I'm late to the party for this video. I listened carefully to every word spoken. Toward the end of your talk as you tried to summarize your experiences with the car words like appreciate, enjoy, meeting crazy people like yourself displaced mechanical terms and other technical language. I'm not sure you recall but you gave the best summary in the fewest words. You said, "I sit in the car and I smile." Edsel Ford, head of design for the Model A, did not sell smiles. He encouraged them. It's one of the intangibles of the design.
If you want to go fast, buy a modern car - with brakes and suspension designed for high speeds. If you want to die, jump off a bridge - but don't put a 550 Hemi in your Model A ;)
This is really great, man! I inherited my grandfather's 1930 Model A business coupe. I'm experienced at wrenching on all my vehicles and I can't wait to get it sorted to the point where I can take it for a joy ride through the countryside or the 8 mile trip into work. I really liked your video, your reflections back on your ownership with it and your desire to keep it all original. I wish you the best of luck with keeping it until you can't drive anymore. Happy motoring!
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. And I totally agree with your reflections at the end; keep them relatively stock and you'll enjoy them for years and years. Would love to meet you some day!
Excellent update. I share your mindset completely. It’s rare anymore for people to understand this mindset. What it amounts to is that others simply don’t like an old car. They like the idea of an old car (attention, for example) without experiencing what an old car really is. Kudos to you, friend!
Absolutely. I've heard many people tell me "I sure would like a prewar car - but all the maintenance, the brakes, the heavy steering..." - I'm always tempted to start arguing that it's mostly prejudices and you get used to it... But basically, they don't want an old car is what they're saying xD
I drove my '28 Tudor as a daily driver (it was my ONLY vehicle) for almost 2 years. Totally agree about the windshield reflections and rain. The ratios are okay, 2nd is a bit low, but it's fine. My biggest gripe was the journey planning. Because long journeys were relatively slower I had to plan things more and reduce the long journeys to a minimum. My top tip is using rain repellent for the windows once a week. By the end of the year I could remove and rebuild the carb in under 20 minutes😂 ... great video. Thanks❤
Geil ! I have a Ford custom 1950 and an old Adler Trumpf Junior Sport. 1936, I can understand all your inputs. Great video. Way back I had 2 model A ..... Still miss them
I don't know what is more amazing the car or the owner. You done an awesome job on this video. This model "A" is very lucky to have such a owner. Henry is smiling down on you for shir.
Great video sir! I think what we're dealing with here is a case of "man and his machine" the insatiable love to willingly want to know every inch of this car, every vibration, experience every mile and every gallon of gas, all while adjusting the spark lever and fuel lever to absorb everything a car made during the great depression has to offer. To experience 96 year old modern technology.
That was really awesome! I like the Jay Leno ending! (From his car channel) I was really impressed with the knowledge and dedication that you have for that car, and I'm really happy you're going to keep her! Good luck on your new adventure!
Thanks! I still had that footage lying about from when I did the very initial introduction. I didn't want to throw them away, so I decided to throw them in as a goodie :)
Glad you enjoy your A, love mine. I'm against mod's too but I needed a new engine. I put on a 5.5 head and glad I did. My other mod was a 3:54 rear. Gives a bit better 2nd on hills. 21 mpg on an A is pretty good. Nothing like that horn in a tunnel! You're doing a great job, have fun.
That's the great thing about the Model A - there are so many of them out there, that everybody can do to his car whatever he desires - and that's what makes them interesting, too. Sure, seeing an all-stock car is nice, but seeing what other people have tried and how the results are makes for a great conversation and brings a bit of variance into car club meetings.
I really enjoy your Model A videos, especially this one. Owning and driving a Model A really is a mindset. I love my '30 Model A Coupe. The only modifications I have are a single wire alternator and modern points and condenser. Both of these are easily removed.
I have the modern points and condenser, too - it was already installed when I bought the car. I might favor the original style points because of the way they can be adjusted (with a locking screw rather than prying with a screwdriver) - but I've heard the friction blocks are made of poor quality material these days...
I also use a model A Ford for daily transportation. I have a1929. Regularly driving a time period car dose required regular maintenance but it is a delightful experience.
The part where you talking about how this car is not for everybody. You're 100% correct. I have a 30 Tudor and it got so frustrating that I almost sold it but like you said, you slowly work your way through these issues and then you can start enjoying the car. It's hard to forget this car is almost 100 years old and it requires a lot of the effort that anything that is nearly 100 years old would. I enjoy your videos. Keep them coming.
The key is not to be afraid of it. If you're nervous, it'll fight you, if you're calm, everything seems to happen by itself. A bit like taming a horse, really
thank you for specifying all those topics. I own a 1974 Piaggio Vespa, a 1993 VW Passat, a 1995 VW T4 Camper and a 1993 VW T4 DoubleCab. Only way to drive this not that old Cars daily is the fact that there are enough to it to say: okay, passat has got a dead battery, DoubleCab has no TÜV because of Rust, it is raining (so no Vespa), lets take the Camper. Also i am at least 4-5 Weekends a year COMPLETELY (Fridays after work till Sunday) in my garage to repair and maintance the vehicles. And then there are some very time consuming tasks like defending Rust or finding out why the vespa has no spark sometimes. So i really like my old cars, but the 2020 Mercedes my Girl drives is simply a very reliable car. And as far as you DONT have the ability to survive without a car (or switch to another one) you cant drive an oldtimer as a daily. modifications you do are perfect, only thing i considered to change on old cars are safety-features, like the not optional emergency-signals, Brakerods with a smearing-nipple and so on. You are doing a really great job!
I absolutely love your appreciation for the Model A. It shows that you cherish it, and I am very happy to hear that you do not plan on getting rid of your Model A. Hold onto it for life and hopefully the next generation will do the same!
I hope so, too. My plan is to keep it until I am no longer able to (be it physically or mentally) and then pass it on to someone that'll keep it alive. No wonder everybody thinks they belong into a museum when nobody drives them around!
I always enjoy your videos. I wish you lived next door to me so we could share our Model A adventures. I have a ‘29 2dr. Sedan and a ‘30 5 window coupe w/rumble seat. Life is adventurous and satisfying owning these cars. I always wanted an A and bought both this past year. At age 77 I am almost as old as the cars, but have the time to devote to them. Life is interesting !
Great Update Video ! I really look up to you I mean what a great type of person I'm so happy there is still some people like you that do what you do I'm only 14 but as soon as I'm old enough I am no doubt getting a Model A and will most likely do something similar to what your doing ! Never stop driving it !
I wish you best of luck with your plans - take things slowly and the car will be great fun. Try to rush it and the car will tell you it doesn't like it ;P
I enjoyed your video on the model A, we have a 1957 Morris Minor we've had for 32yrs, I rebuilt my self then 20 yrs later me & the wife rebuilt it, the straight line on your graph believe me it will go up & down 🇬🇧👍.
A wonderful video of your experiences, in my 30 years being playing and repairing cars, I can say that I preffer the feeling of using on a daly base an older vehicle, always smiles and cheers from the others, and that is even when my older car is a W111 heckflosse from 1963, I do have also a 1969 alpine gt4, a 1976 R4L , 1985 Renault 9 that was my maternal grandmother's car since new and a 1990 Nissan Sentra station wagon, a gift to my brother and I from a good friend of the family. Like you, I always try to keep them the most original and complete possible. My " newer " car is a 2004 Megane Saloon that I bougt almost new and I was so happy with that I never had the desire of change it, now is 18 years old, 205,000 km and still reliable to highway , still untouched automatic gearbox and engine. Keep having fun with your model A. My dream car from that period would be a 1925 Buick Master touring like the one my maternal great grand parents had when my grandma was born in 1925.
Wow, that's a very nice collection - a little bit of everything! The early Buicks were indeed nice cars (albeit very large) and built very reliably - but probably are very hard to find for a fair price today. The Mercedes W111 is - in my opinion - the most beautiful and best Mercedes ever built. Best Wishes Adrian
Very nice video ! A guy locally here in Oslo had (still has) a Model A as a daily driver. I saw the car 20 years ago and was a huge inspiration for me, have been dailydriving old cars since then myself. Mainly 60’s cars - Chevrolet. I bought my A in 2013, after dreaming of one since the day I first saw that daily driven Model A. I’m sure you are also an inspiration for other people to go out an have fun with a Model A.
Very cool story! Prewar cars are a rare sight here in germany - old car meets usually start in the 1960s. I'm afraid that one day, they'll all be living up to the cliché that they belong into a museum because they are so dangerous, unreliable, bla bla. Maybe, people will think again when they see me at a stop light in morning traffic :)
I enjoy all your videos I live in Michigan USA I have a couple Model A‘s and I’ve been enjoying what you’ve been doing and how you’ve been learning take care be safe and have fun with that Model A
Fun video! Years ago I had two, a Tudor and a truck. I daily drove both, but Mainly the Tudor as it was more comfortable. Both were quite beat up but mechanically solid. I put 50k miles on the Tudor and 10k on the truck before finances got rough and I had to sell them, which broke my heart. I just got a new one 3 da u s ago, a project, but it will be a daily driver.
Had a good chuckle at this one, great work. A spring-clip type access cover for the battery is sold, it might have even been standard, so you don't need a screwdriver to check battery level- another item for the money-pit list
I even have it in the attic somewhere - but unfortunately, whoever decided a 600Amp-Hour battery is what this thing needed, also sawed some nice big holes into the floorboards in order to make it fit. Now, the standard cover falls right through xD
@@castironmachines Well, he even decided to saw off the Battery Handle - so swapping it out would literally break my back xD On the other hand, I really can't complain about cold-starting issues!
Hi Adrian, thank you for making all these great videos. I like the modifications that you are making to your A. I think using the black leather mask on the radiator is great and quite elegant idea for increasing the coolant temperature (4:35). Have you ever considered installing a coolant temperature gauge on the the dashboard so you could monitor the readings easier? It would be reversible. If the engine runs cold, a thermostat and bypass hose could be added to the engine coolant outlet.
Thanks for the suggestions. The "Motometer" mounted on the radiator cap is actually plenty visible from the drivers seat - and imho superior to a dash mounted gauge because you don't have to take your eyes off the road. The thermostats are a heavily discussed topic among Model-A-ers (as is almost everything LOL). Many say they have overheating problems at sustained high speeds because the thermostat - even when fully opened - disturbs the flow just enough to cause insufficient cool water supply to cylinder 4. It's still in the very early stage, but I'm planning to build an adjustable radiator shutter - as found on '30s Buicks, Packards or Duesenbergs.
Great to see you enjoying your car so much. I wish I could drive mine daily, but alas. I have a '28 Phaeton, so weather would be a challenge. With the side curtains installed, visibility is basically nonexistent. And driving in Houston is perilous in a modern automobile. I agree about modifications. Several guys out here use the later '30s wheels and tires. I'm still running 21"s. They just look right. I agree with the MAFCA rep. It would be a pleasure to meet you and "talk shop". Cheers.
Yip, a phaeton in rain would absolutely not be any fun - and I'd worry about the interior of the car, too. Still - with the roof down on a sunny day, I bet it's loads of fun!
I would do the 6v alternator swap (if reversible) from a safety point of view but agree the feel of driving an older car is part of the charm. If the sense of occasion doesn’t matter then go and buy a Ford Focus and be happy with it!
I really can't complain about the Generator. I've been driving in darkness only for the last 3 months - the battery neither boiled over nor discharged, I have full light brightness all the time, no smoke, no fire... no issues!
Just discovered you a few weeks ago. Instant subscriber. I’ve owned a 1926 Dodge Brothers Deluxe Sedan for 5 years now. Watching you is inspirational. Your comments at 28:07 are my thoughts exactly. The only additions I add are period correct. Like vacuum assisted turn signals manufactured in 1924. They are awesome. I have a video about them on my TH-cam channel. Keep up the good work! Love the Model A! Making me want one now.
@@AstraWerke Thank you! That means a lot coming from you. I’m quite proud of her. I will make you a video of my turn signals as soon as I pull the old girl out of the garage. Soon
I love your video - everything is in style - Alles in style - the cramped space in the garage, the old petroleum lamp, your outfit, stylish with cap 🙂 - aber das mit dem Anzünden einer Petroleumlampe üben wir noch einmal 😉 - however, lighting a petroleum lamp we have to practice. („we“ said in that sense always means „you“ ) Thanks for your experiences, the tips and tricks and recommendations. Especially your comments at the end of the video about likes and don’t likes and loving or not loving the car - or the work/services on it. But one question remains: after one year driving the car, 5000 miles as you say - equals 10 services on the car - why do you still have this cramped garage? 🤔
Finally another Model A video! 😄 Thanks for the great overview on what it's like to own and take care of a Model A! This was a great video! Now onto the brake job!
Good looking care, I run a 30 Tudor and have for years. If I may make a suggestion and I may have missed it but one main problem is the distributor needs lubricant. Not only the one oil point on the outside but its important to oil the inside bushing. There is a a cheap modification that only you will ever know about that allows you to lubricate the inside bushing. The modification is a drilled distributor shaft and the screw inside that holds it down also has a small hole to allow oil down to the bushing
tell me about the painting, water color, on the wall. There are a lot of modern 4 speed speed and a few automatic transmission conversions in the market place. All fairly easy to install, bolt in and they come with pedal and emergency brake hardware. I put a 39 ford transmission in my 31, has the syncro gears but is a 3 speed
My grandmother painted for a living - this one was probably made during a vacation in Greece (Zakhyntos or Krete, perhaps). I know about the different gear box options - it'd just be too much a modification from original, if you ask me. A non-synchro three speed with slightly different gear ratios would do the trick.
Nicely done! Thank you for the delightful video. I noticed during the video, while you were driving in the rain, the ammeter was in the negative zone; hmm. Your perspective and mine coincide perfectly as my Model A is stock and I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy motoring...
There are days where I don't hit the brush adjustment perfectly. For the sake of arriving on time, I just leave it as is, correct the adjustment at work - and arrive home with a charged battery again. :)
I see that you want to keep your generator (6:05). I was on a Model A forum last night and some members there were using an electronic voltage regulator, EVR, and a diode for the cut out. The setup is inconspicuous and reversible. The users reported that the voltage regulation was almost similar to that of an alternator, keeping the battery well charged. The lower output from the generator is the limiting factor, The third brush no longer needed to be adjusted for night driving, the output also would not "runaway" and destroy other components. If a diode is used instead of a mechanical relay, the EVR has to be adjusted to a slightly higher voltage. I'm fascinated by the Model A, but I don't own one, just a car nut.
Yes, I've heard about those, too. My only argument against them is their price. I'll probably get me one of them, should my charging relais go boom one day - but for now, I've gotten so used to quickly adjust the brush, it's maybe 30 seconds of work.
@@AstraWerke I tried checking the price on one of the popular EVR's, but I found out that the inventor/builder, Tom Wesenberg, has sadly passed away. Like many people I don't like paying import duty on US products, but I am luckier than others, because I live in Canada, just 15 kms from the US border.When the border finally opens after Covid, I will have stuff delivered to a delivery store in the US. I don't get charged duty usually on small items when I come back and shipping is cheaper in the lower 48 states.
I also have a '30 Model A Coupe. But before I continue watching your video, why would you be using a propane lantern to go underneath? Perhaps there's no electrical outlet in your garage but couldn't you get a flashlight of some kind? Maybe those aren't available either where you are but propane and gas fumes don't mix, you know.
I do have seatbelts. They are the airplane style belly-strapper and - at least on a coupe - do not require any reinforcements. Just drill two holes in the metal sheet between passenger compartment and trunk, use large load-spreading washers and you're golden. May not save you from getting impaled by the steering column, but does keep you inside the car in case of a rollover (or a door opening when taking a steep turn)
Dear Astra Werke man. 👍👌👏 Thanks a lot for being so completely honest, you're obviously a very decent guy! I guess that you cured me. Maybe a Model B is the better/easier daily driver. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards, luck and health.
Ha = great video. I agree with you. I try to keep mine as stock as possible, but have a few modifications. I have a period-correct radio, but have to watch that it doesn't kill my battery. Also, I've got bright LED lights. And I have *gasp* an overdrive. But it's in my torque tube and not the gearbox. So, maybe that's not as bad of a modification (?)
Hello there, I wanted to ask you what is the trunk lid support that automatically locks and unlocks, do you have the name and where did you get it. I love your videos. When I was younger I drove a 1929 Closed Cab as my only transportation in SoCal. I have been with Model As for over fifty years and am working on a 1928 Closed Cab pickup at the moment. I have just purchased a 1930 Standard Coupe' which I am going to us as my car. I am selling my CLK 550 and I will drive this Coupe' from now on. Your videos have inspired me to enjoy the day in and day out experiences of owning and actually driving a Model A. You are a very talented young man and we are blessed to have a peek into a part of your life. God bless, Clinton ... Model A'r doin' his thing ...........
Hi Clinton, the trunk stay is from a 1959 VW Beetle, but I think they used it from 1957 till 1964. You'll need to shorten it a little and put a few spacers and self-locking nuts in the right spots, but after that it'll work just fine. (Don't make it too short though, the shorter it gets, the harder it gets for the self-lock to engage) I'm delighted to hear about your plans and wish you the best of luck! An honest advice from me: Try to source a good spare engine (or have one rebuilt by someone who knows their stuff). After having my engine failed, I've had tons and tons of comments of people who experienced the same thing (right down to the same cause of failiure: Cracked Babbitt). My car is out of business for almost half a year now, waiting for the engine builder to finish his job... That being said, it should be easier to source a good engine over the pond. Best Wishes Adrian
@@AstraWerke Hi Adrian, Thank you so much for the information regarding the trunk stay I will do a search and try to find one. I am bless with two Model As, the coupe' which will be delivered sometime this month and the 1928 pickup truck which I put together because I needed a truck and what better than a 1928 Model A. I call her Frankie because she is made up from parts I have been collecting over the years and parts I bought, old and new. A Frankenstein creation ... hence Frankie. If in the future my coupe' needs major repair I can use Frankie until the coupe' is ready for the road again. I loved the video on the rebuild of the steering and all the information you provided, I will have to get in touch with Paul Shinn to see if he is still offering the machined part. Let's keep the ol' stuff runnin' Be safe, Clinton ... Model A'r doin' his thing
Well, I'll be honest, I haven't driven it in real amounts of snow yet. I've encountered ice in one situation - you just loose all basic control. I was going 15 in a curve and the car basically slid off the road. Luckily, the ice was over before the ditch. You loose grip pretty quickly in the mud, so I suppose in deep snow you're better off leaving it home. As for the cold, I just wear a long coat and that's it. There's always a little heat from the engine that can leak through the floorboards, so it's never as cold as e.g. in a modern car with the heaters turned off. The coldest I've driven in was -12°C. Still manageable without a heater, I'd say.
Hello my friend, I've almost finished your 'fine' video and am at the Mitchel O/D part (28min 31sec.). Let me make a (different none Mitchel O/D) suggestion to you as someone who understands completely what you're describing. Ford made a 'Police' head that increased the compression ratio from 4:1 to around 5.5:1/6:1 or there about. If you install either a 5.1:1 higher compression head on you car it will almost do the job of a Mitchel O/D. I know because I've done all three on the same car you're driving. Driven with the stock 4:1 compression head, installed a Mitchel O/D, and then added a 6:1 compression head. Installing the 6:1 compression head, a virtual copy of the Ford 'Police' head has almost made the Mitchel completely unnecessary. The 6:1 modern version of the 'Police' head will not violate the spirit of 'Originality' (I completely agree btw) and will overcome that 2nd gear strain and 3rd. gear lag. Cost for the 6:1 head complete is about $500.00 U.S. That's the head, new, stronger studs, and a Graphite (not Copper) head gasket. BTW....I too am a daily 1930 Ford Model A Coupe as well as 1930 Ford Model A Fordor Sedan. I share your passion and opinions. Also if you'll clean your front windscreen with car wax when you detail your car it will shed the rain just like, and perhaps better, than RainX. I completely relate with all you've said. Well done! KUDOS!
I think you lost your nuts rattling down the road and that’s why you missing your bolt. All original or nothing, I agree. Love the ride, love the videos. Thanks
One bolt, OK - but twelve of them? Of which six wouldn't even fall out because the screw heads are facing up? I don't think it's too likely - but who knows... Best Wishes Adrian :)
When I am driving a antique car or flying a antique plane it's like having a time machine. Not many people have the experience of traveling back in time like when you drive your Model A. That's why you keep it original.
@@AstraWerke Flying low & slow over Amish country in 1946 Airplane then seeing a horse draw buggy on road with no cars in sight I was back in time. It was so beautiful I didn't want to comeback.
I fully agree with you that whatever modification done on old stuff, must be 100% reversible. A Model A with a turbo diesel in it, isn't a Model A anymore.
And it's dangerous! If you hit the gas on a souped up Model A, the thin tires will spin, you'll loose control - and that's the end of that story. It was never meant to be a fast car (just look at the aerodynamic shape) - so why would you want it to be, when there are plenty of fast cars around. I get my thrills driving 60kmh down a country road - nothing better :)
Great recap of the past year. Interesting to see these types of videos, as I have barely started my own journey of daily driving a 1958 Volvo Amazon. So far my expectations seem to align with your (and other people's) experience with driving an old car. Ford Model A was very high on my list when I tried to decide which car to buy. In the end, parts availability in my country and an excellent heater for the winter made me choose the Volvo. The simple design and how easy it is to work on my self is a big thing for me. Do Germany offer period correct license plates for cars? I think that would look a lot better. I chose period correct plates on my car, as modern EU plates would look silly.
Hi, the Amazon is an iconic car, too. She's a beauty! Unfortunately, it's not allowed to drive about with 1930's plates in Germany... It'd be like trying to pay with Reichsmark in the Supermarket. Some people got lucky enough to persuade the licensing office to hand out motorcycle plates which are close to the size of american plates - no such luck for me. Oh well - you get used to it.
I have also heard of someone on Y.T. installing a 5 speed transmission from a chevie S10 in their Model A.Not sure if he had to prefabricate for this or if there are adapter parts on the market.
Thank you for your Model A passion. There are 3 Model A's in my family and a fourth on the way. My cousin Ed Tolman is the new Technical director for MAFCA and is fluent in German. Reach out to him for anything needed. Do you belong to a club there?
Thanks! I'm member of the "Model A Interessengemeinschaft" (what a german word xD), which is always great help for technical advice - or if you need a spare part that isn't readily available off the parts dealers.
Congratulations on a year of driving a classic. It really is more than driving, it is a commitment. I own an MG but I live in Michigan and the history has always interested me. We have a fantastic automotive museum outside of Kalamazoo Michigan in a little town called Hickory Corners. This is perhaps the best one in the country covering almost 300 acres in numerous buildings. I have linked a couple of videos on you tube on the model A. One is by a gentleman who works for Hagerty, which is an insurance company in Traverse City that insures classic boats and cars. They are in the northwest part of the lower peninsula of Michigan and this guy drove his A as an every day driver. They receive a good amount of snow each winter due to the lake effect. The other video is from the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners with their extensive Ford Model A exhibit. Enjoy the watch and I will be following your channel. Good luck with the car. th-cam.com/video/QABfAaouLDM/w-d-xo.html The video picks up with the A about 1:15 in. th-cam.com/video/w7QWLZo90t8/w-d-xo.html
I love your old car. I bought my dad‘s 1929 model A it has suicide doors. I got to do a little work to it to get it going again. I Love the way it sounds.I promised him I wouldn’t make it into a hot rod. My parents are both gone now and I will keep that promise. My son will inherit the car it will stay in the family I will not sell it
Lovely car! Glad your daily driving it! My old timer sits under a car cover since end of December when the temperatures dropped below 0c. No sense in taking it out on the salt. I have done about 3000 miles in mine last year. Yeah driving an old timer is worth it's weight in gold. One question I have is have you considered filling up the interior panels with wool or something similar to reduce the noise? Cabin noise makes a big difference between a 30 min trip and a 4 hour drive.
It would most certainly bring the noise down. Even holding your bare hand against the sheet metal of the firewall will have a noticeable effect. The big issue is that the cabin and doors aren't exactly waterproof with their felt and cloth gaskets, so any sound-absorbing material would also become a water-absorber... My solution is earbuds. The first time I went for a longer high-speed drive without them, I came home knackered and tired by the noise - went to bed and couldn't sleep because my ears were still complaining about the punishment. With the earbuds, that's no longer an issue.
Thanks for this video. I'm also a young guy (29), daily driving a model A (1929 Tudor) in the Netherlands. I've only had it for a couple months, This is very nice advice for me. There are a lot of Tiny things I still need to take care of. I'm wondering about the engine heat. I haven't been doing to leather on the radiator. So I think it's good to do that, as my engine runs very cold too. Is t a very big issue to run it cold for a while? I hope I didn't ruin the engine :( Also, my car runs 5 liters per km :( so that's pretty bad if you call 11kmph bad.
Cool! Regarding the operating temperature: I don't think your engine has suffered from a winter without a radiator cover - I drove my first winter without one, too. Its only that I noticed the engine running better (and using less fuel) with the cover on.
You need some better matches or carry a BIC. Ethanol fuel-what rubbish it is. If you've got any kind of health issues, this is NOT a car you should own. Also,you must do all your own maint. No shop will do it, unless they specify that type. Good luck trying to find one. The garage cost wouldn't justify the ownership. Great video & learned a lot too. P.S. That car looks amazing cruising about town.
What was the additive that you put in your transmission? Did you say it helped with gear grinding? I have rebuilt my transmission and would like to help it break in right. I have a 1929 Model A Coupe.
@@AstraWerke Per your recommendation I have ordered some Liqui Moly, I hope it helps the non syncro gear transmission. I hate the sound of grinding gears. Maybe it will even help with down shifting from third to second. Everything is new in my transmission except for the case itself. I noticed in your video that people like to tailgate you, same here in Texas. You are inspiring me to drive my Coupe more, thanks!
@@dogbitefred6631 The Moly won't eliminate the need for double-clutching, but it will provide a cussioning / silencing effect, should you not get the sequence exactly right. It also turned the aggressive circular saw-like 2nd gear noise into more of a suppressed gurgling, which I'm very happy about.
Is there any reason, when looking for an old car, you didn't go for a *really* famous, *fairly* old German car - the VW Beetle? VW collectors/fans in the UK seem to have a lot of fun, and they certainly do a fair bit of wrenching! I suppose a Beetle in Germany isn't that unusual, so the Model 'A' is certainly more distinctive.
You nailed it. Old car meetings over here are basically two cars: VW Beetle and Mercedes W123. Both nice cars - but nothing out of the ordinary. When you drive through town in a prewar car, people's eyes fall out of their sockets. "Is it even legal to drive these on today's roads?" Common thought is that prewar cars belong into a museum - I want to prove them wrong.
about you generator why not leve it set to charge with the headlights on aka night driving and just run with the headlights on at day time but you must remember to turn them off then there's no third brush adjusting all the time
@@AstraWerke that may be but there's lots of ways around that an old timer told me years ago back in the 6 volt day that on the one that were hard starting that they would install an 8 volt golf cart battery and readjust the regulator so it would charge i know that on the A you only have a cut out and the voltage is adjusted by the third brush but if you wanted to get tricky there's lots of ways to get there but keeping it as oem is fun also
I am a member of the "Ford-Model-A-Interessengemeinschaft" - the "Alt-Ford-Freunde" would also be a possibility - they are about old Fords in general, however.
It’s unfortunate that you are so dead set against the Mitchell gearbox. Here in the States, it has a strong following with folks using their Model A as a driver. There is a long waiting list to acquire a new Mitchell gearbox. Few view it as detracting from a cars vintage value, if anything you may well pay more for a car so equipped. The installation requires a permanent modification to the drive shaft and shaft tube but these components can be easily found to avoid modifying original components. The reminder is bolt on. You are correct, the floorboard must be cut, but this can be done on a duplicate floorboard panel. In other words, all is reversible. At one time, I owned an AA truck, not sure you’d want that gearbox in an A. I would not. Just because it is a four speed does not mean that the available ratios will meet the car’s needs. I own a 31 Deluxe Roadster with a Michell. The improvement in drivability is astounding. I consider the improvement a safety issue. Rarely do I have lines of cars piling up behind my vehicle, often getting antsy to pass under less than safe conditions. Second gear overdrive is ideal for most normally encountered hills, keeping the rpm in the torque range and speed on point. Highway cruise speed is now possible without strain. Paul Shinn is a true believer in the Mitchell. I’m not far from Hershey, PA. If you’re ever in the states during the huge annual antique auto event and would enjoy an overdose of A culture and a flea market offering any thing ever made for an A, get in touch. We have many hundreds, if not thousands of As still on the road. A great bunch of enthusiasts.
I know it's a great add-on. It's just that the 2nd gear lever is the last thing that turns this car into a tractor. I've heard from several people that not being able to do 55 in the States is a huge safety issue - luckily, there are many ways to get from A to B where I live - and there's always a street that doesn't allow speeds higher than 50 or even 40. Even the Autobahn is what I would consider safe to drive on. Stick to the right lane, "swim" with the trucks - everything's fine. I've done 500 kilometers in 9 hours on occasion - without a single close call. The idea of installing an AA transmission would also involve modifying the gear ratios inside. 1st speed is a "granny gear", purely designed to pull stumps out of the ground or start on a hill with a ton of cargo in the back. I'd get rid of that, keep the ratios of a standard Model A's 1st and 2nd, put something in between 2nd and 3rd and have 3rd a little higher. I heard about many great car meets in the US - the "Old Car Festival" in Greenfield Village sounds pretty tempting, too. Maybe one of these days :D
I can attest to your experience driving on the Autobahn. I lived and worked in Europe for near one half of my working career. During that period, I owned and drove but one auto - a 2CV. I’ve driven thousands of kilometers in the truck lane. :) Your comment on the lever provoked an analysis of the design. There’s really no need for the visually jolting lever. The gearbox employs the simple linear motion of an actuator pin on the gearbox. This motion could be duplicated with a Bowden cable rather than the mechanical linkage and lever. The cable knob could be more easily hidden or disguised. If you were to engineer and perfect such a variation, other enthusiasts may follow your lead. Owing to the silky smooth fully synchronized gearbox, I also suspect that the Michell could be adapted to electrical solenoid actuation, though this may be viewed by some as a step too far. In closing, if you are interested in vintage aircraft I will point you to one of my projects. After completion, the aircraft met with an accident rendering it not airworthy and not financially viable for repair. (The fuselage spar and frame structure was distorted and cracked) Rather than scrap the aircraft, it was moved to a museum display. Search - Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Scheissheim, Munchen , tail number NC8155 for an interesting photo study. You will see the styling and engineering links between aircraft and automobiles of the late 1930s period.
I'm late to the party for this video. I listened carefully to every word spoken. Toward the end of your talk as you tried to summarize your experiences with the car words like appreciate, enjoy, meeting crazy people like yourself displaced mechanical terms and other technical language. I'm not sure you recall but you gave the best summary in the fewest words. You said, "I sit in the car and I smile."
Edsel Ford, head of design for the Model A, did not sell smiles. He encouraged them. It's one of the intangibles of the design.
Thank you so much for not ruining this car by sticking some other newer motor in it!
If you want to go fast, buy a modern car - with brakes and suspension designed for high speeds.
If you want to die, jump off a bridge - but don't put a 550 Hemi in your Model A ;)
This is really great, man! I inherited my grandfather's 1930 Model A business coupe. I'm experienced at wrenching on all my vehicles and I can't wait to get it sorted to the point where I can take it for a joy ride through the countryside or the 8 mile trip into work. I really liked your video, your reflections back on your ownership with it and your desire to keep it all original. I wish you the best of luck with keeping it until you can't drive anymore. Happy motoring!
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. And I totally agree with your reflections at the end; keep them relatively stock and you'll enjoy them for years and years. Would love to meet you some day!
Excellent update. I share your mindset completely. It’s rare anymore for people to understand this mindset. What it amounts to is that others simply don’t like an old car. They like the idea of an old car (attention, for example) without experiencing what an old car really is. Kudos to you, friend!
Absolutely. I've heard many people tell me "I sure would like a prewar car - but all the maintenance, the brakes, the heavy steering..." - I'm always tempted to start arguing that it's mostly prejudices and you get used to it... But basically, they don't want an old car is what they're saying xD
Nice to see your less serious side. When the phone rang. Great narration of your experience. I could only hope to follow a similar path with an A
I drove my '28 Tudor as a daily driver (it was my ONLY vehicle) for almost 2 years. Totally agree about the windshield reflections and rain. The ratios are okay, 2nd is a bit low, but it's fine. My biggest gripe was the journey planning. Because long journeys were relatively slower I had to plan things more and reduce the long journeys to a minimum. My top tip is using rain repellent for the windows once a week. By the end of the year I could remove and rebuild the carb in under 20 minutes😂 ... great video. Thanks❤
Geil !
I have a Ford custom 1950 and an old Adler Trumpf Junior Sport. 1936, I can understand all your inputs. Great video.
Way back I had 2 model A ..... Still miss them
Entertaining AND Educational. Thoroughly enjoyable too.
I don't know what is more amazing the car or the owner. You done an awesome job on this video. This model "A" is very lucky to have such a owner. Henry is smiling down on you for shir.
I'm humbled - thank you very much!
I love old cars I own a 1949 silverstreak and I love it I really appreciate you and I love your model a keep it happy years of driving
Loved your insight and sense of humor! Thanks for sharing!
Great video sir! I think what we're dealing with here is a case of "man and his machine" the insatiable love to willingly want to know every inch of this car, every vibration, experience every mile and every gallon of gas, all while adjusting the spark lever and fuel lever to absorb everything a car made during the great depression has to offer. To experience 96 year old modern technology.
Fantastic!! Great car! Deserves great care. It survived all the people that built and drove it. You have custody over this piece of living history👍👍
That was really awesome! I like the Jay Leno ending! (From his car channel) I was really impressed with the knowledge and dedication that you have for that car, and I'm really happy you're going to keep her! Good luck on your new adventure!
Thanks! I still had that footage lying about from when I did the very initial introduction. I didn't want to throw them away, so I decided to throw them in as a goodie :)
That purr! 👌
Glad you enjoy your A, love mine. I'm against mod's too but I needed a new engine. I put on a 5.5 head and glad I did. My other mod was a 3:54 rear. Gives a bit better 2nd on hills. 21 mpg on an A is pretty good. Nothing like that horn in a tunnel! You're doing a great job, have fun.
That's the great thing about the Model A - there are so many of them out there, that everybody can do to his car whatever he desires - and that's what makes them interesting, too. Sure, seeing an all-stock car is nice, but seeing what other people have tried and how the results are makes for a great conversation and brings a bit of variance into car club meetings.
I really enjoy your Model A videos, especially this one. Owning and driving a Model A really is a mindset. I love my '30 Model A Coupe. The only modifications I have are a single wire alternator and modern points and condenser. Both of these are easily removed.
I have the modern points and condenser, too - it was already installed when I bought the car.
I might favor the original style points because of the way they can be adjusted (with a locking screw rather than prying with a screwdriver) - but I've heard the friction blocks are made of poor quality material these days...
Great findings on steering and missing bolts.
I also use a model A Ford for daily transportation. I have a1929. Regularly driving a time period car dose required regular maintenance but it is a delightful experience.
The part where you talking about how this car is not for everybody. You're 100% correct. I have a 30 Tudor and it got so frustrating that I almost sold it but like you said, you slowly work your way through these issues and then you can start enjoying the car. It's hard to forget this car is almost 100 years old and it requires a lot of the effort that anything that is nearly 100 years old would. I enjoy your videos. Keep them coming.
The key is not to be afraid of it. If you're nervous, it'll fight you, if you're calm, everything seems to happen by itself. A bit like taming a horse, really
Great video! It's some kind of a religious experience for me,driving my old cars.
thank you for specifying all those topics. I own a 1974 Piaggio Vespa, a 1993 VW Passat, a 1995 VW T4 Camper and a 1993 VW T4 DoubleCab. Only way to drive this not that old Cars daily is the fact that there are enough to it to say: okay, passat has got a dead battery, DoubleCab has no TÜV because of Rust, it is raining (so no Vespa), lets take the Camper.
Also i am at least 4-5 Weekends a year COMPLETELY (Fridays after work till Sunday) in my garage to repair and maintance the vehicles. And then there are some very time consuming tasks like defending Rust or finding out why the vespa has no spark sometimes.
So i really like my old cars, but the 2020 Mercedes my Girl drives is simply a very reliable car. And as far as you DONT have the ability to survive without a car (or switch to another one) you cant drive an oldtimer as a daily.
modifications you do are perfect, only thing i considered to change on old cars are safety-features, like the not optional emergency-signals, Brakerods with a smearing-nipple and so on. You are doing a really great job!
I absolutely love your appreciation for the Model A. It shows that you cherish it, and I am very happy to hear that you do not plan on getting rid of your Model A. Hold onto it for life and hopefully the next generation will do the same!
I hope so, too. My plan is to keep it until I am no longer able to (be it physically or mentally) and then pass it on to someone that'll keep it alive. No wonder everybody thinks they belong into a museum when nobody drives them around!
I always enjoy your videos. I wish you lived next door to me so we could share our Model A adventures. I have a ‘29 2dr. Sedan and a ‘30 5 window coupe w/rumble seat. Life is adventurous and satisfying owning these cars. I always wanted an A and bought both this past year. At age 77 I am almost as old as the cars, but have the time to devote to them. Life is interesting !
Hello from Texas, your video was excellent. I enjoy driving my 1928 Tudor.
Great Update Video ! I really look up to you I mean what a great type of person I'm so happy there is still some people like you that do what you do I'm only 14 but as soon as I'm old enough I am no doubt getting a Model A and will most likely do something similar to what your doing ! Never stop driving it !
I wish you best of luck with your plans - take things slowly and the car will be great fun. Try to rush it and the car will tell you it doesn't like it ;P
@@AstraWerke Agreed thanks for the luck !
I enjoyed your video on the model A, we have a 1957 Morris Minor we've had for 32yrs, I rebuilt my self then 20 yrs later me & the wife rebuilt it, the straight line on your graph believe me it will go up & down 🇬🇧👍.
That trunk makes for a great money pit, doesn't it ;P
I drove my A for 1200 miles before starting the restoration. That was a few too many years age. Back working on it. 31 45B
“Wtf is a kilometer!” 😂 that was the funniest thing I seen today lol
Thanks xD
A wonderful video of your experiences, in my 30 years being playing and repairing cars, I can say that I preffer the feeling of using on a daly base an older vehicle, always smiles and cheers from the others, and that is even when my older car is a W111 heckflosse from 1963, I do have also a 1969 alpine gt4, a 1976 R4L , 1985 Renault 9 that was my maternal grandmother's car since new and a 1990 Nissan Sentra station wagon, a gift to my brother and I from a good friend of the family.
Like you, I always try to keep them the most original and complete possible.
My " newer " car is a 2004 Megane Saloon that I bougt almost new and I was so happy with that I never had the desire of change it, now is 18 years old, 205,000 km and still reliable to highway , still untouched automatic gearbox and engine.
Keep having fun with your model A.
My dream car from that period would be a 1925 Buick Master touring like the one my maternal great grand parents had when my grandma was born in 1925.
Wow, that's a very nice collection - a little bit of everything!
The early Buicks were indeed nice cars (albeit very large) and built very reliably - but probably are very hard to find for a fair price today.
The Mercedes W111 is - in my opinion - the most beautiful and best Mercedes ever built.
Best Wishes
Adrian
Wonderful to watch as always
Very nice video ! A guy locally here in Oslo had (still has) a Model A as a daily driver. I saw the car 20 years ago and was a huge inspiration for me, have been dailydriving old cars since then myself. Mainly 60’s cars - Chevrolet. I bought my A in 2013, after dreaming of one since the day I first saw that daily driven Model A. I’m sure you are also an inspiration for other people to go out an have fun with a Model A.
Very cool story! Prewar cars are a rare sight here in germany - old car meets usually start in the 1960s. I'm afraid that one day, they'll all be living up to the cliché that they belong into a museum because they are so dangerous, unreliable, bla bla.
Maybe, people will think again when they see me at a stop light in morning traffic :)
I enjoy all your videos I live in Michigan USA I have a couple Model A‘s and I’ve been enjoying what you’ve been doing and how you’ve been learning take care be safe and have fun with that Model A
Thanks alot :D
Fun video! Years ago I had two, a Tudor and a truck. I daily drove both, but Mainly the Tudor as it was more comfortable. Both were quite beat up but mechanically solid. I put 50k miles on the Tudor and 10k on the truck before finances got rough and I had to sell them, which broke my heart. I just got a new one 3 da u s ago, a project, but it will be a daily driver.
Had a good chuckle at this one, great work. A spring-clip type access cover for the battery is sold, it might have even been standard, so you don't need a screwdriver to check battery level- another item for the money-pit list
I even have it in the attic somewhere - but unfortunately, whoever decided a 600Amp-Hour battery is what this thing needed, also sawed some nice big holes into the floorboards in order to make it fit.
Now, the standard cover falls right through xD
@@AstraWerke Oh haha that changes things.. around here we call such modifications "farmer-fixes" ;)
@@castironmachines Well, he even decided to saw off the Battery Handle - so swapping it out would literally break my back xD
On the other hand, I really can't complain about cold-starting issues!
Hi Adrian, thank you for making all these great videos. I like the modifications that you are making to your A. I think using the black leather mask on the radiator is great and quite elegant idea for increasing the coolant temperature (4:35). Have you ever considered installing a coolant temperature gauge on the the dashboard so you could monitor the readings easier? It would be reversible. If the engine runs cold, a thermostat and bypass hose could be added to the engine coolant outlet.
Thanks for the suggestions. The "Motometer" mounted on the radiator cap is actually plenty visible from the drivers seat - and imho superior to a dash mounted gauge because you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
The thermostats are a heavily discussed topic among Model-A-ers (as is almost everything LOL). Many say they have overheating problems at sustained high speeds because the thermostat - even when fully opened - disturbs the flow just enough to cause insufficient cool water supply to cylinder 4.
It's still in the very early stage, but I'm planning to build an adjustable radiator shutter - as found on '30s Buicks, Packards or Duesenbergs.
Great to see you enjoying your car so much. I wish I could drive mine daily, but alas. I have a '28 Phaeton, so weather would be a challenge. With the side curtains installed, visibility is basically nonexistent. And driving in Houston is perilous in a modern automobile. I agree about modifications. Several guys out here use the later '30s wheels and tires. I'm still running 21"s. They just look right. I agree with the MAFCA rep. It would be a pleasure to meet you and "talk shop". Cheers.
Yip, a phaeton in rain would absolutely not be any fun - and I'd worry about the interior of the car, too.
Still - with the roof down on a sunny day, I bet it's loads of fun!
I would do the 6v alternator swap (if reversible) from a safety point of view but agree the feel of driving an older car is part of the charm. If the sense of occasion doesn’t matter then go and buy a Ford Focus and be happy with it!
I really can't complain about the Generator. I've been driving in darkness only for the last 3 months - the battery neither boiled over nor discharged, I have full light brightness all the time, no smoke, no fire... no issues!
You can easy rebuild a generator while alternators aren’t as good
Really enjoyed the video! It must really great to drive a Model A in Germany.
I really enjoyed this video. Now I’m going to watch the rest of the series! What a wonderful old car!
Don't forget the Popcorn :)
Great video, yes please have a long life and use axle stands when jacked up and running the engine. Cheers, John.
Great video! You have become an excellent driver/mechanic of this Model A. I am very impressed.
Shizer lol 😂. Awesome car man! Cheers from Kentucky USA 🇺🇸
Excellent video!
thank you for a wonderful story!
Don't you just love it.😊
Just discovered you a few weeks ago. Instant subscriber. I’ve owned a 1926 Dodge Brothers Deluxe Sedan for 5 years now. Watching you is inspirational. Your comments at 28:07 are my thoughts exactly. The only additions I add are period correct. Like vacuum assisted turn signals manufactured in 1924. They are awesome. I have a video about them on my TH-cam channel. Keep up the good work! Love the Model A! Making me want one now.
A '26 Dodge - the definition of a 1920's car, if you ask me - even more than a Model T.
@@AstraWerke Thank you! That means a lot coming from you. I’m quite proud of her. I will make you a video of my turn signals as soon as I pull the old girl out of the garage. Soon
Very interesting perspective. Beautiful machine.
Thanks :D
I love your video - everything is in style - Alles in style - the cramped space in the garage, the old petroleum lamp, your outfit, stylish with cap 🙂 - aber das mit dem Anzünden einer Petroleumlampe üben wir noch einmal 😉 - however, lighting a petroleum lamp we have to practice. („we“ said in that sense always means „you“ )
Thanks for your experiences, the tips and tricks and recommendations. Especially your comments at the end of the video about likes and don’t likes and loving or not loving the car - or the work/services on it. But one question remains: after one year driving the car, 5000 miles as you say - equals 10 services on the car - why do you still have this cramped garage? 🤔
Ich mag die Garage :)
Finally another Model A video! 😄 Thanks for the great overview on what it's like to own and take care of a Model A! This was a great video! Now onto the brake job!
You can mark yourself February 18th ;)
@@AstraWerke 👏
Good looking care, I run a 30 Tudor and have for years. If I may make a suggestion and I may have missed it but one main problem is the distributor needs lubricant. Not only the one oil point on the outside but its important to oil the inside bushing. There is a a cheap modification that only you will ever know about that allows you to lubricate the inside bushing. The modification is a drilled distributor shaft and the screw inside that holds it down also has a small hole to allow oil down to the bushing
Yip, my car already came with that type of drilled distributor shaft. Works a treat!
tell me about the painting, water color, on the wall. There are a lot of modern 4 speed speed and a few automatic transmission conversions in the market place. All fairly easy to install, bolt in and they come with pedal and emergency brake hardware. I put a 39 ford transmission in my 31, has the syncro gears but is a 3 speed
My grandmother painted for a living - this one was probably made during a vacation in Greece (Zakhyntos or Krete, perhaps).
I know about the different gear box options - it'd just be too much a modification from original, if you ask me.
A non-synchro three speed with slightly different gear ratios would do the trick.
Wow! Great video!
Great story. Well done. I was concerned about your mechanical ability at first when you seemed to have such difficulty lighting a match.
They were probably soaked from the high humidity and stone-cold xD
cool i liked this very good explanations. thankyou 👌
Great video!
Thanks :)
Nicely done! Thank you for the delightful video. I noticed during the video, while you were driving in the rain, the ammeter was in the negative zone; hmm. Your perspective and mine coincide perfectly as my Model A is stock and I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy motoring...
There are days where I don't hit the brush adjustment perfectly. For the sake of arriving on time, I just leave it as is, correct the adjustment at work - and arrive home with a charged battery again. :)
Great Video! Interesting!!!
My loved "oldtimer" was a VW Iltis.... but i had to sell it ..... sad.....
Have a nice weekend!
Ideales Winterauto :D
Dude! Love the video! Keep it stock all the way! Beautiful car!
I see that you want to keep your generator (6:05). I was on a Model A forum last night and some members there were using an electronic voltage regulator, EVR, and a diode for the cut out. The setup is inconspicuous and reversible. The users reported that the voltage regulation was almost similar to that of an alternator, keeping the battery well charged. The lower output from the generator is the limiting factor, The third brush no longer needed to be adjusted for night driving, the output also would not "runaway" and destroy other components. If a diode is used instead of a mechanical relay, the EVR has to be adjusted to a slightly higher voltage. I'm fascinated by the Model A, but I don't own one, just a car nut.
Yes, I've heard about those, too. My only argument against them is their price.
I'll probably get me one of them, should my charging relais go boom one day - but for now, I've gotten so used to quickly adjust the brush, it's maybe 30 seconds of work.
@@AstraWerke
I tried checking the price on one of the popular EVR's, but I found out that the inventor/builder, Tom Wesenberg, has sadly passed away. Like many people I don't like paying import duty on US products, but I am luckier than others, because I live in Canada, just 15 kms from the US border.When the border finally opens after Covid, I will have stuff delivered to a delivery store in the US. I don't get charged duty usually on small items when I come back and shipping is cheaper in the lower 48 states.
I also have a '30 Model A Coupe. But before I continue watching your video, why would you be using a propane lantern to go underneath? Perhaps there's no electrical outlet in your garage but couldn't you get a flashlight of some kind? Maybe those aren't available either where you are but propane and gas fumes don't mix, you know.
Well done video. Looks like you are enjoying your A.
Sure do :)
Seat belts may be added to the Model A (24:35), I imagine you would need to fabricate reinforced anchor points. Stay safe.
I do have seatbelts. They are the airplane style belly-strapper and - at least on a coupe - do not require any reinforcements. Just drill two holes in the metal sheet between passenger compartment and trunk, use large load-spreading washers and you're golden.
May not save you from getting impaled by the steering column, but does keep you inside the car in case of a rollover (or a door opening when taking a steep turn)
@@AstraWerke
Sorry, I had forgotten you had installed the lap belts.
Dear Astra Werke man.
👍👌👏 Thanks a lot for being so completely honest, you're obviously a very decent guy! I guess that you cured me. Maybe a Model B is the better/easier daily driver.
Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards, luck and health.
A Model B is alot more advanced, for sure - but try to find one that wasn't chopped, channeled or rodded...
Best Wishes
Adrian
I loved your video 💕
Ha = great video. I agree with you. I try to keep mine as stock as possible, but have a few modifications. I have a period-correct radio, but have to watch that it doesn't kill my battery. Also, I've got bright LED lights. And I have *gasp* an overdrive. But it's in my torque tube and not the gearbox. So, maybe that's not as bad of a modification (?)
That's the cool thing about these Model As - there's so many of them that everybody can choose his own adventure; and modify the car to his desire :)
Hello there, I wanted to ask you what is the trunk lid support that automatically locks and unlocks, do you have the name and where did you get it. I love your videos. When I was younger I drove a 1929 Closed Cab as my only transportation in SoCal. I have been with Model As for over fifty years and am working on a 1928 Closed Cab pickup at the moment. I have just purchased a 1930 Standard Coupe' which I am going to us as my car. I am selling my CLK 550 and I will drive this Coupe' from now on. Your videos have inspired me to enjoy the day in and day out experiences of owning and actually driving a Model A. You are a very talented young man and we are blessed to have a peek into a part of your life.
God bless,
Clinton ... Model A'r doin' his thing ...........
Hi Clinton,
the trunk stay is from a 1959 VW Beetle, but I think they used it from 1957 till 1964. You'll need to shorten it a little and put a few spacers and self-locking nuts in the right spots, but after that it'll work just fine. (Don't make it too short though, the shorter it gets, the harder it gets for the self-lock to engage)
I'm delighted to hear about your plans and wish you the best of luck!
An honest advice from me: Try to source a good spare engine (or have one rebuilt by someone who knows their stuff). After having my engine failed, I've had tons and tons of comments of people who experienced the same thing (right down to the same cause of failiure: Cracked Babbitt).
My car is out of business for almost half a year now, waiting for the engine builder to finish his job...
That being said, it should be easier to source a good engine over the pond.
Best Wishes
Adrian
@@AstraWerke Hi Adrian,
Thank you so much for the information regarding the trunk stay I will do a search and try to find one.
I am bless with two Model As, the coupe' which will be delivered sometime this month and the 1928 pickup truck which I put together because I needed a truck and what better than a 1928 Model A. I call her Frankie because she is made up from parts I have been collecting over the years and parts I bought, old and new. A Frankenstein creation ... hence Frankie. If in the future my coupe' needs major repair I can use Frankie until the coupe' is ready for the road again.
I loved the video on the rebuild of the steering and all the information you provided, I will have to get in touch with Paul Shinn to see if he is still offering the machined part.
Let's keep the ol' stuff runnin'
Be safe,
Clinton ... Model A'r doin' his thing
Great video! For winter driving, how does the car handle the snow and ice? What about heat for the inside of the car?
Well, I'll be honest, I haven't driven it in real amounts of snow yet. I've encountered ice in one situation - you just loose all basic control. I was going 15 in a curve and the car basically slid off the road. Luckily, the ice was over before the ditch.
You loose grip pretty quickly in the mud, so I suppose in deep snow you're better off leaving it home.
As for the cold, I just wear a long coat and that's it. There's always a little heat from the engine that can leak through the floorboards, so it's never as cold as e.g. in a modern car with the heaters turned off. The coldest I've driven in was -12°C. Still manageable without a heater, I'd say.
Loved the video thanks
My understanding is the Mitchell overdrive is relatively easy to install and also can be reversed without leaving any alterations on your car.
I think a Volvo overdrive can be made to work. Trying to bring it up in my memory.
Hello my friend, I've almost finished your 'fine' video and am at the Mitchel O/D part (28min 31sec.). Let me make a (different none Mitchel O/D) suggestion to you as someone who understands completely what you're describing.
Ford made a 'Police' head that increased the compression ratio from 4:1 to around 5.5:1/6:1 or there about. If you install either a 5.1:1 higher compression head on you car it will almost do the job of a Mitchel O/D. I know because I've done all three on the same car you're driving. Driven with the stock 4:1 compression head, installed a Mitchel O/D, and then added a 6:1 compression head. Installing the 6:1 compression head, a virtual copy of the Ford 'Police' head has almost made the Mitchel completely unnecessary. The 6:1 modern version of the 'Police' head will not violate the spirit of 'Originality' (I completely agree btw) and will overcome that 2nd gear strain and 3rd. gear lag. Cost for the 6:1 head complete is about $500.00 U.S. That's the head, new, stronger studs, and a Graphite (not Copper) head gasket. BTW....I too am a daily 1930 Ford Model A Coupe as well as 1930 Ford Model A Fordor Sedan. I share your passion and opinions. Also if you'll clean your front windscreen with car wax when you detail your car it will shed the rain just like, and perhaps better, than RainX. I completely relate with all you've said. Well done! KUDOS!
I think you lost your nuts rattling down the road and that’s why you missing your bolt.
All original or nothing, I agree.
Love the ride, love the videos.
Thanks
One bolt, OK - but twelve of them? Of which six wouldn't even fall out because the screw heads are facing up?
I don't think it's too likely - but who knows...
Best Wishes
Adrian :)
When I am driving a antique car or flying a antique plane it's like having a time machine. Not many people have the experience of traveling back in time like when you drive your Model A. That's why you keep it original.
Flying an antique plane must be yet another step up from a car. With no traffic around, I can absolutely see one feeling set back a couple of decades!
@@AstraWerke Flying low & slow over Amish country in 1946 Airplane then seeing a horse draw buggy on road with no cars in sight I was back in time. It was so beautiful I didn't want to comeback.
@@Nord3202 What an amazing story! Do you know the National Geographic articles about flying England to Australia in a Vickers Vimy?
@@AstraWerke That was a incredible 1919 flight in a ww1 bomber.
I like your repurposed Volkswagen oil pump!!
I fully agree with you that whatever modification done on old stuff, must be 100% reversible.
A Model A with a turbo diesel in it, isn't a Model A anymore.
Bit like an Amiga 500 with a 68040 in it. (yes, it happens)
And it's dangerous! If you hit the gas on a souped up Model A, the thin tires will spin, you'll loose control - and that's the end of that story. It was never meant to be a fast car (just look at the aerodynamic shape) - so why would you want it to be, when there are plenty of fast cars around.
I get my thrills driving 60kmh down a country road - nothing better :)
Thoroughly enjoyable! That UK gallons or US gallons for the MPG conversion?
Great recap of the past year. Interesting to see these types of videos, as I have barely started my own journey of daily driving a 1958 Volvo Amazon. So far my expectations seem to align with your (and other people's) experience with driving an old car. Ford Model A was very high on my list when I tried to decide which car to buy. In the end, parts availability in my country and an excellent heater for the winter made me choose the Volvo. The simple design and how easy it is to work on my self is a big thing for me.
Do Germany offer period correct license plates for cars? I think that would look a lot better. I chose period correct plates on my car, as modern EU plates would look silly.
Hi, the Amazon is an iconic car, too. She's a beauty!
Unfortunately, it's not allowed to drive about with 1930's plates in Germany... It'd be like trying to pay with Reichsmark in the Supermarket.
Some people got lucky enough to persuade the licensing office to hand out motorcycle plates which are close to the size of american plates - no such luck for me.
Oh well - you get used to it.
I think you get it!!! 👍🏻
I have also heard of someone on Y.T. installing a 5 speed transmission from a chevie S10 in their Model A.Not sure if he had to prefabricate for this or if there are adapter parts on the market.
Technically, you can mount any transmission in any car. There's even automatic Model A's out there... Not for me.
Thank you for your Model A passion. There are 3 Model A's in my family and a fourth on the way. My cousin Ed Tolman is the new Technical director for
MAFCA and is fluent in German. Reach out to him for anything needed. Do you belong to a club there?
Thanks! I'm member of the "Model A Interessengemeinschaft" (what a german word xD), which is always great help for technical advice - or if you need a spare part that isn't readily available off the parts dealers.
richtig toll wiie du die alte zeit lebst...👍👍👍
Congratulations on a year of driving a classic. It really is more than driving, it is a commitment. I own an MG but I live in Michigan and the history has always interested me. We have a fantastic automotive museum outside of Kalamazoo Michigan in a little town called Hickory Corners. This is perhaps the best one in the country covering almost 300 acres in numerous buildings. I have linked a couple of videos on you tube on the model A. One is by a gentleman who works for Hagerty, which is an insurance company in Traverse City that insures classic boats and cars. They are in the northwest part of the lower peninsula of Michigan and this guy drove his A as an every day driver. They receive a good amount of snow each winter due to the lake effect. The other video is from the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners with their extensive Ford Model A exhibit. Enjoy the watch and I will be following your channel. Good luck with the car.
th-cam.com/video/QABfAaouLDM/w-d-xo.html The video picks up with the A about 1:15 in.
th-cam.com/video/w7QWLZo90t8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks alot - Jonathan Klinger was the reason I started seriously considering the Model A as a first car!
I love your old car. I bought my dad‘s 1929 model A it has suicide doors. I got to do a little work to it to get it going again. I Love the way it sounds.I promised him I wouldn’t make it into a hot rod. My parents are both gone now and I will keep that promise. My son will inherit the car it will stay in the family I will not sell it
Lovely car! Glad your daily driving it! My old timer sits under a car cover since end of December when the temperatures dropped below 0c. No sense in taking it out on the salt. I have done about 3000 miles in mine last year. Yeah driving an old timer is worth it's weight in gold. One question I have is have you considered filling up the interior panels with wool or something similar to reduce the noise? Cabin noise makes a big difference between a 30 min trip and a 4 hour drive.
It would most certainly bring the noise down. Even holding your bare hand against the sheet metal of the firewall will have a noticeable effect. The big issue is that the cabin and doors aren't exactly waterproof with their felt and cloth gaskets, so any sound-absorbing material would also become a water-absorber...
My solution is earbuds. The first time I went for a longer high-speed drive without them, I came home knackered and tired by the noise - went to bed and couldn't sleep because my ears were still complaining about the punishment.
With the earbuds, that's no longer an issue.
@@AstraWerke traditional sound insulation like dynamat is water proof. But cost a bit.
A great video...
Model As always mark its territory.... just like my vintage Harley... lol 😆
Thanks for this video. I'm also a young guy (29), daily driving a model A (1929 Tudor) in the Netherlands.
I've only had it for a couple months, This is very nice advice for me. There are a lot of Tiny things I still need to take care of.
I'm wondering about the engine heat. I haven't been doing to leather on the radiator. So I think it's good to do that, as my engine runs very cold too. Is t a very big issue to run it cold for a while? I hope I didn't ruin the engine :(
Also, my car runs 5 liters per km :( so that's pretty bad if you call 11kmph bad.
Cool!
Regarding the operating temperature: I don't think your engine has suffered from a winter without a radiator cover - I drove my first winter without one, too.
Its only that I noticed the engine running better (and using less fuel) with the cover on.
You need some better matches or carry a BIC. Ethanol fuel-what rubbish it is. If you've got any kind of health issues, this is NOT a car you should own. Also,you must do all your own maint. No shop will do it, unless they specify that type. Good luck trying to find one. The garage cost wouldn't justify the ownership. Great video & learned a lot too. P.S. That car looks amazing cruising about town.
Curious as to what you had to pay for your model A in Germany.
20k including license, registration and tyres
What was the additive that you put in your transmission? Did you say it helped with gear grinding? I have rebuilt my transmission and would like to help it break in right. I have a 1929 Model A Coupe.
It's a Molybdenum-Disulfate additive - and it reduced the harsh 2nd gear chatter of my gearbox down to a dull whine.
@@AstraWerke Per your recommendation I have ordered some Liqui Moly, I hope it helps the non syncro gear transmission. I hate the sound of grinding gears. Maybe it will even help with down shifting from third to second. Everything is new in my transmission except for the case itself. I noticed in your video that people like to tailgate you, same here in Texas. You are inspiring me to drive my Coupe more, thanks!
@@dogbitefred6631 The Moly won't eliminate the need for double-clutching, but it will provide a cussioning / silencing effect, should you not get the sequence exactly right. It also turned the aggressive circular saw-like 2nd gear noise into more of a suppressed gurgling, which I'm very happy about.
Is there any reason, when looking for an old car, you didn't go for a *really* famous, *fairly* old German car - the VW Beetle?
VW collectors/fans in the UK seem to have a lot of fun, and they certainly do a fair bit of wrenching!
I suppose a Beetle in Germany isn't that unusual, so the Model 'A' is certainly more distinctive.
You nailed it. Old car meetings over here are basically two cars: VW Beetle and Mercedes W123.
Both nice cars - but nothing out of the ordinary.
When you drive through town in a prewar car, people's eyes fall out of their sockets.
"Is it even legal to drive these on today's roads?"
Common thought is that prewar cars belong into a museum - I want to prove them wrong.
about you generator why not leve it set to charge with the headlights on aka night driving and just run with the headlights on at day time but you must remember to turn them off then there's no third brush adjusting all the time
But your bulbs would wear out twice as fast, too
@@AstraWerke that may be but there's lots of ways around that an old timer told me years ago back in the 6 volt day that on the one that were hard starting that they would install an 8 volt golf cart battery and readjust the regulator so it would charge i know that on the A you only have a cut out and the voltage is adjusted by the third brush but if you wanted to get tricky there's lots of ways to get there but keeping it as oem is fun also
Con ganas de que estubiera en español se ve que esta mui completa la informasion
Have you tried finding a Model A Club in Germany
I am a member of the "Ford-Model-A-Interessengemeinschaft" - the "Alt-Ford-Freunde" would also be a possibility - they are about old Fords in general, however.
It’s unfortunate that you are so dead set against the Mitchell gearbox. Here in the States, it has a strong following with folks using their Model A as a driver. There is a long waiting list to acquire a new Mitchell gearbox. Few view it as detracting from a cars vintage value, if anything you may well pay more for a car so equipped. The installation requires a permanent modification to the drive shaft and shaft tube but these components can be easily found to avoid modifying original components. The reminder is bolt on. You are correct, the floorboard must be cut, but this can be done on a duplicate floorboard panel. In other words, all is reversible. At one time, I owned an AA truck, not sure you’d want that gearbox in an A. I would not. Just because it is a four speed does not mean that the available ratios will meet the car’s needs. I own a 31 Deluxe Roadster with a Michell. The improvement in drivability is astounding. I consider the improvement a safety issue. Rarely do I have lines of cars piling up behind my vehicle, often getting antsy to pass under less than safe conditions. Second gear overdrive is ideal for most normally encountered hills, keeping the rpm in the torque range and speed on point. Highway cruise speed is now possible without strain. Paul Shinn is a true believer in the Mitchell. I’m not far from Hershey, PA. If you’re ever in the states during the huge annual antique auto event and would enjoy an overdose of A culture and a flea market offering any thing ever made for an A, get in touch. We have many hundreds, if not thousands of As still on the road. A great bunch of enthusiasts.
I know it's a great add-on. It's just that the 2nd gear lever is the last thing that turns this car into a tractor.
I've heard from several people that not being able to do 55 in the States is a huge safety issue - luckily, there are many ways to get from A to B where I live - and there's always a street that doesn't allow speeds higher than 50 or even 40.
Even the Autobahn is what I would consider safe to drive on. Stick to the right lane, "swim" with the trucks - everything's fine. I've done 500 kilometers in 9 hours on occasion - without a single close call.
The idea of installing an AA transmission would also involve modifying the gear ratios inside. 1st speed is a "granny gear", purely designed to pull stumps out of the ground or start on a hill with a ton of cargo in the back. I'd get rid of that, keep the ratios of a standard Model A's 1st and 2nd, put something in between 2nd and 3rd and have 3rd a little higher.
I heard about many great car meets in the US - the "Old Car Festival" in Greenfield Village sounds pretty tempting, too.
Maybe one of these days :D
I can attest to your experience driving on the Autobahn. I lived and worked in Europe for near one half of my working career. During that period, I owned and drove but one auto - a 2CV. I’ve driven thousands of kilometers in the truck lane. :)
Your comment on the lever provoked an analysis of the design. There’s really no need for the visually jolting lever. The gearbox employs the simple linear motion of an actuator pin on the gearbox. This motion could be duplicated with a Bowden cable rather than the mechanical linkage and lever. The cable knob could be more easily hidden or disguised. If you were to engineer and perfect such a variation, other enthusiasts may follow your lead. Owing to the silky smooth fully synchronized gearbox, I also suspect that the Michell could be adapted to electrical solenoid actuation, though this may be viewed by some as a step too far.
In closing, if you are interested in vintage aircraft I will point you to one of my projects. After completion, the aircraft met with an accident rendering it not airworthy and not financially viable for repair. (The fuselage spar and frame structure was distorted and cracked) Rather than scrap the aircraft, it was moved to a museum display. Search - Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Scheissheim, Munchen , tail number NC8155 for an interesting photo study. You will see the styling and engineering links between aircraft and automobiles of the late 1930s period.
Enjoyed.
Cool video just brought one drove it home 180 km there great cars 👍🏼just subscribe 👍🏼take it easy mate 👍🏼🍺😎🇳🇿
"when you drive at night, you have to adjust the brushes" he said casually...
Ford thought it to be so ancilliary they didn't even mention it in their owners manual.
Took me a while (and a burnt field coil) to figure that out xD
hou much does is cost of car in europe?