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Projects 1928 Model A build

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Bigsmoothy, Oct 11, 2015.

  1. 58custom
    Joined: Jan 1, 2009
    Posts: 398

    58custom
    Member

    Awesome! I'd love to have a find like this, and like you I would just go over it all, fix what needs be, and drive it stock for a while. Great pix. Will be watching.
     
  2. Your car might be a 29 but your radiator is a early AR radiator from a '28,the AR's were built in late '27. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
    kidcampbell71 and volvobrynk like this.
  3. Do yourself a favor and tighten up the brake rods, replace bushings in the brake and clutch pedals and make sure the brake shoes have plenty of meat on them or replace them. Stopping is always a priority over going. My first drive home in my 29 coupe, I lost three clevis pins and had only the right rear brake working. Scary!
     
  4. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    My car was built in 28' but it was registered a 29' I believe.
     
  5. That crank is also a 28 style different than 29 to 31
     
  6. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1445358920.651003.jpg

    Started in on the rear brakes yesterday.
     
  7. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    And I need y'all's opinion on what I should do about the radiator.. I might just have mine re cored even if it's $4-500 bucks.
    If I find one at a swap meet I might still take a chance at it being bad, and I'm probably going to spend $200-$300 on one at a swap meet right?
    And the aftermarket ones are $600-$800 anyways.
    Bottom line is I want to use my original radiator so I guess I'll the put the money into it?
     
  8. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1445734086.113378.jpg

    Started on the front brakes today and cannot get the kingpins out.
    So I think I'm going to have to pull the axle out from under the car and press them out.
    So I'll just redo all the bearings and bushings in the tire rods and moving joints while I have it off.
     
  9. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1445888929.108814.jpg

    Oil pump is back together and oil pan is on so now I just need to get a battery and put the dash back together and possibly try to fire it up this weekend!
     
    kevinwalshe likes this.
  10. Manager
    Joined: Mar 22, 2014
    Posts: 239

    Manager
    Member

    Just get the pain of removing the tank over and done with. I stuffed around with "dirty leg", filters, emptying out in the car and still ended up pulling it out anyway. It's a real pain going for a drive and having to stop every 20 miles and clean all your contraptions out. The inline filters just don't let the fuel through with not a real lot of shit in them, probably because of gravity feed.Dirty leg and sediment bowl gets the big stuff but the fine shit gets to the inline filter. Nice car by the way.
     
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  11. kevinwalshe
    Joined: Apr 22, 2010
    Posts: 428

    kevinwalshe
    Member

    If you take the tank out, it would be awesome if you took some pictures of the process. I'm about to pull mine out and would love to see how it's done. I have searched for pics but haven't had any luck.
    Kevin
     
  12. Look in the Model A mechanic's handbook. No pictures as I recall but great step-by-step instructions. It's not that tough. I agree with Manager, just get it fixed and you will be glad for it.
     
  13. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    If i do take out the fuel tank i will post some pics for sure!
    I have most of the bolts out already and was starting on removing the clamps but then a.d.d. kicked in and i started on the brakes...
     
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  14. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1445911038.086128.jpg

    Decided on running Amsoil 20w-50 synthetic high zinc for engine oil.
    Anybody ever used this in they're '28-'31 before?
     
  15. Manager
    Joined: Mar 22, 2014
    Posts: 239

    Manager
    Member

    Mine is coming out. I will take pictures and post when I do it.Be in the next couple of weeks.
     
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  16. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    I got mine turning over yesterday!!
    I didn't have spark but I didn't have time to mess with it any more.
     
  17. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    The starter motor spun at first but the Bendix didn't hit the flywheel.
    Then my brother tapped on it lightly and then nothing.
    So I took the starter off and cleaned out the push switch, wire wheeled all the copper contacts and sprayed down the Bendix then re installed the starter and it worked flawlessly!!
     
    yruhot likes this.
  18. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    I wasn't getting power to the spark plugs so we're chasing that next week.
     
  19. qzjrd5
    Joined: Nov 23, 2004
    Posts: 1,340

    qzjrd5
    Member
    from Troy, MI

    What an awesome car. Unbelievably solid for being from MI. Must have been well cared for all its life. Good luck with it!
     
  20. Manager
    Joined: Mar 22, 2014
    Posts: 239

    Manager
    Member

    O.K. here goes. I am not a tank removal expert but it isn't rocket science. First I disconnected battery, drained tank, removed fuel line ect from under tank,took seat base,side trim panels and floorboard out. Removed the dash rail and the column clamp. Fuel tank remove 001.jpg Fuel tank remove 002.jpg
    Remove the instument panel and disconnect the wires and speedo cable. Fuel tank remove 003.jpg
    Moving out undo the rear hood hinge bracket and with someone on the other side lift the rear of the hood slide out of the front hinge and remove. Remove the stay rods. Slide the outer tube up the GAV rod and slide the shaft apart and remove the rod from inside. Fuel tank remove 004.jpg Fuel tank remove 005.jpg

    Remove the cover off the terminal box and slide the wiring and speedo cable out of the tank tunnel. Unbolt the coil, I just layed it on the head.
    Fuel tank remove 006.jpg
    My cowl hood lacing is well and truly glued on so I crefully cut it at the cowl/tank line. Fuel tank remove 007.jpg

    Now undo all the bolts, follow your way around the whole tank about every 6 " there is one. Then slowly lift the tank from the front trying not to damage any lacing. I lifted mine 2" or so and sat a block under it and with a small steel rule (whatever is handy) freed the lacing. Fuel tank remove 008.jpg Fuel tank remove 010.jpg
    Then lifted it till the wiring tunel cleared the cowl and out she is. Fuel tank remove 011.jpg
     
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  21. Manager
    Joined: Mar 22, 2014
    Posts: 239

    Manager
    Member

    Don't know if anyone is watching but following tank removeal I removed the gas gauge. Fuel tank remove 014.jpg
    I waterblasted the inside as best I could using a straight and an angle shaft and pointing it around the baffles as best you can guess to get as much shit out as possible. I got a lot of shit including some big lumps. Fuel tank remove 015.jpg
    I made a bung for the gas gauge hole and put a bung in the fuel outlet, then filled it with a about 10 to 1 mollasis and water mix. A gallon of mollasis and fill it up. Get the filler in a position that you can get maximum contact with the
    top of the tank. Fuel tank remove 020.jpg

    These are a bit hard to see but before Fuel tank remove 012.jpg

    And 5 days after(not the same tank but it was the same before) Fuel tank remove 019.jpg

    Make sure the tank can still vent, this is what happened when I didn't.
    Fuel tank remove.jpg

    After draining the mix I gave it a good waterblast and then about half a gallon of petrol and shook it all around (did that twice) and then some metho and shook again. Will give the yellow tank 7 days this time

    Want to know more don't be afraid to ask, but I'm no tank expert and this is just a trial and error method I decieded on after reading numerous things here and on the Barn.
    FAQ's Why mollasis? There is varing opinions that though evaporust probably is a lot stronger it may be too harsh .Also it doesn't seem to hurt the paint if you are doing as i am with the yellow tank.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2015
    tb33anda3rd likes this.
  22. I've cleaned out a tank (deuce) and sealed it with the POR15 kit. Been good over 16 years. I mention this because after cleaning these out with acid based processes, you don't want them to grow more rust over time.
     
  23. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,515

    BrandonB
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from nor cal

    I had the same thoughts when I read that.
     
  24. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    Thank you so much for posting!!! I'll probably do mine soon!
     
  25. Binger
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 1,734

    Binger
    Member
    from wyoming

    Looks good!! Have lots of fun with it. Does the Radiator leak? if not give it a try and you may not have to replace the core. Look for a radiator shop and have it boiled out and see how it goes. The radiator in my coupe sat for years and I didn't have any issues with it when I got the engine running last summer. my radiator also sat with antifreeze in it so that may have has something to do with it.
     
  26. yruhot
    Joined: Dec 17, 2009
    Posts: 564

    yruhot
    Member

    I'm not expert but I am a member of the local model A club here is Las VEgas and I was told to only use straight 30 weight non-detergent oil due to the basically splash type oiling system and a little oil pressure from the oil pump. Have used it for years in my old A and it has worked well. Funny how hard it is to find non-detergent oil these days.yruhot
     
  27. yruhot
    Joined: Dec 17, 2009
    Posts: 564

    yruhot
    Member

    Nice job describing how its done.Thankyou
     
  28. yruhot
    Joined: Dec 17, 2009
    Posts: 564

    yruhot
    Member

    I love my A but hate the stock brakes. After several years of bad experiences I bit the bullet and converted to juice brakes. Not a cheap conversion but after sailing through a red light it was time. Hell even Henry Ford decided by 1937 I think it was that they were a better idea. I know the purist cringe at the idea and if they are happy at putting their family and others at risk press on. For me I like the feel of a nice firm brake pedal.
     
    Bigsmoothy likes this.
  29. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    This is a really good article from the Model A Ford Club of America.
    Read the whole thing through and this is where i came to my decision about the oil i used.
    I did end up using 10w-40 instead of 20w-50 which i forgot to mention. Sorry.

    http://rmaford.org/wp-content/blogs...SE_by_Russert_and_Wiedeman_Rev_C_Mar_2012.pdf
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  30. Bigsmoothy
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Bigsmoothy
    Member

    The Amsoil 10w-40 High Zinc Full Synthetic I used is better in my opinion because the multi viscocity changes with the temp and the Detergents help with sludge removal (which a lot of the old school guys are going to say that will clog oil passeges but someone on here tell me they've had that happen?!) and the Full Synthetic oil has a much higher flashpoint and is good for cylinder wall protection against scoring.
    And finally the high Zinc content helps with camshaft lubrication and protection.
    So say what you will...and you will. But i will let y'all know if my decision causes a problem.
    And sorry i haven't posted much lately, been busy with work and haven't had any free time to go work on the car.
    We're going to the Carlise show in Lakeland, FL this weekend to look for some parts and hopefully see Burt Reynolds because he'll be there both days! LoL
     

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