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10-12-2021, 01:02 PM | #81 |
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
[QUOTE=WHN;1995766]Last year got under our 29 and couldn’t get out. My wife was going to call the EMT’s.
After about 30 minutes, I was able to slide out. Never again.[/QUOTE[I Not funny at the time but funny now ! |
10-12-2021, 04:07 PM | #82 |
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
I was born in the 1940's. All of us could use zerk fitting on are joints and a little grease.
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10-12-2021, 04:28 PM | #83 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,972
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
Quote:
But they were all curious enough that about 6 of them all flocked around it, and wanted to look it all over. To which I said "guys it's gonna spend at least 1 night here you all can look at it all you want after we get the job wrote up". I'm always very nervous about hiring work done. Seems like the chances of it being done right the first time gets worse and worse. No one fixes anything anymore, they just change parts. I can hardly imagine dropping off a 93 year old Model-A. |
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10-13-2021, 06:51 AM | #84 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,897
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
I have an 8 mm movie of my grandfather getting in and out of the Model A coupe I drove in high school. It was a struggle for him.
At this point I can relate. I see myself having the same struggle getting in and out of my Model A now. But I still can do it and I so much enjoy driving the car.
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A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
10-13-2021, 08:49 AM | #85 |
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Dallas, TX, Angola, IN
Posts: 157
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
My ass gets sore after an hour or so, mostly the right cheek. A friend suggested sitting on a tennis ball to alleviate the soreness. I move the tennis ball around until I feel pressure on the sore spot. It seems to help. Sciatica nerve pain I reckon. The arthritis in my hands is another story.
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10-14-2021, 11:33 AM | #86 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Santee, California
Posts: 3,505
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
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10-14-2021, 05:05 PM | #87 |
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 585
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
At 72 I can still drive my 31 on a long trip like I was 20. It just takes alot longer to recover.
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10-14-2021, 06:43 PM | #88 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,972
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
We picked up the ElCamino this evening. Bad news - LOL
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10-15-2021, 03:59 AM | #89 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 515
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
I am just coming to 77. I have worn out shoulders, a bent back and osteo arthritis. I can not easily get under a car or get up again without a lot of pain. So I have a 4 post drive-on hoist. But I can no longer reach up above my head when standing under the car due to the worn out shoulder joints.
However, I can fit in my 1930 roadster or my wife's Tudor very comfortably and drive for 2 hours before stopping for a stretch and refreshments. Steering at parking speeds is hard but I take it slowly. Steering while on the move is OK. My reactions are still excellent and both cars stop well with standard brakes. I have been blind in the right eye since a teenager, so backing up is difficult (right hand drive here), due both to lack of depth perception with only one eye, and limited head and neck rotation. But other club members immediately jump to my aid when parking at a destination, yelling "quick go and help that one-eyed bastard" to one another with a laugh. I hope to continue driving my Model A's for at least other 15 years, as long as my reactions remain sharp. For working on them, there always seem to be those willing to help, as I helped them up until I was 70 and became arthritic. If my shoulders were replaced, it may give me a new lease of life, but I am getting on ok without the operations at present. One key point was replacing the Tudor seat bottom springs with solid contoured foam rubber, stretching the original cloth upholstery over the reformed bases. They are very comfortable and supportive like this. Ì have 4 other old English cars that I work on and drive too. I notice that I have to keep moving to keep limber. Things seize up quickly without exercise,even though it can be painful. SAJ in NZ |
10-15-2021, 11:04 AM | #90 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,789
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
Quote:
We have an alignment shop near us that also does body work. I'd never dream of taking one of our Fords to the dealership for an alignment because this shop does super nice work, they are reasonable and very honest, and the tech that handles the front end work has been doing it since 1974 and is a good friend. Next time maybe I'd seek out a shop like that instead of the dealership, plus sounds like they aren't set up to do your El Camino anyway. |
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10-15-2021, 11:05 AM | #91 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,789
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
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10-15-2021, 06:48 PM | #92 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,972
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
I called a shop that does nothing except springs, and alignments, suspensions... They wanted to guess at $240 if everything is ok. I was close to taking it to Tire Discounters, and now wondering if I should have ($120).
They were so proud to show me a printout their fancy machine spit out. Wrong specs were either in the system, or typed in. My 1967 Chevy ElCamino factory manual has different specs. There is one that is in spec, but it is at the limit, so technically it's correct. On a dead-level road it does track straight. However, the wheel is off at the top by about 3/4 to 7/8" I know what he did, he cleared his machine before he took it for a test drive. I specifically asked that the tech test drive it to check his work. They typed on the work order that "the steering box is worn, so the wheel may not always be straight, but it drives right". Bull he just didn't want to walk the sleeves over like 1/2 turn, and recheck. A manual steering box, with a rag-joint will never be as tight as a rack-n-pinion. It's a manual steering box rag-joint too. I drove the thing, and knew I was gonna take it in, and I never even thought the box was loose. Thought about adjusting the thrust on it, then decided heck he left something undone and wanted to move on. I'll pop the steering wheel off, and move it over a notch. Will take me less time than it will to even drive back over there. Owned it 15 years, I bet I have less than 2,000 miles on it. I think that steering shaft has a 32 spline on it. Ticks me off. $182 Last edited by Gene F; 10-15-2021 at 07:45 PM. Reason: add value |
10-15-2021, 07:57 PM | #93 |
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Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 133
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
I have a '41 ford hot rod I'm putting together as a project. I couldn't get a wheel-alignment from the pro's because they couldn't fit their wheel system on the wheels (not enough clearance with lowered profile).
So, I bought a fastrax wheel alignment tool and did it myself. I also used the "string method" to do the toe-in and centering the wheel (I do have a toe-in tool also but this car's suspension and steering is built from scratch, never before assembled, so I wanted to make sure the steering was centered first). The Fastrax tool was about $150. I did a little research on the settings and came up with the values that ended up working very well for the manual steering Mustang II type front end the hot rod has. My point is, if you're up to it physically, it can be kinda fun doing it yourself and learning how the different settings affect how the car steers and travels. At 74, I move a lot slower than I used to, but the satisfaction is no less. Tom |
10-15-2021, 08:42 PM | #94 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fountain Valley, Calif.
Posts: 937
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
I’m 76 now, and the last few years had bad arthritis in my right hip…..very difficult getting in and out of my Town Sedan. Then last May I had hip replacement surgery and am now fully recovered. I can once again step over the running board and into the car with no problems. The new hip replacement procedures are very non-invasive, and heal quickly. Any of you thinking about I would encourage you to have it done…..no use waiting until you are older!
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10-15-2021, 10:42 PM | #95 |
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Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Montana
Posts: 186
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
I'm 72. On my 28CCPU, I've found that getting out of the vehicle is a bit easier, if I slide toward the passenger seat about 6". Otherwise, it gets difficult to get my left leg around the door jamb. Getting in is no problem, and I use the running board to step on.
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10-16-2021, 11:38 AM | #96 |
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Location: Red Deer, Alberta
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
Gene F, I commiserate w/you about your experience at the alignment shop. I had a similar type situation in 1989 w/a Ford dealer on my 1960 Thunderbird.
Be resilient, overcome, adapt and carry on.
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10-16-2021, 12:43 PM | #97 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,972
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
It's why I always try to do as much as I can myself. No one ever does anything right. It's always "ahh that's good enough".
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10-16-2021, 04:01 PM | #98 |
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tocumwal, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,748
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
Coming of age.
In this thread I read how aging folk are finding more and more difficult to drive their A’s. Well yes, I too are finding it likewise. But what is even more difficult is the dried-up money stream that I miss now I am no longer working. Having to budget and to spend with care is a bit of a shock. I have off-loaded my aeroplanes. My vintage G.M. motorcar is lent permanently to an enthusiast who will enjoy it and take care of it. My Tourer is going to my son, my lovely ’30 Coupe will go on blocks- I cannot bring myself to sell it and I will retain and use my ’28 Roadster Ute. Besides the body ailments I suffer, it is the work I miss and the money stream that accompanies work.
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I know many things, But I don't know everything, Sometimes I forget things. And there are times when I have a long memory. Last edited by woofa.express; 10-16-2021 at 05:05 PM. |
10-16-2021, 07:44 PM | #99 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Florida panhandle
Posts: 194
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
Quote:
as merging, roundabouts, big truck needs and allowances… piss poor education causes problems to those of us that know what we’re doing. |
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10-16-2021, 08:19 PM | #100 |
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Waynesboro Va.
Posts: 213
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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
And I went from MG Midgets and B's to Model A's for the same reason. Couldn't crawl out once I got in. Hopefully I'll have 20 years in my A's.....
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