna stand in your way...
I agree with RainierHooker 100%. I definitely would not stand in the way of a Model A with VW brakes. Charlie Stephens
Thanks for the reply! Attached an article about the little car that appeared on the Antique Tractor Web magazine. The wheels are in fact Kelsey-Hayes (worth more that the car at the time?) I am in the process of making the car a "Woody" and have the frame completed. I will post a picture when I'm finished. Model A Doodlebug – An Identity Crisis Posted on November 10, 2014 by Cass Flagg I recently sat down with Earnest “Buck” Jackson, Wayne Cates, and Wilburn Albright, three self-described “characters” who reminisced about a Model A doodlebug project in which they were just involved. “Over the past 20 years,” Albright explained, “I had assembled one of the most extraordinary collections of John Deere 2-cylinder 40-series tractors in the state of Georgia, and maybe the southeast. The collection included some rare examples that were purchased from as far away as Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, and Minnesota. Also added were a 50, a 70 standard, and an 80 standard, leaving only a 60 to represent at least one example of every tractor Deere offered in the double-digit series from 1953 through 1955.” The collection included tractors that were owned and operated by local legends Robert “Bob“ Tisinger and Tom Murphy. “The ‘Great Recession’ of 2008 forced me to sell most of the collection,” he said, with the remaining tractors being offered as we spoke with him. During the process of liquidating his collection, Albright ran across an article about a doodlebug tractor. These were homemade tractors, usually involving Ford Model T and Model A cars that were converted to tractors by innovative individuals who could not afford new tractors during the Great Depression. Albright thought, “Heck, that’s me, 80 something years later!” As if by chance, he saw a Model A chassis offered in the local RJO Auction in March that looked as if it might serve as an artist’s palate for such a project. Since Albright was out of town at the time of the auction, he asked Wayne Cates to bid on the chassis, learning later that an elderly gentleman had used it to feed his farm animals. Albright was informed by phone he was the high bidder, though the amount was “about half of what I was prepared to bid.” “After the realization set in that I owned the thing,” Albright added, “I had no idea what I was going to do with it. I called a couple of guys who had messed with the things back when we were in high school… a long time ago. One suggested I contact a gentleman who he knew as Buck Jackson and gave me an address. Wilburn Albright, Earnest “Buck” Jackson, and Wayne Cates “I called and asked if Buck would consider helping me. He hesitated and suggested he had ‘just retired’ and didn’t know if he wanted to undertake a project right now. During the conversation, I learned he purchased his first A Model when he was 12 years old and had been messing with them ever since. Later during the conversation, he said, ‘bring it up here, and we’ll take a look.’ “[Buck is] one of the most fascinating folks I’ve ever encountered. As far as being ‘just retired,’ he’s 87 years young!” Jackson brought the A Model back to life mechanically, finding parts here and ‘fixing’ things there, even replacing the engine, which had a cracked block. “Though I am in awe of the internal combustion engine in general and Henry Ford specifically, I have NO mechanical skills,” said Albright. “Buck is a genius when it comes to a Model A Ford.” Once satisfied with the running ability, Albright turned the chassis, now being referred to as a “beach buggy doodlebug,” over to Cates for bodywork and painting. Cates had restored more than half of Albright’s antique 2-cylinder John Deere tractors in a modest shop near Temple, Georgia. Cates, who, ironically, never intended to “get in the restoration business,” is renowned for his ability and has restored tractors for folks all over the country. Everything on the beach buggy was done on a shoestring budget, except the paint. Initially, the plan was to paint the little doodlebug John Deere green. One of Albright’s six grandsons, learning of that decision, said “You’ve got to be kidding. It’s going to be red with a “G” on the side!” And so it is, although automotive red paint is the most expensive color on the market. Wood moldings were machined out of red oak that came from tress cut on Albright’s father’s home place more than 20 years ago. Near the end of our conversation, Albright suggested that the project has been something of a healing process. “History has a way of repeating itself. My plans for retirement were derailed by decisions beyond my control. Although I was not ‘dead broke,’ I basically lost everything, materially speaking. Most notable was my beloved tractor collection. However, had it not been for the circumstances, I would been deprived of the ‘fortune’ that led me to Buck Jackson and the chance to work with my good friend Wayne again.” The buggy and Albright can be found hauling grandson to the beach on the Georgia coast. Jackson, who still resides in Bremen, is available for consultation regarding Model A Fords. Cates continues to restore tractors and “piddle” in his shop near Temple.
My Dad used a VW Distributor on his Model A , never heard of anyone using VW Brakes , like the others said 39-48 Ford Brakes work well with spacers for the Wire Wheels
IMHO, the VW brakes would be marginal at best. A "bug" weighs around 1800 lbs. depending on the year and the rear brakes did most of the work. A '40 coupe weighs about 3000 lbs. and was front heavy. My fenderless A coupe weighs 2150 so, yeah, I wouldn't use the VW brakes even if it was easy (which it ain't)
I think the Lockheed brakes are pretty awful. I use self energizing, self adjusting Bendix brakes. The parts are common, easy to get and not expensive except for the Lincoln backing plates
And then you have guys like me who think they work pretty freaking well. Definitely no comparison to bendix brakes. But cetainly better than stock model A Sent from my SM-G900T using H.A.M.B. mobile app
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