On a model A the gas tank is in the cowl. works ok, but you have to have a shut off tap to stop the fuel draining into the engine if you have a dodgy needle valve. Many times I'd forget to turn off the tap and I'd get a leak around the fuel pump lid. Plus the tap was permanently wet with fuel, was tight to turn on and off, and I'd get petrol on my fingers. I decided to use a solenoid in place of the fuel tap. I had to salvage the fitting that screws into the tank off a wasted Model A tap, solder it to a fitting that fitted the thread on the solenoid base, and soldered a 90 Deg fitting on the other end, that takes a 1/4" pipe with an olive. One wire earthing through the solenoid body and another to an ignition live and hey presto, a fuel valve that I dont have to remember to turn on and off, and most importantly does not leak! Mart.
And here's the leaky tap it replaced. Mart. PS the road test on the rebuilt trans and new clutch went well, that new clutch is SMOOOOTH! Mart.
PPS If you're quick you can pull one tap, put your finger over the hole, and get the new one started without draining the tank, just get a catch pan in place, have everything to hand and be QUICK! Mart.
Keep the catch can handy for when the fuel eats thru that pipe dope or the copper fuel line gets brittle and cracks. Great idea tho, wish I'd a thunk of it when I had my last A...
Bitchen idea! I can remember my Dad fighting those damn leaking shut-off valves! Wait 'till the Model A restorers get ahold of your idea! Sam.
Yeah, Sam but will they be able to find 6V solenoids?? Heh heh! I've had that one sitting in the "might come in handy one day" pile for 20 years plus!. Mart.
Probably not... but MOST of the "restorers" in the Model A club switched over to 12V years ago... so it'll work fine for 'em. Thanks for sharing! Sam.
[ QUOTE ] Bitchen idea! I can remember my Dad fighting those damn leaking shut-off valves! Wait 'till the Model A restorers get ahold of your idea! Sam. [/ QUOTE ] This is not a new idea. The guys on Ahooga.com have done this for years. Most of us have kept our cars 6v.
[ QUOTE ] Keep the catch can handy for when the fuel eats thru that pipe dope or the copper fuel line gets brittle and cracks. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, us Yanks are leery of copper pipe - work hardening & cracking. Swhy we don't use them on brakes - although I see them on every rod over here. I think copper tubing got a bad rap years ago - the newer stuff has something in it (nickel?) that helps prevent this. Someone told me the new Volvos use it! [ QUOTE ] This is not a new idea. [/ QUOTE ] But it's still a good one!
Yeah, I know why you 'murkins dont like copper pipe. I bought a copper fuel pipe (flathead pump to carb) from SoCal in Az (purely to get the fittings) and the copper pipe was pure*****. Really soft and thin wall. The tubing we get over here is made specifically for automotive use to a British Standard. We use it for brakes too. As far as it being an old idea, I suppose it must be, but I hadn't heard mention of it before, but it's so simple I dare say lots of people have done it. The only fuel shut off valves I've seen before have been marketed as anti-theft devices. I bought another one off ebay recently quite cheap, but it is a bit bulkier than the one I used. Series 3 jags have a valve in the trunk to switch from one tank to the other. I'm sure one of those could be made to work. Biggest problem I had was matching the American pipe thread in the tank to the bsp threads in the solenoid. Mart.
A restored Model A is worth what, $7-10,000? A hot rod Model A (even a ratty one) is worth so much more!! Restored cars are good for one thing....material!
Pete, I'd tend to disagree.. In the late 80's, my dad sold his 1931 slant window for just over $16,000. Now compute that into 2000 dollars? A well restored A is worth more than you might think.
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