Hot Rods So my dad buys a Model A from "Jerry Rigger " AKA bracket man

Ok so here we go!!! I started this thread because things are not always what they seem. I know that this looks like a cool car and it is but this car was built by one of the greatest booger job in history. I'm not kidding so if there is a place to post amazing hacks this is it. I'm going to post all the great hacks in this car that we will have to fix. So the story go's ........ My dad shows up at my work to tell me that he bought a model a that was on the side of the road and that it was a deal he could not p*** up. He wants me to go look at it so I did. We pull up the car is in a dark garage with one light bulb looking around seems to be a deal of a lifetime car seems sound car runs great oil pressure good owner says" it is a driver but no spring chicken" so dad signs the papers. But dad has no where to put the car so he leaves it there. 3 weeks later guy who sells him the car says can you pick up your car? So I said you can park it in my driveway until you find a place to store it. My dad drove it to my house and parked it. Then we started to notice little things were not so tight as we thought. Like the first time out in the car the rear fenders were falling off and here they were held on by just one self drilling screw and silicone. When I saw that I thought no big deal just take the fenders off we don't need them anyway but that was only the beginning of a very long list of blog jobs to come. Here is our hilariously funny story!!!I'm going to post every booger job we fix!!!!!

Sent from my LM-Q720 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

It DOES look like a pretty cool car. Curious to see what you find.

 

This is the day he picked it up.

Sent from my LM-Q720 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

This should get interesting...

 

Well, you at least got the basics and it ran, so the question is what you paid relative to what you got. And, it sounds like you didn't drive it first, or even back it out of the garage? It doesn't sound like the owner was trying to hide anything.

I knew of a man who sold a one-eyed horse by always turning it around so the buyer only saw the good eye.

Keep us posted, but you need to take some responsibility here.

 

It kind of looks like an old east coast style hot rod that maybe someone in the 1990's decided to "update."

 

He puts his old moons on and some shoe polish on the door to spruce things up for a car show in Maryland and while driving the oil pressure gauge was all over the place acting funny so we put a mechanical gauge on it and found out that when it gets hot it has about 16 pounds of oil pressure at idle and 25 pounds at higher rpm so now we know why it is " no spring chicken" ok so we knew that when he bought it. It is and old beat up 289. Ohh so ya the battery keeps going dead and guy mention that when he bought it that the battery gauge is not working. Ok so there are some bugs to work out on this car that's all.

Sent from my LM-Q720 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Look at the positives, it looks pretty good/kool, all the pieces are there, you stated price was low, so you have to fix a few things, not that much different than buying any used car. IMO, It's part of the deal, Hot Rods are not built by professionals, majority backyard/shade tree mechanics and a pro build will not insure perfection. Give Dad a break, don't rain on his parade. Looking at your profile, this not your's or his first rodeo. Good Luck and Enjoy the time spent with your Dad as one day he will not be there.

 

Besides all of that your Dad looks happy in every picture he is standing in beside his pride and joy. Please do not crush him but guide and help with the car and bond with your Dad. You only have one and he will not be here forever.

 

Reminds of the car I am currently using as a daily. But, I bought it right, knew what I was getting into, and seem to be working through the hacked up stuff to where I can trust it. It does amaze me sometimes what some folks do on these old cars. I currently have one worse than than my daily that keeps surprising me too. Your dad’s car does appear to have a lot of potential. I just try to laugh and tell good stories about the hacks.

 

Be thankful that your dad is interested in hot rods with you. Help him out with his car as much as you can. Later, you both should have good memories of the time that you spent together.

 

Nice rig, I see the Fram oil filter of death on your 289.......

 

Like your dad, I recently came across a Model A coupe that was just too good to p*** up. Fortunately, it is the polar opposite. As I drive and work on it I’m finding good workmanship and materials and that it is standing the test of time well. It was state-of-the-art for the ‘70s - early ‘80s. I’ve bought many at the other end of the scale like your dad’s but they always turned out fine. His car has a great look and style, just take one thing at a time and I’m sure you can keep that smile on his face.


Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Looks like a great looking car but even though it's really none of anyone's business except for your dad I'm guessing from the comments about it that most are wondering like me what kind of money was laid out. Reading most the threads on this site it has a lot to do with getting what you pay for and buyer beware. The fact he bought it really having no where to put it suggests it was either a great deal and he had to act fast or it was a purchase based on emotion rather than price which believe me, I've been guilty of that. Looks like he's really happy with it. I know I would be just judging by the pictures even if I had to do a few things to it. Cars like that don't show up too often anymore.

 

I see lots of good things.

 

This thread is about a good laugh not a buyers beware thread he knows what he bought. Just going to post some great laughs we have had along the way. The fuel system was one of the first things I fixed it had a total number of 27 hose clamps 3 metal lines two plastic lines and about 6 rubber hose fuel lines and home made fittings to make up the fuel system. When the fuel pump stopped working I ripped out the whole thing and started over. I used 4 hose clamps and two pieces of fuel line and a new holly fuel pump whist I had photos of that one.

Sent from my LM-Q720 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Good looking car. I like the fenders with the rib detail down the middle. That looks well done but are you going to say that it is entirely carved out of bondo?

 

Wish my Dad had done something like that! I'd have been all over it with him fixing this and that and in general enjoying the time together. However My Dad thought Hot Rods were a waste of time and money. Think of him often and wished we'd had more time together, he's been gone 33 years. So Enjoy Dad as everyone else is saying and keep on smiling!

 

I definately have an east coast bias but man I love the side profile of that car. Different wheels bias tires and a few other things and id be rockin that car. The rear bumper/ nerf bar is sick bro
Even though theres some style updates I dont care for ie the wheels, you can tell that was a car that was always loved and cared for which I like. Sometimes people just do ****ty repairs. Myself incuded haha

 

I love Model A Hot Rods .... and his has style !
Enjoy the journey with your Dad and I'll be following along with you.

 

Those fenders look unique, not knowing much about Model As, are they factory or aftermarket?

 

I would have had to laugh at that fuel system too. We need pics of all these things to laugh at so we can laugh with you. Here’s one of those sort of things I found on a Corvair I have been working on for a laugh...

 

One step closer to ACTUAL muffler bearings.

 

if it was all perfect price likely would have been too high to buy - this will keep both of busy together, with more "booger" tales to tell

 

Looks like a fun ride, 289 - throw some 50wt in it and keep driving.

 

Leaving the original air cleaner on a hot rod is always a plus for me..

 

Kind of like waking up with that gal you brought home from the bar last night who doesn't look all that fantastic in the morning but is still a pretty good old gal when you sit back and look over a cup off coffee.
A ring and bearing job with a new oil pump and a simple valve job will probably let your dad have a reliable engine for a lot of miles without a lot of expense.
Fenders, damn, I just flat like the looks of them on that car, they give it that right out of the late 50's early 60's east coast little book rod magazine vibe .

 

So here is just one picture of the wiring now you have to look real close and zoom In to get the real idea just take a minute and look real close start with the green ground wire then look at the connectors and bare wires going to nowhere[emoji471][emoji471][emoji471][emoji471][emoji4][emoji4]

Sent from my LM-Q720 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I did put 50w oil in it now it has 35 pounds of oil pressure purs like a kitten

Sent from my LM-Q720 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app