The Ford Barn

Bruce of MN · 09-07-2015, 06:03 AM

My son, who is working at a canoe outfitter on the Gunflint Trail north of Duluth, gave me this book. It is pretty good, although the author claims to have easily hot wired it and to have replaced the cam gear beside the road. Amazon has it, for those interested.

2manycars · 09-07-2015, 06:08 AM

It can be hot wired, a bit of a chore if the original pop out ignition is in place, but pretty easy if not. I keep a wire with a screw in connector on one end and an alligator clip on the other end in my tool box, just in case.
The timing gear can be changed along side the road. It gets done occasionally at a national or regional meet. It's not a pleasant task, but can be done.

Bruce of MN · 09-08-2015, 04:56 AM

In the book, the teeth are stripped and the way the cam was kept from turning while removing the nut is not described. Maybe a way to stuff a rag into the remaining teeth was used. They must have pulled the radiator to have clearance to get the pulley off and jack up the motor and remove the motor mount. All that would be a lot of work in your own garage, but if you can't afford a tow and know what to do, not unrealistic by the road.

JohnLaVoy · 09-08-2015, 11:13 AM

Done many repairs along the road over the years. One of the nice things about the Model A is how easy it is to keep running.

700rpm · 09-08-2015, 11:25 AM

I have changed a timing gear on the road. In a campground, to be exact. I had to remove the radiator, but altogether it was just a routine operation.

Marshall V. Daut · 09-08-2015, 03:01 PM

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Agreed on all points by the responders so far. 'Been there and 'done that. The worst part about changing the timing gear alongside INTERSTATE 80 (!!!!) is trying to get that $%*&^ nut loose that secures the gear to the crankshaft! If the previous owner or your builder used an air hammer to tighten it, you're going to be in a world of hurt trying to get it loose with a hammer and chisel or even with the special adapter socket (that always slips off and skins your knuckles). The last three timing gears I removed for friends and customers had to be heated with a torch to get them loose, which, of course, caused a small fire and a lot of smoke.

Thank goodness that was in a garage, and not in the middle of the New Mexican desert. Don't ask how I know this.
I now only use the newer hexhead nut on the camshaft gear out of consideration for the next poor b*stard who will have to remove it alongside some lonesome highway long after I'm gone. He may still curse me for other things I have done to my cars, but not for that!
Marshall

Bruce Lancaster · 09-08-2015, 03:25 PM

It's a good book, a reminiscence by an old guy whose teen years were like Huck Finn moved north and driving a Model A pickup! The pickup is a nearly human character, AND is still in the family!
The mechanical bits of the adventure, repairs, modifications, etc. are interesting... it is clear that some details are a bit hazy in the guy's memory, but if you know a bit about Model A's you can always figure out the details...in other words, all the memories are actual but a couple of details have shifted in the fog of 50 years. No fabrications, and nothing far enough off course to confuse us.
I really think almost everyone on this forum would enjoy it.
It brought back many memories for me...as a kid, I was driving around in my '48 Ford, breaking stuff and learning to fix it right there in the ditch. Almost every one of my disasters brought me in contact with an old codger who could teach me something about old Fords, too!

KGBnut · 09-09-2015, 04:52 PM

Actually, that is one of my favorite Model A books. Both my father and I enjoyed it.

Ken

glenn in camino · 09-09-2015, 07:55 PM

If your Model Quits, that's the first thing to check. Remove the distributor body and hit the starter. If the points aren't opening, Your timing gear is shot.

jeep44 · 09-09-2015, 10:12 PM

I just ordered it, along with "The Ford Tramps". I need to get back to reading books like I used to, instead of spending so much time on the web.

Marshall V. Daut · 09-10-2015, 04:58 AM

Along with what Glenn posted, if the timing gear has stripped, the engine will turn over much faster than usual because there is now no compression = the valves are not opening and closing because the camshaft is not turning or is only occasionally catching in the few remaining good teeth. A faster turning engine should be your first clue that the timing gear is toast. Watching the distributor shaft not turning will be the clincher, unless in the very rare case where the oil pump drive gear teeth have stripped. 99 out of 100 times, though, it will be the fiber timing gear that is at fault, not the metal oil pump drive gear.
Marshall

700rpm · 09-10-2015, 11:51 AM

Amazon offers this book from $10 up to $112. $112! How can that be? I think I'll order the cheaper one.

1wonton · 09-10-2015, 06:42 PM

I didn't get the name of the book.

Jack S. · 09-10-2015, 07:35 PM

I ordered the book through Amazon and it arrived today. Will read it when time permits. Thanks for the information. I am sure I might learn something that could be helpful at the side of the road.

Bruce of MN · 09-11-2015, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1wonton

I didn't get the name of the book.

If the pic in post #1 doesn't show, it's Two Bucks and a Can of Gas by Robert R. Olson.

09-07-2015, 06:08 AM	#2
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: Model A Book It can be hot wired, a bit of a chore if the original pop out ignition is in place, but pretty easy if not. I keep a wire with a screw in connector on one end and an alligator clip on the other end in my tool box, just in case. The timing gear can be changed along side the road. It gets done occasionally at a national or regional meet. It's not a pleasant task, but can be done.

09-08-2015, 04:56 AM	#3
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Re: Model A Book In the book, the teeth are stripped and the way the cam was kept from turning while removing the nut is not described. Maybe a way to stuff a rag into the remaining teeth was used. They must have pulled the radiator to have clearance to get the pulley off and jack up the motor and remove the motor mount. All that would be a lot of work in your own garage, but if you can't afford a tow and know what to do, not unrealistic by the road.

09-08-2015, 11:13 AM	#4
JohnLaVoy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 779	Re: Model A Book Done many repairs along the road over the years. One of the nice things about the Model A is how easy it is to keep running.

09-08-2015, 11:25 AM	#5
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Model A Book I have changed a timing gear on the road. In a campground, to be exact. I had to remove the radiator, but altogether it was just a routine operation. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

09-08-2015, 03:01 PM	#6
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,109	Re: Model A Book Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Agreed on all points by the responders so far. 'Been there and 'done that. The worst part about changing the timing gear alongside INTERSTATE 80 (!!!!) is trying to get that $%&^ nut loose that secures the gear to the crankshaft! If the previous owner or your builder used an air hammer to tighten it, you're going to be in a world of hurt trying to get it loose with a hammer and chisel or even with the special adapter socket (that always slips off and skins your knuckles). The last three timing gears I removed for friends and customers had to be heated with a torch to get them loose, which, of course, caused a small fire and a lot of smoke. Thank goodness that was in a garage, and not in the middle of the New Mexican desert. Don't ask how I know this. I now only use the newer hexhead nut on the camshaft gear out of consideration for the next poor bstard who will have to remove it alongside some lonesome highway long after I'm gone. He may still curse me for other things I have done to my cars, but not for that! Marshall

09-07-2015, 06:03 AM	#1
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Model A Book My son, who is working at a canoe outfitter on the Gunflint Trail north of Duluth, gave me this book. It is pretty good, although the author claims to have easily hot wired it and to have replaced the cam gear beside the road. Amazon has it, for those interested.

09-08-2015, 03:25 PM	#7
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Model A Book It's a good book, a reminiscence by an old guy whose teen years were like Huck Finn moved north and driving a Model A pickup! The pickup is a nearly human character, AND is still in the family! The mechanical bits of the adventure, repairs, modifications, etc. are interesting... it is clear that some details are a bit hazy in the guy's memory, but if you know a bit about Model A's you can always figure out the details...in other words, all the memories are actual but a couple of details have shifted in the fog of 50 years. No fabrications, and nothing far enough off course to confuse us. I really think almost everyone on this forum would enjoy it. It brought back many memories for me...as a kid, I was driving around in my '48 Ford, breaking stuff and learning to fix it right there in the ditch. Almost every one of my disasters brought me in contact with an old codger who could teach me something about old Fords, too!

09-09-2015, 04:52 PM	#8
KGBnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southwestern Connecticut Posts: 931	Re: Model A Book Actually, that is one of my favorite Model A books. Both my father and I enjoyed it. Ken __________________ Style beats speed any day, and with a lot fewer tickets.

09-09-2015, 07:55 PM	#9
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Model A Book If your Model Quits, that's the first thing to check. Remove the distributor body and hit the starter. If the points aren't opening, Your timing gear is shot.

09-09-2015, 10:12 PM	#10
jeep44 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: canton,michigan Posts: 312	Re: Model A Book I just ordered it, along with "The Ford Tramps". I need to get back to reading books like I used to, instead of spending so much time on the web.

09-10-2015, 04:58 AM	#11
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,109	Re: Model A Book Along with what Glenn posted, if the timing gear has stripped, the engine will turn over much faster than usual because there is now no compression = the valves are not opening and closing because the camshaft is not turning or is only occasionally catching in the few remaining good teeth. A faster turning engine should be your first clue that the timing gear is toast. Watching the distributor shaft not turning will be the clincher, unless in the very rare case where the oil pump drive gear teeth have stripped. 99 out of 100 times, though, it will be the fiber timing gear that is at fault, not the metal oil pump drive gear. Marshall

09-10-2015, 11:51 AM	#12
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Model A Book Amazon offers this book from $10 up to $112. $112! How can that be? I think I'll order the cheaper one. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

09-10-2015, 06:42 PM	#13
1wonton BANNED Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Vallejo, Ca Posts: 125	Re: Model A Book I didn't get the name of the book.

09-10-2015, 07:35 PM	#14
Jack S. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 66	Re: Model A Book I ordered the book through Amazon and it arrived today. Will read it when time permits. Thanks for the information. I am sure I might learn something that could be helpful at the side of the road.