The Ford Barn

CWPASADENA · 05-08-2011, 07:32 PM

Last Thursday, I went on an outing with the local Model A Club. There were 14 Model A's and one F-1 Pick-up, with a modern drive train, that acted as a support vehicle.

The route was about 60 miles long and took us up a canyon and then up a narrow two lane mountain road with a continuous steep climb about seven miles long.

We did have one break down, not any of the Model A's, they did just fine and ran right along, but the F-1 quit runnuing. Evidently, there was an issue with the charging system or the battery. Model A's had to come to the rescue.

I really question the realability of some of this "Newer Stuff".

Chris

MrTube · 05-08-2011, 07:47 PM

Chris,

My last vehicle was a 1992 chevy C-2500HD. It had a TBI 350 with a 5 speed manual. The truck never broke down until it was 18 years old with 220,000 miles on it which finally the pickup coil in the distributor had a failure. This coil is what tells the computer where the distributor is.

Nothing else in the ignition system had failed or been replaced up to that point other then cap, rotor and plugs.

Now of course that pickup coil failing left me stranded where typically on a model A I could've got it running again by messing with the points but either way, 18 years and over 200K miles is a good run in my opinion. I feel modern ignitions are far more reliable and overall modern engines hold up much better.

You also cannot compare the Model A's generator to a decent alternator. A 100+A alternator running at twice the voltage with solid state regulators is infinitely superior and more reliable.

Of course, when either of my 2006 cars break down I will be the last person you will find working on it. Even changing the spark plugs on them is miserable.

Don't take this post wrong, I love model As but I love them for what they are.

CWPASADENA · 05-09-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTube

I love model As but I love them for what they are.

I agree!

I just thought it was just a little ironic, that's all.

Chris

Mike V. Florida · 05-10-2011, 06:39 AM

That's funny, when the support vehicle needs support.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 05-10-2011, 06:02 PM

Several years ago, I went to an antique fly/drive in, about 35 miles from my house. Afterwards my wife met me a couple of miles from the fly in, to meet my oldest son's girlfriends parents. One of the other boys was driving her car, so she drove my 150,000 mile work van, and the alternator went out. We ended up following the tow truck home in the A. I thought that was rather ironic, as the van was less then 5 years old!
Chuck

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Chris in WNC · 05-17-2011, 10:08 AM

on one of our Jacksonville club tours 20+ years ago a 40 Ford Tudor broke down and had to be towed home by a 31 Town Sedan. wish I had taken a photo of it........

FL&WVMIKE · 05-17-2011, 11:08 AM

Many years ago, I had a friend, who drove to pick up a 1938 Packard four door convertible. He ended up, towing his every day car, back with that Packard.
MIKE

Paul's Garage · 05-17-2011, 08:26 PM

During the 70's when we could afford it we used to trade up and buy new cars every couple years or so. I was always have to back them up with my wife's 57 chevy, because it seemed they were always in the shop for one reason or another and quality wasn't too great back then. But the olde 57 always ran.

05-08-2011, 07:32 PM	#1
CWPASADENA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PASADENA, CA Posts: 1,882	Model A Outing and a Breakdown Last Thursday, I went on an outing with the local Model A Club. There were 14 Model A's and one F-1 Pick-up, with a modern drive train, that acted as a support vehicle. The route was about 60 miles long and took us up a canyon and then up a narrow two lane mountain road with a continuous steep climb about seven miles long. We did have one break down, not any of the Model A's, they did just fine and ran right along, but the F-1 quit runnuing. Evidently, there was an issue with the charging system or the battery. Model A's had to come to the rescue. I really question the realability of some of this "Newer Stuff". Chris

05-08-2011, 07:47 PM	#2
MrTube Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,471	Re: Model A Outing and a Breakdown Chris, My last vehicle was a 1992 chevy C-2500HD. It had a TBI 350 with a 5 speed manual. The truck never broke down until it was 18 years old with 220,000 miles on it which finally the pickup coil in the distributor had a failure. This coil is what tells the computer where the distributor is. Nothing else in the ignition system had failed or been replaced up to that point other then cap, rotor and plugs. Now of course that pickup coil failing left me stranded where typically on a model A I could've got it running again by messing with the points but either way, 18 years and over 200K miles is a good run in my opinion. I feel modern ignitions are far more reliable and overall modern engines hold up much better. You also cannot compare the Model A's generator to a decent alternator. A 100+A alternator running at twice the voltage with solid state regulators is infinitely superior and more reliable. Of course, when either of my 2006 cars break down I will be the last person you will find working on it. Even changing the spark plugs on them is miserable. Don't take this post wrong, I love model As but I love them for what they are.

05-10-2011, 06:39 AM	#4
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Model A Outing and a Breakdown That's funny, when the support vehicle needs support. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

05-10-2011, 06:02 PM	#5
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Model A Outing and a Breakdown Several years ago, I went to an antique fly/drive in, about 35 miles from my house. Afterwards my wife met me a couple of miles from the fly in, to meet my oldest son's girlfriends parents. One of the other boys was driving her car, so she drove my 150,000 mile work van, and the alternator went out. We ended up following the tow truck home in the A. I thought that was rather ironic, as the van was less then 5 years old! Chuck

05-17-2011, 10:08 AM	#7
Chris in WNC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spruce Pine, NC Posts: 1,458	Re: Model A Outing and a Breakdown on one of our Jacksonville club tours 20+ years ago a 40 Ford Tudor broke down and had to be towed home by a 31 Town Sedan. wish I had taken a photo of it........ __________________ our next Model A is out there in the unknown......

05-17-2011, 11:08 AM	#8
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: Model A Outing and a Breakdown Many years ago, I had a friend, who drove to pick up a 1938 Packard four door convertible. He ended up, towing his every day car, back with that Packard. MIKE

05-17-2011, 08:26 PM	#9
Paul's Garage Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 72	Re: Model A Outing and a Breakdown During the 70's when we could afford it we used to trade up and buy new cars every couple years or so. I was always have to back them up with my wife's 57 chevy, because it seemed they were always in the shop for one reason or another and quality wasn't too great back then. But the olde 57 always ran.