How old is too old to work on Model A's???

[Marshall V. Daut]

I'm 77 with an irreparable torn rotator cuff, a knee replacement, one heart stent, double glaucoma, a bulging lower spine disk and a hangnail. Yet this morning I had to move a rebuilt Model A short block from the lower level of our two-story carriage house to the upper level to install it in a friend's Model A. The carriage house sits on a steep hill. A VERY steep hill, one of the steepest hills in town. The only way I could move the engine was to tie it to a two-wheel dolly and pull it down one hill, across the block at the bottom of the hill, and then up the other one. Going down the back street wasn't a strain, but look at the steepness of the hill going UP to the garage where the Model A is being worked on! Do you think anyone driving up the hill stopped and offered to help an old f*rt like me or ask even ask what the heck I was doing pulling an engine up this steep hill? Not in THIS town!
Looking at the photo and my accomplishment without dropping dead, who says we're too old to work on Model A's when we reach this age??? As Groucho Marks quipped: "You're only as old as the woman you feel."... or something akin to that.
Marshall

[katy]

You sound about as dilapidated as I am at 86.

[nkaminar]

Chronological age is not the determining factor of when to stop working on cars, or other heavy work such as construction. It is your physical age. Some people age faster than others. You will know when it is time to quit. Get your grandkids to help.

[BButturff]

I'm not a young man anymore, growing up on a farm and 32 1/2 years in the military have taken their toll. I've had a hip replaced, an ankle rebuilt twice, a total knee replacement and another knee that will be replaced this coming winter. But I still open and hold doors for my elders, help them any chance I get and I'll continue to do so until I'm gone from this world.

[Marshall V. Daut]

Randy Gross of cast iron brake drum and F-100 steering fame just called from California to tell me he would have stopped on the hill and helped me! I believe he actually would have. Well, that's one. The next Model A engine that I have to move from the lower carriage house level to the upper one, I'll give Randy a call so that he can fly back here to southeastern Iowa and help me pull the engine up the Bridge Avenue mountain side.
Thanks, Randy! Too bad your willingness to help someone struggling with an obviously over-matched burden isn't a characteristic embraced by the people in this town. Actually, I didn't really expect anyone here to do so, so no major letdown on my part. "Expect little and ye shall not be disappointed."
Marshall

[Marshall V. Daut]

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"You sound about as dilapidated as I am at 86."

I just got a headstart on you is all...
M.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Dang.....

Marshall somehow I feel responsible for that

Look at it this way. If this had been Bridge Ave. in Chicago, 2026, not only would they have stolen that motor but beat you to a pulp and left you laying there just for the heck of it......
And then sued you for them hurting their backs picking it up

[Marshall V. Daut]

I guess I should be thankful for small blessings...like NOT living in Chicago. 180 miles from here is close enough.
M.

[jeepguy1948]

Why didn’t you get help from the friend that’s getting the motor?

[Keith True]

Story about a hill and a friend.Hot,hot day,and I took my motorcycle down to get a case of beer.I lived on the edge of New England Dragway,and during events we knew to stay home.Half mile from home,at the bottom of a steep hill,my bike died,out of gas.I usually ran it unto the main tank ran out,then switch to reserve and gas up.I had forgotten to switch the reserve the last time I did it.I start pushing it up the hill,and my friend cruises by in his Thunderbird.He waves a beer at me and laughed.I got to the top,pushed the bike down the slight grade to home,and parked it st the picnic table between the houses.My friend was sitting at the picnic table,actually waiting for me to show up with the beer.He laughed and said,have a nice push? I walked over and punched him in the face.He did a backflip off the picnic table.He was a little scrawny guy,just a little bigger than me.Two other friends sitting there were mildly amused,one said,we don't know what he did,but for you to punch him he must have deserved it.I could see him not stopping,with the dragway running there are a lot of cops around,but if he'd told the other guys they would have run right out with a can of gas or to help push.

[WHN]

Is to old the right term?

Maybe it should be when it’s time to ask for help.

I think working on your car might be just setting next to it and enjoying your time.

[DF Model A]

I am reminded every day just getting out of bed or bending over to pick something up of my dumb youthful independence "I can do it myself attitude". You're never too young or too old to ask for help.

[Keith True]

25 years ago this summer I decided to put a 2 post lift in my garage.I'm an equipment/tractor/truck mechanic,but wanted it just to do my own work.I was 45,but starting to feel things coming on back then.I've taken a lot of car work since just because I had the lift.Now the hardest part is placing the pads to pick things up.I can spend a half hour getting a Ford Ranger up in the air,safely enough to make me happy.You can jump up and down 30 times easily getting the pads placed.So,last Friday I bought a 4 post drive on lift.It's what I learned on anyway,so I know how to work with their drawbacks.It is a 14000 pound lift,and it has two 7000 pound rolling jacks.I never had anything that fancy when I broke in on a drive on lift in 1972.I'll be 70 in a few months,and in the last year I've developed a sciatic problem in my left leg and back,and a recurring problem from a chipped bone in my left elbow.So my falling apart is just beginning.

[jb-ob]

Marshall,

No one doubts your determination and mechanical skills but maybe polish those social skills so your not the 'ol coot' working on those old cars by your self.

What, are you going to take all that experience with you ? Share leaving some behind for others. Jeesh, you are stubborn German !! (I recognize it !)

jb

[ModelA29]

At a mere 75 with an extremely junk back I spend a lot of time figuring out the easiest way to move stuff around. I've also bought a lot of casters and built/bought carts to get the job done.
This is the best helper I've recently bought (it was $120 at Costco). It currently has my OHV B engine on it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-1...uck-56409.html


+1 on Randy. I took my drums for him to turn and get new shoes. I had each corner in a separate box and a cart. He came out and helped haul them to his shop and then helped me reload them when they were done. BTW: Our Coupe had his drums (from 2 owners ago and unk miles) but the rest of my system was in bad shape - bent rods, loose pins, etc. The "worst" drum took about 3 thousandths to clean up. New shoes and other parts and it's now 110%. This car also has his F100 steering box another improvement that all Model As could use.

[CarlG]

I took on a project this past winter that I probably shouldn't have. It required multiple times getting down and under the car on jacks. I did accomplish the job albeit several months behind schedule. My garage ceiling height does not accomodate a lift, so a creeper on my back had to suffice. I'll be 85 in a couple of months and have had both knees replaced, and arthritis everywhere else.

[Marshall V. Daut]

Why didn’t you get help from the friend that’s getting the motor?

He lives an hour away and was just here the other day. Long way to drive for a 15-minute walk in the park up the hill. I was pretty sure I could do it by myself. Maybe I just wanted to prove to myself that I could?
M.

[john charlton]

I will be 87 on Saturday and found I had to get my son to fit my spare wheel on the back of my 28 phaeton . He fixed the flat as I would not have been able to remove the tube but I think I could have stuck the patch on !!!

John Suffolk County England .

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by john charlton

... found I had to get my son to fit my spare wheel on the back of my 28 phaeton.

John Suffolk County England .

I find I am using special tools to help with tasks now. Just the other day I had to breal out my "Wheel Buddys" to assist in mounting my spare tire/wheel to the back of my Town Sedan. I couldn't hold it up long enough to line up the holes. Still have to lift the wheel tho...

I guess I will continue until I can no longer hold a wrench.

Wheel Buddys

[Marshall V. Daut]

Neat! I could sure use a couple of those as many times as I've had the wheels on and off this car, plus the two side mounts! Where did you get your little buddys?
M.