The Ford Barn

Richard Wilson · 05-25-2013, 06:26 PM

With all of the spirited debates this week about original vs modified, this story is about a guy that tried to have it both ways.

Today a friend of mine called needing some help with a terrible running Model A that he had gotten in a car trade. He knows almost nothing about Model A's. He said the former owner had been working on the engine before the trade.

I went over to see if I could help. Once there I had him start it up. It would barely run and was missing, spitting and backfiring terrible. He shut it off after about 30 seconds. I raised the hood planning to check the condition of the distributor and the timing first thing. I popped the cap off and saw a brand new "modern" upper plate with the V-8 points and condenser installed. About the same time I noticed that the "original" condenser was still screwed to the lower plate. The former owner had forgotten to remove it when he installed the new "modified" upper plate.

As a country comedian says, "here's your sign"

james hitchcock · 05-25-2013, 08:11 PM

I just put the modern upper plate in my 31 today. The first thing I did was remove the old condenser because I just knew that if I didn't do it first I'd forget.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 05-25-2013, 08:19 PM

Hey! Richard, when can I STOP SMILING? My face hurts & the Dog is looking at me "FUNNY"?? Bill W. (Did you know "they"make a dummy condensor to fill that hole, so them "other" Model A guys don't know you're hidin' a "modern" upper plate? Bill W. (Again)

Purdy Swoft · 05-25-2013, 10:37 PM

I use to cut an old condenser in half for a dummy when I ran that setup.

Richard Wilson · 05-25-2013, 10:39 PM

At first I thought it had to be the dummy version but when I took it out, nope, it was the original. Bill, NEVER stop smiling........it makes people wonder what you are up to! Dog is always smiling for a reason.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 05-26-2013, 11:44 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Wilson

At first I thought it had to be the dummy version but when I took it out, nope, it was the original. Bill, NEVER stop smiling........it makes people wonder what you are up to! Dog is always smiling for a reason.

Herein lies a dilema, one of Chief's MANY "WISDOM" sayings was, "Don't trust someone who smiles ALL the time, he's hidin' sumpthing" Bill W.

05-25-2013, 06:26 PM	#1
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	I Bet This Will Make You Smile With all of the spirited debates this week about original vs modified, this story is about a guy that tried to have it both ways. Today a friend of mine called needing some help with a terrible running Model A that he had gotten in a car trade. He knows almost nothing about Model A's. He said the former owner had been working on the engine before the trade. I went over to see if I could help. Once there I had him start it up. It would barely run and was missing, spitting and backfiring terrible. He shut it off after about 30 seconds. I raised the hood planning to check the condition of the distributor and the timing first thing. I popped the cap off and saw a brand new "modern" upper plate with the V-8 points and condenser installed. About the same time I noticed that the "original" condenser was still screwed to the lower plate. The former owner had forgotten to remove it when he installed the new "modified" upper plate. As a country comedian says, "here's your sign"

05-25-2013, 08:11 PM	#2
james hitchcock Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia Ca. Posts: 617	Re: I Bet This Will Make You Smile I just put the modern upper plate in my 31 today. The first thing I did was remove the old condenser because I just knew that if I didn't do it first I'd forget.

05-25-2013, 08:19 PM	#3
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: I Bet This Will Make You Smile Hey! Richard, when can I STOP SMILING? My face hurts & the Dog is looking at me "FUNNY"?? Bill W. (Did you know "they"make a dummy condensor to fill that hole, so them "other" Model A guys don't know you're hidin' a "modern" upper plate? Bill W. (Again) __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

05-25-2013, 10:37 PM	#4
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: I Bet This Will Make You Smile I use to cut an old condenser in half for a dummy when I ran that setup.

05-25-2013, 10:39 PM	#5
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: I Bet This Will Make You Smile At first I thought it had to be the dummy version but when I took it out, nope, it was the original. Bill, NEVER stop smiling........it makes people wonder what you are up to! Dog is always smiling for a reason. Last edited by Richard Wilson; 05-26-2013 at 07:23 AM.