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05-06-2014, 08:12 AM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 2
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New to Model A's
Looking to own my first Model A Tudor Sedan. Any suggestions on what to look for, what to avoid, tips on buying...etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks |
05-06-2014, 08:21 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: upstate NY near Mass border
Posts: 789
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Re: New to Model A's
Take pictures of everything, under hood, inside, outside, and post them here, you will get a lot of advice. Also what are yoou planing to do with your model a?
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05-06-2014, 08:24 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,030
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Re: New to Model A's
The Tudor sedan has a mostly metal framed body, the Fordor sedans are mostly wood. If you end up looking at a Fordor, check out the wood really well! It is a MAJOR job replacing the wood kit in a Fordor.
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05-06-2014, 08:35 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
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Re: New to Model A's
Join a club, even before you buy the car, since then you can look some Tudors over and take a ride. I like Tudors and my first complete Model A was a 1929 Tudor. Does anyone near you own a Model A? Taking an experienced owner with you to check out the car could be helpful.
Listen for unusual engine noises, poor braking, poor steering and handling, and rattles. All these things can be fixed and you should pay accordingly. Pull the oil fill cap and look for blowby. Engine rebuilds aren't cheap. |
05-06-2014, 08:39 AM | #5 |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA
Posts: 6,066
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Re: New to Model A's
Contact some of the folks who are in this Model A club...MAFC of Greater Baltimore...a MAFCA chapter.
Pluck |
05-06-2014, 09:30 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 1,219
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Re: New to Model A's
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05-06-2014, 09:55 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 794
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Re: New to Model A's
Someone here posted a real good thread on this a while back. Maybe you will be lucky and they will repost it, if you cant find it in a search. Good Luck on finding a good car at a good price.
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05-06-2014, 11:57 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,566
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Re: New to Model A's
Welcome MJay,
These cars are pretty basic mechanically, but they do have their own quirks. What do you want to do with the car? How big is your family? Are you going tour, Sunday drive only? Plan on tacking on extra money after the purchase for things like tubes, tires and brakes. Mike
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1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan |
05-07-2014, 03:41 AM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South of Middlefart, north of Assens, Fyn, Denmark
Posts: 31
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Re: New to Model A's
Hi MJay.
I'm the owner of a '30 Tudor, and 7 years in, I'm still a newbie. But as most already told you, become a member of a local model A's club. I myself are a member of Danish Ford A Club (Dansk Ford A Klub), and as late as last night, I got tipped on how to change wheel bolts. If you're settled on the A, I can recommend to buy a set of how-to books (I use Les Andrews' Model A Mechanics Handbook vol 1, it's almost worn out by now! Doesn't cover the speedo, though). But back to your question: What to look for? Everything, but... Wear in steering components (does the wheels turn, when your turning the steering wheel?), wear of king pins (grab the front wheels and pull outwards, it shouldn't move, then pos. 1 should be changed- mine does now! ), simmilar to the rear, corrosion in general; but especially of the frame in the battery area are said to be bad, and bring a magnet! My roof panels were changed to fiberglass! Engine shouldn't make (too much) noise, especially no clinks og clonks! Search youtube for model A engines running, the smoother, the better. Neither engine, gearbox or rear axle should leak oil, bring white paper and wipe the bottom of them off, to be sure! Make sure, the generator works- turn up the amps on it, and see, if the amp-meter in the dashboard moves. Guess that's most of, what I look for nowadays. Hope this helps just a bit. Probably forgot alot! Good luck, and good hunting!
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Keep 'em kruzin! Dannerr Last edited by Dannerr; 05-07-2014 at 03:42 AM. Reason: misspelling |
05-07-2014, 07:22 AM | #10 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 2
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Re: New to Model A's
Wow, lots of great responses. I got a very informative email with a ton of info (4 pages long) and have read it twice; I feel like I know where to start now. I have been a VW guy for years and like how simple they are to work on; the Model A’s sound similar- simple to work on but have a lot of quirks. I have a 13 year old daughter who loves the look of these cars and can’t wait for me to get one; wish the wife was that excited. I plan on driving the car as much as possible so it would have to be safe/easy to drive. I will be doing some modifications but I will not alter the look of it.
Thanks for the help Mike |
05-07-2014, 08:03 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 868
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Re: New to Model A's
Mike, are you settled on the sedan body style? Just to throw a little chaos into your decision-making... consider how the body style reflects your personality. I got sooooo lucky when I bought my Sport Coupe (see avatar) because I was a newbie and had no idea what to buy. I didn't even know if a Model T or Model A was best. Or 55 Bel Air. Clueless. I luckily landed on the best body style of all! The 1929 Sport Coupe. Okay, I'm a little opinionated. I'm still not sure how it happened because I had my eye on two other cars. Maybe it chose me rather than me choosing it.
Things to consider, IMHO: 1. 1928-29 body styles look slightly more old-timey than 1930-31 2. Coupes can appear sportier than sedans, but usually only have room for two 3. Roadsters and phaetons can be a blast with the top down, but cold in the winter 4. Rumble seats are all the rage, but trunks have their charm 5. Pickup trucks, definitely two-seaters, might be the most awesome of all Of course all this depends on your personality and preference. Good luck hunting!
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Ray White |
05-07-2014, 09:08 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,763
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Re: New to Model A's
Also, if you're tall (I'm 6'4"), A sedan's front seats can be moved back (with longer seat arms)... not sure on two seat model As.
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-Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio |
05-23-2014, 02:57 PM | #13 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 43
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Re: New to Model A's
I could not agree more with Tom, join a club. Once you do that volunteer and do things to help the club out. I know enough about A's to be dangerous so I volunteered to be our Clubs Technical Director. That means I constantly do research to learn more. Also I conduct seminars (meaning I schedule them and provide coffee and doughnuts). The guys come out and share their knowledge plus I often use my car as the "donor" car for the seminars. Last weekend we took the engine out of my roadster and I couldn't have been happier to have a LOT of help and expertise... now if I can only find all the parts!
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Pete - Orange County Model A Ford Club "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford Last edited by PeteCruz2715; 05-23-2014 at 03:00 PM. Reason: more spelling corrections! |
05-23-2014, 04:28 PM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 7,066
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Re: New to Model A's
Quote:
Charlie Stephens |
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05-24-2014, 11:02 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Carthage, Missouri
Posts: 267
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Re: New to Model A's
This looks to be a good price/buy at least for around here. http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125478
I used my car as collateral for the loan. Easy for model A s . Very high loan values. Good luck
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Enjoy life , it has an expiration date. |
05-24-2014, 11:18 PM | #16 | |
Senior Member
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Re: New to Model A's
Quote:
Save the money you would use for the mods and buy gas to drive it!
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What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
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05-28-2014, 06:11 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Haven, CT
Posts: 143
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Re: New to Model A's
I sent a private message to you. I have what your looking for,1930 tudor for sale. Send message or call me 203-464-4398 Dennis
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05-28-2014, 08:51 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fairfield, Virginia
Posts: 615
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Re: New to Model A's
JOIN A MODEL A CLUB, F I R S T. Don't ask ME how I know that! LOL
Ted |
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