Killing time ( then wondering where it went..)

It's been a while since the last post because I've been distracted. I've done little things to the truck, sanded and painted the light bar, fender spacers and other things, but I've been looking for a motorcycle.


1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. I'm convinced this is a reference to our growth and understanding in our spiritual life and relationship with God, and not about my wanting a motorcycle from my youth!

I read once that people subconsciously wear their hair in a way that reminds them of their youth or "glory days". I'm not sure I believe that, I never remember having a bald head with a comb-over in my past, but I digress. I've had lots of motorcycles in my life starting in my early teens. I wanted one when I was younger, but dad was wise enough to postpone that for a few years. He bought us the usual mini-bikes, go carts and three-wheelers but eventually we went to pick up my first motorcycle. My dad was kind, patient, easy going and as wise a person as you will ever meet. He bought lots of toys to delay buying me a motorcycle, then he buys me a wickedly fast street bike. What was he thinking!?! It was the first of many bikes I'd own.

My friends assumed I was looking for a big Harley Davidson or Honda when I mentioned getting a bike. What I was looking for was a dual sport Honda from the 1970's or early 80's. The Honda XL street/trail bikes were durable and fun to ride. I owned several different ones back in the day, and that's what I wanted now. I've spent hours on line looking at ads and even posted in the wanted section. I've found them in every condition from fully restored to being offered boxes of parts that included the guarantee: "it's all there". I finally found one in the condition I was looking for at the price I was willing to pay. Yesterday my son and I drove 300 miles to a farm in Kentucky and brought home a piece of my youth.

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not recieve the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Today I feel like a child again, I just hope this is not my mode of transportation to the Kingdom....

1927 Model T Ford Truck Bed and singing...

This bed off my Model A is actually from a 1926 or 1927 Model T. I had to Google the Johnny Cash song about the guy taking the pieces from work to build himself a Cadillac. It's called "one piece at a time" and the song says it took several years and he now owns a '56, '57, 58'... caddy. Obviously his grandfather worked at Ford and I bought his '26, '27, '28, '29, '30 pickup! I thought that was cute but the reality is that the parts for many of the model years were used for the next model. The doors and latches on the 1928 and '29 truck are the same as the 1927 Model T.

I've removed the old wood from the bed and will salvage as much of the metal as possible. There are several places you can buy complete beds or the individual pieces. The cheapest I have found is lastrerfuagehotrod.com. I haven't ordered any parts from them but their prices for a complete bed is less than half of other sources. The front panel of the 1926 bed was indented for the battery. It has been poorly patched on this bed and I'll either order a new front panel or fabricate one myself. When finished you'll never know I'm driving a "Johnny Cash" truck.


My neighbor had an oak tree removed from his yard and cut into boards. He was kind enough to give me plenty of lumber to rebuild the bottom of the bed. It has been cut for several years so once planed and sanded it should look great. There are lots of places to get the patterns and new hardware so I'm excited about getting all this "converted" into a Model A bed.


I like writing about my truck and sharing what little I know about the Model A Ford. I don't profess to know much and unlike a lot of folks, I don't claim to be an expert. It says in Ecclesiastes 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of a fool. So read your bible, double check my facts and if you want to sing along with this fool it goes: " It's a 1927, 1928, 1929...."

Model A Ford Wiring and lights...

The truck's wiring harness was lying on the frame in a greasy mess before I removed it. The heart of the lighting harness fits inside the silver acorn shaped housing in the picture. After cutting it loose and cleaning the housing, I'm now trying to determine how I want to proceed.

There are two main segments to the wiring on a Model A, the ignition and the lighting. I've left the ignition side connected so I can still drive the truck, albeit without lights. The lights and horn are controlled via a rod through the steering column. The acorn housing attaches to the bottom of the column and contains the switch contacts. The actual running or ignition side is basically the key switch, starter, generator, battery and coil. This consists of a few feet of wire compared to the massive amounts in modern computer controlled cars. Since I only hold an honorary degree in shade tree mechanics, I'm a big fan of simple.

I've decided this truck is like a lot of us are at times. We run but have no light, nothing to guide our way. All day I've debated whether to try and build the wiring harness myself, wait and fix it later or do what I know is needed and order the complete kit. The Apostle John said in John 11:10 but if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. I guess that ends the debate.

I'll order the complete kit. I want to run and let my light shine....

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Model A Ford Seat covers and contentment...

I purchased the material to cover the seat and door panels while I was out shopping today. It'll be a while before I'm ready to redo the interior but I thought I'd get it while I was there. Although I'm "restoring" the truck, I decided to use a tan/beige material instead of the stock black. I have to give it some personality.

My father passed away last year. He was always a gentleman and a very good man. The best word I can use to describe my dad is content. He was content with his life as a husband and father. He went to work, and when he wasn't there, he was with his family. We went fishing, hunting, motorcycle riding, vacations, weekend trips and all manor of things. Some of those things didn't include my mother, naturally. On those occasions I can still hear him telling her, "the boys and I are going...." and it would include when we would return and usually that we'd all go out to eat afterwards. He was definitely content.

That brings me back to the truck that I'm "restoring". The descriptions of my old cars have always included words like chopped, dropped, filled, lowered and often "small block Chevy". I've never been content with them being original until now. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11 for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Maybe I've learned or it could just be that I'm getting older, but I'm content to drive around in this original truck with a top speed of about 45 mph, but the interior is going to be beige.....

A labor of Love....

When I started looking for a pickup, I was looking for one already restored. In the process of looking and bidding I came across this project in Ohio. I can't explain what made it the one I wanted, but sometimes things just happen and you get a new project. I'm not a mechanic or a body man and yet I'm in my garage about every day. I've said elsewhere in this blog that I enjoy working on things. To keep from being overwhelmed, I don't think about trying to build/restore a truck, I pick one thing at a time and fix it.

Last week my daughter moved away to finish her college degree. The same night I attended the open house at my son's kindergarten. It was a day filled with lots of emotions. It reminded me of the day I sold my '31 Model A street rod. The way it looked on the trailer was incredible. I had signed the title so there was no turning back. I had invested lots of time and energy into that car and I stood watching it drive away. At the time I also owned a '49 ford panel truck that had been sub-framed from a Chevy Nova. It was a drivable project that would now get my day to day attention. I knew if I'd put enough effort into it, I'd be just as proud when the day came and I let it go.

So I guess being a dad and working on old cars has a lot in common. If you look at the project as a whole it can be overwhelming. You just spend time in the garage every day, doing the things you can with the abilities you have, knowing someday you'll watch it drive away. As for the time and energy, it's definitely a labor of love.....

The Model A Ford Carburetor

This post could be Biblical in nature. Not that I'll be trying to preach to you, ( my brother is a minister), but more like in Mathew 15:14 "..If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." So I'll not be trying to teach you about carburetors, only telling you about mine.

The great thing about working on a drivable project is just that, you can take it out for a drive. After several weeks in the garage I decided to go for a spin. I set the spark advance, set the throttle, pulled the choke and hit the starter. It won't start. It cranks like crazy but doesn't even attempt to start. It's like it's not getting any...I reach under the dash and make sure I had turned on the gas. I had, so that wasn't the problem. Relying heavily on my shade tree mechanic "if it's getting fuel and fire it should run" training, I give the carb a shot of starting fluid and step on the starter. It runs for a second and dies, it's time to pull the carb.

For you non Model A folks this might sound pretty impressive. But I've never been intimidated by two bolts, a fuel line and two spring clips. After setting it on my bench I remove the 3 screws holding the top and bottom half together. When separated it's obvious the float valve is stuck closed. Now its just a matter of soaking and cleaning all the parts. Every one has their preference of carb cleaning products, I find that injector cleaners that are normally poured into the tank work great.

Soaking, scrubbing and an air gun transform this Tillotson model X F carb into something Karl Benz, of Mercedes-Benz fame, would have been proud to own. ( He invented the carburetor.....)

After bolting it on and turning on the fuel, the truck starts and sounds great. I'm going for a spin in my drivable project truck!

Lug Nut update

It's amazing what you can learn by reading, maybe not this blog but other places. I was about to lower the truck from the jack stands when I realized the wheels weren't tight. I know the studs have 1/2" - 20 threads so the new after market nuts "fit" but they didn't completely tighten the wheels. I found the answer posted by Vince Falter at Deucegarage.com and it makes you say "Duh". The studs have an unthreaded shoulder at the base that's not obvious when the wheels are in place. The aftermarket nuts are threaded all the way to the end. The original lug nut in the picture shows the relief needed for the shoulder.

I guess I'll be using my old originals until my new ones arrive. But heck, if beating, sanding, welding and working on the truck isn't enough, at least I'll get some real exercise walking to the front porch looking for a package!