Starting Restoration
 

I am 19 years old and a college student studying business finance and economics at the University of Alabama. In my free time I love to work on cars. I have worked on anything from Late 90's BMWs, to a 1979 MGB and a 1947 Correct Craft Boat. I am now on to a 1930 Model A I have pulled out of the barn. This belonged to my grandfather who has passed away and took with him most of the information about the car. I am trying to identify the body and history of this old woody. If anybody may know anything about this car or body it would be greatly appreciated.

More pictures can be viewed here:
https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A1JtdOXmJ8YP2I

Re: Starting Restoration
 

I just wanted to say welcome and nice A.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

It's a nice homebuilt woody, and I would just lube all the moving parts and make sure the brakes and mechanicals are good, then drive it and enjoy it as is.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Yeah car has a history unto its own --keep it as is...

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Nice car to leave as is and enjoy. So what part of Alabama are you from when not in school.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Very cool car. Welcome.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

You have a wonderful Boy Toy. Enjoy.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Welcome and that is one really nice car!

Mike

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Thank you for all the welcomes! I am sure I will have many questions as I begin to start this project.

I am from Montgomery, Alabama.
And should I not at least repaint the hood? The paint is peeling very badly and starting to rust.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

We have a very knowledgeable member here, Purdy Swoft. He is in Alabama also. You might do a search for him using the advance search function and drop him a PM. You will find him to be very helpful.

Nice car! Good to see another one being saved!
Good luck and post here as much as you want, we will try to be helpful, too

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Interesting custom woody. Restore as needed, drive and enjoy. The Ford Barn will help you with answers to any questions. Have fun.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Ditto!! Seal the bare metal from continuing to rust.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

And should I not at least repaint the hood? The paint is peeling very badly and starting to rust.[/QUOTE]

Not necessarily, chip away the peeling paint and then seal it with WD-40(?) or I think people have used motor oil(?). Once you paint the hood then you will have to paint the rest of the truck so it will match.

Mike

Re: Starting Restoration
 

I would be willing to pull the body panels/fenders off the car to get them repainted. How hard could that be?

Re: Starting Restoration
 

You only have to please yourself, but I would first dust it off, lube it, and drive to to a few shows. You'll soon find people like to see it just the way it is now, plus it saves you work and money.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Not hard to pull and repaint the panels, but as others have stated it is beautiful just the way it is.
It is only original once.

Very, very, very cool!

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Hard to tell from the pictures but I would guess that if careful, you could repaint the hood and get it to match.

Nice car, good luck. Keep us posted.

Neal

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Paint the truck body on. Just remove the fenders and hood and mask off the rest. It will be a fun project for the summer. Do lots of research on current types of paints. Find a professional to shoot the color paint but work with him on how you should prep and prime

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Re: Starting Restoration
 

I know of two drivers that were taken apart more than 50 years ago, and they are still apart. At least drive it for a year or two before you decide, and you might realize it's great as it is now.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Another thing you may want to consider is seat belts. Since you have no side protection-like a door to keep you inside.

Mike

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Seat belts are a really good idea. Aside from that, do whatever pleases you, but by all means drive it. Don't let it become a perpetual project. A pile of metal in the corner of the garage just takes up space. A running (maybe rusty, but drivable) car gives enjoyment!

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Welcome! Looks like you are going to have quite a project that will pass on some family history. I would look at making contact with a Model A chapter close to where you are. visit MAFCA.com there is a list of chapters there with contact information. You will find most of the people in this hobby very helpful and willing to show you how to work on projects.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Central alabama model a ford club is in Montgomery. It's a great club

Re: Starting Restoration
 

I am definitely going to be contacting them. My grandfather was a member of their club here.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

And just to clarify from comments earlier in the thread, does my Model A have a one of a kind custom wooden body on it?

Re: Starting Restoration
 

The body reminds me of the trucks they use for hunting quail down south, especially Georgia. They run the dogs while hunters ride in the truck. Once the dogs go on point, the hunters hop out and have the dogs flush the quail. Might be a reason there are no sides, and 2 benches. Like this one.
http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps3kooea5q.jpg

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Got the Model A all cleaned up! My next step is to clear the fuel system. I see the tank is built in right behind the instrument panel. It will need to be flushed out thoroughly. Any advice on how you guys clean out your old fuel tanks? I may either just flush it with gas/chemicals or if need be I may be able to pull it out. Also I want to get a new carburetor. Which modern version gives the best performance?

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Welcome aboard !
Heck, you don't need any different paint on your A. It looks great with dirt cleaned off :) ! Must have had GOOD storage, eh !!

Re: Starting Restoration
 

The hood on this side is the worst panel on the A. I'm not sure what to do about paint for it. Everything else on the vehicle is in great shape.


Also, check the shared album for high quality photos. I am doing this from my iPhone and can't upload high quality pictures here.

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A1JtdOXmJ8YP2I

Re: Starting Restoration
 

That area of hood adds 'character' to a very beautiful vehicle...as is ;) !
I agree with others here, who have advised to just coat it for now and drive it , till you fully make up mind to change. As you will find it hard to change it BACK to what it is now, if second thoughts later !

Guys nowadays, pay big $ to have a 'clear coat' put over old vehicles with great 'patina'..as it's called. Your A , so just answering, eh !

Re: Starting Restoration
 

beautiful piece of history, keep it in the family

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Since your grandfather belonged to the Central Alabama club, perhaps you can learn a fair amount about your car by talking with the members there.

Also, you asked about a modern replacement carburetor - suggest that you talk with some other Model A owners before deciding to switch out the carb. If you have a well-tuned original type carb on the car it should run just fine.

And welcome to the Barn!

Re: Starting Restoration
 

There's probably many of us that had the urge to "tinker" with our first Model A and couldn't resist trying to improve the aesthetics. So we did, and took our shiny vehicles to shows only to become envious of the originals that drew the admiring crowds.

Mechanicals first, then maybe the rest.....maybe. ;)

Re: Starting Restoration
 

There is no need for a "modern version". Get the one on the car rebuilt buy someone that really knows about the carbs. I vote for Bert's in Denver.

If for some reason your heart is set on a modern version you are going to have to decide if you want up draft carb and the original manifold or a down draft and purchase a new manifold.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

Welcome! My vote is leave like grandpa left it! Just repair what is needed to get it running. You will get big grins and thumbs up when your driving grandpas car! Heck i'am giving you two thumbs up now :-)

Re: Starting Restoration
 

My advice is to be careful if something doesn't work. Learn to test first and locate the problem, so many start by replacing what they espect could be the issue only to find they have created more porblems. The original parts are usually the most reliable and Model A guys are always helpful. I agree that you should drive it a few years first then you will make a more informed decision. Have fun

Re: Starting Restoration
 

No offense, but Its all very cute to take to a show a couple times unrestored, but after a while you get the reputation of being the neighborhood hillbilly, and also it pisses the people off who put the labor and money in to make theres nice, a little wet sanding and a cheap coat of paint wouldn't cost much.

Re: Starting Restoration
 

i dont get pissed off or feel that way about drivers brought to shows...i enjoy it when there are more model A's no matter what the condition....

Re: Starting Restoration
 

I think its pretty cool that you have resurrected a piece of your family's history.
Enjoy it ! As is, or whatever you decide, its yours. As far as being the neighborhood hillbilly, it aint so bad once you get used to it.:) Dont worry about pissing off the ones with the super-nice cars, some of them are super-nice people too...and some are not, no matter what you're driving.
As far as the carburetor goes, a lot of times a good cleaning and blowing out all the passages is all that's needed. Certainly worth a try before you run out and buy a new one.
Good Luck!:)