Welcome to the hobby!!!
I'm going to assume your A is stock, that is generator with cutout.
The two most common causes for dead batterys are a stuck stop light switch and a stuck cutout.
So first put in the battery and look at your tail light. If it's on that's your problem bad tail light switch.
If that's not it then we need to check the cutout, the can that sits on the generator, no it's not a regulator. It "cuts out" the battery volgate from going into the generator and turning it into a motor. So to check that out we remove the fan belt and see if the generator is turning like a motor.
Let's just start there for now and you can tell us what you found.
Books, start out with Les Andrews red book for the mechanical stuff. There are several other books that are good to have but again this is the starting point. Maybe add in the service bulletins in the large size not the small book, (too hard to read).
For restoring get the restorationa nd judging standards from one of the national clubs. I know you said you want to keep it as a driver. You will find that it is a case of 'it's just as easy to do it right as it is to do it at all"
Ok so far?
Go to the two national club sites and find a local club.
http://www.mafca.com/chapters_list.html
http://modelaford.org/pdf/RegionList.pdf
Use slippery oil any brand you want in 30 weight. Can be single weight or multi weight anything specific is just personal choice. Some use synthenic some use the stuff on sale at wallmart all will work just fine.
Antifreeze is about the same, some seem to have problems with foaming some don't. some don't even use antifreeze, just water and rust preventative.
Vendors, they are all good. Pick one close to you to save on shipping. Go to the top of this forum and see the post "
Model A/AA Ford Websites...Can YOU add to the list?" All the good ones are there.
The most important thing is you have found this site.