The wisdom of our Dads
 

I was thinking about the younger folks getting into the hobby. Their dads were probably the generation raised after cars had computers and such, making home repairs and shade tree mechanics truly a thing of the past.

When I got my first A back in the sixties, my dad let me go at it, but was always there for backup. I couldn't get something to work and he would explain it to me, saying "Some guy thought this up, so you should be able to figure it out" or say when it was working, you tried to do something... think back and start at the beginning of your work and what you did, and work from there, Don't mess with the other stuff."

Probably the best advice he gave was to work on one thing at a time and try it out. If it doesn't work right, you know where the problem is. Recently I read a thread where something was amiss and the fellow had changed out about a dozen things and it still wouldn't start. Now how do you find the problem?

I think it would be appreciated by all the readers here if us old guys could memorialize some of this advice given to us as kids by the old guys then. They had the wisdom to match the simplicity of the car. What do you think?

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

One of the best pieces of advice my dad gave me was, "Keep it original. Then you know what you've got and you can go back to factory references to fix it." He was talking about my first Model A, but I have applied that philosophy to every car I've owned since, and it has always served me well.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

My Dad recommended that my first car, even in 1974, be a Model A. Sure, he said, it will take some money to fix it up but look what you have when you are done. And I am forever indebted to Dad for saving his father's 1926 T Coupe (grandpa's work car!), which I finally restored back to original in 1980.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

My grandfather and my dad were both "fix it' kinda guys. What ever it takes, figure it out and make it work. My grandfathers motto was "Prove it. Don't just jump in there and start swapping out parts. It gets expensive and doesn't teach you anything. If you suspect it's not doing what it should, prove it."
My fathers first question was always "Did you read the instructions? or Did you read the manual? What did it say? If you don't know how it works, learn!" I have instruction books and sheets from every tool or piece of equipment he ever bought.
Both of these have done right for me thru the years.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

When one of those real beauties came up for sale, my Dad would say, "there will always be another car." And his Dad, my Papa, said, "I can buy any car I want ... until I buy one."
They were both absolutely right, except (and there is always an exception) when Papa traded in the 1950 F1 I learned to drive in. I was 17 and I wanted it very badly. I didn't get it ... and I still miss it. That's one I want that I can't buy.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

When I was sixteen and a guy down the street had a 1929 coupe for sale for $1,500 I begged my dad to buy it for me but,he said he used to buy these for $10.00 back in his day and $1,500 was why too much. If he only could of looked into the future.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

Is Weat Haven near West Haven??

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

I know you all may be getting tired of seeing this picture, but it answers the question of what Dad taught me about it being ok to modify your Model A.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/scan0028.jpg

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

I have seen this happen - "If it ain't broke, fix it til it is".

My best trouble shooting tip is to only change one thing at a time. Works for hardware or software.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

my dad was born in 1886 and when I bought a 31 A in '49, he said 'don't ever crank it, lots of men got their arms broken'. I still don't crank one.

my dad used to say "it's the condenser" and I would say at age 14 "it's the carburetor". it was always the condenser.

I was sure he did not know anything about cars because he wore a suit when he went to work and most the time when he was not at work.

sure miss him.

fordman

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

The best bit of wisdom my Dad gave me was unspoken. What I mean is, like when he came home from work one day and his 8 year old son (me) had his new lawn mower engine taken all apart and he didn't say a critical word. Just "you think you can get it back together again in time to mow the grass"? I used to take apart everything and never heard a discouraging word from him. After totally ruining the extra toaster we had he told my Mom "Don't worry, that's how the boy will learn". I'll forever be grateful for that unspoken bit of wisdom. I don't know if this makes any sense but just thought I'd throw it in here.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

My dad has always had the habit. He tells me that it is because when him and mom were younger, the only way they could afford cars is if he bought something and fixed it up. My earliest memory is when I was a little one and dad was restoring a 50s ford. I wanted to help so bad, so dad gave me sandpaper and a way I went sanding down a rear quarter panel. As I got older I resisted the habit because of the cost and my older brother jumped into it. I finally couldn't stand it anymore and a couple of years ago I started out with a T-Bucket and then a few months ago I sold that to purchase a 1936 Ford Tudor Sedan which I have been working on ever since. I am only 27 myselff and have a long road of fun ahead of me. Been very thankful and grateful for the help I have received so far on the forum.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

I got my first Model A just a few months ago. I got it primarily as an excuse for spending more time with my father. I'm 46, Pop is 82. Thank God I still get to hear his wisdom daily.

The car lives primarily at his house, and Pop is having the time of his life tinkering with it. He hadn't had one to play with since the '50s, yet he seems to remember every nut, bolt, and screw.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

My dear old dad is 91 this year. I have yet to stump him with any question about Model As or any other technical question about fixing anything. He is a genius! He launched men to the moon as well.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

My Dad was absolutly NOT Mechanical!! He would not teach me how to drive as he worried that if I damaged the mechanics of his car that he would have trouble getting to work. I asked my friend to teach me to drive and he did on his 31 Vicky!! I recieved my training in auto shop in high school and in helping my friend on his A. Years later my wife suggested that I get a Model A to tinker with....and the rest is history!!
Bruce Davis [email protected]

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

Wow... and I thought that I married well.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

My Dads advice: "When all else fails,read the instructions"

I had always wanted a Model A,but through the years, got diverted by things like motorcycles and jeeps. He would always hopefully encourage me when I mentioned that I would like to get a T or an A,but regretfully, he died last fall,before I finally did get that A. He would have been so happy to ride in that with me.

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

I DID marry well!!! My wife Diane was the navigator on the "Around the World Tour" that we took in 1982. She didnot get us lost once!!!
Bruce Davis [email protected]

Re: The wisdom of our Dads
 

I grew up in Appalachia, poor as a church mouse so everything I got had to be worked on. This includes my first car a 57 chevy. I learned a lot working on that old clunker. My Grandfather stood by me and pointed out how to do everything. I always said he could fix anything. It didn't always stay fixed, in fact most times it didn't but he taught me how to think outside the box and figure I could fix anything with wire and pliers. I sure do miss him. At least he got to ride in my first A. He was born 1 month before the Titanic sunk so, he grew up with T's and A's.