Model A Ford garage

[montanafordman]

Subscribed! Nice setup! I'm jealous of all your KRW tools and broad setup of jigs and tools to tackle such a wide array of model A repairs like speedometers, generators, rear ends, and babbit. You have a really nice collection too with your Victoria, and your two pickups. Love your gas pump and space too!

I'm a relatively younger guy (34) that's into stock A's. I inherited my early 31 coupe from my grandfather a few years back and I have been working on it ever since! It was a 20 footer (looked nice 20 feet away) and you had to aim for a tree to stop it when I brought it home from Montana. Since that time I have rebuilt the rear end and went with 3.54 gears although I'd like to add a Mitchell OD one day, rebuilt the trans, Suspension (purchased rebuilt original shocks from a club member) steering (box and linkages/balls), had my engine rebuilt, its a babbit motor with a counterweighted crank, 5.5 high compression head, B cam profile etc. brakes etc. Now that ALL the mechanical components have been gone through I"m working to make it pretty. I'm learning my sheet metal skills and I will tackle all the body work, paint, and upholstery next.

After I did the brakes, trans, suspension, steering and rear end I had the chance to put about 2,000 miles on it and get some model A touring in with my local club which has been a big help with mentoring me on my Model A journey. After that I wound up getting the engine rebuilt, and the frame straightened and powder coated so I'm all in on the frame off job now. I"m going to paint it the original chickle drab and copra drab, black fenders, and black wheels (standard coupe). Here are a few pictures of my small suburbia garage.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Subscribed! Nice setup! I'm jealous of all your KRW tools and broad setup of jigs and tools to tackle such a wide array of model A repairs like speedometers, generators, rear ends, and babbit. You have a really nice collection too with your Victoria, and your two pickups. Love your gas pump and space too!

I'm a relatively younger guy (34) that's into stock A's. I inherited my early 31 coupe from my grandfather a few years back and I have been working on it ever since! It was a 20 footer (looked nice 20 feet away) and you had to aim for a tree to stop it when I brought it home from Montana. Since that time I have rebuilt the rear end and went with 3.54 gears although I'd like to add a Mitchell OD one day, rebuilt the trans, Suspension (purchased rebuilt original shocks from a club member) steering (box and linkages/balls), had my engine rebuilt, its a babbit motor with a counterweighted crank, 5.5 high compression head, B cam profile etc. brakes etc. Now that ALL the mechanical components have been gone through I"m working to make it pretty. I'm learning my sheet metal skills and I will tackle all the body work, paint, and upholstery next.

After I did the brakes, trans, suspension, steering and rear end I had the chance to put about 2,000 miles on it and get some model A touring in with my local club which has been a big help with mentoring me on my Model A journey. After that I wound up getting the engine rebuilt, and the frame straightened and powder coated so I'm all in on the frame off job now. I"m going to paint it the original chickle drab and copra drab, black fenders, and black wheels (standard coupe). Here are a few pictures of my small suburbia garage.

Nice coupe, thanks for sharing.

 

[dlcwent]

montanafordman, you are very lucky to have that at your age, or any age for that matter. Keep on posting.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thought about a line shaft but the logistics would have been tough on a completed shop. Also talked to an old time friend and was advised against it as they are very noisy. This machine will be in the blacksmith area of my machine shop. As of yet I have not posted any pictures of it. Whenever I finish the Mustang fastback I will talk about all the old tools. Spent the last two days with a six foot bar breaking down the trip hammer. All is free and moves nicely by hand. Looking for an older 1 hp or greater electric motor to run it. Bobby

 

[bolensboneyard]

Nice job on the coupe. Great to see some younger guys working Model A Fords. A lot of us older guys want to know that there are at least some real mechanics up and coming. I had a class in school on that and a piece of paper does not a motor head make! Rusty iron and busted knuckles as they say.

 

[72Dodge]

Love the Model A's. "Young" is a relative term I suppose, but I'm 43. My grandfather was a Model A restorer, so I grew up around them. I'd love to find one of his, but I wouldn't have any way of tracing it unless someone knew it was his or had the title records or whatever. I only have pictures of one of them that I know of. I'm mostly into newer cars (newer meaning '60s/'70s), but eventually would like to restore a Model A, or at least own one if not restore it.

 

[bolensboneyard]

What model of "A" did your granddad have?

 

[72Dodge]

What model of "A" did your granddad have?

From the estate auction info, I know he had a 31 Deluxe Roadster in Riviera Blue and Black, a '31 Pickup, and I have pictures of the below green '28 Roadster and also his '27 Dodge (with me "driving").

I remember all of those, and also a tan coupe that I have no info on, and there were other Fords, but my memory is fuzzy on the rest.

 

[bolensboneyard]

I have a 30 pickup in a basket that I may never get to build. Unless his was late model or a roadster "convertible" pickup it would basically be the same truck. I would build a pickup if you ever decide to restore as they are basic, cheaper to build, and easier to sell if necessary. Plus they are useful for other things. Bobby

 

[dlcwent]

Love the Model A's. "Young" is a relative term I suppose, but I'm 43. My grandfather was a Model A restorer, so I grew up around them. I'd love to find one of his, but I wouldn't have any way of tracing it unless someone knew it was his or had the title records or whatever. I only have pictures of one of them that I know of. I'm mostly into newer cars (newer meaning '60s/'70s), but eventually would like to restore a Model A, or at least own one if not restore it.

Well age is irrelevant for sure. You can be an old 35 or a young 75. But nice to see anyone interested in older vehicles. What 60s/ 70s are you into?

 

[72Dodge]

Bobby, his pickup was not a roadster. I don't remember much else about it. It was what he had in progress when he passed in 1992.

You read my mind on the pickup though. Whether I restore one or buy one complete/done, I was thinking a truck. I love them all, but I'd like to have an A truck. Unless I amazingly ran across one of my grandfather's actual vehicles, I wouldn't ever be after replicating anything he had specifically. He just loved all Model A's and had so many over the years. After the garage is done, some of it is paid off, and I have at least one current project in good shape (shouldn't take too long with the extra space), I may very well be looking for another project.

dlcwent, I'm mostly into '60s/'70s Mopar muscle cars, but I like tons of cars. I have a build thread going, documenting my garage that's going up right now.

Anyway, didn't mean to take too much attention off your thread here Bobby, but I'll certainly be following it and your projects. Very interesting. Great, friendly bunch I've found on this site, too!

 

[don long]

Just bought a vintage The Boss #25 Armstrong Power Hammer for the shop. post pictures of the power hammer when I get it here. Still looking for a vintage Weaver mechanical tire changer. PM me if you know of one or some blacksmith tools such as a cone and a swage block. thanks Bobby

Hi Bobby
I was just reading through your thread when I came across this post/request

Is this the tire machine you are referring to?

I found this in a private collection here in So. Cal.

I have the same machine in its unrestored condition

I'll try to get a better photo for you if it is what you are looking for

Don

 

[bolensboneyard]

Don sent you a PM message. I have friends that have moved here from San Diego an have opened a diner. Like the look of your garage.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Don thanks for posting! Bobby

 

[bolensboneyard]

Some close ups of the power head on forging hammer. I am about two thirds done with the restoration. I will post when done and working properly so the pictures are not just for looks. These pictures are of hammer when I got it off the truck and in my shop.(the machine metalworking shop on the other side of the barn.)

 

[1/2 Cup]

Looking forward to seeing how the hammer turns out.

It just oozes character.

Regards

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks. I am happier with the turn out so far than I thought I would be. Re design of the idler set up and drive is taking the most time as it was line shaft driven back in the day. Also have to build my own 4 inch flat belt pulleys as I need to jack shaft drive reduction the whole thing. Me engine is 2hp but it is 3450 rpm and needs to be down around 200 rpm. Each rpm is a hammer blow with 25 lbs. Can't imagine 3450 blows per minute. yikes!

 

[Bears Fan]

I'm really liking the power hammer...can't wait to see it restored

 

[dlcwent]

+1 . I'm looking forward to the end result also.

 

[bolensboneyard]

coming along soon as I get the logistics for the motor and idler set up

 

[bolensboneyard]

Not done yet but well along so I thought I would take one picture for those of you who have been waiting for my tired old *** to finish it. Bobby

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just awesome and thanks for the update.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks 1/2 Cup. I still have to machine the jack shaft once the pulley gets here. Probably make slots so there is some adjustment in the pillar block brgs. Make a mount for the motor and add the other pulley. Then I have to finish adjusting the measurements for the idler pulley and mount it. The pedal has to be installed and the tension rod made and adjusted for fit and interference. One more block mounting bolt and another strap drilled and installed on either side, and a spring retainer on one side for safety. Have to chisel in the track for the block bolts and there is very little room to work.

 

[dlcwent]

Thanks 1/2 Cup. I still have to machine the jack shaft once the pulley gets here. Probably make slots so there is some adjustment in the pillar block brgs. Make a mount for the motor and add the other pulley. Then I have to finish adjusting the measurements for the idler pulley and mount it. The pedal has to be installed and the tension rod made and adjusted for fit and interference. One more block mounting bolt and another strap drilled and installed on either side, and a spring retainer on one side for safety. Have to chisel in the track for the block bolts and there is very little room to work.

Bobby, Sounds like you still have away to go. I'm looking forward to the end result. Please keep us updated.....Dan

 

[bolensboneyard]

Slowest part is to design the system to make it work independent of the line shaft, do it with a minimum of destruction if any to the original machine, and then keep the costs down without making it look like a hack job. Plus, find the vintage parts to make it run and look good. Never would have believed how many grease/oil cups that were built in how many different sizes! Bobby

 

[bolensboneyard]

Just finished mandrel pulley assembly and making also the four inch belt. Lots of adjustment but now have a working idler and treadle assy. that will slip when needed and track right in the middle when hand run. Also can get the hammer off the anvil with just hand turning. All that's left is build motor mount and install then find an oil/grease cup. Will get a picture up then. Bobby

 

[bolensboneyard]

Well I did some research on this blacksmith or forging hammer. Seems they were made for a very short time back at the turn of the last century. Made by the Novelty Iron Works in Iowa a company that built steam engines. Reviews by others that have them are great. Said to have more power than an equal size Little Giant and I can now confirm that as this one is working. I also found that only the very early ones had Oak Blocks for an anvil base. This was so they would be more portable. I can tell you that the anvil is no lightweight. I can lift over two hundred pounds and was barely able to roll this baby. Took me two days to crib block it up to the 20 inch height of the oak block to mount it. Several searches recommended that a one horse power motor be used with 3/4 hp being min. I spent a day building the mount for a 3/4 hp motor that worked fine when I took it off a drill press I was not using. You guessed it. When I got it mounted, and this thing was heavy, It lugged along uselessly. On an educated guess, I mounted the 1/2 HP you see in the picture and this thing still kicks ****. It can deliver 4 beats per second from a 25 lb hammer. Turned a piece of one inch steel pipe into a 1/4 inch flatbar in seconds. Hardest part was turning the line shaft set up into a motor driven machine using all the original pieces without drilling or damaging any of them. I mounted it on a 1/2 inch steel plate instead of wood planks and braced it back and side using mostly the mandrel mount and all the power goes into the work. It does not shake, rattle, or roll. I have seen u tube videos where much heaver machines jump around like puppets! It is not bolted to the floor either. I love it. Bobby

 

[fergus]

Awesome! Looks good. Glad to hear its working well...and without vibration. Just really neat when old stuff comes back to life.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks! Too bad we can't bring our old bodies back to original shape, could have done this job in half the time twenty years ago that is if I could take my brain back there with me?

 

[fergus]

I thought old age, uhem, I mean experience and treachery win over youth and strength every time?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just an absolutely fantastic restoration or should I say conservation? It is true to its age in the pure sense, well done.

Regards

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks! just have to get a vintage oil cup for the top of the hammer assembly. Further research finds that only the very early anvils were half oak block as they were built for portability to use in the mining industry. Bobby

 

[dlcwent]

That is really great Bobby. I'm happy to see that you got "the job done". Very nice piece to bring back from the ashes (so to speak)

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks Dan. Got some more pictures including some of the blacksmithing section of my metal working ship I thought you might like to see.

 

[bolensboneyard]

More pictures. Third and fourth pictures show more detail of what I had to do in order to use the original spring, bracket, and idler arm set up. The arm is used upside down on the opposite side as is the spring and bracket. No holes drilled or cuts made. Note the special brackets made out of Model A ford front and rear spring u and square bolts modified to attachment spring bracket and motor mount. Half the reason is because I wanted to keep the costs down and the other is to keep it period looking. Bobby

 

[dlcwent]

I love it bobby. That is one large looking anvil. What would you guess the vintage of those hand tools to be? Or do you know? What is the cone used for? Looks like a medieval torturing device. Ha ha

 

[bolensboneyard]

Vintage is late nineteenth century early twentieth same as power hammer I would guess for the cone and the anvil. The cone belonged to a friend of mine's father who was a blacksmith in the early twenties. The anvil belonged to a toolmaker friend who has also passed on. Both would have been about the same age; over one hundred yrs. old if still alive. The cone is use for making round bends and ovals primarily. They are hard to come by and cost a good bit unless your lucky. The small one on the anvil in removable and new. It cost me about $125 a few years back. My forge will be set up outside the big door once I get a shed roof built to keep the rain out of it. I am going to try and use coal instead of propane as it is cheaper and more traditional. Don't know how that will work out for supply and my patience. Anvil weighs 147 lbs. and is a Peter Wright signed anvil. I will be going to Charlotte N.C. tomorrow to pick up a post vise of the same period also signed Indian Chief. Have to get away from cars as I already have to much time and money ******* in them. Need to sell some!

 

[bolensboneyard]

Just visited with an older blacksmith friend and he agrees that the boss hammer is 50 lb not 25

 

[moodubs]

wow thats nice kit youve got there

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks!