Why is everyone out of chassis springs?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Many of the wonderful assortment of reproduction parts available to us have gone or are going away because of reduced demand and increased costs to manufacture. The reproduction parts market is retrograding back to what is was near its infancy. I do believe there are not enough salvageable Model A's left to bring back the demand for the plethora of restoration parts we enjoyed just 20 years ago. What will continue in my opinion are the common parts we need to maintain our Model A's such as ignition, tires, tubes, water pumps, fan belts, gaskets, etc.

The emphasis for restorers today is salvaging original parts, even those in horrible condition. We are blessed to have craftsmen using modern tools & techniques that can make miracles out of bent, cranked and corroded metal.

Is it believable that these replacement parts would become available again if the hobbyist would pay more money making the risk worth the effort?

With regard to your thoughts about Craftsmen using modern tools & techniques, one of the struggles I have seen is many Model-A hobbyists apparently just do not have the skillset to do even the most basics of maintenance & upkeep. As a young child in the 60s and 70s, I remember going with my father to club member's houses where many of these hobbyist/club member had a small lathe, milling machine, compressor, welder, etc. in their garage where they could restore/repair worn Model-A parts. In the last couple of decades or so, I think it became easier for the Model-A owner to buy reproduction parts vs. restore/repair original parts. Nowadays, it appears that very few hobbyists have even the basics of tools to do restoration work much less have the shop tools. Am I wrong in this??

[Mike1291]

From the perspective of a young 20 something, the classic car hobby is not something that many are really in to. Young people like looking at classic cars and sometimes seeing people on YouTube fix them up, but actually fixing an old car does not provide that instant gratification. Small sample size, but the two young people (under 30) that I know that have classic cars have someone else work on them. It also doesn't help if at some point in time one of their family members sold or gave away their tools because they had no use for them.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

As a young child in the 60s and 70s, I remember going with my father to club member's houses where many of these hobbyist/club member had a small lathe, milling machine, compressor, welder, etc. in their garage where they could restore/repair worn Model-A parts.

Other than the compressor, which I think is still pretty common in home workshops, I wonder how many of those hobbyists you remember both acquired and learned to use those machines specifically for the purpose of pursuing the hobby?

And I'm not saying that's a bad thing. One of the club members here worked in software for his entire career, and then after he retired he re-trained as a machinist at the local vocational school and bought an entire shop's worth of tools. That guy is my hero. But how common is that degree of dedication, is my question.

[David in San Antonio]

Re: replacement bodywork: I have seen new technology that utilizes computer-controlled power hammer on a robotic arm (more like a frame) to form sheet metal into complex curves. The demonstrations online have shown fairly small pieces, say 12” in diameter, but I presume this technology will continue to advance. I won’t be holding my breath for the day it can work Model A gauge steel for fenders, and I won’t predict what the cost of production will be. I hope I see it and can afford it in my lifetime.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

Other than the compressor, which I think is still pretty common in home workshops, I wonder how many of those hobbyists you remember both acquired and learned to use those machines specifically for the purpose of pursuing the hobby?

And I'm not saying that's a bad thing. One of the club members here worked in software for his entire career, and then after he retired he re-trained as a machinist at the local vocational school and bought an entire shop's worth of tools. That guy is my hero. But how common is that degree of dedication, is my question.

No, I think the major difference back then was many hobbyists in each club came from an occupation in the trades industry where they had some sort of a background from working around machine tools. Sometimes it was just as a maintenance mechanic at their workplace. Many hobby shops back then possessed tools made by Atlas, S Bend, Logan, etc. that were available thru a Sears or Montgomery Wards catalog. Not everyone possessed skills HOWEVER there were fellow members in the club that helped out other members restoring Model-As. The local Model-A club was a necessity for the networking to assist someone getting a car restored. Yes, the dedication to see a project from A to Z is very much lacking these days.

[johnneilson]

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As to mike1291 point
Yes the parents or grandparents have sold or passed along the machinery

I have witnessed this and I will only make this comment
The time to express interest in the hobby is before the parents stop using the machinery

John

[Sunny the Model A]

Originally Posted by Mike1291

From the perspective of a young 20 something, the classic car hobby is not something that many are really in to. Young people like looking at classic cars and sometimes seeing people on YouTube fix them up, but actually fixing an old car does not provide that instant gratification. Small sample size, but the two young people (under 30) that I know that have classic cars have someone else work on them. It also doesn't help if at some point in time one of their family members sold or gave away their tools because they had no use for them.

Time for the bombshell, I'm 22 and I want nothing to do with modern anything. I do all my own work and am the local model a mechanic. I am working with some friends into starting to reproduce some A components that need to be made again. I also am about to go into the babbitting business as I am about to buy a lineboring machine. I got into the A Models as a relief from the insanity of modern cars. once I sell my 53 chevy I will only own and work on A model Fords.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Mike1291

From the perspective of a young 20 something, the classic car hobby is not something that many are really in to. Young people like looking at classic cars and sometimes seeing people on YouTube fix them up, but actually fixing an old car does not provide that instant gratification. Small sample size, but the two young people (under 30) that I know that have classic cars have someone else work on them. It also doesn't help if at some point in time one of their family members sold or gave away their tools because they had no use for them.

I was 6 years old (-now 64 yo) when my father and several car friends decided to form the Houston Texas Model-A club. Dad was 34 yo at the time and was in his late 20s when he bought his first Model-A to tinker with. My recollection was that most of the club members in the late 60s were older. Now remember, -an old person was in his late 50s during that timeframe, -and by the time they were in their late 60s, they were no longer driving and many were already living in a nursing home. So during that timeframe, we did see a few young 20s aged hobbyists, but there is likely more 20-ish ppl now than there was back then.

The irony of this statement about being gifted tools is in the earlier days, I would venture a guess that most Model-A hobbyists I knew never actually had their tools given to, -or passed down. I know my dad never received any of his father's tools, because my grandfather was still using his. My father used Craftsman or SK however when I was wrenching, I started by buying a basic set of Craftsman tools, and then started upgrading to Snap-On bought off of the tool truck. The main reason I did this was because Dad was still using his tools. Young hobbyists today need buy a basic set that they can afford and build from there. Too often today, a couple of different 20v electric impacts and a torque wrench tends to be the priority over a full set of hand tools.

[alexiskai]

Almost all of my tools have been acquired used, via estate auctions and online ads. Welding gear in particular is very common in estate auctions and quite affordable. Drill, shop, and arbor presses are readily available used and mostly self-explanatory. Same for parts washers, bench grinders. Decent compressors are common, particularly if you're able to give them a going-over because they lead hard lives. Belt and disc sanders in my experience tend to be worn out if you buy used. Bench vises go for big $$, people love a vintage bench vise.

From my perspective, that's more or less the ceiling for the kind of shop you could assemble inexpensively and without mentoring. Beyond this, for lathes and mills, the equipment is definitely available but almost always needs to be restored. Plus you'll need to buy missing parts, and then you'll need a club member to teach you how to use it. But it's definitely doable. I've had the opportunity to buy Bridgeport mills at a reasonable price several times, but I've passed because (a) no space and (b) not cost-effective at this point. They are out there.

I suppose the point of all this is to argue that there's nothing specifically preventing today's hobbyists from outfitting a respectable shop other than (a) you do need the space for it, which isn't much but might be an obstacle for some; and (b) the work has to appeal to you.

If you can afford to buy the car, you can afford to outfit the shop to repair it. But in terms of what you're spending your time doing, you have to want to spend, e.g., 50-100 hours buying and restoring and learning to operate a South Bend lathe. That activity has to be fun for you on some level that's independent of your desire to make the tool to fix the part to drive the car.

[JayJay]

Similar to Brent, I had to start building up my own set of hand tools because my dad was still using his at the time. I started with 70's era Craftsman because they were pretty much the go-to at the time. A few Snap-Ons and SKs from the local distributors.

As far as machinery, I have always been interested in both woodworking and in metal working. Early on I determined that the two in the same shop were really not compatible, so after I settled down in a house I elected to build up a set of pretty decent woodworking machinery - table saw, jointer, planer, shaper, band saw, drill press, plus a bunch of hand power tools like routers (at one time I think I had six!).

Fast forward forty years, I'd built two houses and all the cabinets for one of them, and I found that I just didn't have quite the spark for woodworking and cabinet making as I used to. So I sold off some of the more esoteric machinery to create space and decided to get into metal working. I looked at used machinery but eventually elected to go with small Chinese metal lathe and vertical mill, which I'd upgrade if I ended up wanting to. Taught myself to use both because - well, there ain't no more machining classes at the local junior colleges. Both have turned out to be way too small so I will eventually upgrade to a decent Bridgeport-style knee mill and a decent engine lathe. Bought a used gas welding rig but could not find a decent used wire welder so I bought that new. All my precision measuring equipment was acquired used locally thanks to manufacturing moving overseas. (As recently as the late '90s, we still had robust precision manufacturing here in Silicon Valley. No longer.) Then, I got back into Model As after a long hiatus, and here we are today.

Regrettably, I don't think either of my kids or kids-in-law have inherited the same avocation, so when I get out of this then likely all will go external.

[California Travieso]

Back to the original question. Is A-Springs in Connecticut still in business?

I tried their website and I got some weird text in Portuguese, I think. I didn’t try their phone number.

David Serrano

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

Back to the original question. Is A-Springs in Connecticut still in business?

I tried their website and I got some weird text in Portuguese, I think. I didn’t try their phone number.

David Serrano

Out of business for at least the last year.

[jak]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

Back to the original question. Is A-Springs in Connecticut still in business?

I tried their website and I got some weird text in Portuguese, I think. I didn’t try their phone number.

David Serrano

He went out of business several years ago. I think 2019 or 2020 sometime around there. He was having issues getting the spring leaves made.

[johnneilson]

So, we lost another resource recently
He had mountains of original Model A parts stashed in his yard, garage etc
Of course some parts were not restoration candidates but many were

So he became sick and passed away
During the local club’s visits his Son started up with taking over everything and making the swap meets

Well that didn’t last long and most of the parts went to scrap

Some of the machinery went to folks who will use it

John

[Fullraceflathead]

Very sad to hear this and another example to enjoy everyday we have and drive the model A.'s enjoy them now!!! Unfortunately the next generation may not!!!

[duke36]

I have the Eaton new front spring and it lowers the loaded front end somewhat whereby the axle doesn't sit about half way below the front splash shield.
Perhaps we'll try adding a small (beveled) original leaf to the top to get another 1/4" of ride height.