The Ford Barn

Christoph · 12-10-2013, 05:53 AM

A friend wants to buy a Fourdoor 155.

He is in fear that there is lots of wood in this car which might be rotten.

1.
Is there a pic showing the amount of body-wood?
Mike v. Florida did post a pic of a 160.
http://www.fordwood.com/images/fordor31slant160new.jpg
Is there such a pic for the 155 available too?

2.
How to check if wood is ok without taking the car apart?
How to tell if wood in a shiny car is still ok?

Thank you very much
Christoph

Christoph · 12-10-2013, 05:59 AM

Well sorry
Forget about question one, as i found this one:
http://www.fordwood.com/images/fordor29m155new.jpg

Lots of wood there, so its important to know:

How to check if wood is ok without taking the car apart?
How to tell if wood in a shiny car is still ok?

Thank you
Christoph

Christoph · 12-10-2013, 06:20 AM

Even more questions:

Is this really a 155?
Its said, that this is built 1931

Please have a look - thank you

http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat...eatures=EXPORT

Terry,NJ · 12-10-2013, 09:04 AM

Christoph, A 155 is a "Town Sedan", a top of the line car. It will have cowl lights, A Rear domelight, a fold down arm rest in the rear seat. If it is a Briggs body, the door window openings will be straight across the top. If it is a Murray built body, the openings will be slightly arched. Also, If it's a 1931, it may be a slant window (SW). This model has no visor over the windshield. This model had less wood framing. Ford was developing a body with less wood and this was the production model of this new design. However, The older models, using the old wood framing, were also produced.
Where was the car? In a water proof (Mouse proof) building? Or was water allowed to fall on it? Is it rusty on one side or the other. If it was, look for bad wood on that side.
I have a wood framed, Briggs door with the original 83 year old wood in which the wood is still solid. The method for testing for bad wood is to take an awl (Used for making holes in leather) and probe for soft wood. Another way is to shake the body and doors for rigidity, If the bottom of the door feels loose, weak, and unsupported, the wood is probably rotten. Good luck!
Terry

zrodimel · 12-10-2013, 09:21 AM

I believe it's a 155D.
http://www.modelaford.org/technical/...0-31closed.asp

Terry,NJ · 12-10-2013, 10:21 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

When I made my first posting, I hadn't looked at the pictures. It looks like a very nice car. However, it's RH drive. If you're thinking of buying it, I would consider this. I've driven RH vehicles in the UK and Eire and it can take some getting used to. Many evidentally don't mind it, but it's not for me. I think you can trust the wood in this car.
Terry

Marco Tahtaras · 12-10-2013, 10:56 AM

The car looks pretty good so hopefully it was built on a good foundation. Below is an excerpt from something I posted on the old Fordbarn 10-12 years ago.

---------------

Defining the value of any model A is difficult for the novice. The wood framed Fordor bodies add an entirely new dimension to this problem. Most straight windshield fordors will have some problems with structural body wood whether "restored" or not. Don't even assume a restored Fordor has solid wood.

Top wood is usually the first area to go and you can generally count on it being bad unless it has been replaced already. First look at the visor/header area. There will usually be signs of moldings or replacement trim lifting and gobs of sealer in an attempt to glue it down and minimize water leaks. Look at the drip mouldings (rain gutters) over the doors. They usually begin separating from the body at the front (at the bad header area), but any looseness further back tells you the roof side rail wood is not salvageable.

The next place is looseness in the entire body. This is most obvious in the doors. Check each of the doors. Open the door and grasp at top and bottom with each hand. TWIST the door, in at the top and out at the bottom, and reverse. If the door twists around 1/4" with firm pressure it is likely it isn't bad and can be tightened up. Look at the bare wood visible on the door from below. Look for missing chunks and poke it (preferably while the owner isn't looking!) to see how hard or soft the wood is. If the door twists 1/2" or more it is a good indication the rest of the car has serious trouble. Check thoroughly!

The last place to check is the floor wood which is the foundation of the body. Lift all floor coverings that aren't tacked down and inspect (poke). Remove the rear cushion by lifting the front edge to unhook and slide forward. Check the floor wood at both ends of the rear seat risor and across the rear of the body. It should be solid as well. While the rear seat is loose or out it can't hurt to look at the bottom for wood rot or rusted seat spring indicating moisture damage.

Christoph · 12-10-2013, 02:17 PM

Wow - Thank you so much

What a lot of good advice.
Fordbarn is a great place to be.

He will have a close look on the car and will
act according to your suggestions.

Actuallly i would prefer a LHD-car too...
My friend (and his wife) love the looks of THIS car.
He is used to drive LHD-car in UK as well as
he is used to drive RHD-car in germany.
(so - this might not be a prob).

Im sure - My friend will be arround here soon

Thank you all
Long distance greetings
Christoph

12-10-2013, 05:53 AM	#1
Christoph Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main in Germany Posts: 671	A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? A friend wants to buy a Fourdoor 155. He is in fear that there is lots of wood in this car which might be rotten. 1. Is there a pic showing the amount of body-wood? Mike v. Florida did post a pic of a 160. http://www.fordwood.com/images/fordor31slant160new.jpg Is there such a pic for the 155 available too? 2. How to check if wood is ok without taking the car apart? How to tell if wood in a shiny car is still ok? Thank you very much Christoph

12-10-2013, 05:59 AM	#2
Christoph Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main in Germany Posts: 671	Re: A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? Well sorry Forget about question one, as i found this one: http://www.fordwood.com/images/fordor29m155new.jpg Lots of wood there, so its important to know: How to check if wood is ok without taking the car apart? How to tell if wood in a shiny car is still ok? Thank you Christoph

12-10-2013, 06:20 AM	#3
Christoph Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main in Germany Posts: 671	Re: A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? Even more questions: Is this really a 155? Its said, that this is built 1931 Please have a look - thank you http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat...eatures=EXPORT

12-10-2013, 09:04 AM	#4
Terry,NJ Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Northern Bucks Co. Pa Posts: 632	Re: A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? Christoph, A 155 is a "Town Sedan", a top of the line car. It will have cowl lights, A Rear domelight, a fold down arm rest in the rear seat. If it is a Briggs body, the door window openings will be straight across the top. If it is a Murray built body, the openings will be slightly arched. Also, If it's a 1931, it may be a slant window (SW). This model has no visor over the windshield. This model had less wood framing. Ford was developing a body with less wood and this was the production model of this new design. However, The older models, using the old wood framing, were also produced. Where was the car? In a water proof (Mouse proof) building? Or was water allowed to fall on it? Is it rusty on one side or the other. If it was, look for bad wood on that side. I have a wood framed, Briggs door with the original 83 year old wood in which the wood is still solid. The method for testing for bad wood is to take an awl (Used for making holes in leather) and probe for soft wood. Another way is to shake the body and doors for rigidity, If the bottom of the door feels loose, weak, and unsupported, the wood is probably rotten. Good luck! Terry

12-10-2013, 09:21 AM	#5
zrodimel Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: IN Posts: 4	Re: A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? I believe it's a 155D. http://www.modelaford.org/technical/...0-31closed.asp

12-10-2013, 10:21 AM	#6
Terry,NJ Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Northern Bucks Co. Pa Posts: 632	Re: A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) When I made my first posting, I hadn't looked at the pictures. It looks like a very nice car. However, it's RH drive. If you're thinking of buying it, I would consider this. I've driven RH vehicles in the UK and Eire and it can take some getting used to. Many evidentally don't mind it, but it's not for me. I think you can trust the wood in this car. Terry

12-10-2013, 10:56 AM	#7
Marco Tahtaras Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,099	Re: A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? The car looks pretty good so hopefully it was built on a good foundation. Below is an excerpt from something I posted on the old Fordbarn 10-12 years ago. --------------- Defining the value of any model A is difficult for the novice. The wood framed Fordor bodies add an entirely new dimension to this problem. Most straight windshield fordors will have some problems with structural body wood whether "restored" or not. Don't even assume a restored Fordor has solid wood. Top wood is usually the first area to go and you can generally count on it being bad unless it has been replaced already. First look at the visor/header area. There will usually be signs of moldings or replacement trim lifting and gobs of sealer in an attempt to glue it down and minimize water leaks. Look at the drip mouldings (rain gutters) over the doors. They usually begin separating from the body at the front (at the bad header area), but any looseness further back tells you the roof side rail wood is not salvageable. The next place is looseness in the entire body. This is most obvious in the doors. Check each of the doors. Open the door and grasp at top and bottom with each hand. TWIST the door, in at the top and out at the bottom, and reverse. If the door twists around 1/4" with firm pressure it is likely it isn't bad and can be tightened up. Look at the bare wood visible on the door from below. Look for missing chunks and poke it (preferably while the owner isn't looking!) to see how hard or soft the wood is. If the door twists 1/2" or more it is a good indication the rest of the car has serious trouble. Check thoroughly! The last place to check is the floor wood which is the foundation of the body. Lift all floor coverings that aren't tacked down and inspect (poke). Remove the rear cushion by lifting the front edge to unhook and slide forward. Check the floor wood at both ends of the rear seat risor and across the rear of the body. It should be solid as well. While the rear seat is loose or out it can't hurt to look at the bottom for wood rot or rusted seat spring indicating moisture damage. __________________ http://www.abarnyard.com/

12-10-2013, 02:17 PM	#8
Christoph Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main in Germany Posts: 671	Re: A Fourdoor Type155 ... lots of wood? Wow - Thank you so much What a lot of good advice. Fordbarn is a great place to be. He will have a close look on the car and will act according to your suggestions. Actuallly i would prefer a LHD-car too... My friend (and his wife) love the looks of THIS car. He is used to drive LHD-car in UK as well as he is used to drive RHD-car in germany. (so - this might not be a prob). Im sure - My friend will be arround here soon Thank you all Long distance greetings Christoph