mrcvs

I have an interest in pre WWII cars. The earlier the better! However, a few stumbling blocks here: 1. Property & property taxes. Believe me, if I could be retired, I would be! Retirement occurs way too late in this country, which seems contradictory to a well educated workforce in an environment where very little is manufactured. But that's the subject matter of a thread all its own. Which means I need a job and have to live where I work. I simply cannot find anything I can afford on my salary that allows for more than a small lot and a 2 bay garage. The few places I can find with more space need a ton of work, so they aren't really affordable in the end, and the wife ain't happy. . 2. The wife ain't happy. Doesn't want to look at cars that often aren't running... 3. I am self taught in all I do. Which means that most of the time nothing runs, and I spend a lot of time figuring out how to get anything to run. 4. I'm not retired. Which means I don't have a lot of free time. Which means I spend more time than I have to get something to run...and still it doesn't run. And the wife ain't happy... Believe me, if I could have a huge barn full of pre WWII cars I would! I have this recurring dream. The year is 1946. I survived WWII. All these early cars are cheap and unwanted. Real estate is cheap, for lots of it. Jobs are plentiful and wages actually rise substantially from year to year <Sigh>

I think Frank and Mike on American Pickers paid $300 for one like yours but with a few bullet holes in it for someone's man cave.

I always thought you want to be grounded, so I have always removed or attached the negative terminal after the positive ground is applied. The switch is a replacement and is not the pop out part. Not sure if I have a spark or not. Might have help this weekend, we shall see. Thank you!

Yes, that's correct. Ford Model A. I am trying to isolate why it won't start. I have good gas and no issues with flow to carburetor. I know gas didn't sit the last time it ran as I always run and stop by shutting off fuel line and burning any remaining gas. I think I need to see if it's spark or not. Might have a buddy come up this weekend or utilize methods you all suggested. Due to storage issues, might have to get running by the end of the month to move elsewhere. Easier to move under its own power.

I thought it was a joke??? Did you really crush a problematic car? I would never be destructive to anything I own as it is wasteful and deprives future generations of enjoyment.

Wow, and I thought my thread could be considered a bit "far fetched". Most seem to agree with me! Zepher, I went to college beginning in 1988. That was really pushed in the mid-'80's, and, maybe then, it made sense. I don't know about now, but they certainly shouldn't be pushing college. It costs about 3 to 5 times what it did when I went and wages have gone nowhere in a generation. Most college jobs are good for paper pushing. The reality is, folks will always need stuff fixed, and having the ability to do so allows you to work virtually anywhere and get Union wages, too.

Yeah bring a buddy is by far and away the preferred method. Not always so easy! Yes, headlights work well, nice and bright.

Nature vs nurture? In several previous rants, I admit I have great trouble with keeping anything actually running and it's with great difficulty I get from point A to point B. I am self taught, which means I haven't learned much. It would have been better I think, had I grown up around this stuff, which is why I am struggling now. I think it will be a problem in future generations, and so maybe I should just tell "my story" and go from there. My grandfather could fix anything! He had a '66 GTO he kept for many years, and I think he wanted me to keep it going. But I didn't show much interest as I wanted really early. There was an automotive elective in high school and, if you are college material, you are dissuaded from taking it. Wish I had! When I was interested in the GTO, finally, I was out of college. Could not find a job locally. Hence, moved distant, rental properties not conducive to working on cars...and moving them. Now that I am pushing 50, at least I have my own property, although not ideal for cars. But I struggle. Wish my grandfather was still around! My father lives distant and is in frail health. I see this scenario being problematic for younger generations. Especially those with student loans and transient living arrangements. I know enough about cars now as I should have at 12! One of the many perils of a college degree. Too much specialization does not allow for local employment and residential stability long term, and the ability to pursue, and get good at, such hobbies young. Unless you pursue a trade. Go into less debt and reside locally. Of course, this was discouraged by high school administrators for obvious reasons. A very real situation for the up and coming.

Please move to the General Discussion section. I'm not sure how this ended up in this section.

I would LOVE to think that each and every failure to start is due to a dead battery, which can be charged or replaced, or a clogged fuel line, or even no gas. Simply address any aforementioned issues, move on! Well, replaced the battery, and checked today the fuel line, runs free and clear. Next thing is to check spark. Remove spark and place against engine block and crank, but if I'm in the car depressing the starter, I'm not out front observing a spark jump, or not. While I'm at it, if the key is off, and the positive terminal is ground on my 6 volt battery, I first remove or apply last the negative battery cable and I get a spark. Why? I have a healthy respect for a charged battery. Don't ask me how I know.

It is, and even that's a huge limiting factor. After working long hours, you just don't feel like driving somewhere else after driving all day for work. I live in a residential neighborhood (not ideal by any means) and a 2 bay garage with no excess space means the car has to be elsewhere. I'm sure if it was on my property, tinkering with it, and achieving productive results, would make it more enjoyable. But heading over to a dark barn and putting a battery in, given limited time, and it not firing means that I have to try and see why it won't fire, which is more time I don't have. This would be a MUCH better hobby if I was retired and had unlimited time. Until then, maybe I just sell the Model A, and the Maxwell sits in my garage, more or less, with occasional spells where it actually runs.

Yep. That's the major problem. Perhaps if I was retired it would be a different matter. But the big problem is if I want to find this hobby enjoyable, I would have the time to get things running properly, figure out how to diagnose and fix, and run regularly, so that sitting for 2 years does not create other problems, such as sediment. OR Pay someone to make the car reliable once and affordably. On my income and with other expenses, I can't afford to pay someone every time I have a problem.

Yes this was a club project. The club members are wonderful! The car ran when I got it. I ran it 20 miles. Then wouldn't run. Much diagnosing by Club members resulted in a replaced & rebuilt engine. I paid for all parts. I had it out for a parade and it ran well. Then the next day it left me stranded. I relied on Club members again and we determined the coil was defective although new. It was replaced. I know the battery was dead, and I can figure that out. I will run fuel through the line soon and see if it's blocked. I'm not going to rely on the club to bail me out. It's embarrassing and I've been able to provide nothing in return. This could have been a rewarding hobby. Maybe if I had better circumstances. I mean, sitting idle is the worst, I don't have space at home, relying on space and ability to even get out of someone else's barn is no fun, plus getting there and finding you don't have what you need... Believe it or not, I would love to have something really early, like a 1904 curved dash Oldsmobile, and as much fun it would be, I know my limitations. Where did y'all get good at working on cars? It seems a skill that's hard to get. I am self taught and that's not working out too well for me. What amazes me is that how simple early cars are supposed to be, they still have lots of parts, and how did early inventors understand all it takes to put together a car and make it run. Things like coils and magnetos, carburetors, distributors, condensers, etc. Not simply a controlled rate of fluid flow, a reaction creating energy, and power, and not much else.

It definitely has compression. The sparks were timed the last time it ran. I added fuel to the minimal amount left in the tank already. Problem is nothing ever seems to run around here. On the other hand, I'm sure someone with better skills than I could get this to run rather quickly. WERE CARS BACK IN THE DAY SIMPLY UNRELIABLE?

No, I never damage anything, even when I am angry. I grew up lower middle class and there wasn't much left over once all the bills were paid. Everything is precious. I was under the impression that early cars are simple and easy to fix. Doesn't seem to be the case! I have no problem fixing something that's worn or needs replacing--replace part A with part A--but it seems that repairs are not always straightforward and any repairs are not easy nor necessarily the solution. I seem to have a lot of rotten luck with old cars. Short spells of actually functioning with long idle spells. Again, not having one of them on my property means it is difficult to fix plus I have to pay to store it. What do 1930 Model A Fordors go for these days? I feel like a failure but there never seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

From other posts, I had addressed this indirectly, in my search for a better property in which to pursue my hobby. Trouble is, if you want a decent income, you have to live in suburbia. I had visions of living somewhere with lots of garage space, or, better yet, a farm with land and barn space. Trouble is, in suburbia, that's rare and expensive. Only places I could find needed much work, and are prohibitive based on my salary given the repairs that are necessary.

Turns out the 6 volt battery was delivered to Tractor Supply today when I inquired after finding it in line. 700 CCA. The last time my Model A ran it ran fine. Dead battery last year. All fluids changed and full, gas line open, key on, choke adjusted properly and it turns over but won't fire. I listed this Model A for sale. I no longer find this hobby rewarding.

Nope, I'm at the point where I think I want out of this AWFUL and most unrewarding hobby. Not sure why English and math are stressed in high school and not important stuff like getting your car started. I did the right thing and listed the Model A for sale. Last time I ran it it ran fine. Then the battery wouldn't hold a charge. Wasted $100 today on a battery (which should be selling for $35) and put it in. Fresh gas, gas line open, key on, oil is full, as is radiator (not that those get the car going) 700 CCA and it turns over but makes ZERO attempt to fire. If all you old timers have no one to sell your cars to and there's no one to actually buy them...you have no one to blame but yourselves. I hate to lay blame, and ultimately it's myself, but not sure how younger folks can even be interested at all. I had a great interest in this at one time. It's gone! ZERO interest in dealing with the LAST thing that went wrong and you fix that and still it doesn't work.

Wow, $187.99! I know when the Exide battery was purchased Spring of 2014, if I spent half that, it was a lot. Surprisingly, even when you put in 1930 Ford Model A on the Exide site, nothing comes up. Perhaps the Optima is the only currently made 6 volt battery. Any cheaper options come to mind?

Well, that's the huge dilemma! I bought it thinking that I would drive it, especially when my 1917 Maxwell is laid up pending finding parts, which is currently the case. I thought I would buy a farmhouse and barn by now, and have it on my property, but that is much easier said than done, so I rent space in someone else's barn. Not ideal, and removes any spontaneity from driving it, especially when I cannot easily access it sometimes. I find my interests are early cars, the earlier the better! I would buy something pre-1915, this time around. My abilities suggest that I would end up driving something rarely, stuck with pesky repairs that take me an incredible amount of time to resolve. Diagnosing, then obtaining parts, then fixing, then actually getting it to work, can easily eat up months.

In another thread, an Optima battery was recommended. When you select year, make, and model on the site, it doesn't have the right battery available for the Model A. Suggestions? I am replacing an Exide battery. I know I bought it locally in 2014, but where? Tried Wal-Mart as well as AutoZone and Tractor Supply, and no luck.

I need a few days to think about this. In the meantime, what seems like a good price for this to ask? I'm thinking $12,500 but maybe that's high. I've never been crazy about the Fordor body style and that's a motivating factor. Replace it with something I, personally, like. Until a few days ago, I was not even aware the Fordor was remotely popular.

I am posting this in case others need it as it is uncommon and early. The "AK", no doubt, stands for Atwater-Kent. I assume the "19" means this dates from 1919, although originating on a 1917 Maxwell.

I used an emory board.

Where would you get that? The battery I have I replaced 5 yrs ago and I know I got it locally. If you don't get locally, how does exchanging for the core fee work?