The Ford Barn

Louis · 05-22-2012, 02:59 PM

In the day could you order your new "A" model with the flying quail rad. cap ?
Was the quail a ford accessory ?

They look very nice, Thinking about ordering one from Snyders, Any thing neg. about them, any problems with leaking, etc. ?
Thank's for any comment's.

CarlG · 05-22-2012, 03:23 PM

A fair number of the Model As in our club have Quail Radiator caps, some with the thermometer, some without, both 28-29s and 30-31s. No one here seems to have a problem with them, it's the guys that don't have them that have the problem.

eagle · 05-22-2012, 07:06 PM

I have the winged Quail cap with the thermostat. I really like it. The thermostat works too! I got mine from Mac's last fall.

Richard Wilson · 05-23-2012, 08:58 AM

Only problem with the repro quail on my phaeton was that the rubber gasket eventually wore thin (after 20 years) and on a bumpy road the quail would turn about 20 degrees from straight. A new gasket and it is straight ahead.

On another car the top piece of the cap with the quail broke apart from the base. I wonder if some moron at a show might have messed with it and I did not notice until it fell off later going down the road.

barnstuf · 05-23-2012, 12:03 PM

The quail cap was an approved accessory back when the car was new. The quail with the thermometer was not available back then.

Purdy Swoft · 05-23-2012, 12:42 PM

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My daughter likes the flying quail accessory. Here is a picture of her, her coupe and my grand daughter. Some like the dress up accessories. I've had two of the thermoquail caps. I never could see that either of the thermometers worked. It was hard to get a good seal and there is a risk of ruining the radiator neck.

I prefer the the original standard radiator cap. If the ability to watch the temperature, I think that an accessory gauge mounted inside is best, that is what I use on my roadster and tudor. The flying quail was an authorized accessory by Ford. The quail would have been dealer installed. The original Quail caps didn't have a thermometer.

Louis · 05-23-2012, 01:51 PM

Swoft,
When you say it was hard to get a good seal and there is a risk of ruining the radiator neck, Are you talking about just the thermoquial only, or both style's ?

.

Purdy Swoft · 05-23-2012, 03:49 PM

Louis, The quail caps have two gaskets. The base has two little tabs that are attached with allen head screws. When the screws are tightened it sort of locks the base to the radiator neck. It can distort the radiator neck when the screws are tightened. Either of the quail caps connect to the radiator neck the same way. The quail caps are just as likely to spit out a few drops of water when accelerating as any cap will if you don't have a good seal between the cap and the radiator neck. I had more problems with the quail caps than I did with original or repro caps. Usually after a quail cap is used, the original cap never fits right again. If you notice the picture, they've got the quail off center. They can be a pain to install and adjust. A lot of people like them and I sure dont want to hurt anybodys feelings. I just feel that they require more attention than the original style, but if you like the look then go for it.

Louis · 05-23-2012, 05:51 PM

Swoft,
Thanks for the info. Im sticking with the original style, It works great and I sure don't need any more radiator problems.
Good looking coupe there, Im sure your daughter and grand daughter are very proud of it, It show's.

Bruce,Upstate NY · 05-23-2012, 08:02 PM

I've used motometers and quails with rectal thermometers over the years but get far better service with the flat caps and dash guages if you are interested in the real temperature.

newshirt · 05-23-2012, 08:48 PM

Yes, they were a dealer supplied accessory, starting in July 1928. Almost a million were made. There's a nice write up in the RG&JS where my bad scans of photos came from. They were made by Stant and Jarvis, and were bright nickel plated die casts.

The repros are chrome plated, so they are too shiny. Mine is a repro (like half the stuff on the car), but I love it! No problems, nice to look at, and a great conversation piece.

Purdy Swoft · 05-23-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

Swoft,
Thanks for the info. Im sticking with the original style, It works great and I sure don't need any more radiator problems.
Good looking coupe there, Im sure your daughter and grand daughter are very proud of it, It show's.

Thanks, Louis. Igot the coupe in pieces with a few pieces missing in 69. I first just put it together and drove it in primer untill 77. My daughter grew up with it. I felt that she ought to have it. Its got a 5.9 head and plenty of power. Jennifer, my daughter drives it almost every day. My wife says that she drives it just like I did. My Grand daughter is wanting to drive the model A's already and she is only nine years old. When her legs getlong enough to reach the pedals, she will be driveing a model A.

05-22-2012, 02:59 PM	#1
Louis Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Marietta GA. Posts: 647	Flying Quail In the day could you order your new "A" model with the flying quail rad. cap ? Was the quail a ford accessory ? They look very nice, Thinking about ordering one from Snyders, Any thing neg. about them, any problems with leaking, etc. ? Thank's for any comment's.

05-22-2012, 03:23 PM	#2
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,192	Re: Flying Quail A fair number of the Model As in our club have Quail Radiator caps, some with the thermometer, some without, both 28-29s and 30-31s. No one here seems to have a problem with them, it's the guys that don't have them that have the problem.

05-22-2012, 07:06 PM	#3
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,081	Re: Flying Quail I have the winged Quail cap with the thermostat. I really like it. The thermostat works too! I got mine from Mac's last fall.

05-23-2012, 08:58 AM	#4
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: Flying Quail Only problem with the repro quail on my phaeton was that the rubber gasket eventually wore thin (after 20 years) and on a bumpy road the quail would turn about 20 degrees from straight. A new gasket and it is straight ahead. On another car the top piece of the cap with the quail broke apart from the base. I wonder if some moron at a show might have messed with it and I did not notice until it fell off later going down the road.

05-23-2012, 12:03 PM	#5
barnstuf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 2,840	Re: Flying Quail The quail cap was an approved accessory back when the car was new. The quail with the thermometer was not available back then.

05-23-2012, 12:42 PM	#6
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Flying Quail Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) My daughter likes the flying quail accessory. Here is a picture of her, her coupe and my grand daughter. Some like the dress up accessories. I've had two of the thermoquail caps. I never could see that either of the thermometers worked. It was hard to get a good seal and there is a risk of ruining the radiator neck. I prefer the the original standard radiator cap. If the ability to watch the temperature, I think that an accessory gauge mounted inside is best, that is what I use on my roadster and tudor. The flying quail was an authorized accessory by Ford. The quail would have been dealer installed. The original Quail caps didn't have a thermometer.

05-23-2012, 01:51 PM	#7
Louis Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Marietta GA. Posts: 647	Re: Flying Quail Swoft, When you say it was hard to get a good seal and there is a risk of ruining the radiator neck, Are you talking about just the thermoquial only, or both style's ? .

05-23-2012, 03:49 PM	#8
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Flying Quail Louis, The quail caps have two gaskets. The base has two little tabs that are attached with allen head screws. When the screws are tightened it sort of locks the base to the radiator neck. It can distort the radiator neck when the screws are tightened. Either of the quail caps connect to the radiator neck the same way. The quail caps are just as likely to spit out a few drops of water when accelerating as any cap will if you don't have a good seal between the cap and the radiator neck. I had more problems with the quail caps than I did with original or repro caps. Usually after a quail cap is used, the original cap never fits right again. If you notice the picture, they've got the quail off center. They can be a pain to install and adjust. A lot of people like them and I sure dont want to hurt anybodys feelings. I just feel that they require more attention than the original style, but if you like the look then go for it.

05-23-2012, 05:51 PM	#9
Louis Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Marietta GA. Posts: 647	Re: Flying Quail Swoft, Thanks for the info. Im sticking with the original style, It works great and I sure don't need any more radiator problems. Good looking coupe there, Im sure your daughter and grand daughter are very proud of it, It show's.

05-23-2012, 08:02 PM	#10
Bruce,Upstate NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, NY Posts: 385	Re: Flying Quail I've used motometers and quails with rectal thermometers over the years but get far better service with the flat caps and dash guages if you are interested in the real temperature.