how fast can a model A be restored?

[Model A Man]

I have a stock 1930 Model A deluxe roadster. What I need to do is take it all apart and fix the sag in the chassis repaint all the parts and put it back together. the body has no rust and very straight but the fenders have a few cracks at the bead. I use to do auto body and upholstery work about 25 years ago so I think I should be ok in that department. This roadster is going to be a permanent static display in a restaurant, so it will have no fluids or battery and doesn't have to run, just look really good. Once I start I am hoping I can get it done in three months. all input or ideas are welcome.

[Doug in NJ]

I've been working on mine for 8 years...

Doug

[vermontboy]

I think it depends on how much sleep you want to get ..... 3 months is 480 man-hours at 40 hours a week. Not sure why frame sag is an issue for a static display - is it severe??

Even without "getting it running" (which is the easiest part unless you do the machine work yourself) I think you are looking at 1200 to 1600 hours to disassemble, repair, repaint and reassemble if you do it properly. A "20 foot special" could be done within the 3 month time span if you sub out some of the work - think MAACO for paint.

Still not sure why the frame is an issue for a static display - you state no fluids or battery - are you going to rewire the car ?? Are you going to do anything internally to prevent deterioration ? If for some reason the "static display" doesn't work out long term is the owner aware of the loss of value between a restored roadster and basically just a body shell sitting on a repaired frame and requiring a full mechanical restoration.

Just my two cents

[C26Pinelake]

I agree ! For static display why go to all that trouble? A ten footer should Serve your purpose ! Wayne

[ronn]

sell it and buy a "done" one

will only take a few hours..............

[Neal]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

On TV they get it done in an hour with the drama. You should be able to get it done in half that time.

[George Miller]

Why not straiten the frame with the body on. Not that hard to do.

To answer your question it takes me about a 1000 hours to do a decent car including rebuilding the engine.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by George Miller

Why not straiten the frame with the body on. Not that hard to do.

To answer your question it takes me about a 1000 hours to do a decent car including rebuilding the engine.

You are a faster man than we.

We have a restoration project broken down by 730+ individualized tasks for scheduling in Microsoft Project, and the template breaks it down in about 1,400 hours for a Roadster, ...and over 2,000 hours for a wood-bodied Sedan or Vic. Granted, our hours includes restoring door latches, window regulators, and all of the sub-component peripheral items that many don't bother with, ...but to answer the OP question directly, even if you have 50 hours a week to devote to the project, 12 weeks only gives you 600 hours. Somewhere along the way you need to factor in hidden damage delays, incorrect or ill-fitting parts, and unforeseen parts/materials delays.


.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

You are a faster man than we.

We have a restoration project broken down by 730+ individualized tasks for scheduling in Microsoft Project, and the template breaks it down in about 1,400 hours for a Roadster, ...and over 2,000 hours for a wood-bodied Sedan or Vic. Granted, our hours includes restoring door latches, window regulators, and all of the sub-component peripheral items that many don't bother with, ...but to answer the OP question directly, even if you have 50 hours a week to devote to the project, 12 weeks only gives you 600 hours. Somewhere along the way you need to factor in hidden damage delays, incorrect or ill-fitting parts, and unforeseen parts/materials delays.


.

I'm sure you do more of the details than I. If you notice I said a decent car. But I have done 25 Model A's over the years, plus was a mechanic in my Dads garage, so that helps. But I'm not the best body man in the world I do what I can.

.[/QUOTE]

[ian Simpson]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

You are a faster man than we.

We have a restoration project broken down by 730+ individualized tasks for scheduling in Microsoft Project, and the template breaks it down in about 1,400 hours for a Roadster, ...and over 2,000 hours for a wood-bodied Sedan or Vic. Granted, our hours includes restoring door latches, window regulators, and all of the sub-component peripheral items that many don't bother with, ...but to answer the OP question directly, even if you have 50 hours a week to devote to the project, 12 weeks only gives you 600 hours. Somewhere along the way you need to factor in hidden damage delays, incorrect or ill-fitting parts, and unforeseen parts/materials delays.


.

Brent, As someone who did project management as a career for many years back in the dark ages before the advent of the PMBOK (Project Management Book of Knowledge), I really appreciate the work that went into to template. If I were going to embark on a restoration project I would give good money for a copy of your template.

Ian

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by Neal

On TV they get it done in an hour with the drama. You should be able to get it done in half that time.

Ain't that the truth

[Dave in MN]

As Vermontboy suggests, the time frame would be dependent on how highly you rate sleep!

I completed my Phaeton in about 5.5 months working killer hours after my day job. Total mechanical, full paint and new top. I did all the work myself except the final coat of paint and pin striping. The pin striping was still tacky when we took off for the 2000 National in Kansas City. I estimate it took about 1000 hours.

My first restoration, a CC Pickup, on the other hand, took about 3 years for the same and an estimated 2200 hours.

Good Day!

[vermontboy]

If you haven't done paint work in 25 years you may find that things have changed a bit. Not sure when all the changes came about but the last time I sprayed a car it was in the open with nitrocellulose lacquer.
I've only done two restorations - both decades ago and never got to the point where I could do one in 1000 hours......

[Fred]

And just what do you call "RESTORED" ?? It makes a BIG difference in time and $$$..

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Model A Man,

If input & ideas are welcomed, FWIW, here are mine:

A. Thorough Planning Always Helps.

B. If you have performed all of these chores before & have experienced every task, you can meet your schedule; if not, with encountering new tasks, allow at least 1-1/2 the amount of time scheduled.

C. Your restoration possibly can be thought of today as two (2) Options for a voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific:

D. Option 1:

1. Set a beginning point & an ending point, & maintain a mental compass to insure you are always heading forward in the proper direction.

2. Plot your daily route on a map with no dead ends & no detours, insuring always traveling forward, one way, never doing a chore twice, & never backtracking, all tied to a daily hourly schedule.

3. Maintain flexibility in that you can accomplish anything you see later as a better performance route that was not previously expected.

4. Maintain a daily log of accomplishments to see what was done & what has yet to be done.

5. Schedule breaks for meals & rest.

E. Option 2:

1. Do not set a final destination point at the Pacific; just take off & land anywhere on the coast from Mexico to Canada.

2. Don't plot your route on a map, just turn at every junction, every intersection, & wander all over hoping you are headed west. Every time you make a wrong turn, just turn around & head back.

3.. If you think you see a better route, just take it even with no map, there might be a McDonald's not too far ahead.

4. Do not log your progress, just go in circles, it does not matter were you have been, where you are going, or how many days you traveled.

5. Do not schedule stops for meals & rest; just pick up food along the way from supermarkets or anywhere, & sleep in your vehicle with no showers & no bathroom facilities so you can look like a tramp, travel like a tramp, & feel like a tramp with no accomplishments.

F. Some go through life with Option 1, some prefer Option 2, & some like to combine Option 1 with Option 2; however, no matter what, ask Model A questions & directions along the way, smile & have fun, & don't get frustrated if you are late in meeting your final goal -- none of us ever met it anyway & quite frankly, the Russians won't care if you finish or not. !!!!!!!! LOL Hope this helps.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Model A Man,

If any doubts, as a backup, another less accurate method than that presented above by Mr. Brent, for estimating Model A service time, is to buy the BT-1 Model T Service Manual sold by Snyder's.

Ford listed in this manual the minimum hours spent for most very similar mechanical type services; however, keep in mind that with Mr. Brent's list & the Ford's Model T hours, services were provided by professional well experienced mechanics who performed these services every day.

Hope this helps for anyone estimating any particular Model A mechanical service.

Many thanks to Mr. Brent for detailing such valuable Model A service information geared to todays modern methods of providing these Model A services.

[ericr]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Hi Model A Man,

If any doubts, as a backup, another less accurate method than that presented above by Mr. Brent, for estimating Model A service time, is to buy the BT-1 Model T Service Manual sold by Snyder's.

Ford listed in this manual the minimum hours spent for most very similar mechanical type services; however, keep in mind that with Mr. Brent's list & the Ford's Model T hours, services were provided by professional well experienced mechanics who performed these services every day.

Hope this helps for anyone estimating any particular Model A mechanical service.

Many thanks to Mr. Brent for detailing such valuable Model A service information geared to todays modern methods of providing these Model A services.

LOL HL, if you are talking about the original schedule I think you are, those dealerships must have had Superman working in them.

It ranks in absurdity right up there with the Company exhorting the dealers to hustle for lube jobs, on which they charged like 1.50.

[RobertB]

If it's inside, paint the inside of the window black or put mirror glass behind them. One of the resturants I used to frequent has an MGTD with holes in the hood for the dalad bar containers and a stainless steel tub that fit inside the intire cockpit area, full of ice with the rest of the salad bar.

I you are looking at only display, forget fixing anything. Prop up the sag, maybe weld in a brace, power wash everything, and put six coats of cheap acrylic black all over the whole thing. Polish the half dozen chrome bits and buy some repro hub caps.

Voila! Only a Model A nut like someone on this list will be pickey about the "cute old car" in the resturant.

RH

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by RobertB

If it's inside, paint the inside of the window black or put mirror glass behind them. One of the resturants I used to frequent has an MGTD with holes in the hood for the dalad bar containers and a stainless steel tub that fit inside the intire cockpit area, full of ice with the rest of the salad bar.

I you are looking at only display, forget fixing anything. Prop up the sag, maybe weld in a brace, power wash everything, and put six coats of cheap acrylic black all over the whole thing. Polish the half dozen chrome bits and buy some repro hub caps.

Voila! Only a Model A nut like someone on this list will be pickey about the "cute old car" in the restaurant.

RH

This gets my vote, Power wash, convert the rust where you can, cut out where you can't and fill with foam insulation, smooth, skim coat and paint the parts shiny.

There was a guy in the 50's that bought several old airplanes ans was surprised on well the old tires were holding air. When he moved the plane he found out that the tubes were plywood disks inside rock hard tires. Looked great when parked there!!!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

This gets my vote, Power wash, convert the rust where you can, cut out where you can't and fill with foam insulation, smooth, skim coat and paint the parts shiny.

There was a guy in the 50's that bought several old airplanes ans was surprised on well the old tires were holding air. When he moved the plane he found out that the tubes were plywood disks inside rock hard tires. Looked great when parked there!!!

Wow, and to think this thread has the word Restored in the title!