hoky fixs

[old ugly]

what sort of hoky repairs have you found on your supposedly restored Model A.
ou

[old ugly]

ill start.
this is the rt rear service brake rod.
it appears the rod wasn't long enogh so someone made an extension by welding two nuts together.

ou

[Ivan in southeast va.]

Not really a repair but I saw this on a guy's rpu. Scary!

[copgib]

I found body panels held on only with bondo no welding.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Ivan in southeast va.

Not really a repair but I saw this on a guy's rpu. Scary!

Almost puts it back to factory.

[Synchro909]

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I worked for a short time in a car restoration business. Some "fixes" were nothing short of terrifying. There was the guy who replaced the brake rods with 3/16" long thread which has a minor diameter of only 9/64" (3.6 mm) and they are made of rubbish metal.
Buicks from about 1924 are famous for rusting through the block at the bottom of the water jacket. I saw one that had done that and the owner had screwed a galvanised sheet metal patch over it and tried to seal it with something resembling muffler putty. Then there was this con rod. It had broken and had a splint rivetted on to repair with a coach bolt as a big end bolt. Amazing.

[Gufshoz]

When we removed the chicken wire/bondo to replace with welded patch panels, she looked like Swiss cheese.

[aermotor]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I worked for a short time in a car restoration business. Some "fixes" were nothing short of terrifying. Then there was this con rod. It had broken and had a splint rivetted on to repair with a coach bolt as a big end bolt. Amazing.

Give the guy a break - you gotta do what you gotta do.

John

[McMimmcs]

Many of the fixes were out of necessity. New parts or food? An easy choice.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by aermotor

Give the guy a break - you gotta do what you gotta do.

John

I'm not criticising the guy who repaired that con rod. The fact that it kept the motor running is remarkable and a real achievement.
No comment on the brake rods!

[old ugly]

the old days of keeping the car going, inventiveness, is different from a supposedly restored car and finding bad stuff.

i was thinking of modern day Hoky

[Bob Bidonde]

Many years ago, the newly rebuilt motor in my 45B Coupe made some horrible noises on its maiden club run. Some moron in the re-builder's shop tied the oil pump up into the block with clothesline. The clothesline disintegrated and clogged the oil screen on the oil pump, so the motor starved for oil.

[Bob Bidonde]

Many years ago, the newly rebuilt motor in my 45B Coupe made some horrible noises on its maiden club run. Some moron in the re-builder's shop tied the oil pump up into the block with clothesline. The clothesline disintegrated and clogged the oil screen on the oil pump, so the motor starved for oil.
Ever since, I take every rebuilt motor apart and inspect it for deficiencies. I have not yet found a perfect rebuilt motor!

[nkaminar]

Rat nest wiring.

I bought a 1929 closed cab pickup years ago that was "restored" but the transmission required rebuilding before driving the car and the doors did not fit correctly. As you know this model used Model T parts in the body, including the doors. Plus, nothing had been greased or lubricated. The wood was not replaced and lots of it was rotten. I think the guy who put it together was not interested in actually driving the car.

[700rpm]

I bought a ‘29 ccpu in 1965 where the previous owner must have had stock in a baling wire company. The doors, tail light, and tail gate were all held on, held together, or held closed with wire. The brake light switch was missing, and the p.o. explained that when he was stopping he would turn on the lights so it would look like the brake light was coming on. But the sheet metal was good and it ran pretty well and I only paid $350 for it. My cousin and I (19 and immortal) cut around all summer in it, as is/was, even taking an 800-mile round trip from Portland, OR to Eureka, CA. Sold it in the same condition at the end of summer for $450, which I used for tuition.

[ursus]

When I bought my coupe it had a nice tight body with little bondo, and not a squeak, even on a rough road. However, the PO was a welder that worked for the Highway Dept. and he used his skills to tack and stitch a number of body panels in places where a fastener should have gone. After assembly, he sprayed on a heavy undercoating of some kind of asphaltic composition over the undersides, effectively glueing it all together.

The result was one tight body although it took a lot of time with a grinder and propane torch to get the fenders off for repairs. I had to be careful with the propane torch and kept an extinguisher close by lest I set the whole car on fire.

[fordcragar]

I had a rattling sound coming from the right rear of my coupe, I pulled the wheel and drum and found the nuts that fastened the backing plate to the housing loose. No washers, because the bolts weren’t long enough.

[old ugly]

i would get so frustrated with my dad, he put a car together, no two bolts were the same. by the time the job of repairing what ever it was you were repairing the whole tool box would be empty beside the car.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by fordcragar

I had a rattling sound coming from the right rear of my coupe, I pulled the wheel and drum and found the nuts that fastened the backing plate to the housing loose. No washers, because the bolts weren’t long enough.

Pre LocTite era fix.

[fordcragar]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Pre LocTite era fix.

I’m not sure it was a pre Loctite fix, as the bolts weren’t long enough to go all the way through the nuts. So there was no way you put a lock washer in the assembly.

[Dave Slater]

That’s a “bit” dangerous

[SwampLedge]

My RPU had a total of 12 rear spring leaves, and they improvised shims for the clamps.

[Planojc]

Removed the gas gauge and found a Christmas tree light bulb used as a float.

[Utopia Texas]

Black pepper flakes in the radiator to stop a small leak….

[Will N]

Originally Posted by Ivan in southeast va.

Not really a repair but I saw this on a guy's rpu. Scary!

What is that, a 5,000 amp fuse?

[old ugly]

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Originally Posted by Planojc

Removed the gas gauge and found a Christmas tree light bulb used as a float.

that's funny. was it still working?
ou

[Utopia Texas]

Originally Posted by Planojc

Removed the gas gauge and found a Christmas tree light bulb used as a float.

Did the light make it easier to see the gas level?

[katy]

Originally Posted by Will N

What is that, a 5,000 amp fuse?

Here's a chart:

[burner31]

All the hinges on all four doors were welded to the body, guess the P.O. got tired of adjusting the doors.
Took me several weeks to get them all back to "normal"

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by katy

Here's a chart:

that chart didn;t include the 22cal shell. lol

ou

[old ugly]

quote. "i just rebuilt my distributor but i cant keep the points set and it has a bit of a miss"

this is the distributor shaft that i took out.

A guy wouldn't want to spend $20 on new shafts and bushings. lol

[gdmn852]

On my roadster the one of the owners spent $$$ on it for stone guard, hydraulic brake conversion, things like that, but kingpins ,brake and clutch pedal shaft steering balls, etc never rebuilt.Also the “why buy bolts when we have a welder”like a previous post .Also when the rear hubs were fitted must have seen the bearings in hub and thought they were similar to front bearings backed off two slots on rear axle nuts. Lack basic Model A knowledge .

[Gene F]

My Model-A wasn't too bad, but I bought it pretty much in pieces. My 36 Plymouth streetrod has been a different story. The battery was relocated to the trunk. The positive cable is two pieces of welder cable, sliced together with a slit bolt, and taped. But here's the ting, they drilled a hole in the sheet metal side panel of the trunk, and instead of a grommet they put s\a piece of duct tape around the opening.

I won't tell you the stunt the pulled with the cooling fan for the engine.

The engine was in my A when I got it, but the timing was set backwards of what is correct. Push the handle up to go down the road. Needless to say the timing was off. LOL LOL LOL

[Chris in WNC]

If you can still find it, Jim Mason's old web page has a section of "messtorations" complete with photos.
Amusing and sometimes scary to see.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Chris in WNC

If you can still find it, Jim Mason's old web page has a section of "messtorations" complete with photos.
Amusing and sometimes scary to see.

This one?? http://jmodela.coffeecup.com/mess.html

[old ugly]

som nice fixs thar

[Halswell]

I have have two "restored A's ??" and have found on both these cars that the PO's had left out the small felt seal that fits between the bottom of the King Pin and the Backing Plate . The result being that each time the King Pins were greased the front hubs got a good shot of grease. Did nothing for braking. One of these cars was restored by a professional restorer. Makes you wonder. Happy motoring. Dave.

[Jemelton#]

This is one that comes to mind, no cotter pins available I guess.

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by Jemelton#

This is one that comes to mind, no cotter pins available I guess.

hey now. I've actually done that. lol

[mccsix]

I always thought they were called "farmers fixes" some are really inventive!

[BillCNC]

Originally Posted by Utopia Texas

Black pepper flakes in the radiator to stop a small leak….

My preferred method of dealing with a small leak. Pepper is biodegradable and will eventually disappear, leaving to to do the repair correctly, or to add more pepper. In fact, in my modern cars, I carry a can of pepper in the glove box. It's pulled me or a complete stranger out of a jam more than once.

I don't like bars leak or similar because it will coat all the surfaces of your cooling system with no easy way to remove it.

I do this with modern cars where radiators don't cost $600-$800 greenbacks. My Model A, it get's fixed correctly because the engine cost a fortune to replace.

Regards
Bill

[WHN]

These are some really good stories.

All the more reason to buy a car that has had as few owners as possible. Every new owner does his thing.

Enjoy. Haze Gray and Underway!

[BillCNC]

The trick is to find a car who's owners were NOT butchers or a complete hack. When looking to buy a car, look at everything else the owner own's. That should be a good indicator. Probably ask him a qualifier question such as, How many roll's of duct tape does he go through in a year, or, when was the last time he bought bailing wire?

Reghards
Bill

[Dave in Petaluma]

The link below shows a few examples from a '28 AA express that came from an estate. It's pretty on top and a horror show underneath. I'm not sure where to start, but if anyone has any 1928 AA brake parts, I'm listening. The brakes have been "modified" with a later cross shaft shoved through the frame and attached only to the brake rods.https://photos.app.goo.gl/9qtwHy69DhJngS4RA

[WHN]

Shade Tree Mechanic work.

What does the body, interior, and engine look like?

Enjoy.

[Dave in Petaluma]

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I've added a couple of pics of the top side to the album. I'm unable to post pictures any other way, sorry.

[[email protected]]

Old thread on this subject.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ferrerid=16136

[old ugly]

this is what you do if you have too many oil leaks or maybe a knock you can't find.
custom modified and brazed into the oil pan in the wrong spot.

hard to figure out why the engine failed after such few miles.

[Bullrhider]

"I bought a 1929 closed cab pickup years ago that was "restored" but the transmission required rebuilding before driving the car and the doors did not fit correctly. As you know this model used Model T parts in the body, including the doors."

Does this explain why the Model A front floor mats sold by most vendors do not fit properly in the Pickups? Would a Model T mat fit better? Does anyone make the proper mat for Model A pickups?

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by Bullrhider

"I bought a 1929 closed cab pickup years ago that was "restored" but the transmission required rebuilding before driving the car and the doors did not fit correctly. As you know this model used Model T parts in the body, including the doors."

Does this explain why the Model A front floor mats sold by most vendors do not fit properly in the Pickups? Would a Model T mat fit better? Does anyone make the proper mat for Model A pickups?

a while back i worked on an early 1928 closed cap pu. the doors were model T but the inside floor was the same as model A.
maybe a different mat but the one i removed from that pu looked just like the other model A p/u . it fit ok.
i have no idea the supplier of that mat.

sorry not much help

[gdmn852]

This is pictures of the same door as mounted on car and after sandblasting,sculpt a door out of bondo , I wondered why it was so heavy!

[Gene F]

The oil tray phot really makes me wonder. Where that is located, why would the oil not keep it in pristine condition? Also, aren't these readily available?

[hep1966]

In 1988, 16 year old me “fixed” a hole in a quarter panel with plastic bags and fiberglass filler. It still holds in place.

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by Gene F

The oil tray phot really makes me wonder. Where that is located, why would the oil not keep it in pristine condition? Also, aren't these readily available?

yes it was brazed into the oil pan. i had to cut it out with a makita and a cut off wheel. so its covered in brass grindings. it just came out of a running engine. but the engine had some serious internal problems that i think came from oil not circulating properly.

thats all brass along the outer edges

[Certimafied]

hep1966, when I was a teen I helped a fella who worked on old deuce and halfs. He liked newspaper and bond for rust repair.

Recently found a w124 chassis Mercedes with a water leak in the interior through the firewall above the trans hump. Found someone at some point in time used expanding foam to fill a rust hole. They took the time to reshape and paint over the foam. Dditn know it was there until I put a screwdriver to it.

[nkaminar]

In 1936, in the middle of the depression, the Model A was just a used car and money was tight. A lot of things were done just to keep the car going. Through WW II when new cars were not available the Model A was kept running by hokey fixes. But today there is no excuse. In another thread I see some work being done on an engine in the car where the better choice would be to pull the engine and do a proper repair. I am sorry. I know that some people have limited resources and abilities and just want to get their car running. But people are capable of learning and using inexpensive tools. I have pulled an engine using a come-a-long. So I will get off my high horse now and go about my work for the day. But I just want to say that it takes more work to do something twice than to do it correctly in the first place.

[katy]

Here's how to lift an engine on the cheap:
Dunno how the picture got rotated.

[Stingray70]

Originally Posted by katy

Here's how to lift an engine on the cheap:
Dunno how the picture got rotated.

Don't know about "cheap" Katy. Have you seen the price of lumber lately?

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Bullrhider

"I bought a 1929 closed cab pickup years ago that was "restored" but the transmission required rebuilding before driving the car and the doors did not fit correctly. As you know this model used Model T parts in the body, including the doors."

Does this explain why the Model A front floor mats sold by most vendors do not fit properly in the Pickups? Would a Model T mat fit better? Does anyone make the proper mat for Model A pickups?

FYI, Snyders sells an "untrimmed" floor mat that should work for you https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/s...archt=A-2005-U

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

In 1936, in the middle of the depression, the Model A was just a used car and money was tight. A lot of things were done just to keep the car going. Through WW II when new cars were not available the Model A was kept running by hokey fixes. But today there is no excuse. In another thread I see some work being done on an engine in the car where the better choice would be to pull the engine and do a proper repair. I am sorry. I know that some people have limited resources and abilities and just want to get their car running. But people are capable of learning and using inexpensive tools. I have pulled an engine using a come-a-long. So I will get off my high horse now and go about my work for the day. But I just want to say that it takes more work to do something twice than to do it correctly in the first place.

so true.
to add
so many of the hoky fixs are by people presenting their cars as "being restored".there are no excuses for a hoky fix on a Model A nowadays.
especially so on safety related parts.

[baba]

My dad, born 1898, used to talk about baling wire and chewing gum. That was the precursor to duck tape and WD40 I guess.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by baba

My dad, born 1898, used to talk about baling wire and chewing gum. That was the precursor to duck tape and WD40 I guess.

One of my friends and I used to say we could fix anything with string and sealing wax. I said to him recently that we should move with the times. I've stopped using string and sealing wax. I use duct tape and silicone now. Then I asked him to pass another beer!!

[johnneilson]

Originally Posted by baba

My dad, born 1898, used to talk about baling wire and chewing gum. That was the precursor to duck tape and WD40 I guess.

Bailing wire and Chewing gum were far different than todays versions.

50 year old samples, tougher than hell...

John

[KenBolton]

My 30 CCPU had three different makes of leaves in the front spring. I can confirm this was a farmer repair!

[Chris Haynes]

I once removed an engine by removing the head, bolting a long 2x4 to the head studs, then two of us lifted the engine out of the car.

[old ugly]

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Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

I once removed an engine by removing the head, bolting a long 2x4 to the head studs, then two of us lifted the engine out of the car.

perfect, that is ingenuity, not hoky at all. lol