Hey all, New guy here also new to Model A's

[A440cuda1]

Hey all, I just came over from the H.A.M.B. to get all learned up on (mostly) stock model A's, specifically the '30-'31 years. I just picked up a '31 A pickup that is mostly stock, besides the lowering job involving the dropped stock axle and a lowering spring out back, mods to the mechanical brakes to keep them working right and the '35 16in wire wheels.
Since I didn't see anywhere on the froum to leave an intro post, I figured here was as good a place as any seeing that the majority of my time on the Barn will be in the '28-'31 section. Hope to learn a lot without pissing off to many people.
The plans for the pickup are to basicly keep it as is, fix the little things it needs done and maintain it well enough to drive the tires right off of it.

-Eli
Disregaurd the user name, I originally signed up for the barn just to get info on building banger motors, never intended to post. Now that I have this truck, all those plans have changed.

[1930artdeco]

Welcome to the Barn Eli. Assuming you have/had a Cuda I think you will find the A a bit different to drive but just as pleasant. We have just a bit more class and style. Enjoy the car as I want a truck for my next one.

Mike

[A440cuda1]

Thanks for the welcome, I DID have a 440 barracuda....just not stock from the factory that way. It has since been sold off along with the rest of my projests and daily drivers. I decided a few months back to focus on one "era" of vehicle....and the 30's to mid 50's is where most of my knowlage is....anything that didn't fit into that has or is going down the road to new owners.
I know living with these old cars and trucks will have its difficulties, but I have delt with all of that in general for a long time, now its just time to learn the specifics to the model A's.

[sturgis 39]

I think you will like working on Model "A"s. They are fun too work on. No metric bolts and everything is easy to get to. There are some thirty second nuts and bolts sometimes. This is a great place to get help.

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Welcome, and glad you saw the light! It's not about speed and horsepower, we are all going to get there someday! Enjoy the ride.....

[ljones44]

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First of all, I love Model A's. However, driving a purely stock Model A can be outright dangerous. I know here come the comments. Upgrade the brakes and horsepower, then enjoy the awesome looks from old and young alike. This is an example.

[marc hildebrant]

ljones44,

Could you explain your comment that driving a stock Model A can be outright dangerous ?

Marc

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by ljones44

First of all, I love Model A's. However, driving a purely stock Model A can be outright dangerous. I know here come the comments. Upgrade the brakes and horsepower, then enjoy the awesome looks from old and young alike. This is an example.

Wearing high heel shoes is dangerous! LOL

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

ljones44,

Could you explain your comment that driving a stock Model A can be outright dangerous ?

Marc

If you did an edit to the above statement, like:

"Driving ... can be outright dangerous"

then I might go for it.

[RPMREX]

If they are tuned right they can be driven safely.

[Mike V. Florida]

Welcome to this side of the house! Please feel free to ask any questions you like. A properly restored and adjusted stock model A can be just as safe as a modified one. I don't think a single "purest" would object to questions such as how to install seat belts, fuses and the like, but would speak up on hearing that juice brakes, alternators and such make the car "better". But if you already have those things we can still help in keeping them up to snuff.

Find a local club it will be of a great help to you, again welcome.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by ljones44

First of all, I love Model A's. However, driving a purely stock Model A can be outright dangerous. I know here come the comments. Upgrade the brakes and horsepower, then enjoy the awesome looks from old and young alike. This is an example.

jones,
Hmm,how is 'hutspa'(?) spelled anyway!
"You might be right, but then again you might be crazy..if a Model A with speed your looking for".
I had one like yours in '75..whew, that was one fun car! Drove it when my 'stock beater A' was down for repair. Got rid of it..tooo fast! Kept the beater A. Don't take this wrong...the whls detract from that beauty.

Eli,
Welcome! Great place to visit for questions/help comaraderie and mello!!

[700rpm]

Chutzpah, and that is the perfect word.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

jones,
Hmm,how is 'hutspa'(?) spelled anyway!

חֻצְפָּה

Nah, 700rpm got it right. If the brakes are in proper adjustment they will serve you fine. Horsepower well, there is room for improvment but only if it is necessary for your driving pleasure/safety. Even with increased power the brakes will still do the job they were intended to do.

[ljones44]

Like I said here come the comments. Wheels come off as easy as they go on. Don't think I would look good in high heels, got to draw the line somewhere.

Obviously you guys have never driven in Atlanta, Georgia traffic. The Roadster has circle track seat belts for safety. Go Dawgs!

Thanks for spelling the word chutzpah, had to look that one up. But you guys have convinced me and I am in the process of pulling the motor and re-installing the mechanical brakes.

[Skeezixx]

Originally Posted by ljones44

First of all, I love Model A's. However, driving a purely stock Model A can be outright dangerous.

That's true. Once I parked my Tudor in front of the bank and I saw the guard instinctively place his hand on his holster.

I guess he thought for a moment I was Dillinger. Lucky for me I wasn't going for violin lessons at the music studio next door.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by ljones44

Like I said here come the comments.

I'm kinda surprised actually at the lack of comments. The purest of the pure must all be in San Diego.

[Dick Webber]

I've enjoyed my 29 Tudor like Henry made it for 50 years and 2 months. It has been and still is a great ride.

Dick

[A440cuda1]

ok, so I am sure i'll get tore up and down over this question....which I asked over on the H.A.M.B. boards to....What would i do to improve the daily maners of my new truck. i would like to keep up with traffic, not nesasarily on the freeway, without working the little stock banger to hard. Does anyone have experiances with High compression heads, down draft single or multi carb intakes, tube header or performance cast exhaust....etc. Most of what I got on the hame was "swap a 350 in it" or do a full flathead Av8 conversion.
I picked this truck out of all the hotrodded rigs out there just because it wasn't just an A body on modern running gear, I want to stay with traditional performance upgrades that don't take the overall character away from the truck. I am not looking to over power the stock brakes, trans or drive line, just something that will make the daily drive a little easyer/safer for everyone around me.
So there you go....let the opinions fly.

[A440cuda1]

Also, does anyone have experiance with "Brake Floaters"?

[jkcrosson]

Originally Posted by ljones44

Obviously you guys have never driven in Atlanta, Georgia traffic. The Roadster has circle track seat belts for safety. Go Dawgs!

Driving any car in Atlanta Georgia is Dangerous, not just a stock Model A.

[pick]

An "A" is the PERFECT hobby car. Put on a high compression head & an overdrive and you can crui!nnse with "modern" traffic all day long.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by A440cuda1

Does anyone have experiances with High compression heads, down draft single or multi carb intakes, tube header or performance cast exhaust....etc.

I am not looking to over power the stock brakes, trans or drive line, just something that will make the daily drive a little easyer/safer for everyone around me.

Yes!

First they are undercarburated, low compression, engines with a 62 lb flywheel that will allow them to run on one cylinder. The motors were originally built with poured babbit bearings and they are tough enough to withstand an increase in h.p. My engine (avatar) was an H&H touring engine with counterweighted crank and inserts that didn't hold up because the rear main was oil starved. I fixed the oil problem and kept the Snyders 5.5 head. I replaced the cam with a new Stipe HP350 cam and put a pair of 94s on it with a set of Reds headers. I got a Dan Price 27 lb flywheel that used a late Ford pressure plate and balanced it all. I haven't run it up all the way yet but where it used to go 35 (uphill) it can now do 55mph.

The brakes are stock A brakes and work very well.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by ljones44

Like I said here come the comments. Wheels come off as easy as they go on. Don't think I would look good in high heels, got to draw the line somewhere.

Obviously you guys have never driven in Atlanta, Georgia traffic. The Roadster has circle track seat belts for safety. Go Dawgs!

Thanks for spelling the word chutzpah, had to look that one up. But you guys have convinced me and I am in the process of pulling the motor and re-installing the mechanical brakes.

jones,
'pulling the motor and reinstalling the mech brakes'! Yikes, don't do that! Just trade me the roadster(like it is) For a pretty little stock beauty that I have!
BTW..some time ago we had a discussion about seatbelts/safety/rollover accidents....and roll bars.

[Mike V. Florida]

A little more giddy up can be had with a HC head, then a carb change, then a cam change.

If you read the directions for the floaters you will see that the brakes need to be in good working order and prober adjustment before you add the floaters. If the brakes are adjusted correctly and in good working order you don't need the floaters.

[hardtimes]

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Well, you can tell the guys on the hamb that there are guys over here that have gone over 140mph , driving these four banger engines! See how many of hambers have done that speed in the trusty flatty V8!
Lots of knowledge here to be gained from those guys too. You may have to prod. But there are MANY here who have done what you seek. Bad part is(my opinion)that it costs more to warm up a four banger than a V8.
Call vendor and ask for FREE mag. The one that comes to mind that has the most banger warmup goodies of any I've seen is Sacramento Vintage Ford..most everything you are going to want!