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Scott B. Jaqua

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Yet More Model A [Apr. 27th, 2008|08:23 pm]
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The last couple of days have been spent cleaning up the front of the this place. This involved removing the klieg lights the prior owners had placed on the car port and replacing them with something more energy efficient. So while I did that I also wired in a weather proof outlet (even if it is well under the roof of the car port).  I also tore down a battered old shade cloth (on a side already well shaded???) and moved the wood pile along with some other stuff. This resulted in better lighting and more space. The car port now holds three cars comfortably. Where as before one side was all cluttered up and the open area was just a little over two cars wide.

Having all this open area means I now have a work place for the Model A. So after we moved it over I then towed it up  two sets of ramps (one set front one rear) and gave it a quick bath. Both above and below the wheel line (part of the reason for the ramps). This gave me a much better idea of what was needed on the cosmetic side of things. And she is really in much better shape then I thought.  At one point my father and brothers had it looking pretty good (albeit with a spray can paint job). You can tell that was several years ago. But still not that bad.


Once it was clean, it was time to tear it down and get to work. First up is a new water pump and some radiator repair. That means taking the head light bar back off and removing the hood, radiator cowling and radiator.




Then I removed the fan, fan belt and water pump. The nuts broke loose pretty easy. But the pump itself required some persuasion in the form of a plastic mallet.



Here I have already removed one of the studs as I am going to replace those with new as well. Then I cleaned up the gasket surface and flushed the system with a hose to get out all the loose rust and junk (when it's all assembled again I'll use radiator flush to purge some more out of the system).

Here's what the old pump looked like.



I kind of expected this part of the system to be in worse shape then it is. Remember hot water means everything rusts faster (when the system was running). And then there are the years it sat with water just sitting in it.

So after the tear down I went to install the new pump and found I forgot to order a new gasket. So this job will be finished when it comes in from Mike's. (I remembered new studs and a new fan mounting kit, just the gasket is missing (sigh!))

So as they say, to be continued....

Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge
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Comments:
From: [info]fencer_john
2008-04-28 06:15 am (UTC)

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I would have expected the gasket to come with the waterpump. (I'm trying to remember if it did for the '39 Plymouth truck. I know it did the for the '53 Buick...)

It looks like most of the body panels are solid. All original?
[User Picture]From: [info]hagerson
2008-04-28 09:32 pm (UTC)

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I'm trying to remember. I know my dad replaced one of the doors. Because I recall going to Ford Obsolete in Downtown LA to get it on one of our weekend outings.

There's an alignment issue with the front fenders so those might be replacements. The hood and the body from the firewall back are all original as I recall.
[User Picture]From: [info]francesca_tessa
2008-04-30 03:18 pm (UTC)

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Njall, this is so frickin cool. You are gonna have to give me a ride in her one day when you get it all done.
[User Picture]From: [info]hagerson
2008-04-30 05:35 pm (UTC)

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I'm sure rides can be arranged :)

We may have to take her to a local event once she is all done. For the ultimate anachronism. (hmmmmmmm can I carry the pavilion in the rumble seat???)