How timely, I got stuck behind a model A this afternoon going through the mountains. A rumble seat model, carrying a family of four.
But then, I say stuck behind rather tongue in check, as he was hustling that car along! I was zipping along in the miata, and really only gradually came up on him.
I would guess it was a V8 model, though I've actually no idea. Either way, that old car was making decent time through the mountain roads.
Model A and V8 don't compute.
Unless modified.
ZOO wrote: Since this is GRM, and you are DD-ing it, can we expect a time around the little track you guys test on? Maybe a local autox?
That would be awesome. 
iceracer wrote: Model A and V8 don't compute. Unless modified.
yeah, but it is a common mod. woody is building one
...and Dave.
Despite having a friend who restored a Model A next door to my house while I was young and impressionable, the only thing I can think about when I read "Model A" is Makela Auto Tuning's Model A resto-mod.
I thought there was a v8 available, but maybe that's a later model car. Nothing about the one I was following indicated anything but stock.
Looks like I need a new timing gear. 
EveryDayModelA.com
When I was in high school, I had a '64 Chevy C10. The 230 six used a pressed fiber timing gear and I went through the same thing. Once I figured out the problem, I bought a new gear and used a block of wood and a mallet to gently tap it onto the end of the cam until, PING, I heard a freeze plug at the opposite end of the cam drop into bell housing.
That was the first time I ever removed an engine...
Tom Suddard:
Please post a photo of a pressed-fiber timing gear. My brain can't fathom how such a thing could survive even five minutes if made of "pressed fiber." Maybe you can help me understand?
David
Here's what one looks like:
I haven't seen mine, yet, but I bet it'll look similar.
Ooops, looks like my mom is logged in on this laptop, not me. Oh well.
-Tom
Older Volvo engines also use them. Also known to fail now and again, although they can last a surprisingly long time. Why do they use them? I believe noise was one reason.
It's nothing new, Ford used that pressed fiber thing through at least the late '80's on the 240/300 six shooters as well because it was quiet. Cloyes used to sell an aluminum replacement set which was noisier but lasted approximately infinity. IIRC the flathead V8's used them as well.
Cloyes sells a replacement for the Volvo as well - I have a set on the shelf.
Marjorie Suddard wrote: Ooops, looks like my mom is logged in on this laptop, not me. Oh well. -Tom
Whoops, surf carefully...
You guys have it all wrong, the carbon fiber(wood is fibrous and carbon based!) gear adds lightness! Having it crap out on you at random is a small price to pay for such awesome technology.
Kenny_McCormic wrote: You guys have it all wrong, the carbon fiber(wood is fibrous and carbon based!) gear adds lightness! Having it crap out on you at random is a small price to pay for such awesome technology.
You sound like a designer for morgan. 
Ian F wrote: Older Volvo engines also use them. Also known to fail now and again, although they can last a surprisingly long time. Why do they use them? I believe noise was one reason.
Toyota used them in the early FJ40's. Replacement when one went was a nice cast metal piece that gave you a nice "supercharger whine" as a bonus. Must have done a dozen or so in the couple years I worked at the dealership.
I was thinking... Since it's a flat-head (no valve-train bits to deal with), I'm guessing a head gasket would have been a LOT easier to replace than a timing gear.
In reply to Ian F:
The timing gear job will only be any harder than a HG because the oil pan will need to be dropped to clean the old bits of gear out.
Once you get it running, bring it up to Palatka and I'll buy you lunch one day. There are some nice places for pics up here if you haven't really poked around.
I got it running again! 
EveryDayModelA.com
"Non detergent" oil is code for "no anti wear additives, antioxidants(sludge prevention) or anti corrosives" not that a model A engine is exactly hard on oil, but something meeting some sort of API spec(besides SA or SB) is gonna make it last a lot longer between overhauls.
In reply to Tom Suddard:
Have fun Tom, oddly enough, I am envious.
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