Skills Necessary To Own & Operate A Model "A"

[Bruce of MN]

I wonder when the last US car with points ignition was? I see that a '74 Galaxie had electronic ignition.

[Gene F]

Originally Posted by marty in Ohio

To al's28/31,
In the 30 years I've owned my Model A, I've only hand cranked it once. I drove it on a nice warm day and put it in the garage. Everything was nice and warm and "juicy" and I gave at a try. Quarter turn and it was running. I've never tried to crank it cold. Henry put a starter on it for a reason. There's no future in cranking IMHO.
Marty

My experience you can push the thing and then jump in and dump the clutch easier some times. Just a slight downgrade and once you get it rolling... Oh, and don't forget to turn the key on first! LOL Don't ask me how I know. LOL

[Synchro909]

Skills Necessary To Own & Operate A Model "A"?
Insanity helps.

[Bigsnapper43]

Summer 1956. I had 15 bicycles 13 of which had been built from parts. Along came a 1930 roadster body. No wheels, seats, windshield, fenders or a free engine. After reading and asking many questions the First order came from J.C. Whitney. Again reading and asking many questions.IT Ran. Not very well. MY dad said "we will get you a motor". James Dean was on the back roads in Eastern Ky. We found a 11/28 tudoor sedan.

[BillCNC]

There is only one thing a new model A'er should have in their toolbox, is the "no fear to try anything new no matter how complex and scary" attitude. Oh, and good hearing.

Everything needed will naturally fall into place including making crappy parts fit.

Regards
Bill

[jack wingard]

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I consider myself very mechanically inclined.
It still amazes me of the amount of people that buy an A and have no idea how to do the simple tasks, asking how isn't bad. But what always gets me is the one that state no garage in their are will work on their A.

I bought the red book and read it to learn what I was getting into before I bought my A's I still had questions though, and still do.

[Bruce of MN]

You do have to put yourself in the mindset that maintenance is required and it is not like cars made in the last 40 years that are very low maintenance.

[ModelA29]

The ability to read and follow directions.

[trevorsworth]

I think the Model A is a fantastic car to learn the basics of mechanicking on. Everything is pretty easy, but not too easy. If you have a good attitude and a willingness to dive in, the car will teach you most everything you need to know about it... a knowledgeable friend can walk you through the rest.

[GoJoMoJo]

I helped a new model A owner on the side of the road and later in the year at a gas station. He was having carb problems. I would say owning a model A requires an above average knowledge and skill base. This owner had neither but was excited to be in the hobby and seemed willing to learn.

[gary678*]

Patience, a lot of Model A friends to make up for my deficiencies as a mechanic, and the ability to enjoy and appreciate the simple. Amen!

[rackops]

I'm one of the younger guys on this forum (e.g. "I have grandkids your age!" is a common comment from club members) so I come from the generation of not having had to do anything mechanical to cars.

When I bought my first Model A, I wasn't that good at driving a stickshift, so that was the first thing to learn.

Other things:
-Changing oil (never did that before)
-Navigating around a toolbox (never had to before)
-Using a torque wrench
-Polishing metal
-Electroplating
-Stripping paint (chemical and bead blasting)
-Painting
-Restoring bakelite
-Rewiring every wire on the car
-Woodworking
-Using an ammeter
-Polishing paint
-Changing tires
-Changing head gaskets (and every other gasket)
-Rebuilding carburetors
-Rebuilding speedometers
-Modifying key switches
-Restoring gas gauges
-Restoring spark plugs
-Using a gauge to measure and adjust gaps (points, plugs, etc.)
-Using taps and dies to cut new thread and chase old threads
-Arranging and restoring bolts by color (cadmium, raven, etc.)

I've also spent many, many hours in the Judging Standards to figure out what my cars should look like and then, for my E28 RHD Model A, going through the Ford archives and pulling original factory drawings, engineering change orders, etc., and THEN bugging other collectors for photos of their cars and associated parts to confirm factory specifications.

It's been a fun journey so far. Shortly, I'm going to start taking apart my Phaeton and completely restore it. I'm certain I will be able to add more skills to the list.

Dave

[GMCPASO]

GoJoMoJo

That is all that is needed, then just keep on keepen on. Of course, rely on The red Manual # 1.

[burner31]

#1 rule: (And I can not stress this enough) - An understanding Wife.

[updraught]

Originally Posted by burner31

#1 rule: (And I can not stress this enough) - An understanding Wife.

I googled it:
"The patience required is revealed in Proverbs 19:14."

[Bruce of MN]

A friend with an electric Mustang was talking about recent self-driving car accidents and I told that I am still back at manual spark advance.

[nkaminar]

Once one get used to it, the Model A is much easier to work on than a modern car. It took me a day to change the thermostats (two) in my 2016 truck and another day to change the fuel filter (Diesel engine). So I would argue that the skill set is much greater for working on a modern car. How many out there in Model A land wrench on their modern car?

[TomInCologne]

righty tighty, lefty loosey? not much more really... if...


...you are prepared to talk to others, find your way to the Ford Barn.


Really that's all you need. And i don't think it's an expensive hobby if you keep in mind that it's a pre-war car. What other car from that era can be kept afloat cheaper?

[Banditorama]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Once one get used to it, the Model A is much easier to work on than a modern car. It took me a day to change the thermostats (two) in my 2016 truck and another day to change the fuel filter (Diesel engine). So I would argue that the skill set is much greater for working on a modern car. How many out there in Model A land wrench on their modern car?

I do all the work on all my vehicles. The term "wrenching" when referring to working on a modern car is almost outdated. Anytime there's an issue with my newer car, 90% of my time in the garage consists of using a scan tool and a multimeter. 9% is spent carefully trying to separate an electrical connecter without breaking it and 1% turning a wrench.

Working on the Model A is a joy compared to that lol

[tony1940]

Originally Posted by P.S.

I came into this with almost zero. If you ask around the web forums, some will say I still have zero.

What I did have coming in was the advantage of a "superpower", namely autism. Asperger's syndrome to be exact. I obsess over certain things. I started obsessing over Model As and binged on all the info I could find. That was before Fordbarn. And, I have a photographic memory, so I scanned all the factory information I could find, then later focus on the details from the images burned into my memory, which I still go back to frequently.

Love your story, so great that you share it!