Hi guys, just wanted to let you know what I got myself into. My brother has a friend that sold us two cars that were stored for about 20-years in a shed. My brother bought a 1926 Dodge Brothers Coupe and I bought a 1930 Model A. My brothers car is now running with very little manpower to it. My Model A is a different story. I bought mine for what I believe was a good price $2,000. I was told it had been driven all over before it was stored. I found out after my brother picked it up that might not have been the case. My car is in Texas with my brother and I have a old time Model A mechanic working on it for me. I am hoping to pick it up in May since I have to go there for other things then. The mechanic discovered the engine was siezed up. The mechanic stated it would be too much work to overhaul in the time frame I have, so my brothers friend gave me another Model A engine that turns over easy in a loaner Model I was rebuilt about 5-years ago. So my mechanic is getting that engine running and then pull it out of the loaner vehicle and put it in mine. Another strange thing he noticed was that someone took the mechanical brakes off and put hydraulic or juice brakes on the back, but none on the front. So my mechanic is going to get it running good and ensure te rear brakes do work. This problem will be mine once I pickup the car. I will probably find someone to install the juice brakes on the front since that would be the cheaper way to go. I am buying other things for my car like new bumpers, tires ect. now so when I get it I will have things I can do to it, and the parts will already be paid for. Well I hope I haven't bored anyone. Just wanted to explain my situation. I know it probably would have been better to get a car that was already running, but I look at it this way, I am saving another Model A from the junkyard! And loving every minute I will work on her. Take care look forward to talking with you all. Hugh
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Great story Hugh. One word of advice, be sure to keep any and all parts removed from the car even if you need to build a shed to hold them. Original parts are getting so hard to find in any kind of decent shape. I do hope you rebuild the original engine after you get it running.
What will happen to the donor car? It would be nice to keep that together too.You wana look waaay far up da road and plan yer route because the brakes are far more of a suggestion than a command! -
Welcome brother,not everyone here has a finished car..some of us are mired ankle deep in a project...Comment
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The loaner car I am taking the engine from is going back to the guy that originally sold me the car. Someone else has spoken for the body. If the owner doesn't want my old engine back in trade then I plan to pick it up also when I get the car and have it rebuilt down the road. As far as storage, not a problem, I own a Pressure Washing Business and my building is 42' X 45' in size. Of course with all my toys in there I will have to make some room for parts on my shelves. Here where I live, just outside of Gainesville Florida, I haven't found any Model A owners to go to when I need help so this forum is a blessing. HughComment
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Maybe the donor car has a mech brake system
If the body is spoken for can you grab the chassis
Any pics?3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
Mitch's Auto Service ctrComment
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Sounds like you got the Model A cheap enough, so you can spend the savings on correct brake parts.
I'd go back to original rears, and sell the hydraulic brake parts.Comment
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I am sure down the road I will go back mechanical brakes but for right now it will be hydraulics so I can get it on the road sooner. HughComment
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I would like to clarify my intentions on my brake situation. I would love to bring my model A back with original mechanical brakes. The problem is the cost to buy everything I would need to replace the hydraulic brakes that is now on the rear. It is my understanding that there is no longer any parts of the mechanical brakes left on the car. Also I know nothing about installing what is needed for mechanical brakes and don't know anyone with Model A knowledge in or around Gainesville Florida. I want to go back original but I might not be able to do that at this time. My last post didn't explain my intentions good enough. I am not a fan of juice brakes on a vintage car like my Model A. HughYou do not have permission to view this gallery.
This gallery has 2 photos.Comment
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That's a great looking CP.
My favorite color combo3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
Mitch's Auto Service ctrComment
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Mitch that is a picture of the car just after my brother picked it up and washed it. No work done on it yet. Thanks for the nice words. HughComment
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Maybe you can get the running gear or at least the brake parts from the other car that the engine came from. Your old engine might be fine as well. Looks like a good project, you have a lot to work with but it might take a little time but that is all part of having one.Comment
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Can I assume "The CHICK Inn" in the background is a small chicken coupe?Originally posted by copgib View Post
No way I can assume you bought that Model A Coupe for $2000 though.Comment
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Sounds much like working with my Dad when growing up, other than being a great mechinic. When things went wrong his temper would flare. Our 1978 Jeep Wagoneer was having a problem with overheating. While pulling the radiator a wrench slipped and he damaged the core. Because this would raise the price of repair he lost his temper he grabbed a hammer and busted out the headlights and dented the grill. I had to learn over the years to curve his temper when working with them and do the harder or more delicate work. I know things were stressfull farming in the early to mid 80's and he lived on the edge of bitterness for working so hard for so little. Rod"Much of the social history of the Western world, over the past three decades, has been a history of replacing what worked with what sounded good." Thomas SowellComment
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Well guys I did get it for $2,000. as is. The seller was a good friend of my brother. It needs a paint job, engine is siezed up and there are other problems I will be addressing. The seller gave me another engine from a loaner car which turns over by hand. The seller stated he wanted the whole car back after I get the engine and would not sell me anything else off the loaner car. He stated he promised someone else those parts. He has not told me if he wanted my old engine in return. If not then I do plan to have it rebuilt down the road. While my brother is having a Model A mechanic switch engines and get it running good, I am compiling things I will need later like new bumpers ect. By the way, the chick inn in the picture is a chicken coupe that he builds and sells in Texas. HughLast edited by copgib; 02-12-2018, 12:15 PM.Comment
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Great looking coupe Hugh! You got a really good deal on your new car.
It won't be long now before your sleeves will be rolled up, getting to know your new car intimately..png "eek")
Enjoy. JeffComment
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Sounds like very good advise! Thanks HughComment
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I thought I would update everyone on what I have been doing on my Model A since I got it. I got it about 2-years now out of Texas, a real barn find. The engine was replaced with what the seller said was rebuilt but never run. The story is the previous owner rebuilt the engine and then stated to rebuild that car and family problems stopped all work on it. The guy who sold it to my brother was a fellow...03-18-2020, 07:40 PM -
I just want to give everyone an update of my goal to have a good running Model A. When I first bought my car it had a seized engine. The seller was a friend of my brother and when he found out the engine was seized, he offered me another one or my money back. My brother told me his friend stated that engine had been rebuilt, so I took that engine instead of my money back. At one time the car motor...04-18-2021, 08:15 PM
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Well guys, the wait is over. I picked up my 1930 Model A from Dan Baldwin today. I am going to show you a few pictures of my car before and after some time and a little money. Back in March 2020, I had Dan Baldwin pickup my Model A and start the process of improving my car. I want you all to know, it isn't perfect or a car that will be judged. I always wondered what was under all that cracked paint...You do not have permission to view this gallery.
This gallery has 11 photos.03-12-2021, 09:56 PM -
Well today I got some good news and some bad news. As most of you know, my Model A is sitting in my mechanics garage in Texas. I am in Florida, so I have to communicate through my brother who is getting things done for me there. Today I was told my mechanic got the loaner engine put into my Model A. Once he had the motor in, he noticed the distributor didn't look quite right. My mechanic states it...02-21-2018, 09:00 PM
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Well guys my car has been getting a face lift for about a year now and within the next couple weeks I hope to show you all what it looks like. Dan Baldwin and others that had did work on my car did a outstanding job. I am very happy and I will soon be putting some pictures on here what it looked like before during and after. I did not go with Henry's original colors or materials, but I did keep the...02-28-2021, 04:48 PM
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Well I haven't mentioned lately on what I have been doing to my 1930 Model A Coupe. Well, like others, extra bills that needed paying has slowed me down. I did find a mechanic locally that just happens to live down the road from me. So with his help I have the car rewired and we are in the middle of installing the mechanical brakes. My mechanic found most of the parts I needed and what we don't have...09-13-2018, 09:10 PM
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Hello folks. Here is my newly acquired 1930 Model A Coup I am naming Elaine. Also over here, Post #311.
What I know so far is that this vehicle was purchased sometime in the late 60's by my Grandfather (Howard Engh-USMC) and grandmother (Elaine-USN) while they were stationed at Pear Harbor. My understanding is that it was purchased from someone in Hawaii who had it all disassembled and...04-12-2020, 12:56 PM -
Well my 1930 Model A has been at my mechanics place for a few months and since he can only work on it maybe one day a week, because he has another job and other obligations, it is going slow. He installed a better gas tank and while removing the fuel bulb, we found out is was held in, not by metal but bondo painted about 4 inches across. I knew there was alot of bondo covering different areas of the...01-20-2019, 07:16 PM
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Most of you know the story of my 1930 Model A. It was a barn find that had a siezed up engine. The seller which was my brothers church friend sold it to me and when he heard the engine was siezed, he offered me another engine that was in a 1929 Model A Basket case. I was told it had been rebuilt a few years earlier. My mechanic at the time confirmed it looked like it had been rebuilt after checking...07-29-2018, 07:00 PM
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I have mentioned in the past that I will be picking up my 1930 Model A Coupe up in Louisana the first week of May. I will meet my brother who will be coming from Texas with my car. My mechanic has been working on it since October 2017, on and off. He is a retired mechanic that owned his own shop and had worked on many Model A's. He told my brother he loved working on my car but forgot how much work...04-05-2018, 09:47 PM
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