The Ford Barn

George, Iowa · 04-22-2011, 08:28 PM

What Model A part was the hardest for you to take apart? And what was your cure to get it apart?
I have taken the entire car apart!
Mine was the Model a hinge pins. Last one was finished with a cutting torch!

Chris Haynes · 04-22-2011, 09:05 PM

Front wishbones were impossible to remove. So I left them alone.

5window · 04-22-2011, 09:12 PM

I have not taken a whole Model A apart, but hinge pins were a bear. The top two,I had previously drilled out for hinge pin mirrors. The lower four, we had the doors off. It took two weeks of soaking with penetrating oil, heating with a torch, grinding the bottoms flat where they'd been peened over, driving with a pin punch,using one of Bob Drake's C-style pin pushers and finally, a great bit of advice.

Bob Drake's door pin removal tool: very sturdy, worked well on the one straight pin,but not well on the three bent ones. Plus, since BD makes parts for '32 and up cars, I found the push rod pins to be just a bit too big for the Model A hinges Not sure what size they really are,but a bit too big for Henry's just under 0.250 pins in my A. I used sawed off drill bits instead.

The great bit of advice came from Bill of Bill's Model A Acres in Watsontown,PA. I just happened to drop in for some other parts. He explained that the hinge pin can wear a step on one side and you have to get past the step to get the pin out. So I tried knocking the pin out with the door hinge opened to various degrees and finally found a spot where it pin didn't grip the walls of the hinge. Then it was easy (see above paragraph one)>

If you haven't been to Bill's it's worth the trip just to drool over all the stuff he has put away in his barns. Many thanks, Bill.

JunkOSC · 04-23-2011, 12:25 AM

Removing the front spring perches...pain in the @$$!!!

Mike V. Florida · 04-23-2011, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JunkOSC

Removing the front spring perches...pain in the @$$!!!

That's my vote!

ratamahata · 04-23-2011, 12:57 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

All the front axle, front spring perches, the draglink and ties rods ends... and Rear brake track assembly make me sweating...
One day put some coca cola in the spring perches nuts, all night long the coke over the nuts and late the wrench is turned and them slip off... COKE? Don´t? Use oil

John Kuhnast · 04-23-2011, 08:34 AM

Bills Model A ? Does he sell parts? DO you have a phone number?

ratamahata · 04-23-2011, 08:56 AM

Bill's Model Acres
Ford Farm RD 1 Box 283 8th St.
Watsontown, PA 17777 570-538-3200

5window · 04-23-2011, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratamahata

Bill's Model Acres
Ford Farm RD 1 Box 283 8th St.
Watsontown, PA 17777 570-538-3200

That's it. Very nice guy-very willing to share his knowledge. There's Model A stuff all over the place.

Terry, NJ · 04-23-2011, 09:24 AM

Pa's a big state, Where's Watsontown?
Terry

[QUOTE=ratamahata;197528]Bill's Model Acres
Ford Farm RD 1 Box 283 8th St.
Watsontown, PA 17777 570-538-3200[/QUOTE

Rowdy · 04-23-2011, 09:43 AM

I agree there. I had one I ended up drilling out. Too bad antiseize had not been invented when the A mas built. What a pain. Rod

Glenn C. · 04-23-2011, 10:04 AM

I also go with the front spring perches. 20+ ton force which made a big bang.

Sparky · 04-23-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JunkOSC

Removing the front spring perches...pain in the @$$!!!

I got lucky when I had to replace one of mine, it popped right out.

Kevin in NJ · 04-23-2011, 11:41 AM

Perches go pretty easy with along throw mechanics air hammer. I have around a 3" throw hammer and put it against a solid surface. It took a little wait, but is started pushing through. Took the nut off when it got to the axle and continued through. The end was very slightly swedged out, but the nut still worked.

With all the correct tools, not much on the A is difficult. It is the correct tools part that is hardest as some can be pricey.

It is quite a challenge to get the stainless covers off the bumper clamps in a condition they will go back on. Had to make a tool to do this.

Mitch//pa · 04-23-2011, 11:57 AM

[QUOTE=Terry, NJ;197547]Pa's a big state, Where's Watsontown?
Terry

terry,
its off rt 80 above harrisburg its not to far from us.
do a mapquest search of the town.
mitch

reek29 · 04-23-2011, 01:59 PM

For me it was the kingpins. Used a hand sledge and pounded my #!% off!

peters180a/170b · 04-23-2011, 03:53 PM

i agree ,, front spring perches and shock covers..

George, Iowa · 04-23-2011, 04:41 PM

My front spring perches came right out? Maybe they were just so worn that they fell out. I did have a second runner up....a head bolt snapped off.

5window · 04-24-2011, 11:06 AM

[QUOTE=Mitch//pa;197639]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry, NJ

Pa's a big state, Where's Watsontown?
Terry

terry,
its off rt 80 above harrisburg its not to far from us.
do a mapquest search of the town.
mitch

Watsontown's also due north of Harrisburg off Route 15 North -probably a bit over and hour, depending on whether or not you can drive "Pennsylvanian". It's on the Susquehanna River. A nice little town. You'd be about exit 212 if you're getting off I-80.

kp · 04-24-2011, 11:23 AM

Got to agree with Peters 180/170b,shock covers are a bitch ,I used pipe wrench with 3 foot cheater .

04-22-2011, 08:28 PM	#1
George, Iowa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 133	What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? What Model A part was the hardest for you to take apart? And what was your cure to get it apart? I have taken the entire car apart! Mine was the Model a hinge pins. Last one was finished with a cutting torch!

04-22-2011, 09:05 PM	#2
Chris Haynes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA Posts: 2,832	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Front wishbones were impossible to remove. So I left them alone. __________________ 1921 Runabout 1930 Tudor Early 1930 AA Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

04-22-2011, 09:12 PM	#3
5window Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisburg,PA Posts: 938	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? I have not taken a whole Model A apart, but hinge pins were a bear. The top two,I had previously drilled out for hinge pin mirrors. The lower four, we had the doors off. It took two weeks of soaking with penetrating oil, heating with a torch, grinding the bottoms flat where they'd been peened over, driving with a pin punch,using one of Bob Drake's C-style pin pushers and finally, a great bit of advice. Bob Drake's door pin removal tool: very sturdy, worked well on the one straight pin,but not well on the three bent ones. Plus, since BD makes parts for '32 and up cars, I found the push rod pins to be just a bit too big for the Model A hinges Not sure what size they really are,but a bit too big for Henry's just under 0.250 pins in my A. I used sawed off drill bits instead. The great bit of advice came from Bill of Bill's Model A Acres in Watsontown,PA. I just happened to drop in for some other parts. He explained that the hinge pin can wear a step on one side and you have to get past the step to get the pin out. So I tried knocking the pin out with the door hinge opened to various degrees and finally found a spot where it pin didn't grip the walls of the hinge. Then it was easy (see above paragraph one)> If you haven't been to Bill's it's worth the trip just to drool over all the stuff he has put away in his barns. Many thanks, Bill.

04-23-2011, 12:25 AM	#4
JunkOSC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chandler, AZ./Eagle Rock, MO. Posts: 108	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Removing the front spring perches...pain in the @$$!!!

04-23-2011, 12:57 AM	#6
ratamahata Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Argentina Posts: 710	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) All the front axle, front spring perches, the draglink and ties rods ends... and Rear brake track assembly make me sweating... One day put some coca cola in the spring perches nuts, all night long the coke over the nuts and late the wrench is turned and them slip off... COKE? Don´t? Use oil

04-23-2011, 08:34 AM	#7
John Kuhnast Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 564	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Bills Model A ? Does he sell parts? DO you have a phone number?

04-23-2011, 08:56 AM	#8
ratamahata Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Argentina Posts: 710	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Bill's Model Acres Ford Farm RD 1 Box 283 8th St. Watsontown, PA 17777 570-538-3200

04-23-2011, 09:24 AM	#10
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Pa's a big state, Where's Watsontown? Terry [QUOTE=ratamahata;197528]Bill's Model Acres Ford Farm RD 1 Box 283 8th St. Watsontown, PA 17777 570-538-3200[/QUOTE

04-23-2011, 09:43 AM	#11
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? I agree there. I had one I ended up drilling out. Too bad antiseize had not been invented when the A mas built. What a pain. Rod __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

04-23-2011, 10:04 AM	#12
Glenn C. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Didsbury Alberta Posts: 838	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? I also go with the front spring perches. 20+ ton force which made a big bang.

04-23-2011, 11:41 AM	#14
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Perches go pretty easy with along throw mechanics air hammer. I have around a 3" throw hammer and put it against a solid surface. It took a little wait, but is started pushing through. Took the nut off when it got to the axle and continued through. The end was very slightly swedged out, but the nut still worked. With all the correct tools, not much on the A is difficult. It is the correct tools part that is hardest as some can be pricey. It is quite a challenge to get the stainless covers off the bumper clamps in a condition they will go back on. Had to make a tool to do this.

04-23-2011, 11:57 AM	#15
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? [QUOTE=Terry, NJ;197547]Pa's a big state, Where's Watsontown? Terry terry, its off rt 80 above harrisburg its not to far from us. do a mapquest search of the town. mitch

04-23-2011, 01:59 PM	#16
reek29 Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 42	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? For me it was the kingpins. Used a hand sledge and pounded my #!% off!

04-23-2011, 03:53 PM	#17
peters180a/170b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Putnam Valley N.Y. Posts: 2,151	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? i agree ,, front spring perches and shock covers..

04-23-2011, 04:41 PM	#18
George, Iowa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 133	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? My front spring perches came right out? Maybe they were just so worn that they fell out. I did have a second runner up....a head bolt snapped off.

04-24-2011, 11:23 AM	#20
kp Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wimberley ,Tx. Posts: 232	Re: What Model A part was the hardest to take apart? Got to agree with Peters 180/170b,shock covers are a bitch ,I used pipe wrench with 3 foot cheater .

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