The Ford Barn

700rpm · 12-01-2011, 07:41 PM

I earlier chronicled some of the strange things that the previous owners had done to my new Coupe, like putting the windshield wiper on backwards, having 4" of play in the clutch, wiring the taillight to the brake switch, and so on.

And this weekend, true to form, I found another head-scratcher. I was attempting to remove my speedometer cable for lubrication, but when I opened up the dash to unscrew the cable, I found it firmly glued into the speedo with something that looked like liquid nails.

So of course the threaded part shattered when I tried to unscrew it, leaving half in the speedo, which I then had to remove, and then carefully chisel and tap the remaining threaded piece out.

I've worked on a lot of Model A's, but I've never seen so many screwball things on one vehicle (supposedly "restored").

But I still love the car, and of course working on them is why we buy them.

Isn't it?

CarlG · 12-01-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

... and of course working on them is why we buy them.

Isn't it?

Don't forget the "excuse" to buy more tools!

dave in australia · 12-02-2011, 08:06 AM

As my dad calls the 'experts', 'model A monkeys'. I've found my own share of 'brilliant' repairs in my time of owning model A's. I recentlty took my rear brake drums off to inspect the brakes and found that the hand brake offset links were on the wrong side of each other and that the person who fitted them had straightened out the offset to compensate. This was one of many screwball things on my tudor that I've found.

George, Iowa · 12-02-2011, 12:11 PM

It would be great if we had a list of phone numbers to everyone who owned the car before us. It would be great to call them up and politily say, "What exactly was you thinking at this point?" I think we would all be surprised at the answers. Example: My wife just had twins and I had to fix it to get to the hospital. :-) Or I really am not a mechanic by trade...just tried to keep the car going.

ursus · 12-02-2011, 04:14 PM

My 30 coupe needed a lot of work when I bought it, yet it was the most squeak- and rattle-free Model-A I had ever driven. It was later on the I discovered why. A previous owner had made dozens of carefully concealed spot-welds all over the car. Dismantling the car without damaging parts was a nightmare. What were they thinking?

Ross/Kzoo · 12-02-2011, 05:23 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ursus

My 30 coupe needed a lot of work when I bought it, yet it was the most squeak- and rattle-free Model-A I had ever driven. It was later on the I discovered why. A previous owner had made dozens of carefully concealed spot-welds all over the car. Dismantling the car without damaging parts was a nightmare. What were they thinking?

Fooled you for a while, eh?

I think that many of these "repairs" are well intentioned but not necessarily correct.

SteveB31 · 12-02-2011, 08:03 PM

The Model A Ford is one car that will still run and drive despite all the horrible things done to it over the years. Any other car would not even run.

700rpm · 12-02-2011, 08:14 PM

When I took my speedo apart I discovered that the reason they used the liquid nails was because someone had cross-threaded and stripped the speedometer base where the cable goes in. There was just enough thread to hold it in place, but with the new cable the speedometer doesn't return to 0

(see my other thread about a peculiar speedo problem).

Fred K-OR · 12-02-2011, 08:40 PM

Ray, sounds like my 29 coupe also. I "think" I have found most of the screwed up items on the rig. But I am sure there are more of them. It was "restored" by some guy about 5 years ago. The only thing I can say about it is that it has most of all the parts it should have on it even if they are installed the wrong way. But guess it keeps me out of the wife's hair and off the streets.

The latest thing I have not found out is why the spedo registers about 10mph over what it should when a person gets up to 30 or so. This should keep me busy for a little while. The spedo works but it just registers high.

700rpm · 12-02-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

Ray, sounds like my 29 coupe also. I "think" I have found most of the screwed up items on the rig. But I am sure there are more of them. It was "restored" by some guy about 5 years ago. The only thing I can say about it is that it has most of all the parts it should have on it even if they are installed the wrong way. But guess it keeps me out of the wife's hair and off the streets.

The latest thing I have not found out is why the spedo registers about 10mph over what it should when a person gets up to 30 or so. This should keep me busy for a little while. The spedo works but it just registers high.

I like your coupe, Fred. I hope we see it on tour next year.

You might have the wrong speedo gear on it. Or maybe your differential is a different ratio than stock.

Fred K-OR · 12-02-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

I like your coupe, Fred. I hope we see it on tour next year.

You might have the wrong speedo gear on it. Or maybe your differential is a different ratio than stock.

This is what I kind of think is happening. I hope to get if put together enough to get it on a tour next year. I keep going on short trips around here going a little further each time. I messed up with it the other day when I went for a run and wanted to get the gas tank close to empty so I could fix the gas line. Well it does not run to good up hill when there is less than 1 gallon of gas in it-had to walk the last half mile home.

Tinbasher · 12-06-2011, 09:05 PM

Many Cars are Repaired, but few are restored!! I heard this years ago from a Older friend. And another thought anything with-in a 1/4" is good!!!

The Old Tinbasher

Richard Wilson · 12-07-2011, 07:49 AM

Just know that they are all 80 plus year old USED cars. Not many of the former owners were as smart, as informed, as wealthy or as good looking as the current owners.

jkeesey · 12-07-2011, 08:29 AM

I think Richard Wilson added my favorite post on this forum so far

gweilbaker · 12-07-2011, 08:51 AM

"Many Cars are Repaired, but few are restored!!"

As in "restored"- repaired is in the holder of the wrench. It has many meanings depending who you ask.

GW

CarlG · 12-07-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Wilson

Just know that they are all 80 plus year old USED cars. Not many of the former owners were as smart, as informed, as wealthy or as good looking as the current owners.

Nor did they weigh as much

12-01-2011, 07:41 PM	#1
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II I earlier chronicled some of the strange things that the previous owners had done to my new Coupe, like putting the windshield wiper on backwards, having 4" of play in the clutch, wiring the taillight to the brake switch, and so on. And this weekend, true to form, I found another head-scratcher. I was attempting to remove my speedometer cable for lubrication, but when I opened up the dash to unscrew the cable, I found it firmly glued into the speedo with something that looked like liquid nails. So of course the threaded part shattered when I tried to unscrew it, leaving half in the speedo, which I then had to remove, and then carefully chisel and tap the remaining threaded piece out. I've worked on a lot of Model A's, but I've never seen so many screwball things on one vehicle (supposedly "restored"). But I still love the car, and of course working on them is why we buy them. Isn't it? __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

12-02-2011, 08:06 AM	#3
dave in australia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,175	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II As my dad calls the 'experts', 'model A monkeys'. I've found my own share of 'brilliant' repairs in my time of owning model A's. I recentlty took my rear brake drums off to inspect the brakes and found that the hand brake offset links were on the wrong side of each other and that the person who fitted them had straightened out the offset to compensate. This was one of many screwball things on my tudor that I've found.

12-02-2011, 12:11 PM	#4
George, Iowa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 133	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II It would be great if we had a list of phone numbers to everyone who owned the car before us. It would be great to call them up and politily say, "What exactly was you thinking at this point?" I think we would all be surprised at the answers. Example: My wife just had twins and I had to fix it to get to the hospital. :-) Or I really am not a mechanic by trade...just tried to keep the car going.

12-02-2011, 04:14 PM	#5
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,374	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II My 30 coupe needed a lot of work when I bought it, yet it was the most squeak- and rattle-free Model-A I had ever driven. It was later on the I discovered why. A previous owner had made dozens of carefully concealed spot-welds all over the car. Dismantling the car without damaging parts was a nightmare. What were they thinking?

12-02-2011, 08:03 PM	#7
SteveB31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Englewood, Colorado Posts: 1,372	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II The Model A Ford is one car that will still run and drive despite all the horrible things done to it over the years. Any other car would not even run.

12-02-2011, 08:14 PM	#8
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II When I took my speedo apart I discovered that the reason they used the liquid nails was because someone had cross-threaded and stripped the speedometer base where the cable goes in. There was just enough thread to hold it in place, but with the new cable the speedometer doesn't return to 0 (see my other thread about a peculiar speedo problem). __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

12-02-2011, 08:40 PM	#9
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II Ray, sounds like my 29 coupe also. I "think" I have found most of the screwed up items on the rig. But I am sure there are more of them. It was "restored" by some guy about 5 years ago. The only thing I can say about it is that it has most of all the parts it should have on it even if they are installed the wrong way. But guess it keeps me out of the wife's hair and off the streets. The latest thing I have not found out is why the spedo registers about 10mph over what it should when a person gets up to 30 or so. This should keep me busy for a little while. The spedo works but it just registers high. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

12-06-2011, 09:05 PM	#12
Tinbasher Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Innisfil, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,174	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II Many Cars are Repaired, but few are restored!! I heard this years ago from a Older friend. And another thought anything with-in a 1/4" is good!!! The Old Tinbasher

12-07-2011, 07:49 AM	#13
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II Just know that they are all 80 plus year old USED cars. Not many of the former owners were as smart, as informed, as wealthy or as good looking as the current owners.

12-07-2011, 08:29 AM	#14
jkeesey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Glenmoore Pa Posts: 1,644	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II I think Richard Wilson added my favorite post on this forum so far

12-07-2011, 08:51 AM	#15
gweilbaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lindenhurst, IL Posts: 792	Re: Another weird thing on the Coupe, part II "Many Cars are Repaired, but few are restored!!" As in "restored"- repaired is in the holder of the wrench. It has many meanings depending who you ask. GW