First Model A 1930

[32 chevy vett]

This is the first model A for me. It is 100% rust free never had rust But best of all it was given to my wife by a friend. It sat outside for five years with a cheap blue tarp over it that had rotted away. And the mice did a job on it.

[1930artdeco]

Welcome to the Model A hobby. A little WD40 will preserve the carif you wanted to keep the patina. If not, that is not really rust at all considering some cars I have seen. Throw a seat cover over the seat, rewire her and make her safe to drive and get driving her.

Mike

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by 1930artdeco

Welcome to the Model A hobby. A little WD40 will preserve the carif you wanted to keep the patina. If not, that is not really rust at all considering some cars I have seen. Throw a seat cover over the seat, rewire her and make her safe to drive and get driving her.

Mike

With all the mouse turds and pee, I'm not so sure.

I will agree that there are a variety of ways to keep the exterior look from deteriorating and to get the car running and stopping. It would become the most looked at car where ever you go.

[32 chevy vett]

That was my plan but I started to clean her up and the side panels had way to much mouse pee on them very stinky. I have started a ground on it.
Thank you for the welcome. I like that (Still learning after all these years.)Never stop learning.

[Big hammer]

Welcome to the Barn! Thanks for the smelly mouse pee I have in my nose/head now :-)
I bought a old farm truck once, it was a cool fall evening. When I got it home the weather warmed up and I had the windows up. When I opened the door the pig manure odor knocked me down! I parked it sideways on a hill and hosed it out, but really never got rid of the smell.

[C26Pinelake]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

welcome to the Barn. At least the price was right. Wayne

[cradlescyth]

Looks like the one in my garage, except for color.

fire it up and go.

What is the # on block. I have a June of 30.

[bobusnick104]

You will enjoy it more than you thought. Sometimes when I go to the garage I have to think, what will I drive today. The Model A beats the Corvette most times. It brings a smile to people as you drive by, along with a lot of thumbs up. Have fun!

[Terry, NJ]

Welcome to the hobby and the Barn! I have two 30 coupes and I suggest that if the mice were peeing in the car, there's more rust and corrosion than is obvious from the outside. Especially those three rust spots at the bottom of the panel just behind the door. This is a common place for rot on coupes. I also have a 30 Town Sedan. It looked so solid when I bought it. My friend, Chris sandblasted it for me and the sand blew the old paint off of the cowl and it was quite "lacy". (I have pictures of this in my profile under "My A") The point is that this stuff can be deceptive. Sorry If I took some shine off of it for you, that wasn't my intention. Over all, it looks like a really nice body, and I wish someone would give me one too.
Terry

[Veger]

That is just Beautiful! Reminds me of our barn find coupe not so much as mice but the flies WOW 30 years of fly crap all over the inside LoL took me a whole week to scrub that out. Even though you can tell it was 30 years of sitting it cleaned up rather well. Pops always ask why we don't restore it. LoL I go WHY it looks GREAT and runs GREAT. I think the outside of the old coupe looks GREAT I would leave that as is if it was mine and just deal with the inside once it was up and running. NICE CAR and Good Luck!

Keep on Truckin'!

[Barber31]

Congrats on your new A! I wonder when that shade of blue was popular? My Tudor fenders and body were painted that same shade and I've seen others with the same blue. They've all had about the same patina so I'm assuming it was around the same time they got painted.

[Bill Cilker]

Congratulations on getting a car with original interior. Take lots and lots of pictures of the interior before you take it apart and while you take it apart. My July 1930 coupe still has the original interior in it also. Now go out and join the local Model A Club.

[Licensed to kill]

That is an awesome acquisition. Congratulations. Regarding the mousy interior, I bought a '31 delivery a couple months ago that was stored in a shed for the last 30 years or so and the interior was very mousey. We have had cases of hantavirus around here (three over the last 20 years that I know of) and 2 of the 3 people died, Last case was about 3 years ago. I used my charcoal mask that I wear for painting and cleaned out all the junk that was stored in the back along with any nests I found and burned it, removed the seats, then doused the whole inside with Lysol (lavender scented ). I also soaked the seats with it. Bleach would have been fine (I'm recovering the seats anyway) but it's corrosive so I chose Lysol instead. besides, bleach smell isn't much of an improvement. For this large of an area and the desire to soak everything, you can get a little 3 gallon weed sprayer from a hardware store for about $15, fill it and spray LOTS without getting carpal tunnel. hantavirus is rare but is nothing to fool around with.

[d.]

about the baby blue color...I'm thinking mid-50's, early 60's. I have lots of parts I collected from that period with the light blue color under later paint jobs.

[32 chevy vett]

Hi d. The baby blue was a repaint. The color was Andalusite Blue.
Bill I did just that I took a lot of photos of the interior as I took it all down. A long with the roof.
Bobusnick 104 I have same problem. I have a 60K street rod its fun. But I still like driving
My 23 T touring. I think you are right I will be driving the A more then the both of them because my wife can't take the cold open cars.

[32 chevy vett]

Started to strip her down all the interior is out, roof is off. All the wood is good.I got a good start on removing the paint. A few photos to show the progress.

[32 chevy vett]

Striped it down. Sand blasted it. Epoxy primed.

[Anteek29]

Nice work...She's beginning to look pretty

[32 chevy vett]

Back at it again front fenders and braces off. Sand blasted bumper braces.
Did find rust. Rear fenders. a little in the wheel weld.

[32 chevy vett]

Cleaned up muffler and covered it with POR.Sand blasted rear bumper braces and painted
with KBS rust seal. A few more parts to seal with KBS and I can start on the frame.

[mshmodela]

Nice car and wow you've been busy....happy to see you elected to do a proper job and remove that blue... Keep the photos comming.,

[32 chevy vett]

Thats O.K. Mike. We are both learning about Model A's. I've got a lot to learn.

[32 chevy vett]

Brushed on some KBS RUST SEAL today.

[L head fan]

Looking great Don! Keep up the good work.

[32 chevy vett]

Still at it the header was bad on the ends. So I removed it and replaced it. Painted all parts I had sandblasted epoxy on the top and KBS on the bottom.

[32 chevy vett]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Done sandblasting monday pulled the engine and pressure washed today.

[Stew Masche]

You're a real 'go-getter'! At this rate, you should be able to put a bow on it, all finished, and park it under the tree for Christmas!!

[Tom Wesenberg]

You're going to have to slow down. You're making the rest of us look bad.

Pretend you work for the highway department.

[32 chevy vett]

No I have two things against me the weather and my body. I have been lucky with the weather but at 74 the mine says yes and the body says NO! 9 hours of nonstop sandblasting to beat the weather took two days to recoup.

[GT Mustang]

Your doing a super job, as usual Don!! Looks great Cant wait to see it next week

[32 chevy vett]

Finished up the last of the big parts of the sand blasting. And got a coat of epoxy primer on them.
I guess I was going so fast I forgot to take photos of the last of the epoxy prime job!

[32 chevy vett]

Got two coats of filler primer on most of the parts today. Still have to do the body.
Coat the frame with KBS. Cleaned up the engine and the man that gave me the car stopped in so I put him to work and we put the engine back in.

[petcar]

Heheh! I had to laugh when I read your post. I have a 95 Corvette convertible, and a 1931 160-C Model A ( Murray body ). I'll walk into the garage to grab a car to go somewhere. I'll walk to the Vette, then look over at the Model A... and sure enough I will end up taking the Model A out. (( As long as it's not raining!!! )). I went through a few A's before I found my true love, But as they saying goes...You never forget your First!

[Brace Bailey]

I really like your Vette Parts hanger.... I have one too....

[32 chevy vett]

i have to thank the good lord I got good weather long enough to get every thing in filler primer. I Put the snow blower on my 420 John Deere I think my luck is running out fast.

[32 chevy vett]

I have always had problems trying to work on front fenders. So today I said to my self.
Self I said we have to do some thing about this problem. I had rolling jig I used to work on Model T bodys. With a Model T frame C clamped to it. I removed the frame. Made two t bars and a
1 1\2"Sq. tube cut to fit the under inside of the fender drilled and tapped it through the hole for the running board. C clamped to my old jig.When I'am done doing one fender I unclamp 3 clamps reverse the T frames and do the other fender

[32 chevy vett]

Worked on taking the head off 4 to 5 hours on wed.used a penetrating oil made with a
50/50 mix of acetone and auto trans fluid let it set all nite went out this morning got it loss.
Worked on for 3 more hours before I got it off. I could only get 2 studs out of the block.
The last one to work on it must have tighten the studs into the block real tight with no never seize.

[L head fan]

I know you'll get them out Don...persistence pays off.
Glad you're feeling better, and back at it.

[32 chevy vett]

Lapped in all the valves put the head back on pulled the pan good thing. Some one left a rag in the the pan it laid flat and some how was not picked up by a rod cap. Cleaned up engine
new gaskets and a paint job. Went over the frame and running gear looking for spots I missed and lite spots.

[old car guy]

Your doing a great job love the t in the rear of the frame pictures . Does it run as good as it looks. At the rate your going you be finished by the middle of January. Keep all of the pictures of your journey coming .

[captndan]

Goodonya! It's refreshing to see someone doing it right. One thing before you put the body on check that engine paint color.

[32 chevy vett]

Hi old car guy that T runs as good as it looks the engine has less then 1 mile on it. Its a ground up build that can be seen on ford barn under Winter build project T body. And it is for sale I was going to see if the guys on the ford barn could help me with a price.
captndan The color is right the photos show the color as blue its a lot more green I don't why they came out like that.

[Capt Quahog]

Mice! There needs to be a study done as to Mice instigated destruction!

The battle against the little clever rodents is ongoing - all the time!

Anti-mice tools . . . .

a.) Mothballs

re: small time release poison gas attack bombs.
mice and squirrels hate mothballs.

[old car guy]

Don't sell the t just send it down to sunny warm Florida and I will keep it on permanent vacation for you. Just love the old model t s it was the very first car I ever owned 25 tall t coupe and it cost all of 15 dollars. Drove it home slow and poor at that. But I could not have been more proud . Re did all of the wood eng tranny etc. painted and was a year from getting my drivers license and came home from school and it was gone. Seems that my dad had a offer from a fairly wealthy man at the time and he sold it. He just did not understand why I was upset. You only had 300.00 in it and I got 550.00 you made almost one hundred percent on you money. Funny thing was he never did get why I was upset. I really never forgave him for the sale but he was my dad what could I do.life went on. But the worst of it was for the nest 20'plus years I saw the car and the man enjoying the heck out of it. I begged him for right of first Refusal if he ever wanted to sell it. But one day he was driving a beautiful 29 roadster and that was that. Keep doing the pretty work I am enjoying the pictures Happy Holidays

[32 chevy vett]

I can see why you would be upset I think the 25 tall T coupe is one of the coolest T's made.
I've done five ground up T's but 24-25 coupe was one I could not get my hands on.
The T is the most fun to drive. My friend said it is the most fun you can have and still stay in the speed limit. What I need now is some of your weather so I can get some paint on the
Model A Thank you. And I hope you have the best for the holidays.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

That really sucks when the parents sell something of your's, and it usually happens while they are in the Service. It happened to me with a couple antique outboards, and to my friend with a lot of hit and miss engines.

[32 chevy vett]

Don't feel Tom bad I had a friend who had a porsche. The same model that James Dean lost has life in.(Big buck car) When he came home from the Service and asked were is my porsche. He was told we had the junk man take it away. Now that sucks big time!

[pgerhardt]

Nice car and good work so far! You will find some very knowledgable people here who are very generous with sharing their knowledge and willing to help.

My first model A was also a 1930 coupe. When it arrived at my house it looked like Picture 1. After a year it turned into Picture 2. I am sure yours will be beautiful and bring you great pride and pleasure when finished.

[32 chevy vett]

Looks great I like the color. I sent to MARC for Revision#4 guidelines should get them in Jan. then I will pick my color and order the paint. I have the Lebaron Bonney upholstery kit for the colors but need the names color codes.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

Nice car and good work so far! You will find some very knowledgable people here who are very generous with sharing their knowledge and willing to help.

My first model A was also a 1930 coupe. When it arrived at my house it looked like Picture 1. After a year it turned into Picture 2. I am sure yours will be beautiful and bring you great pride and pleasure when finished.

I also like the colors, and that's a fantastic job for only taking a year.

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I also like the colors, and that's a fantastic job for only taking a year.

Well I was single then. I left the hobby when I got married, and raised two kids. Now 40 years later I am back!

[32 chevy vett]

A few more photos I picked up a new aluminum fan thanks for the tip from here I did not need a fan through my hood or me. Added the frame welt burned all the holes in it cleaned
and painted the body bolts. Added the body wood for now and added the fender brackets.

[32 chevy vett]

The good weather is back so its back on the model A I spent the last months finishing up a Kentucky long rifle I have been working on for two years.Got the fenders., splash aprons and few small parts sanded,reprimed, block sanded painted and clear coated. Next comes the 1200 paper and buffing.

[32 chevy vett]

I just got theis two books in so now I can see the real colors and the right color schemes.
After I recheck the ser.# I = I mean my wife will pick out the colors I will use.

[32 chevy vett]

Back to work on the model A. I lost a few months after having a heart attack but all is well again no damage done. I was not happy with paint job done in May some O.P. so I sanded it out and repainted the fenders. Buffed out the grill and did some assemble work. I will lose a few more days to humid weather at the end of this week.

[Drive Shaft Dave]

Originally Posted by Anteek29

Nice work...She's beginning to look pretty

That thing IS pretty!

[old car guy]

Sorry to hear about the heart attack. That’s nothing to play with. Went thru that with my wife a number of years ago. It can be a life changing event. Since you were a survivor the fun part now starts with all of the things in your life that need to be changed to continue on in good health.
Don’t short change your self and follow thru with the health instructions as needed,that can be a pain but the stupidity of not following thru can be deadly.
Glad you made it thru and wish you many more years of healthy success. Best of luck and the car is looking great.
Some additional free advice for what it’s worth enjoy all you have and the loved ones around you ,because the roses really do smell sweet.

[32 chevy vett]

Thanks old car guy. I have slowed down alot my wife keeps an eye on me. And if the air is heavy I do nothing but relax. I'am sure it will take longer but I have other cars I can drive.

[32 chevy vett]

Can anyone help me with the name of someone who cuts glass for the model A. I had the name of someone in Conn. that had all the pattens. But I lost the name.

[1930artdeco]

Any auto place should be able to cut the glass for you. I think all you need is the measurements-think.

Mike

[Drive Shaft Dave]

Originally Posted by 32 chevy vett

A few more photos I picked up a new aluminum fan thanks for the tip from here I did not need a fan through my hood or me. Added the frame welt burned all the holes in it cleaned
and painted the body bolts. Added the body wood for now and added the fender brackets.

Iv'e said this before, seem's a shame to cover up all that nice chassis work.

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by 32 chevy vett

That was my plan but I started to clean her up and the side panels had way to much mouse pee on them very stinky. I have started a ground on it.
Thank you for the welcome. I like that (Still learning after all these years.)Never stop learning.

My first model A was a 1930 coupe. It started as this (picture 1) and ended up as this (picture 2). I am sure yours will turn out even better. Enjoy the process of restoring it. For me, it may be lots of work, but is just as satisfying as driving it.

Oops! I already replied to this thread! I am getting OLD!!!

[32 chevy vett]

Spent many hours on grill shell polishing and riveting lacing. I made a tool to open the rivets works great with a second set to flatten them.

[32 chevy vett]

Got the body all blocked out and I will reprime for paint.Made a body stand I can roll around for painting.

[32 chevy vett]

Spent two days masking body for second color.

[GerryAllen]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Impressive, you know what you are doing. I just bought my Coupe this January and have put 3500 miles on it so far and love every minute of it.
I am not mechanically inclined, the best source of knowledge and how to, has been my local Model A Club and the Restorer Magazine.
I hope you enjoy your car as much as I have mine.
Gerry Allen, Birch Bay WA

[TexasLS1]

Oh man, I am loving it! There’s nothing like a nice paint job. Looking great!

[Daddiode]

So so sweet!