Maiden Voyage of my '31 Tudor

[Jeff1984]

Today I had a chance to get my '31 Tudor out and about. It was a bit over 50 degrees here in northern Delaware today so the weather was ideal. She was just delivered this past Wednesday. I had been searching for a good solid driver for months, and finally found one. I am definitely hooked!

Some highlights for the day:
- Prior to starting...checking the oil, antifreeze, and being so careful to set the spark lever and everything correctly...BUT...forgetting to turn on the gas. D'oh!
- Cruising around 45mph on Gov. Printz Blvd
- Getting some odd looks and compliments at the gas station and having a bit of a fight with the gas pump
- Taking off and shifting...not the smoothest, but I think I'll get better with more practice

Here are some photos...and I'd love to see lots of replies with photos of what you're driving!
Have a great weekend, everyone.

[1931 Flamingo]

NICE looking, enjoy the heck out of it ! ! !
Paul in CT

[Jeff1984]

Thanks!

[Jeff/Illinois]

Nice car well done! Hard to beat a Tudor in my opinion one of the best Model A Fords a guy can have.

Like a dummy I sold mine years ago sure wish I had it today.

[Jeff1984]

Thanks! I knew early on that was what I was looking for. The one in your picture sure looks like fun, though!

[Jeff/Illinois]

You know what though, Jeff... I liked our '29 Tudor it was a honey of a Model A. The '28 Roadster that is in my avatar, is about the hardest Model A to get in and out of that I was ever around except maybe my friend Bill's '28 Roadster Pickup---- that was pretty tough also, to get in and out of!!

Ford realized this in the Roadster lineup and for 1930 they tried to make it a bit easier,,, the doors are a bit wider than the '28-'29's.

[Mitch]

Jeff enjoy the car, she looks terrific.

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/technical-reference-chassis/15178-things-to-do-once-you-purchased-your-new-a

[Jeff1984]

Thanks Mitch and thanks for the link!

[Michael M]

I’m glad you found the Tudor you were looking for Jeff. Did it come from Illinois, or just have the plates?

enjoy her and drive as much as possible!

[Jeff1984]

Thanks, Michael! Yes, I purchased the car on consignment from Midwest Car Exchange in Alsip, IL.

[JDupuis]

You lucky Bastard! Model A, and a clean garage! Plus a fantastic first name. Your life is sweet!
All the best from Canadian Jeff.

[Jeff1984]

Thanks, Canadian Jeff. Be careful in that snow up in Ontario!

[DaWizard]

Ya know, I think it is time you put one of those other cars up on the dollies and the A on the ground and drive that daily.

[Jeff1984]

Haha, I'm tempted! For now I just want to keep everyone out of the snow, but things will change when it starts to warm up. :-)

[Sunnybrook Farm]

That is a nice looking car, you will get a lot of people checking it out when you go for a drive.

[Jeff1984]

Thank you!

[Mitch]

Those are the same dollies i have. Watch they don't kick out on you when maneuvering the car around. I had one shoot me in the ankle, i though it was over.

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/42467-wheel-dollies

[Jeff1984]

Mitch, I saw your posted in the Wheel Dollies thread. Those dollies look similar to mine but they're not quite the same. Mine have a stamped "diamond" pattern on them for traction, the metal is thicker, and they have handles on the sides. I'll post something about them in the Wheel Dollies thread. Thanks!

[aford193031]

Great looking car, enjoy it.

[CM2]

I was fifteen when I got my Deluxe Delivery and bitched to my mentor/father that it was a pain to shift..he rolled his eyes and jumped in the seat.fired it up,used the clutch to take off and float shifted it the rest of the time,never touched the clutch..I was in awe,and never complained again,took me a few days to learn how to float shift from first to second and second to high...never got the hang of floating it down...he nailed that too..he loved to say "i got more time driving model a's by accident then you do on purpose"..

[BNCHIEF]

You should have it down by the time you get 3 million miles under your belt there young fella. Driving a truck you learn and I do float shift including my 85 f250 four speed

[CM2]

My father drove truck in the 30's and 40's,hauled clams from Bayshore NY to Camden and NYC...Camden was Campbells soup..a run from NY to Boston took 8 hours..He drove milk tanker too,hand load the milk from cans into the tank...he loved model a's,he bought them five bucks a piece,ran them on penny a quart drain oil..

[Ray Horton]

Nice looking car, Jeff. I note you have a 1928 dipstick. I had one of those in my 30 PU when I bought it, but found that it measured the oil differently that the later stick. I never figured out why, but replaced with a later one anyway. Doesn't really make any diff though, as long as you know what you're reading on the stick.

You'll like the Tudor. Very solid and convenient model.

[Jeff1984]

Thanks Ray!

[BNCHIEF]

Beautiful car Jeff you will love it join a club if you have not and drive it also attend some tours and meets you will have a ball.

[Jeff1984]

Thanks! I joined MAFCA and my first issue of The Restorer came today - looking forward to checking it out. I've also gotten in with a very good and knowledgeable group locally.

[Mitch]

Jeff is that coolant on the front of the motor down near the crank pulley? And a white stain? It could just be the picture making it look like that.

[Jeff1984]

Mitch, I took a look at the engine earlier this evening and, yes, that lime green stuff is antifreeze. Not sure how it got there! I don't think there's a leak, though...I took my light and felt around the pump and it was dry, and felt around some other areas and couldn't find any point of antifreeze escaping. I got a rag and wiped it all up (wasn't much). That white spot was some kind of discoloration, it wiped right off too. Thanks for pointing that out! If I see any more antifreeze pooling around there, I'll know there's some kind of trouble. Maybe it was old antifreeze that someone had spilled when filling the radiator at some point awhile back (I sure hope so).

[Mitch]

Remember to keep the Radiator level about the height of the internal upper tank baffle. For sure keep an eye on that
I think the white stain was dried up antifreeze

[Jeff1984]

On Saturday we had another nice sunny day in the 50s. I took the car out for a spin, and stopped her in front of the Cauffiel House for a picture. This estate was completed in 1928!

Taking off and shifting are getting easier. I spent some time in an empty corporate center parking lot, getting the feel for things. I'm finding I can get into 2nd gear smoothly without double clutching, as long as I don't stay in 1st very long, and listen to the engine. Sailing along in 3rd at 50mph was a blast!

I need to continue practicing on hills...any wisdom you guys can impart about both ascending and descending? Do any of you use the hand brake when stopped at a traffic light going uphill, or do you gently rev at the clutch's bite point?

[BNCHIEF]

Just use your foot brake you might forget to fully release your emergency brake and take out lining,Put the car in neutral biting at the clutch can cause wear heat or glazing as well as premature wear on the throwout bearing jmo. Neat house beautiful car you have.

[Mitch]

Nice pic thanks for sharing
Shift early from 1st-2nd and no hand brake. What Chief said

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yep, never use the clutch as a hill holder.
I try to predict the light and push in the clutch with about 10 seconds to go, so the input shaft has time to slow down, then shift into first.
Riding the clutch also puts wear on the babbit thrust.

[JDupuis]

Hey Jeff, when hill starting, you can advance the hand throttle slightly while both feet are occupied on the clutch and brake till you get it moving again. Hope this helps. Canada Jeff