1.THE
CHASSIS OR FRAME: The supporting frame of a
structure (as an automobile
or television); also: the
frame and working parts (as
of an automobile or
electronic device) exclusive
of the body or housing. The
Chassis, it all starts with
the Ford Chassis, all
components for you car are
attached to the chassis or
the frame of the car.
2.THE
MOTOR, ENGINE OR POWER
PLANT: Your Model A
engine is a four-cylinder in
line engine known as an "L
Block". It uses 4 spark
plugs that explode in a
combustion chamber to power
the engine. The engine is
oiled by a circulating
splash system, which while
delivering oil to the valve
chamber allows the oil by
gravity to flow to each of
the main bearings of the
engine. The lower part of
the engine or the crankcase
has troughs for the oil that
allow the oil to "splash"
from oil dippers to the
other parts of the engine
that need lubricating...
3.THE
TRANSMISSION OR DRIVE TRAIN:
This is what makes the car
go forward and back. The
Ford Model A use a sliding
pinion type of gear or
sometimes just called a
sliding gear transmission,
it has 3 forward gears and 1
reverse. Speed is obtained
through the transmission by
changing gears by depressing
the clutch pedal and
shifting into the next
higher gear. The power of
the engine rotates sending
power to the rear axel by
means of an enclosed
propeller shaft with a ball
joint. In the rear axel are
radius rods that work a
gears and help turn the
wheels that move the car.
4.BRAKES:
There are two separate
brake systems on the Model
A, the four wheel service
brakes and the emergency
brake. The wheel is attached
to the Brake Drum, which
inside are what is called
brake shoes. When you press
the brake pedal the brake
shoes expands outward, this
in turn presses the fabric
on the brake shoes against
the drum and there by slows
and stops the car. The
brakes are controlled by
rods that connect the front
and rear wheels, giving you
the basic braking system.
The second brake system is
the emergency brake
controlled by a handle in
the car, when this handle is
pulled it expands a separate
set of brake bands and
therefore hold the rear
wheels from moving.
5.COOLING
SYSTEM: Your radiator.
The Model A uses a
centrifugal water pump
mounted in the cylinder head
of the engine and works with
the engine fan. Your Model a
engine will work with
regular water to cool the
engine, anti freeze as in
regular cars is NOT
recommended as your radiator
in your model a is NOT a
pressurized system, the
radiator works by
circulating cool water into
the engine, as the water
becomes heated it is forced
out through the upper
radiator hose into the
radiator and as it cools
drops to the bottom and is
flows into the engine again.
The process works entirely
automatically.
6.CARBURETOR: The
carburetor is the process
where gasoline and air mix
to form a vapor that is
ignited into the engine to
create the combustion to
cause power. It is important
to be sure the mix of air
and gasoline is right or to
make sure it is not too rich
or too weak which is what
regulates the explosion and
in turn the power that is
applied to the piston, which
in turn gives you power.
Your fuel mix is controlled
by the choke rod inside your
car in front of the
passenger seat. The choke
rod turned clockwise or
counter clockwise to
regulate the mixture.
7.MODEL A
FUEL SYSTEM: Your fuel
tank is located above your
feet in the car forming the
upper portion of the cowl,
or where you dash is. Under
the fuel tank in most Model
A's except for May 1931 and
later there is a fuel
shut-off. The Fuel system is
a gravity fed system to the
carburetor. When the valve
is turned horizontal it is
shut off and fuel will not
flow to the Carb. After May
1931 Ford moved the fuel
shut off inside the engine
compartment on the firewall
and indented it. This was
done for safety measures.
Depending on what model you
have your tank will hold
10-11 gallons of gasoline.
You may use regular
un-leaded gasoline in your
car today.
8.IGNITION AND ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM: The Ford Model A
is powered by a 6-volt
positive ground system. The
positive lead is connected
to the frame of the car and
the negative lead is
connected to the starter.
Your 6 volt battery sends
current to the starter when
the pedal inside your car is
pressed. With the ignition
key turned on, the coil is
energized which helps to
send the current to the
distributor which help spark
the engine via the spark
plugs and when timed
correctly starts the engine.
Once your engine is turning,
the generator located on the
drivers side front of the
engine, it is turned by the
fan belt, which is also
attached to the crankshaft
pulley on the front of the
engine. The generator helps
to generate electricity to
power your lights, horn and
other accessories. The
Ammeter monitors your
generator and shows charge
and discharge of the
battery. It is on the
instrument panel of your
cars interior.
9.DISTRIBUTOR: Located
on the top right hand side
of the engine, it consists
of a cam, rotor, contact
points and electrodes. The
ignitions coil sends a low
tension current of
sufficient voltage to the
distributor to jump between
the points if the spark
plugs. The distributor
breaker points interrupt the
flow of current while the
rotor inside spins and sends
the high tension current to
each spark plug in the
proper firing order.
10.SPRINGS AND SHOCKS:
The springs of the Model A
are know as leave springs,
they are transverse
semi-elliptic in shape. Each
spring is built up of
different thin leaves to
give the proper amount of
flexibility for the
particular body style. They
are made of fine steel that
has a spring action to it.
The hydraulic shocks control
the movement up or down and
on the Model A are
adjustable as well as making
the car safer. The shock
absorber connects to a shock
absorber link tube, then to
the front spring, which is
lubricated through a fitting
by you during your 500-mile
checkups.
11.STEERING: The Model A
steering is known as worm
and sector type, roller
bearing known as thrust
bearings work in conjunction
with the worm gears. This is
all enclosed in the steering
gear assembly with is
located in the steering
column. In addition to this
down the steering columns
are also wires for your
lights, and horn as well as
your spark and throttle
levers. At the base of the
steering column is the
switch assembly. This is
where the wires for your
horn, lights, and cowl
lights are connected and
branch out. They are all
controlled from your
steering wheel.
I am sure
you want to get in and
drive, first lets learn how
the start this car. There
are many, many opinions on
how to start a model a, yes
it is true that you have to
learn "your" car and how it
works but lets talk about
the simple common way.
The following is a direct
quote from the model a
instruction manual that was
provided with every new
model a. Please note: your
car may be totally different
when starting and running,
this is the basic method
that ford outlined in the
manual. It is interesting
that it mentions nothing
about turning on the gas at
the valve under the dash.
Obviously this has to be one
of the first steps. By the
way on the original valves,
the handle in the vertical
position is 'on'. Check the
oil and water (gas too)
prior to starting. In my
opinion when starting a cold
engine, don't choke the
engine for more than a
couple revolutions. If held
open as described below, you
run the risk of flooding the
engine. Also the ignition
switch described below is
the original style 'pop-out'
switch. When opening the
carburetor-adjusting valve,
lightly seat or close the
valve by turning clockwise
until it stops, then open
one full turn.
This applies to a model a
that has been run recently.
If the engine has not run in
long time, don't start it
until you are sure the is
ready to start and has been
checked.
1. Release
the lock cylinder by turning
the switch key to the right
as described on page 6.
2. See that the spark lever
is retarded; the throttle
lever advanced three or four
notches on the quadrant and
the gear shift lever in
neutral position.
3. If the engine is cold,
turn the
carburetor-adjusting rod one
full turn to the left to
give it a richer mixture for
starting. This rod serves
both as a choke for starting
and as an enriching
adjustment. Next pull back
the rod, at the same time
pressing down on the starter
button with your foot. The
instant the engine starts,
withdraw your foot from the
starter button and release
the choke rod, next advance
the spark lever about half
way down the quadrant. When
the engine warms up, turn
the adjusting rod back to
the right. Never drive
continuously with adjusting
rod more than 1/4 turn open.
(see adjustment of
carburetor, page 24.)
When starting a warm engine,
do not pull back the choke
unless the engine fails to
start on the normal mixture
as there is a possibility of
flooding the engine with an
over rich mixture of gas. If
you should by accident flood
the engine, open the
throttle and with the choke
rod in normal position, turn
the engine over a few times
to exhaust the rich gas.
We suggest
you now read through our
Model A
Primer.
