My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Howdy folks. I'm Nathan; 29 years old (at time of writing), and admirer of old machines.
This thread will be about my 1929 Closed Cab Pickup project I recently bought. First, for those who like stories, my history with Model As: My first experience with a Model A was being aware that the dusty, disassembled car shape in the back of the shed for my whole life was a "Model A." I knew it was my grandpas, but he died when I was quite young. I never saw anyone pay it any attention.. and neither did I, really. That is, until I was a teenager and still bitter about a breakup with my girlfriend. Haha. I decided spending time in the shed would help heal the wounds, and investigating just what the heck this Model A thing is would be a good avenue to pursue. So, the story was: My grandpa had a Model A before WWII. Upon returning from the Pacific theater, he wanted to, and did, get another. A 1929 Tudor. He used to give folks rides into town. Sometime ~30+ years ago, it was stored in my his mothers shed. Work was being done on her house (floors?, roof?) and it is believed that one of the workers took an interest in it. Whoever it was hooked a rope to the Model A and the other end to their truck, and after stealing an old farm scale and a few other things, took off with the loot. The thief/thieves made it a couple miles down the road before the rope snapped. The A crashed into a ditch where it rolled onto its side. As luck would have it, 1) the car suffered fairly minor damage (rear fender cracked and frame horns were bent), and 2) the ditch was in front of my grandmothers brothers house, and he yelled out to asked the guys where they got the car. They took off, leaving it. The car ended up back at my grandfathers house. My uncle then began disassembly for restoration. He got it about 1/3 disassembled before work stopped. I have a bunch of pictures of the before condition, my work, and my uncles work, but I'll only include a few since this thread isn't specifically about the Tudor. https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7f&oe=56372074[Find picture] My grandfather died in 1994, and the Model A was given to that uncle. In 2006, I began my work on the car, which sparked my uncles interest. My funds were limited, but my heart was in the right place. https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ba&oe=564DE2FA https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7f&oe=56372074[Find picture] Thanksgiving of 2010, my uncle took it to his shop, and it's currently being nut-and-bolt restored. https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...c2&oe=564763A1 https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7f&oe=56372074[Find picture] Last time I saw it: https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...fe&oe=564E8EAC https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7f&oe=56372074[Find picture] Yet, this was bittersweet. Now that the family A is in good hands, I needed my own. I would look on craigslist and ebay, but having a lot of projects, I wasn't 100% sure I needed a large one. I can fit quite a few vintage motorcycles in the same space of a vintage car.. I still kept an eye out just in case. February 25th of this year, Craigslist had what I was looking for. I braved the snow, ice, and cold in the middle-of-nowhere in Illinois, and found my A. The price was right, too. Took this less-than-stellar cell phone shot once we got to the nearest gas station. https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...8d&oe=5637E2B6http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psew5nwxs6.jpg It's not in the best shape, but I honestly don't care. I think I'll get more looks/conversations from a rusty old truck than a shiny one. Plus, it's cheaper that way. Haha. It's missing the cloth top, interior, and glass. I have all sheet metal and am simultaneously rebuilding a spare engine and transmission we had in the shed. The other missing items in this picture actually all fit in the bed of my Silverado. I later found out the both the radiator and gas tank are "beyond repair." That's not preferred, but not devastating. I plan on keeping this pickup forever, so the cost will wash out in the end. More stories and pictures are to come. I think this post is long enough for now. :D Edit: Why are some of my words turning into hyperlinks? |
Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project I hope you didn't do the doors an injury with those tie down straps through the windows like that but congratulations just the same. You're right, a repaired but not restored vehicle will always attract more attention at a show. Hopefully not the Police though!!:eek::D
You will get years of fun out of that P/U, much more than the work you put into it. Plenty of great advice here on the barn too. |
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Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Great looking truck..what a neat find!
Looking forward to future posts. Randy |
Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project I "think" the hyper links appear to facilitate the SEARCH FEATURE??
Bill W. |
Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Great looking truck. Attached are some pictures of my 1929 CCPU that I sort of customized in high school days (1950's) and what it now has become.
Will have to get the pictures on next post. Messed up this one. |
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As you can see, it did not end up as a 1929 CCPU but it did work out OK. But is was a fun project.
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Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Way to go Nathan!
Enjoy your project and welcome to the hobby. Al |
Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Thanks, everybody! I'm sure we'll get to know each other over the course of this project and any other threads I pop into. Hope to make some friends.
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Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project To continue the story:
I left the truck on the trailer in the shed until winter started to thaw. Removing everything to get it to this point was actually really easy. No bolts were seized. Surprising. https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...02&oe=563D4FCFhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psusl1fwkt.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pssuopdip8.jpg Existing engine may one day prove to be of some use, but I've been slowly preparing another one for the time where I had my own project. https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...72&oe=56537D5DBased on the degree of dust and rust, I think it sat out for a long time, then was hauled down a gravel road in the rain. Out of curiosity, I popped the top after having to remove a couple studs. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psw2vkunyy.jpg https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...5e&oe=568311A9http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pslu41ppkn.jpg https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...01&oe=563556BDThe gas tank has some holes, so I removed it and took it to a local shop, along with the radiator from this truck, and a spare radiator I had. Local shop couldn't fix any of it. I took the radiators to a different local shop for a second opinion and mailed the tank to someone who specializes in this kind of work. Second local shop wouldn't work on them and I heard back from the specialist that the tank is too far gone. Dang. Well, I'm not throwing anything away, but.. I guess I have to buy replacements. It'd be nice to just fix what I have and bolt it back up. Oh well, maybe one day when these become a little more rare than they already are. https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...dc&oe=56511587http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps3cb8ic8q.jpg Concurrently, I had the my primary block (I have probably 4 of these now) fixed up, cracks welded, threads repaired, cylinders bored to next size, hardened seats installed, milled. https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...9a&oe=563D9CA3http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psm10ictbe.jpg Had my primary head fixed up similarly. https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...17&oe=565409C5http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pswxqvvmbw.jpg Started accumulating/installing parts. https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...9d&oe=564B9CFF[Find picture] I took the block to get the babbit poured by a guy in central Illinois. Any folks in the area looking for this work, let me know and I'll send you his info. We need to support these guys, there aren't too many left. I don't have any decent pictures yet, but everything came out well. I had the crank ground, cam ground, babbit mains and rods poured, installed the pistons, installed new fiber gear and nut. I have modern valves and adjustable lifters, and.. every other dang thing I can think of.. ready to be installed. I have a transmission (minus shift tower) ready to go, too. But then I got a new job 2000 miles away. So, I had to roll it back in the barn and collect parts/knowledge until I get back to town to work on it. I'll be back in a month and will take some more detailed pics for y'all. https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...2e&oe=5639DC17http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psydfvgz5i.jpg In the background is an antique Jaeger cement mixer project I was working on at the same time (and got running that day). |
Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project GREAT project...keep us posted we love pictures!!!! plenty of opinions and advice here! don't be ashamed to ask......
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Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Nathan...welcome to this fascinating hobby and for sharing your new adventure and great photos! You will find and make many new friends on the Ford road ahead :)
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Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Looks like I'm going to have to go back and re-link all my old pictures.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psprmu7fcw.jpg Test-fiting the valves after installing camshaft, adjustable lifters, and one-piece valve guides. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps37iqs6tb.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pse598uej1.jpg Lapping the valves. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps5oqig1iw.jpg Springs/keepers/retainers installed. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psbkxnmcua.jpg Setting valve gap as a function of lift. Easier to do now than when it's in the truck, although I'm sure adjustments will be necessary. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psan2i7rbo.jpg This carb was solid rust covered in grease/dirt, abandoned, to never see the light of day again. I'll give it another shot at life. Everything actually came right apart and the inside was surprisingly good. In fact, I'm going to keep the original venturi in it because 1) it looks fine, and 2) it's stuck and would require a special puller that I don't feel like making/buying. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psq9ylc434.jpg I decided to use a phosphoric acid treatment from Rustoleum. The bottle said it works in 30 minutes, but that seemed too optimistic to me, so I let it sit for an hour. Worked great! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps9fz6m8wh.jpg A wire brush and some elbow grease finished it off. Then, paint and reassembly. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psfh792gwq.jpg I picked up a tank locally (Los Angeles) and had it boiled out and sealed. It's tough to find a shop in California that does this kind of work still.. but Gardena Radiator hooked me up. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps7ijj74yi.jpg I went back to Missouri (where the truck is) and pulled the original engine.. without a hoist. That required throwing a strap over the barn roof beam, attaching a come-along and a chain, and inching it up. More like half-inching, actually. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psdqbu2olh.jpg There was a typo on the title paperwork for it, and I had to bring it to an inspection station to get the VIN re-inspected. I asked if it had to be assembled. No. Ok. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psfzpukoou.jpg I was messing around with the old engine. Removed the crankshaft bolts, stood it vertically, and tried to lift the 65lb flywheel off. The rust on the crank locating/dowel pins refused to budge and lifted the whole ~400lb assembly. Impressive. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pscbqnscev.jpg I also prepared a transmission I had sitting around. Clean-up, paint, and new bearings. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psczvt6bnc.jpg I was back in town for Thanksgiving and working on the truck. If I follow my self-imposted schedule, I could have this running/driving by the end of the year. Odds of following the schedule? 50/50.. especially since the weather might not hold out for my big sand-blasting/painting ideas. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psan7uyw4f.jpg Rebuilt the water pump: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pstnlcbqy3.jpg Rebuilt the oil pump with new bushings, gears, gaskets, and fasteners: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psjcdvz8uy.jpg Rebuilt the distributor: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psh9ipggjb.jpg Lots more work to do over Christmas break. I'm going to sandblast/paint the frame and install the engine. I'm currently working on steering components, and... rebuilding a 1930 A engine I had sitting around. |
Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Way to go Nathan, keep up the great work.
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Great Job! Way to Go! All will be very proud of the end results!
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Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Very nice work and progress.
You will need to rotate the tranny rear bearing retainer though so the grease fitting is assessable from the bottom side. |
Re: My 1929 Closed Cab Pickup Project Thanks guys.
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