Boat Anchor

[rfitzpatrick]

When I'm heavy traffic in my PicUp, and I finally get third-gear? It's like I threw out a boat anchor -- my acceleration is so very slow. It's an all
stock Budd. Got one of then Slow-Vehicle logos on my tail-gate that no one
honors. Once I get going, I'm keeping up with traffic. This is getting dangerous.


Thanks -- I Feel Better

[HDowse]

Is the engine timed correctly? Is the spark advanced down about 2/3rds? The parking brake is off and the brakes aren’t dragging? Check all that and don’t compare the A with your Tesla......

[Blue-Truck-Nut]

Through much research, I can attest that the Model A's performance is severely lacking when operated as a raft, boat, or submarine. I humbly suggest enjoying ones Model A on dry land.


As for traffic, you aren't alone. Drivers are paying less attention than ever to what is in front of them, behind the steering wheel of faster more responsive cars than ever. I've noticed an exponential change within just the last year, defensive driving is more critical now than ever.

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[Pdgx]

I’m sure it’s at least as warm down there as it is here already. I’d suggest you open your air/fuel adjustment a little bit more and see if it helps your setup.
If you’re driving it a lot in traffic, might consider a Mitchell OD, as the 2 to 3 shift is a bit much, and you can bog down if you have any grade.

[nkaminar]

Are you looking for answers or just complaining. If you want better acceleration, you know what to do. Regarding people riding your exhaust pipe, I put a camera in my rear window to record any accident. The cops know how to view the video which will let them see the person texting and not paying attention.

[rfitzpatrick]

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[QUOTE=nkaminar;2018840]Are you looking for answers





YES

[Blue-Truck-Nut]

Sarcasm aside......
Is this problem a recent development? Or has it always been this way?
First, is it a low power issue, or something keeping the car from coasting freely? ( See post #2)
I would start diagnosing by cleaning the fuel screen, and verifying good fuel flow at the carb.
Next, I would use a screwdriver or some such instrument to short the spark plugs, make sure it's hitting on all 4, that's also the time to verify good hot spark, if I get a good solid arc 1/8" or more I'm happy. If not, check the points. ( Don't do this step with fuel everywhere from the first step, for obvious reasons.)
Next, pull the spark plugs and look, is it running too lean? Too rich? Are the plugs varnished? Clean and gap or replace as needed.
That's how I would start, and proceed depending on what I found there.

Good luck!

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[Ian in Mississauga]

What speed are you shifting at? I get the same result as you if I shift under 20mph.

[TerryH]

The Model A has a big gap, shifting from 2nd to 3rd…..so I never shift at less than 20 mph. 3rd will pull better than……

[Jack Shaft]

This is a boat anchor

00aa.jpg

[Jack Shaft]

I built mine to battle with the yoyo's on the road today..hell If I can gap a Kia Rio if i catch it napping..actually a model a putting out about twice the power with a mitchell OD is capable of competing in todays combat conditions..without protection of a convoy,and any time of the day

[Mister Moose]

Originally Posted by TerryH

The Model A has a big gap, shifting from 2nd to 3rd…..so I never shift at less than 20 mph. 3rd will pull better than……

Henry built the Model A as a 4 speed, and then to reduce costs he left 3rd gear out. When you think of it as 1st, 2nd and 4th, you'll be in the right frame of mind. If the car pulls strong in 1st and 2nd, you likely have normal performance. There's a reason so many folks put in overdrive, as it not only gives you a higher gear for highway, but a higher 2nd gear for hills and acceleration.

[Big hammer]

Originally Posted by rfitzpatrick

When I'm heavy traffic in my PicUp, and I finally get third-gear? It's like I threw out a boat anchor -- my acceleration is so very slow. It's an all
stock Budd. Got one of then Slow-Vehicle logos on my tail-gate that no one
honors. Once I get going, I'm keeping up with traffic. This is getting dangerous.


Thanks -- I Feel Better

Check and see if your throttle is opening wide open

[rfitzpatrick]

Thanks everyone.
I've gone over the ideas mentioned. Now once I get up to speed, it'll do 50 real easy
but that doesn't feel safe. It'll take a few miles of open road to reach that. It has a 3.78 rear-end --
Thanks

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by rfitzpatrick

Thanks everyone.
I've gone over the ideas mentioned. Now once I get up to speed, it'll do 50 real easy
but that doesn't feel safe. It'll take a few miles of open road to reach that. It has a 3.78 rear-end --
Thanks

Find a local club and see if you can locate someone to look at your car. Maybe bring it to a club meeting. It is not performing right and sounds dangerous to drive.

Charlie Stephens

[nkaminar]

Aside from the usual things to make a car accelerator faster, there are some less obvious things to check. Check to see if there is an obstruction in the tail pipe or muffler or if it is a very restrictive muffler. You can just disconnect it from the exhaust manifold and tie it up with some wire or rope to see if that makes a difference. (Car will be louder.) (An old high school trick is to shove a potato up an exhaust pipe as a joke.) Check the intake manifold and exhaust manifold for restrictions. Do the gaskets have undersize holes? Do the coast test as others have suggested to see if there is some parasitic drag.

There is always the option to send the engine to someone to rework it. $$$

[jayvee34]

Originally Posted by Blue-Truck-Nut

Through much research, I can attest that the Model A's performance is severely lacking when operated as a raft, boat, or submarine. I humbly suggest enjoying ones Model A on dry land.


As for traffic, you aren't alone. Drivers are paying less attention than ever to what is in front of them, behind the steering wheel of faster more responsive cars than ever. I've noticed an exponential change within just the last year, defensive driving is more critical now than ever.

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

saw this bumper sticker on a car driving the speed limit.
"SORRY FOR DRIVING SO CLOSE IN FRONT OF YOU"

[shew01]

Originally Posted by jayvee34

saw this bumper sticker on a car driving the speed limit.
"SORRY FOR DRIVING SO CLOSE IN FRONT OF YOU"

Lol


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[Blue-Truck-Nut]

Originally Posted by jayvee34

saw this bumper sticker on a car driving the speed limit.

"SORRY FOR DRIVING SO CLOSE IN FRONT OF YOU"

Hahaha! That's great.

My favorite Red Green quote is "The fastest way to irritate a stranger is to drive the speed limit."

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[nkaminar]

The speed limit on the freeways around Washington DC is 55 mph. Try driving that slow and you will get run off the road. Traffic flows at 70 mph or more. I don't understand.

[katy]

Why are so many people in such a hurry to get to the next red light?

[rfitzpatrick]

Originally Posted by katy

Why are so many people in such a hurry to get to the next red light?

I'm in a hurry to get away after a Red Lite.

I'm working on something with help from Club Mechanic.
Thanks

[raven007]

If your engine is healthy, rev it out a little more in second. Even though shifting 2->3 is an acquired talent at higher rpm, just a couple hundred more rpm can help get over that ratio hump. I try to time the clutch/throttle so the car is just still pulling before i push it to do the shift to let the momentum help carry the car while the shift is happening.

Also you are in Florida so people drive like mad down there anyway.

[Big hammer]

Originally Posted by rfitzpatrick

I'm in a hurry to get away after a Red Lite.

I'm working on something with help from Club Mechanic.
Thanks

Let us know what you find, thanks

[rfitzpatrick]

I decided to pull my distrubtor. The lower shaft came out too, because it was rusted together, there at the lower end of distrubtor Could this be a factor in slow acceleration too?

Thanks

[rfitzpatrick]

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OK, I replace the distrubtor but installed the FSI Electronic Plate (electronic points/condensor) and used the rest of the equipment, keeping an original look. Then used the Nu-Rex Wrench to assist securing the cam in place while using/having the timing-pin in place. The wrench held the cam in place while I secured the screw there -- I've apparently lost some grip in my hands at my age (79). Afterwards -- what a difference it made -- I can easily move away from the red-lites now. As someone posted here: "The Model A Wants To Run"

[nkaminar]

Great news. Thanks for the feedback. You probably did not have it timed correctly, but do now. Or there could have been something wrong with the stock distributor (points, condensor).

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Mister Moose

Henry built the Model A as a 4 speed, and then to reduce costs he left 3rd gear out. When you think of it as 1st, 2nd and 4th, you'll be in the right frame of mind. If the car pulls strong in 1st and 2nd, you likely have normal performance. There's a reason so many folks put in overdrive, as it not only gives you a higher gear for highway, but a higher 2nd gear for hills and acceleration.

That's an interesting comment about the Model A being designed as a 4 speed. I've never heard that before. Do you have a source for this information? I'd like to research this. Thanks!

[Jack Shaft]

What I read is its a scaled down Lincoln transmission, during chassis development it was the easiest component to approve. The way I understand it Ford wanted you in high gear as quickly as possible to utilize the engines low end torque, different than what most drivers of today are used too.

Although I extensively modified my car I wont 'upgrade' the transmission.To me the model A's character is in that spur gear box.

[Mister Moose]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

That's an interesting comment about the Model A being designed as a 4 speed. I've never heard that before. Do you have a source for this information? I'd like to research this. Thanks!

That was a tongue in cheek comment to describe the feeling in shifting from 2nd to 3rd. It feels more like 2nd to 4th. However, to the best of my extremely limited knowledge, there was never a 4 speed designed for the Model A.

[old31]

I also have never heard of a proposed 4th gear for a Model A. Anything in print?

[katy]

Model A has 4 speeds forward, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and neutral (coast).

[daren007]

If you are in a hurry you are driving the wrong car.

[ETAModel]

I have pulled lots of heavy loads (5 large round bales of hay) with 69 chevy 1/2 ton truck with a 250 6cyl and a 3 speed. The key, according to my dad who hauled oil field equipment with an AA, is to wind her up tight in 2nd gear before going to 3rd. When I'm merging with traffic on the highway, which I try not to, I tend to wind her up more than on a county road.

We had pics of dad with his grandpa hauling HUGE loads with the AA's, its totally nuts how big a load they moved BITD. After WWII they bought several surplus semi tractors and sold off the AA's.


Now I'm the new guy on here and don't recommend it on a regular basis, but to get out of a jam I'd try it.

[nkaminar]

I used my AA to haul a full size station wagon to the dump. I cannot remember how I got it on the bed, or off. This was back when an AA was just an old truck.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Jack Shaft

This is a boat anchor

Attachment 464010

You give up too easily!

[kippmw]

I've been told that I can be an..."agressive" Model A driver, so take that for what it is. Lol. I learned that these cars are tough and can handle a little aggressive driving. It's a Model A, they're not fast, but if you push them a little, they can handle most modern traffic. I run them up to 25 in second...sometimes more when I need to jump into traffic. If you don't abuse it and do that all the time, it'll be fine. Getting the revs up in 2nd will help bridge the big gap between 2nd and 3rd.

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[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by kippmw

I've been told that I can be an..."agressive" Model A driver, so take that for what it is. Lol. I learned that these cars are tough and can handle a little aggressive driving. It's a Model A, they're not fast, but if you push them a little, they can handle most modern traffic. I run them up to 25 in second...sometimes more when I need to jump into traffic. If you don't abuse it and do that all the time, it'll be fine. Getting the revs up in 2nd will help bridge the big gap between 2nd and 3rd.

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There are gears available that will move 1st and 2nd up 15%, thus closing the gap to 3rd. The Model A has plenty of torque to handle the higher gears and getting the car up to speed is much easier.