The ignition coil does not change the direction of current flow hence it does not change polarity. However, there are more coils in the secondary winding inside of the coil, thus there is more resistance to incoming current flow at the secondary winding terminal, so the coil’s high voltage output to the spark plugs will be less if the [...]
Front End Shimmy
Will a loose ball in the front wishbone at the transmission cause a shimmy? Yes, this could be one of the issues causing a car to shimmy. A loose ball in the front wishbone can be one of the causes of front shimmy. The front end caster (5 degrees) is dependent on the exact position [...]
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Model A Lubrication Chart
EVERY 500 MILES Location Quantity Grease Fitting Grease Gun 1. Upper Spindle Arm (Left Side/Right Side) 2 4 2. Lower Spindle Arm (Left Side/Right Side) 2 5 3. Brake Actuator Arm (Front Axle-L/R Side) 2 5 4. Shock Link (Front/Rear-L/R Side) 4 2 5. Spring Shackle (Front-L/R Side) 2 5 6. [...]
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Two-Tooth Steering Column
One day while I was at Snyder’s Antique Auto Parts, a fellow asked me how hard it was to adjust the steering box. It seems he was rebuilding a two-tooth box. I told him, “There’s nothing to it. Just follow the directions in the Model A Ford Mechanics Handbook.” This brought laughs from those in [...]
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Ford Model A Paint Codes
This chart was originally printed in the August 2002 “A” Quail Call.
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Do You Have The Need For Speed?
Do you want to keep up with the moderns? If you are looking for a little more speed, you have several options. Why not try the high-speed rear end? The stock Model A rear end ratio is 3.78:1. In other words, the drive shaft turns 3.78 times for each tire rotation. The high-speed rear end [...]
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Acceptable Owner’s Manual
As previously reported, many owners’ manuals were available for the Model A. The “acceptable dates” shown on the table located below will be used for determining the correctness of the owner’s manual displayed for judging. This tech tip was provided by Walt Wawzyniak and printed in the September 2004 “A” Quail Call.
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The Correct Model A Jack
There were four suppliers for the Model A jack: Ajax – Racine, WI; Walker – Racine, WI; Auto Specialty – St. Joseph, MI; and Noblitt-Sparks – Location unknown. All Model A jacks were painted black enamel. The A-17080 jack was a ratchet type with folding 2” top extension, 10 ¼” total height. It was a [...]
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Proper Tools for Model A Judging
It takes quite a bit of effort in putting a correct tool kit together. First you have to know the correct date your car was manufactured. Then you have to find the right owner’s manual, crank, jack, air pump and hand tools for that date. One mistake people make in collecting tools is looking for [...]
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Diagnosing a Cylinder Miss
On our way to the Spring Banquet this year, my wife and I were riding with Les Meacham in his Fordor Sedan, following Don Harvey in his modified Tudor Sedan. Suddenly, two puffs of smoke came out of Don’s exhaust pipe. He immediately pulled off of the road into a vacant parking lot and we [...]
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