The Ford Barn

Jemelton# · 03-05-2018, 05:32 PM

This was the way the rear spring on my 29 Tudor was when I pulled it out of the barn.
I have been thinking of pulling the nails out and replacing them with the proper cotter pins, but for nostalgia sake, maybe leave them alone?

F.M. · 03-05-2018, 05:40 PM

Stronger than a cotter key !!

Bill G · 03-05-2018, 05:44 PM

Unless you are showing the car, then why mess with the "barn find" aspect of it! Do check to make sure it doesn't look like one is going to work itself loose. You don't want to contribute to a punctured tire.

Growley bear · 03-05-2018, 06:04 PM

If it ain't broke.

1930-Pickup · 03-05-2018, 07:24 PM

You could remove those nails and put them on eBay as "Model A Nails". Seems to work for a lot of sellers on that site. $6.95 each sounds about right...'cuz they're rare

Jacksonlll · 03-05-2018, 08:31 PM

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There is nothing to fix.

burner31 · 03-05-2018, 08:48 PM

Looks fine to me, what seems to be the problem?

Tom Wesenberg · 03-05-2018, 09:05 PM

That's how it all starts..............first it's just 4 cotter pins, then the rest of the car doesn't match the new cotter pins, so it all comes apart for a full blown restoration.

SeaSlugs · 03-05-2018, 09:28 PM

Yup leave it. Nails are stronger and part of its history. Ive used nails for years in place of cotter pins.

KGBnut · 03-05-2018, 09:30 PM

I love the old farmer's fixes. It's functionally safe so there is no good reason to change it back. Every time you are working under the car and see it you will think of the person who installed them all those years ago.

Ken

GPierce · 03-05-2018, 10:03 PM

Nails are easier to get out than cotter pins if you have to remove them. Stick with the nails.

RUNNERBUN · 03-05-2018, 11:10 PM

I think the original owner really nailed the problem.

I think shiny new cotter pins would not look right.

Ron in Quincy · 03-05-2018, 11:49 PM

At least you know the castle nuts have been taken up; Ford instructed the dealerships to service the rear spring the first time the owner had his "A" serviced.

Suggest you leave it like it is if you are not having a problem.

Ron

Jemelton# · 03-06-2018, 09:28 AM

Thanks for the suggestions! I really like the idea of selling the Model A Nails on E-Bay

. I have already put over 10K in the restoration and I didn't want to spend the rest of my 401K on the pins

old31 · 03-06-2018, 05:01 PM

Yep, leave it for nostalgia sake. Let it go for the next 40 years.

As Tom mentioned, you pull those then you have to change the interior, you change the interior, well that old paint then has to go, but wait all that shinny paint well the chrome.........

Jwilli · 03-06-2018, 05:09 PM

Just an example of "making do" with what you have.

Tony Martino · 03-06-2018, 06:05 PM

Leave them.
You will never see it done again,
and probably nobody else has ever seen it!

Willie Krash · 03-06-2018, 06:13 PM

Farmer fixes, a thing of beauty.

JBill · 03-07-2018, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jemelton#

Thanks for the suggestions! I really like the idea of selling the Model A Nails on E-Bay

. I have already put over 10K in the restoration and I didn't want to spend the rest of my 401K on the pins

You wouldn't get much for them. Look like 6 penny nails!

Jemelton# · 03-07-2018, 12:06 PM

LOL that's funny

03-05-2018, 05:40 PM	#2
F.M. BANNED Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 385	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Stronger than a cotter key !!

03-05-2018, 05:44 PM	#3
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Unless you are showing the car, then why mess with the "barn find" aspect of it! Do check to make sure it doesn't look like one is going to work itself loose. You don't want to contribute to a punctured tire.

03-05-2018, 06:04 PM	#4
Growley bear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 777	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? If it ain't broke.

03-05-2018, 07:24 PM	#5
1930-Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: southern California Posts: 725	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? You could remove those nails and put them on eBay as "Model A Nails". Seems to work for a lot of sellers on that site. $6.95 each sounds about right...'cuz they're rare __________________ *"That's my wild unsubstantiated guess, and I'm sticking to it regardless of the facts!"*

03-05-2018, 08:31 PM	#6
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There is nothing to fix.

03-05-2018, 08:48 PM	#7
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Looks fine to me, what seems to be the problem? __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

03-05-2018, 09:05 PM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? That's how it all starts..............first it's just 4 cotter pins, then the rest of the car doesn't match the new cotter pins, so it all comes apart for a full blown restoration.

03-05-2018, 09:28 PM	#9
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Yup leave it. Nails are stronger and part of its history. Ive used nails for years in place of cotter pins. __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

03-05-2018, 09:30 PM	#10
KGBnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southwestern Connecticut Posts: 931	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? I love the old farmer's fixes. It's functionally safe so there is no good reason to change it back. Every time you are working under the car and see it you will think of the person who installed them all those years ago. Ken __________________ Style beats speed any day, and with a lot fewer tickets.

03-05-2018, 10:03 PM	#11
GPierce Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Germantown,TN Posts: 516	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Nails are easier to get out than cotter pins if you have to remove them. Stick with the nails.

03-05-2018, 11:10 PM	#12
RUNNERBUN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Queensland Australia Posts: 640	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? I think the original owner really nailed the problem. I think shiny new cotter pins would not look right. __________________ Adjust your points with gentle blows of a 2 pound hammer

03-05-2018, 11:49 PM	#13
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? At least you know the castle nuts have been taken up; Ford instructed the dealerships to service the rear spring the first time the owner had his "A" serviced. Suggest you leave it like it is if you are not having a problem. Ron

03-06-2018, 09:28 AM	#14
Jemelton# Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: SW Iowa, Near Omaha, NE Posts: 110	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Thanks for the suggestions! I really like the idea of selling the Model A Nails on E-Bay. I have already put over 10K in the restoration and I didn't want to spend the rest of my 401K on the pins

03-06-2018, 05:01 PM	#15
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,094	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Yep, leave it for nostalgia sake. Let it go for the next 40 years. As Tom mentioned, you pull those then you have to change the interior, you change the interior, well that old paint then has to go, but wait all that shinny paint well the chrome.........

03-06-2018, 05:09 PM	#16
Jwilli Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Kennesaw, Ga Posts: 511	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Just an example of "making do" with what you have.

03-06-2018, 06:05 PM	#17
Tony Martino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kingston NY Posts: 2,863	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Leave them. You will never see it done again, and probably nobody else has ever seen it! __________________ Life is too short to restore every car, fix 'em and drive 'em the way that they are.

03-06-2018, 06:13 PM	#18
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? Farmer fixes, a thing of beauty. __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

03-07-2018, 12:06 PM	#20
Jemelton# Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: SW Iowa, Near Omaha, NE Posts: 110	Re: It has lasted 40+years, Should I fix it? LOL that's funny