05-21-2021, 01:12 PM | #1 |
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Boat Anchor
When I'm heavy traffic in my PicUp, and I finally get third-gear? It's like I threw out a boat anchor -- my acceleration is so very slow. It's an all
stock Budd. Got one of then Slow-Vehicle logos on my tail-gate that no one honors. Once I get going, I'm keeping up with traffic. This is getting dangerous. Thanks -- I Feel Better |
05-21-2021, 01:57 PM | #2 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Is the engine timed correctly? Is the spark advanced down about 2/3rds? The parking brake is off and the brakes aren’t dragging? Check all that and don’t compare the A with your Tesla......
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05-21-2021, 02:10 PM | #3 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Through much research, I can attest that the Model A's performance is severely lacking when operated as a raft, boat, or submarine. I humbly suggest enjoying ones Model A on dry land.
As for traffic, you aren't alone. Drivers are paying less attention than ever to what is in front of them, behind the steering wheel of faster more responsive cars than ever. I've noticed an exponential change within just the last year, defensive driving is more critical now than ever. Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk |
05-21-2021, 05:23 PM | #4 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
I’m sure it’s at least as warm down there as it is here already. I’d suggest you open your air/fuel adjustment a little bit more and see if it helps your setup.
If you’re driving it a lot in traffic, might consider a Mitchell OD, as the 2 to 3 shift is a bit much, and you can bog down if you have any grade. Last edited by Pdgx; 05-22-2021 at 07:55 AM. |
05-21-2021, 05:32 PM | #5 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Are you looking for answers or just complaining. If you want better acceleration, you know what to do. Regarding people riding your exhaust pipe, I put a camera in my rear window to record any accident. The cops know how to view the video which will let them see the person texting and not paying attention.
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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. |
05-21-2021, 05:51 PM | #6 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
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05-21-2021, 06:49 PM | #7 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Sarcasm aside......
Is this problem a recent development? Or has it always been this way? First, is it a low power issue, or something keeping the car from coasting freely? ( See post #2) I would start diagnosing by cleaning the fuel screen, and verifying good fuel flow at the carb. Next, I would use a screwdriver or some such instrument to short the spark plugs, make sure it's hitting on all 4, that's also the time to verify good hot spark, if I get a good solid arc 1/8" or more I'm happy. If not, check the points. ( Don't do this step with fuel everywhere from the first step, for obvious reasons.) Next, pull the spark plugs and look, is it running too lean? Too rich? Are the plugs varnished? Clean and gap or replace as needed. That's how I would start, and proceed depending on what I found there. Good luck! Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk |
05-21-2021, 07:32 PM | #8 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
What speed are you shifting at? I get the same result as you if I shift under 20mph.
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05-22-2021, 08:41 AM | #9 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
The Model A has a big gap, shifting from 2nd to 3rd…..so I never shift at less than 20 mph. 3rd will pull better than……
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05-22-2021, 09:01 AM | #11 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
I built mine to battle with the yoyo's on the road today..hell If I can gap a Kia Rio if i catch it napping..actually a model a putting out about twice the power with a mitchell OD is capable of competing in todays combat conditions..without protection of a convoy,and any time of the day
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05-22-2021, 10:10 AM | #12 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Henry built the Model A as a 4 speed, and then to reduce costs he left 3rd gear out. When you think of it as 1st, 2nd and 4th, you'll be in the right frame of mind. If the car pulls strong in 1st and 2nd, you likely have normal performance. There's a reason so many folks put in overdrive, as it not only gives you a higher gear for highway, but a higher 2nd gear for hills and acceleration.
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05-23-2021, 10:55 AM | #13 | |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Quote:
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05-23-2021, 11:41 AM | #14 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Thanks everyone.
I've gone over the ideas mentioned. Now once I get up to speed, it'll do 50 real easy but that doesn't feel safe. It'll take a few miles of open road to reach that. It has a 3.78 rear-end -- Thanks |
05-23-2021, 12:56 PM | #15 | |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Quote:
Charlie Stephens |
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05-23-2021, 01:45 PM | #16 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Aside from the usual things to make a car accelerator faster, there are some less obvious things to check. Check to see if there is an obstruction in the tail pipe or muffler or if it is a very restrictive muffler. You can just disconnect it from the exhaust manifold and tie it up with some wire or rope to see if that makes a difference. (Car will be louder.) (An old high school trick is to shove a potato up an exhaust pipe as a joke.) Check the intake manifold and exhaust manifold for restrictions. Do the gaskets have undersize holes? Do the coast test as others have suggested to see if there is some parasitic drag.
There is always the option to send the engine to someone to rework it. $$$
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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. |
05-23-2021, 07:53 PM | #17 | |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Quote:
"SORRY FOR DRIVING SO CLOSE IN FRONT OF YOU"
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05-23-2021, 08:29 PM | #18 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
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05-23-2021, 10:21 PM | #19 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
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05-24-2021, 06:58 AM | #20 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
The speed limit on the freeways around Washington DC is 55 mph. Try driving that slow and you will get run off the road. Traffic flows at 70 mph or more. I don't understand.
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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. |
05-24-2021, 09:49 AM | #21 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Why are so many people in such a hurry to get to the next red light?
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05-24-2021, 11:26 AM | #22 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
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05-25-2021, 09:53 AM | #23 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
If your engine is healthy, rev it out a little more in second. Even though shifting 2->3 is an acquired talent at higher rpm, just a couple hundred more rpm can help get over that ratio hump. I try to time the clutch/throttle so the car is just still pulling before i push it to do the shift to let the momentum help carry the car while the shift is happening.
Also you are in Florida so people drive like mad down there anyway. |
05-25-2021, 10:28 AM | #24 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Let us know what you find, thanks
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05-26-2021, 12:18 PM | #25 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
I decided to pull my distrubtor. The lower shaft came out too, because it was rusted together, there at the lower end of distrubtor Could this be a factor in slow acceleration too?
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06-01-2021, 01:24 PM | #26 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
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06-01-2021, 02:54 PM | #27 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Great news. Thanks for the feedback. You probably did not have it timed correctly, but do now. Or there could have been something wrong with the stock distributor (points, condensor).
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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. |
06-01-2021, 11:26 PM | #28 | |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Quote:
That's an interesting comment about the Model A being designed as a 4 speed. I've never heard that before. Do you have a source for this information? I'd like to research this. Thanks! |
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06-02-2021, 07:58 AM | #29 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
What I read is its a scaled down Lincoln transmission, during chassis development it was the easiest component to approve. The way I understand it Ford wanted you in high gear as quickly as possible to utilize the engines low end torque, different than what most drivers of today are used too.
Although I extensively modified my car I wont 'upgrade' the transmission.To me the model A's character is in that spur gear box. |
06-02-2021, 02:23 PM | #30 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
That was a tongue in cheek comment to describe the feeling in shifting from 2nd to 3rd. It feels more like 2nd to 4th. However, to the best of my extremely limited knowledge, there was never a 4 speed designed for the Model A.
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06-02-2021, 03:22 PM | #31 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
I also have never heard of a proposed 4th gear for a Model A. Anything in print?
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06-03-2021, 10:18 AM | #32 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
Model A has 4 speeds forward, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and neutral (coast).
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06-03-2021, 10:07 PM | #33 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
If you are in a hurry you are driving the wrong car.
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06-13-2021, 03:11 PM | #34 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
I have pulled lots of heavy loads (5 large round bales of hay) with 69 chevy 1/2 ton truck with a 250 6cyl and a 3 speed. The key, according to my dad who hauled oil field equipment with an AA, is to wind her up tight in 2nd gear before going to 3rd. When I'm merging with traffic on the highway, which I try not to, I tend to wind her up more than on a county road.
We had pics of dad with his grandpa hauling HUGE loads with the AA's, its totally nuts how big a load they moved BITD. After WWII they bought several surplus semi tractors and sold off the AA's. Now I'm the new guy on here and don't recommend it on a regular basis, but to get out of a jam I'd try it. |
06-13-2021, 06:49 PM | #35 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
I used my AA to haul a full size station wagon to the dump. I cannot remember how I got it on the bed, or off. This was back when an AA was just an old truck.
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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. |
06-13-2021, 07:35 PM | #36 | |
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Re: Boat Anchor
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06-14-2021, 06:56 PM | #37 |
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Re: Boat Anchor
I've been told that I can be an..."agressive" Model A driver, so take that for what it is. Lol. I learned that these cars are tough and can handle a little aggressive driving. It's a Model A, they're not fast, but if you push them a little, they can handle most modern traffic. I run them up to 25 in second...sometimes more when I need to jump into traffic. If you don't abuse it and do that all the time, it'll be fine. Getting the revs up in 2nd will help bridge the big gap between 2nd and 3rd.
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06-14-2021, 10:13 PM | #38 | |
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Re: Boat Anchor
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