Inherited 1931 Model A

[JEFFWILKINS]

Good Afternoon,

I just inherited my grandfathers 31 Model A with the rumble. Hasn't been run in 30 years. It ran perfectly fine when he put it in his garage. Looking for pointers on what we should do in order to get her fired up again. Needs new battery, probably need to drain the gas tank, clean the carburetor and the spark plugs, new oil. What else?

Thanks!

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by JEFFWILKINS

Good Afternoon,

I just inherited my grandfathers 31 Model A with the rumble. Hasn't been run in 30 years. It ran perfectly fine when he put it in his garage. Looking for pointers on what we should do in order to get her fired up again. Needs new battery, probably need to drain the gas tank, clean the carburetor and the spark plugs, new oil. What else?

Thanks!

Remove all spark plugs and squirt oil into each cylinder. Use hand crank and crank engine over to spread oil. Also, ensure that the crankcase is drained first and refill with fresh oil. That's a start

Welcome aboard. You could introduce yourself, tell where you from and we like pictures...before you bring it into the light.

[1930artdeco]

Welcome Jeff,

First thing to do is drain all of the fluids and replace the oil in the tanny and diff (same oil). For the engine since it has not run in a long time, I would do what Hardtimes says to do first. Then drain, and remove the pan and valve cover. That way you clean the pan and valve chamber out. Plus you can check the valve lash while you are in there. Reinstall both pieces add oil and new gas and fire her up.

Mike

[mhsprecher]

Congratulations! One of the best inheritances ever, assuming you like old cars. Model As are the best! Good luck getting it going. Join both Model A clubs and a local chapter and have a ball!

[40 Deluxe]

Unless the gas tank was drained right after it was parked, the bottom of the tank will be covered with a varnish-like residue from the long since evaporated gas. Fresh gas, especially the ethanol slop, will dissolve this stuff and it goes through the engine, but doesn't burn. Instead it leaves sticky deposits on exhaust valve stems, causing them to stick.

[mike657894]

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pull pan. scoop out sludge. clean out valve chamber. drain fuel. clean out fuel filter on firewall. the bottom of that screws out. new copper exhaust and intake gaskets. check antifreeze change if it does not look good. check oil levels on diff and trans. grease everything you can. you will probably need to polish up contacts for spark plugs and the points. I would check compression as well. you should buy 4 new plugs champion w16y. I would buy a new coil, condenser, point set, dizzy cap, rotor and modern plug wire kit.

[Charlie Stephens]

Tires have a life of about 10 years, it sounds like yours should be replaced before you drive very far or fast. This is one time it pays to have mechanical brakes. If they are hydraulic brakes you have a whole new set of problems (which does it have?) Remember when installing the battery that the car is positive ground. Put your general location in your profile, you never know when it will pay off. Good luck and sorry to hear about the loss of your grandfather.

Charlie Stephens

[Tom Wesenberg]

If you have liquid gas in the tank, then I would drain it out and put in fresh gas. If the gas has evaporated and left dry residue behind, then I'd blow out all you can with a long blow gun and air compressor. Then flush out the rest by using some fresh gas and draining it through cloth into a pail. Keep repeating until it runs clean. Rock the car side to side to slosh the gas and help drain out the junk. Then install the tank filter to prevent junk from messing up the shut off valve and carb.

When you drain the oil, bend a wire to 90* and spin it around on the bottom of the oil pan to see if you pick up any sludge. If you get sludge, then drop the pan and clean it out. If you don't get sludge, then I wouldn't drop the oil pan.

New 6 volt battery with positive ground, then jump across the cutout terminal with a wire for one second to polarize the generator, in case it lost it's residual magnetism over the years.

Don't replace a thing on the ignition, just lightly sand or file the points to clean off a little oxidation. Fresh oil and gas, and you should be able to start the engine. Tire age doesn't bother me if they aren't showing cracks, but even if they look good, drive it around the neighborhood for several miles before heading out somewhere far.

If you start out by changing a bunch of parts, then you'll be back here asking why it doesn't start. It ran good when parked, so it should run good now, but removing the plugs and spinning the engine over with some oil down each plug hole is a good idea. Hand crank it first to make sure nothing is stuck, then spin it with the starter to spread the oil. Then reinstall the plugs and start the engine.

Hopefully it wasn't stored with water. ALWAYS use antifreeze.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

If you start out by changing a bunch of parts, then you'll be back here asking why it doesn't start. It ran good when parked, so it should run good now, but removing the plugs and spinning the engine over with some oil down each plug hole is a good idea. Hand crank it first to make sure nothing is stuck, then spin it with the starter to spread the oil. Then reinstall the plugs and start the engine.

What he said!!!

[KenCoupe]

In addition to the good recommendations above, the MAFCA website has a Tech Q&A answer on ENGINE STARTUP AFTER LONG STORAGE. It is in the Tech Q&A - Engine - Other section of the website. The writer suggested using 30w non-detergent oil. Others here on the Barn may agree with that or may have other suggestions, or you can search for "What oil to use" discussions here on the forum. Good luck with starting it, don't rush it, and enjoy it when you get it going!

[bobusnick104]

Jeff, we're all drooling for pictures!

[30ccpickup]

Just in case this is the first time starting a Model A here is the procedure:
http://modelabasics.com/Starting%20&%20Driving.htm
After it is running brakes should be next on your list, when done right Model A's stop well.

[ronn]

wish my Grandfather had left me an A! (or anything for that matter)

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by JEFFWILKINS

Good Afternoon,

I just inherited my grandfathers 31 Model A with the rumble. Hasn't been run in 30 years. It ran perfectly fine when he put it in his garage. Looking for pointers on what we should do in order to get her fired up again. Needs new battery, probably need to drain the gas tank, clean the carburetor and the spark plugs, new oil. What else?

Thanks!

Roadster or Coupe?? Which ever it is, your Grandfather had good taste.
Welcome to the barn and commiserations on your loss.