Tinnitus while driving the Roadster

[Bruce]

Our '30 Roadster has a distinctive ringing sound that emmanates from somewhere on the dash or in front of it while driving. All attempts to issolate it by pushing on pieces and parts while going down the road have been for naught. The sound is loud enough to be a ring tone on your cell phone. It is not quite as brrringy as an alarm clock, but it is distractingly ringy. My co-pilot agrees that the car is ringing. (It is not something going on in my head.)
This is a lot more annoying than a pop bottle rolling around inside a door. I worry that some piece of 80-year-old sheetmetal is screaming out in stress and is just about to come apart.
Anyone had a similar problem with squeeks, squeels, or rings -- and found the source?
How did you fix it?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Could it be the spark and gas rods rattling against the steering column?

[Mitch//pa]

a dry speedo cable can make weird noises emanating from the dash area

[BrianBurkert]

I second the speedo cable theory.

[Patrick L.]

I think I have the same noise, but, it starts at about 45.. I can't find it either and I think its fuel tank/cowl related.. I don't think it'll get fixed until the tank comes out.. I also have tinnitus really bad and that noise is louder than my ears,, irritating..

[Gary/IA]

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My mystery "ringing" noise turned out to be a loose crank hole cover on the radiator shell. It wasn't noticeable when just idling but at times it became loud and annoying.

[Aerocraft]

Turn the radio up.............

Gar Williams

[Deluxe Delivery]

The phone type ringing in my town sedan is in the horn button. A slight "laying on "of the finger to the rim of the horn button will cause it to stop vibrating and the phone stops. I believe it is a lacking felt inside the column.

[John Stone]

I had one that was the bell shaped cover on the gear shifter.

[Clem Clement]

Check your engine pans. They like to contact the frame at some point and raise a ruckus. I have a noise as well and can't find it.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Check the hood support mounts at the firewall for cracks, just a possibiliy then remove the hood, drive it to se if it is still there.

[WTSHNN]

My speedo is to blame for an annoying noise that happens between 37 and 50 mph. I lubed the cable and took apart the speedo and lubed it all up but it still occurs so I'm not sure what it is.
-Tim

[steve s]

Two particular toughies I had come to mind:

The radiator support rods sang a song at certain speeds, especially backing down. The cure was to wrap a bungee cord around them.

The gas tank filler screen rattled when backing down. Just snugging it up worked.

Steve

[Hyperion]

My phantom is a LOUD rattle that is silent until reaching a certain engine speed (same for all three gears), then eventually goes away at a higher engine speed. Almost sounds like something loose in the flywheel / clutch assy. Like a loose nut or safety wire whipping around. In third gear it will start around 30MPH and disappears at 47MPH. At slower speeds it sometimes will stop if I hit a bump in the road, then starts up again. I've played around with the spark/throttle rods, coil wire protector, pushed and pulled on everything else... Makes it interesting on tours where the group speed is always between 30 and 47!

[Bruce Adams]

Take the speedo cable out of the shielding, over lube it with liquid graphite through the upper cable shield and then replace it by fitting it into the bottom receiver slot, and lube it some more.
PUFF
Tinnitis GONE !

[RTC1930]

I need to oil where the front motor mount meets the frame or I get a loud ringing like you describe. I thought it was a bearing squeal but instantly goes away when i add oil to the frame cross member.

Bob NJ

[w.michael]

I cured a similar ringing in the coupe by taking out my hearing aids.

W. Michael

[SSsssteamer]

Last week I found a ringing just as you described. It was the rubber vaccum hose for the windshield wiper that had a vacuum leak. Disconnect the vaccum hose and plug it and see if the noise goes away. Let us know when you find the source of your high pitched squeal.

[columbiA]

Loose baffle in fuel tank?You could stick a speaker magnet under the spot welds under the tank.My car has one weld about 6" each side of center that can be felt with the finger.If the baffle is broke on the bottom,the magnet may keep it from vibrating.At the very least, it will catch loose rust particles.

[Drive Shaft Dave]

A few years ago there was a story in one of the national club magazines about a similar ringing noise, turned out it was a dust cover from one of the brake adjusters and was rolling around in the brake drum.

[modeleh]

Mine was a chirping sound that turned out to be the starter bendix gear was rubbing on the flywheel when running due to the tiny spring that rides in the spiral groove was missing.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Phenomenom: Seems most Model A noises start above 45 M.P.H. Maybe that's why most cars have that "SWEET SPOT" at 45 M.P.H. Does anyone ever eliminate all those noises? Bet customers drove the mechanics crazy when they were new!! Bill W.

[Special Coupe Frank]

With my '28, the horn-rod buzzes / rattles pretty bad between about 40 & 50 MPH... when your noise starts, try gently pulling-up or pushing down on the tail of the headlight switch and see if the noise changes...

[ora masters]

if you dont have some noise you dont have a model A ford