NEW Improved Info on Model A's History

[Roadster62]

I'll never have a "Fine Point" car, and never cared if the cotter pins changed direction before lunch break on a known day, my question is, WHO and HOW do the "rules" get changed or corrected? If all the facts are in Ford archives how come the "True" facts have been hidden all these years?

[henry494]

Hopefully, someone who has more experience with the archives, or somone from one of the Judging Standards Committees will chime in here and give more details.
But briefly, for one item on a Model A, out of some 5500 parts on the car, there may have been a few, or a dozen or more engineering releases for each of those 5500+ parts. Each of those engineering drawing releases would have to be researched. Not all are actually available, and/or nor can all of them be found in the archives. Also, the dates on those drawings are not always the exact gospel as to when the item was changed on the production line. Those that do take the time to research the archives are not being paid to do so. And it does take a significant amount of time to research just one part.
Both national clubs have Judging Standards committees, and they are made up of volunteers. Consider the amount of hours that represents. A lot!
The Judging Standards get changed in a variety of ways. But, basically, there needs to be a consensus among all of those members for the changes to take place. The changes are based on research done through the archives, as well as research done through the original/unrestored vehicles available for viewing and photographing.
Just take a look at Steve Plucker's research on various parts. There's a good example of how much research is required to thoroughly document a part and all of the changes that occur. Again, this is a hobby, and it takes so much volunteer time to document the changes enough to require the Standards to be changed.
The next revisions, due out soon, have an incredible amount of volunteer time put into them. We will owe the JSC members an enormous Thanks when it is finally available.
OK, now. Time for someone on the JSC to respond and give more details.

Dave Lopes

[Roadster62]

I wouldn't want to be the guy with a car that is 96% done, only to find out something from step 4-5 is wrong, only to take the thing all apart to correct it.

[henry494]

Roadster 62,
Let's assume the revisions come out at the start of 2011. The MARC meet in San Diego that summer will use both the revisions and the prior version, to be fair to restorers. If I'm not mistaken, the meet the following summer in 2012, would be judged the same way. (I'm not absolutely certain on this)
And, I know that when it comes to major changes, variances have been requested and granted in the past, based on good documentation,

Dave Lopes

[Mike V. Florida]

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Originally Posted by Roadster62

If all the facts are in Ford archives how come the "True" facts have been hidden all these years?

That's just it, all the facts are not in the archives.
That is why people like Steve ask those with unmolested cars for specific details on their cars so we can learn.

This information is made available to the committee to see if there is enough information to support a change in the restoration and judging standards, remembering that what is in the book now was also presented in the past and now a change is requested. As with all committee's it takes forever to get a decision out of them.