Strengths and Weaknesses

[Mitch]

I guess we all have our strengths and weaknesses when answering questions on the VFF. For me my strengths are more mechanical, diagnosing, and repair, building a car,,, my weaknesses are JS type things, interchangeability, what fits what with different body styles and things like that. (Steve Plucker type questions)..Or maybe it's just easier to say the things Rowdy & Wiz, Mason and others seems to know quite well are my weaknesses...For me just researching those daily JS questions has certainly helped to learn so much more. It gives me a reason to open the book and thumb through it. Learning from each other is what makes the forum such a powerful tool.

What are your strengths & weaknesses?

[Jim Mason]

I know more 28, 29 than 30,31. I leaned early 28 all my model A life, but working with doc Kalinka on the first draft of the rg&js early 28 section re write solidified it.

[Grit Kid]

I have no weaknesses...I'm Army Strong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolling

Well, maybe the ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rowdy]

Mitch. Thanks for the complement. My rdstr pu was the cause of my learning. Had a 5-31-28 firewall date and if you prorated the engine/chassis number of 5-23-28. Likely assembled in June. With it being a commercial vehicle in what was already a very transitional time frame it was a very mixed bag of questions and decesions. At the time I frequented the Ahooga chat page along with Jim and was very involved in helping Spence get the Splinterbox ready for the Great Race. With all that has happened since it feels like a lifetime ago on a different planet. The hobby that before all that started 10 years ago I was trying to carve out a business in has been a very mixed bag of good, bad and disapointment. While I have alot more to say at some point I had better bite my tounge for now as it may offend some people who will take it the wrong way and this post isn't the place to clear the air. Rod

[DaWizard]

Well, since I was mentioned, I may as well thank Mitch for believing I have more information than most. Mostly I have 50+ year old knowledge that is sometimes hard to retrieve since the brain cells aren't as active as I would like to think. What information I am able to retrieve is the stuff my dad and the elders of the age were able to drill into my thick teenage brain and him making me sit and listen to those elders at the swap meets til it seemed like my ears would bleed. Who'd a thought all this would come back to help me in my doddering days.

While it seems I am right some of the time, most times I question my own thoughts because I really don't remember everything, but since I have been blessed with an acute sense of common sense, it makes the thought process much easier.

As for short comings, I am intolerant. Stupidity angers me, which is why there are times I know the answer and refuse to post, because I know I will hurt someones feelings and cause hate and discontent.

I really enjoy this forum and refuse to make it into a pissing contest, even if it isn't meant to be said that way, sometimes it just comes out that way.

One thing I would like to say here, I will NEVER intentionally post anything aimed at hurting anyone's feelings or sense of worth. What I will post is information I know to be as accurate as possible. I never want anyone to possibly put their life in danger because of misinformation. If I see misinformation posted, I have no reservations about calling it out and posting the correct information. Those of us who depend on these cars doing what Henry built them for, should depend on the information here just as they depend on the car. If the information isn't accurate, and you do as someone says and either crash the car, or God forbid, die because of it, I personally would take it to heart. So, trust me when I say, when someone posts misinformation that could potentially put you, your loved ones, or even your car in jeopardy, and I know it to be bad information, I will be the first to call it out.

[Mitch]

Wiz I always look forward to reading your input on things, and have learned from your responses

[Tony Hillyard]

I would like to second DaWzard in all he says. My very varied experience over more than 50+ years seems to have been lost, until someone asks something, and if I'm lucky the answer pops to the surface of the the mire that is now my brain.

I think one of the greatest joys I have found is trying to pass my knowledge on to other people. It makes all the hours struggling in cold dark garages worthwhile. In the last few years I have discovered Apple iMac computers and how to create inexpensive videos for Youtube. Life is good, once you find something useful to do. Keep the VFF going, it's a real treasure.

[Patrick]

I'm not much of a purist, so, I don't know about judging standards. I still like to see things close to original though [ generator, strip plug leads,etc], but, I sure don't consider myself an expert in such things. I guess I've always just cared about getting the 'whatever it is' fixed and back on the road. I also don't know that much about the 28/29s.

[Ed H]

Well, since I was mentioned, I may as well thank Mitch for believing I have more information than most. Mostly I have 50+ year old knowledge that is sometimes hard to retrieve since the brain cells aren't as active as I would like to think. What information I am able to retrieve is the stuff my dad and the elders of the age were able to drill into my thick teenage brain and him making me sit and listen to those elders at the swap meets til it seemed like my ears would bleed. Who'd a thought all this would come back to help me in my doddering days.

While it seems I am right some of the time, most times I question my own thoughts because I really don't remember everything, but since I have been blessed with an acute sense of common sense, it makes the thought process much easier.

As for short comings, I am intolerant. Stupidity angers me, which is why there are times I know the answer and refuse to post, because I know I will hurt someones feelings and cause hate and discontent.

I really enjoy this forum and refuse to make it into a pissing contest, even if it isn't meant to be said that way, sometimes it just comes out that way.

One thing I would like to say here, I will NEVER intentionally post anything aimed at hurting anyone's feelings or sense of worth. What I will post is information I know to be as accurate as possible. I never want anyone to possibly put their life in danger because of misinformation. If I see misinformation posted, I have no reservations about calling it out and posting the correct information. Those of us who depend on these cars doing what Henry built them for, should depend on the information here just as they depend on the car. If the information isn't accurate, and you do as someone says and either crash the car, or God forbid, die because of it, I personally would take it to heart. So, trust me when I say, when someone posts misinformation that could potentially put you, your loved ones, or even your car in jeopardy, and I know it to be bad information, I will be the first to call it out.

Well stated and thank you for the honesty and straight forward approach.

[George Miller]

I'm a mechanical guy and a die hard car guy. I like originals, but i also like hot rods. Built my first car at 15 from a parts car. Also like machinist work, making things that most people do not do.

Weakness can not spell makes no sense to me. Not good at writhing.

[Ed H]

My strength is like Mitch, started working in a Chevrolet dealership in 1960, always wanted a fast car, could not afford to hire someone to follow me around to fix it. So I learned by working with all those "old timers" that gave me info never printed in a book.

1962 I graduated (snuck through) high school, went to work for the dealership full time. By 1965 I had worked my way up to service manager. 1972 saw me owning my own shop. Never worked on any A's except a few survivors. My experience was 59 ish to 96 vehicles. Sold the shop in 96, became a deputy Sheriff until full retirement. Not being one to sit around retirement lasted a whole two yrs, was offered a job as manager of Home Depot, did that for 12 more yrs, finally called it quits.

I got my A when I was in high school, was in my barn for yrs, then forced outside,now getting ready to put it back in barn and tear into it. I will never finish it, my son says he will take over when I can no longer do the work. I am 73, he just turned 36, thinking he will keep the car in the family, by the time he gets to be my age that old gal should be a treasure to own.

I really like it here, very similar to a motorcycle forum I am a member of, we are all adults, do our best to give accurate information. There are times I stand corrected and I thank the individual that corrected me. I am by no means a walking repair manual. In the event I can contribute some knowledge to anyone that could use then my day is good day.

Thanks for having me Mitch, and thanks for the hub.

Peace to everyone.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I "TALK" TOO much & EVERYBODY knows my STRENGTHS & WEAKNESES!!
Bill Blabber

[Dennis]

I don't think you talk too much. We all enjoy what you have to say Bill. It's nice to know somebody has a never ending sense of humor.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Ditto!

[Tony Hillyard]

Don't ever change Bill.

[Rowdy]

My main weakness is ignition systems. I can with time get them right, but often struggle out of the gate. That would suprise most people as I have my A&P certificate and often am the go to guy at work with electronic problems. Been bending wrenches since I was eight, so most things mechanical I do well with. Started helping with stockcars when I was 13 and bought my first A around the same time. Rod

[BNCHIEF]

Rowdy started helping the neighbor with stockcars have had a lot of experience with racing and learned a lot.

[Rowdy]

BNCHIEF, it was a BGN Sportsman series car that my cousins neighbor raced. Stayed most of the summers at my cousins house so I could work on the car. Had to come home when we had hay to put up. Which with our worn out tractors and equipment was sometimes mechanical challange. A few years later I was helping with an IMCA mod that was closer to home. That led to building engines for other IMCA drivers. Think in my 3 years at that pace I built 70 plus 383's and 405's. In 1993 I gladly walked away from that as holding down a 48 hour a week job along with all of that was getting to be too much. Got married and changed jobs in 1994. I help on occasion with another car, but racing does not dominate my time off as it did in those years. Rod

[mhsprecher]

Many weaknesses, few strengths. I guess one strength is that I love Model As.

[Fixitphil]

My weakness is not being a Mechanic, never wanting to be a Mechanic, but now loving the sport. I can't get enough of it. Second weakness is taking too many shortcuts and spending a lot of time fixing them.

[smittykid]

My biggest strength is recognizing I have a crap load of weaknesses!

[Jerry Kzoo]

My strength is the Model A Museum at Gilmore. My weaknesses are strengthened by all of the helpers here that have made us better at keeping our A's on the road.

[Ray Horton]

My weakness is thinking I know a lot about Model A's just because I have owned and worked on them for 56 years. My strength is recognizing I don't know everything and often need more experienced advice and deeper knowledge.

[George Miller]

It is also a strength to recognize you have a weakness.

[CarlG]

I got my first Model A at the ripe old age of 14. I think I was 19 when I got out of the Model A business. But during that time I learned a lot about them from the School of Hard Knocks, and my Dad. There were no books and certainly no internet. Never realized how much of that I retained until 50+ years later when I got my present pickup. In the last 7 years I have tried to soak up as much information as this pea brain of mine will hold, as well as draw on what I learned during those 5 years so very long ago.

I would say that my strengths would be mechanical, my weakness would be body work.

[Mike V. Florida]

Weaknesses seems to be being understood when reading and posting.

There was just a thread where a member asked about the "the balance between "original" and a well set up touring car.". I read this as 2 separate things separated by the word "and". The first is an original car and two a touring car. When I asked the question, "Why is it a common belief that a stock A is not a good touring car?" Having heard this in person and on the internet for years, he jumped down my throat. I mentioned that he could put anything on his car he wanted and we were here to help him. Again he jumped down my throat. It has to be a miscommunication because there is nothing wrong with wanting to add anything to your car if you feel safer and I thought that is what I said.

[Curly]

I'm certain it was a miscommmunication. The poster you are referring to is known for his intelligence. And he smells good.

[pAAt]

Curly, and he smells good ? Like hand cleaner, solvent, and a dash of 40-50 ?

[Bobm90]

Mike, This is a common problem with today's method of communication, writing on the net, in forum, in chat, texting all has one thing in common, no voice inflection ! This causes lots of arguments, immediate response (by voice) initiates a question by the other person and we then have true communication, please never hold back a comment because you feel it may be misinterpreted, just reread to make sure it doesn't offend then leter rip. There will always be a few butt heads out there - I some times have trouble with righty tighty, lefty loosey, LOL.

[Ed H]

Weaknesses seems to be being understood when reading and posting.

There was just a thread where a member asked about the "the balance between "original" and a well set up touring car.". I read this as 2 separate things separated by the word "and". The first is an original car and two a touring car. When I asked the question, "Why is it a common belief that a stock A is not a good touring car?" Having heard this in person and on the internet for years, he jumped down my throat. I mentioned that he could put anything on his car he wanted and we were here to help him. Again he jumped down my throat. It has to be a miscommunication because there is nothing wrong with wanting to add anything to your car if you feel safer and I thought that is what I said.

The issue was miscommunication. Reading what you stated was direct and true. He misconstrued what you said as you were criticizing not contributing to his post.

[Brian in Wheeling]

I know what I know which is not all I need or want to know. Stay curious my friends!

Brian W.

[kevinf]

I am too new to have any strengths in Model A's, just that I own one, enjoy it a lot, and I am learning and taking it all in! My weakness is that while I have appreciated cars, I have not actually worked on cars much in my history so I am learning about all aspects of how they work through my A. It is amazing to see all of the great knowledge and expertise from all of you.

[Roadster Rich]

Been driving and wrenching on my A since I was 15, but I would have to say my weakness is knowing the true original way things were made on my car. That is why you always see questions from me and not answers. What I consider my strength is that I am never afraid to dive right into any mechanical challenge. Never found anything I could not put back together once I took it apart! So this makes me a User of this forum and not much of a Contributor.

[BNCHIEF]

That is what this forum is all about helping others with the things you know and learning about the things you do not know about, I can hardly begin to tell you what I have learned from here and others and Mitch can tell you I can be a real pest.

[Mitch]

That is what this forum is all about helping others with the things you know and learning about the things you do not know about, I can hardly begin to tell you what I have learned from here and others and Mitch can tell you I can be a real pest.

Cmon Chief your a pleasure and a real help.

Thanks