1910Hupp

Any of the Model A Parts Houses -I use Synders who have a good website and have always been good to deal with . Karl

While I love Hups I also love my 1930 Ford Model A. You get more for your money with the Hup but what you don't get is the ability to ring anyone of a hundred parts houses and get the exact part you require delivered to you within days . The only parts I can think of not being reproduced currently for the A is a gearbox housing and diff housing ! Makes running a Model A cheap and easy and hence popular ! Karl

David the thing that I find the most interesting is that if you follow the factory timing instructions I think you are setting the engine slightly retarded. TDC no matter which method I use to find it corresponds to the first mark on the crankcase. I don't think it is past the second mark to the right -So therefore turning the flywheel forward to the second mark to set the ignition is retarding it . I always understood that the ignition was fixed slightly advanced in the original set up . Certainly setting my car up on the left line gives me a faster running smoother engine suggesting a more advanced spark setting . If any of the Gurus out there have the answer to this apparrent contradiction I'd be interested to hear from you -Karl

Nope won't even move with a monkey wrench -I suspect needs heat. However I have it running now and so far looks good . I set it up yesterday and it ran badly but obviously retarded ++ then I realised that the magneto had moved when I was engaging the drive so I set it up again taking more care that the postion of the points was maintained until the gear fully engaged . Runs sweet now !!

Ok I've been thinking if the first mark is TDC and we set the fixed ignition to a mark just past that. Then aren't we retarding the spark with this set up. I though Hup designed the car with a slightly advanced spark ?? Karl

Getting the valve cap off is impossible The biggest wrench I could get in there was useless ! I think I've found TDC I even brought an endoscope to try and look inside the cylinder but even that didn't help much. I think I have it now (based on valve position and compression build up) and it does correspond to the first mark on the cylinder block. So have today installed the magneto retarded on (what I think) is TDC Will fire it up in the next few days -Karl

Thanks Max The rally sounds good. When is it? Right now I could do with some Queensland sun!! I just slipped on ice on the bridge I built to my spa garden. I used to get Duncans excellent magazine but my subscription lapsed and I've been to slack to renew it. Have you got a Model 32? I suspect that will be my next car if I can find a nice one at the right price. I have a picture of my grandfather aged 3 cranking my Great-grandfathers Model 32. The old boy wasn't much of a driver and his passion for distilled beverages didn't help. He had a nasty habit of driving through the back of his garage which the family eventually fixed by making a buffer wall of empty petrol (or benzine as they would have called it) tins . One night when completely off his face he drove the Hup up onto the shop verrandas in the main street of Palmerston North. He destroyed several veranda posts but the Hup apparently was relatively undamaged and he drove it home (and no doubt through the back wall of the garage again) -A well built but long suffering car ! And you thought only Aussies could drink ! Thanks again mate Karl

I've just received the rebuilt DU4 from the rebuilder . Despite the fact that I told him that the Hup had a fixed ignition mag he insists that I will get better performance from a variable ignition mag and has converted it to this . As the previous owner had a variable mag fitted at one stage I have all the linkages and I guess if I don't like it I can always just fix the ignition in the correct positon Although I have set up the fixed mag sucessfuly several times I just want to check that the I'm setting up the variable mag correctly. The standard wisdom is to set them up on TDC fully retarded. When we set up the fixed mag (Slightly advanced as Bobby intended) we line up TDC on the flywheel with the line to the right of the first mark on the block . Does this first mark donate TDC ? I can't confirm TDC as I can't see the piston via the spark plug hole and can't even get a wire into the cylinder to see it raise up with TDC-However compression on my thumb suggests TDC is pretty close to the first line ?? Thanks for any help Karl

The previous owner of my 1910 Hup has delivered to me a set of molds for casting up the exhaust manifold which he had to make when he restored my car. Should anyone need a manifold cast up let me know and I could explore the cost of doing a run. I image must of the cost is in making the molds which has already been done and the casting should be reasonable (especially given the NZ$ vz US $ currently) -Karl

Was a time you Brits could get there for free -All you had to do was steal something and get caught ! Nice car though isn't it I have a 1934 Plymouth which is currently having its sick gear box upgraded to a 38 Dodge Box-Karl

Success !! The magneto has been changed and once more the car is running nicely. Interestingly my spare magneto has advance and retard on it Certainly idles better on retard and more pick up and go when advanced than previously on the fixed ignition . I have sent the old magneto off to be rebuilt . Interestingly the rebuilder doubts it will be the condensor as he says they are "bullet proof" on the DU4 . He suspects the windings but will check it out before doing anything Thanks for all the input -Karl

Hi I've got a 34 Plymouth and am currently installing a 38 Dodge gerabox in this. The car is on the hoist as I write this . I've been told it will fit and it looks like it will fit and I will tell you for sure within the next few days ! Karl

Useful advice Thanks - I think condensor is high on my suspect list . I have the mag off the car now . Getting the magneto drive off the old magneto is somewhat challanging currently. Its keyed but stuck on really well. A work in progress! I also notice that the gear on the camshaft looks quite chewed in a couple of teeth (It looks like at some stage a grub screw has got caught in there) . I have a replacement gear but won't replace it this trip. Am I correct in assuming that replacement would involve removal and replacement of the camshaft bearings? Karl

Thanks David It sounds very magneto like to me I have a spare rebuilt mag so this weekend I will try and install it. I suspect should be relatively easy as I shouldn't have to remove the side plate . Fingers crossed ! Karl

Thanks - ,I'll try some plugs and see how we go. The Plugs don't look oiled up but I guess is a possibility . I fiqured it was the mag but I'm just trying to find another cause thats easier to fix. I've never had the mag (DU4) of the Hup and I'm just a bit concerned about re-installing it correctly (ie timing it) -There is a section in the owners book that tells you how to do it but still a little unclear to me -However I guess I'm just going to have to give it a go ! -Karl

Right Gents I need your help . Yesterday I took the Hup for a 10 mile run to family Seemed to run ok . Stoped and had afternoon tea for an hour and then unable to start the car . Seems to have spark as evidenced by a belt off the plugs and visable spark with spark plug out and resting on head . Adequate fuel supply (and won't fire even when I fill the priming cups with gas) and compression (as judged by cranking) All the valves move and it appears to be timed ok. The only thing I can think of as I did oil the mag a week or so ago and I wonder if the heat has caused the oil to run and Insulate some parts of the magneto resulting in a weak spark. Mag condensor I guess is another possibility . I would appreciate your advice as I'm getting rather tired of cranking it over trying to get it to go -Karl

As promised attached photos of engine and interior Overall not a bad job. So far i have indentified problems with the brake lights -A manly push on the pedal will turn the lights on but a gentle push is not enough to do so. I have a new Hydraulic switch so will install this and see how we go. I note that the non original Brake reservior and heat shield may complicate this . The heater doesn't work and since the pipes don't heat up I supsect a blocked core or faulty heater valve but that will hopefully be easy to fix . The Gearbox is a bit ropey which although I am well used to crash gearboxes makes town driving more difficult I plan to replace the transmision with a fully restored 1938 Dodge transmission. Should make the car much more driveable ! The non original carbs probably improve performance dramatically and are neatly done so I will leave for now -Karl

I'm certainly an authenticity nut! Your website has been very helpful regards researching my car Thanks Karl

I have no idea what it is It looks like a bracket for an external sunvisor but thats a guess. I'll take some more photos tomorrow .I'm not sure that the colour is right -in fact I know its not original. I think it would look better with black guards and dark maroon . However the colour is growing on me so we'll see how we go!

Hmm That explains why no weatherstripping -I will have to consider what could be causing the squeaking. The car was once rodded with a hemi however it was obtained by Gordon Noakes in Hawkes Bay and an original chassis and running gear put back on it . He did a nice job . From there it went to a car dealer on Auckland for 12 years who due to ill health has just sold it to me . I was looking for a 1934 Ford V8 but I'm glad I got the Plymouth because I feel its a better appointed car and of course is less than 1/2 the price of the V8. I've included some photos Karl

Hi I've recently brought a restored 1934 Plymouth PE . I Love it . However it seems to have no weatherstripping round the doors Only some rubber bumpers for the doors to close against. Although completely watertight On a rough road there is a fair amount of squeaking that comes from the doors . I wonder if installing weatherstripping would stop this. I would appreciate photos of original weatherstripping on this model Thanks Karl

Hi Interested in the Gabriel shocks will send you a PM-Karl

Edgar Thanks for the tranny instructions they are invaluable. What happened to you Aussies at the World Cup ??? Whats even more astounding is that us Kiwis (probably the most inconsistent cricket team on the planet and fresh from losing 10 in a row prior to this tournament) beat and bundled out South Africa - Go figure ! I wish I had some dollars on those results - Who could have predicted that. Karl

Yep I'd be interested Karl

Steve can you post some photos I've got brass acorn nuts on mine -Karl