THE ACCELERATOR Monthly Newsletter of the Model A Ford Club of New Jersey
Volume 58 Issue 4 April 2016
President's Message - April 2016
BY EZELL BREWER
On April 11, 1888, 24 year old Henry Ford married Clara Jane
Bryant on her 22nd birthday at her parent’s home in Greenfield Township,
Michigan. Clara Ford would prove to be a big supporter of her hus-
band’s business ideas. It was stated that fifty years later, Henry Ford
who by then had founded the Ford Motor Company, invented the top
selling Model T as well as the Model A car and revolutionized the auto
industry with his mass production technology - was quoted in a 1938 New
York Times Magazine article as saying, “The greatest day of my life is
when I married Mrs. Ford.”
There were several cars produced or prototyped by Henry Ford
with the great support and encouragement of his wife Clara Ford from
the founding of the company in 1903 until the Model T was introduced.
Although he started with the Model A, there were not 19 productions models (A through T); some
were only prototypes. The production model immediately before the Model T was the Model S, an
upgraded version of the company’s largest success to that point, the Model N. The follow –up was
the Ford Model A (rather than any Model U). The company publicity said this was because the new
car was such a departure from the old that Henry wanted to start all over again with the letter A.
The Model T was Ford’s first automobile mass-produced on moving assembly lines with com-
pletely interchangeable parts, marketed to the middle class. Henry Ford said of the vehicle, “I will
build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the
individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be
hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price
that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one- and enjoy with his family the blessing
of hours of pleasure in God’s great open space.”
Henry Ford was not only a pioneer in the auto industry but when you think about his appre-
ciation of his wife, family and simple things of life, he also had a great handle on the quality of life.
The standard of health, comfort and happiness experienced by an individual or group, “the things
that are needed for a good quality of life.”
Let’s, this month of April, take a page out of Henry Ford’s book and take our loved one for a
ride in our Model A and enjoy hours of pleasure in God’s great open space. Preferably on April 3,
2016 Garage Clinic and April 23, 2016 Poker Run would be a great time to experience the simple
things of life which makes our quality of life immeasurable.
Love God, Family, Friends and the Model A
Happy 58th Anniversary Model A Ford Club of New Jersey
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 2
OFFICERS & COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
2016
President Ezell Brewer
76 Woodland Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07017
973-672-2389
Vice Pres. Don McNeil
185 No. Main Street
Boonton, NJ 07005
973-335 -6308
Asst. Vice Pres. Matt Petitjean
16 Fern Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928-2717
973-635-6-31
Secretary Jan Olszewski
317 New Road
Montague, NJ 07827
973-293-7248
Treasurer Bruce Acheson
649 Canistear Road
Highland Lakes, NJ 07422
973-764-4910
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Membership Linda Gianni 973-579-7404
Good & Welfare Marian Acheson 973-764-4910
Newsletter Editor Joan Kimball ( NJ ) 201-991-3929
(FL) 772-229-4083
Newsltr. Circulation Marian Acheson 973-764-4910
Web Master Janet Olszewski 973-293-7248
50/50 Chairperson Don McNeil
Kitchen Staff Fred Hamway & Nick Crupi
Advisory Board John Morgan & Andy Cannizzaro,
National Coordinator John Morgan
Club Merchandise Fred Vanderhoof
Inside this Issue
Pg. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President’s Report
Pg. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Club Officer’s, Garage Clinic , Trivia Question
Pg. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Secretary’s Minutes
Pg. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .For Sale, Trivia Answer, Mystery Tour, Club Mtg. Dates, Club
Embroidery,
Pg. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Editor’s Note, Garage Clinic, Birthdays for April
Pg. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tours & Events for 2016
Pg. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Antique Car & Parts Auction
Pg. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MARC National Tour for 2016
Pg. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Treasurer’s Report, Advertiser, Using your head
Pg. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . .MARC, MAFFI, MAFCA information and Web Sites
Pg. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . NE 2016 Meet & MARC 2016 National Meet Information
Pg. 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fashion Page
Pg. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tecnhnically Speaking
2016 Roster
Besides the newsletter you may go online to
catch up on all the current events and other activities
that will be occurring in our club this year. The ad-
dress for our web site is www.mafcnj.org. If you
have anything you would like to see appear on the
web site please send the info to our Web Master,
Jan Olszewski by email at [email protected] or
by phone at 973-293-7248. Thank you.
Trivia Question
Who was the host of the TV show Texaco Star
Theater?
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 3
SECRETARY’S MINUTES FROM MARCH 2016 BY JAN OLSZEWSKI
The 616th meeting of the Model A Ford Club of New Jersey was called to order at 8:10 PM, March 1, 2016 and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Attendance: 30
Guests: None
Approval of minutes: Motion M/S/P to approve February 2016 minutes as presented within newsletter.
Treasurer’s Report: As reported March 8, 2016
Income: Expenses: Badge Fines .75 Coffee Receipts 42.00 Donation 15.00 NL Printing 45.79 Dues 150.00 NL Postage 28.40 207.75 74.19 Net Profit/Loss: 133.56
Vice President’s Report: In Don McNeill’s absence, Matt Petitjean reviewed future 2016 tours and fine tuned some dates and volunteers. He also asked members to volunteer to direct a tour as this is a rewarding job for the enjoyment of all. Members are eager to help anyone wishing to give it a try.
Assistant Vice-President’s Report: Matt Petitjean announced upcoming parades for 2016. Again, see website for details as they are presented.
Membership Chairperson’s Report: Linda Gianni announced we have 72 members of which 3 are new members. New roster will be forthcoming shortly. Anyone not paid will be re-moved.
President’s Report: Ezell Brewer mentioned actions taken at the last board meeting; no news-letters will be sent via the post office after December 31, 2016. Any request for change will be addressed on an individual basis.
Newsletter Report: No report.
Website Report: No report
National Coordinator Report: The National MARC meet is June 25-July 1 in Perrysburg, Ohio.
Good & Welfare: All seems well.
Old Business:
New Business: Ed Saniewski asked if any members would be interested in a “group tire pur-chase” for new Universal tires which we may be able to purchase at a more reasonable rate in bulk. If you are interested, contact Ed for more information. The date would be April 9th. Tom Peterson is in need of a possible steering overhaul.
For Sale/Wanted: Ed Saniewski knows of a Fordor Murray town sedan for sale. If interested contact Ed.
Refreshments: Cakes for the next meeting will the club anniversary cake.
Program: Fred Vanderhoof presented an interesting movie on the history of the Bertrand Is-land Amusement Park in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. This was compliments of the Mastroberti’s.
Board Meeting: No March board meeting is scheduled.
Motion to adjourn: Motion M/S/P to adjourn at 8:50 PM.
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 4
IN NEED OF EMBROIDERED CLUB
LOGO CLOTHING?
If you’d like to have our
club logo embroidered on a
shirt, hat, or jacket, John Mor-
gan is the man to talk to. Please
see John at a meeting or call him
at 973-786-5041. A price list
may be found on the clubs’ website if you’re
interested, including other info regarding
this.
The Accelerator is the official publication of the
Model A Ford Club of New Jersey. The Model A Ford
Club of New Jersey is a non-profit organization formed
to encourage its members to acquire, preserve, restore,
exhibit and make use of the Model A Ford vehicle,
model years 1928 to 1931 and all things pertaining to the
Model A Ford. The Accelerator provides information
on meetings and activities that have taken place or will
take place during each year. We will gladly share arti-
cles with others if credit is given to the Model A Ford
Club of New Jersey.
CLUB MEETINGS DATES FOR 2016
April 5
May 3
June 7
July 5
August 2
September 6
October 4
November 1
December 6
Mark your
calendar
for these
meeting
dates for
2016. Each
meeting is held
on Tuesday
evenings.
1930 Model A Closed Cab
Pickup Truck - Red with
black Fenders - Com-
plete Ground Up Restora-
tion, Must be Seen. Ask-
ing: $25,000 or B/O. For
Info call Art Jordan 973-
692-0410.
This “For Sale” item was sent in by
Walt Muehling who tells me that Art Jordan,
(the person selling this car), was a former
member of our club. Walt says that Art is in
the process of selling off all his Model A vehi-
cles.
THERE ARE NO WANTED ITEMS THIS MONTH. IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF SOMETHING LET ME KNOW SO I CAN PUT IT IN THE NEWSLETTER.
MYSTERY TOUR BY JIM MASTROBERTI
Our Mystery
Tour will be held on
Sunday, May 15. We
will be departing from
the McDonalds in New-
ton at 10:00 am. and
we’ll be going some-
place, (that’s the mys-
tery), and then stopping for a late lunch in
the afternoon. See you then..
Trivia Answer Milton Berle. A variety of programming drew
viewers to television, the new kid on the block
in the entertainment business. One of the most
popular hours of the week during the early
years of TV was Texaco Star Theater. The show,
which ran from 1948 to 1956, earned host Milton
Berle a $100,000-per-year income for 30 years
through a 1951 contract with NBC; though in
1956, he accepted a reduced amount of $60,000
per year.
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 5
BIRTHDAYS FOR APRIL 2016
April 1 - - - - - - - - - - Ed Saniewski
April 8 - - - - - - - - - - Ed Olszewski
April 16 - - - - - - - - - Fred Lorenzen
April 16 - - - - - - - - - Tom Petersen
April 30 - - - - - - - - - Art Ackerman
Ladies, if you wish to have
your birthday remembered
please send your month
and day to Linda Gianni at
[email protected]. Thanks.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR BY JOAN KIMBALL
Information taken from an online article
April Fools' Day (sometimes called All Fools' Day) is celebrated
every year on 1 April by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes.
The jokes and their victims are called April Fools. People playing April
Fool jokes expose their prank by shouting April Fool. Some newspapers,
magazines, and other published media report fake stories, which are usu-
ally explained the next day or below the news section in small letters. Al-
though popular since the 19th century, the day is not a public holiday in
any country.
Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (1392) contains the first recorded association be-
tween April 1 and foolishness. In 1386 Chaucer became Controller of Customs and Justice of Peace
and then three years later in 1389 Clerk of the King's work. It was during these years that Chaucer
began working on his most famous text, The Canterbury Tales. The tales (mostly written in verse, al-
though some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as
they travel together on a journey from London to Canterbury in order to visit the shrine of Saint Tho-
mas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at
Southwark on their return.
So, that’s just a part of the whole story, but I want to wish everyone a happy April Fools’ Day.
Surprise someone with a prank and then say April Fools’ Day. You'll both get a big laugh out of it.
The GARAGE CLINIC will
be held on April 3rd at Ed
Saniewski’s house at 9:00
AM. If you have questions
call Ed at 201-919-3378.
Will Rogers’ Wisdom
1. Never slap a man who’s chewing tobacco.
2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
3. There are two theories to arguing with a
woman . Neither works.
4. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
5. Always drink upstream from the herd.
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 6
TOURS AND EVENTS FOR 2016
April 3: Garage Clinic lead by Ed Saniewski. Meet at Ed 's home garage, 10 Aeire Wynde
Drive, Denville, NJ at 9:00 AM
April 23: Poker Run lead by Ed Saniewski and Jim Dunlap. Meet at McDonald, Rt. 182
Hackettstown, NJ at 8:00am
May 15: Mystery Tour lead by Jim & Elaine Mastroberti. Meet at McDonald's Newton, NJ
at 10:00am
May 30: Newton Memorial Day Parade lead by Ron Dee & Brian Lockwood, time to be
determined
May 30: Union Memorial Day Parade lead by Michael Leblond, time to be determined
June: Vest Pocket Tour lead by Don McNeil. No date presently scheduled
June 26 thru July 1: MARC National Meet, Perrysburg, Ohio
July 4: Chatham Parade, lead by Matt Petitjean, 8:00am to 12:00 noon. Meet at Matt's
home, 16 Fern Avenue, Chatham, NJ at 7:30 AM
July 4: Ridgefield Park Parade. Meet arrangements to be determined
July 15: Fireman's Home visit, lead by Jim Dunlap. Meet at Red Barn, Boonton, NJ at
10:00AM
July: Gymkhana, lead by Andy & Patty. No date presently scheduled
Aug. 21: MAFCNJ Picnic lead by John Morgan. Meet at Lake Lenape Club House,
Andover, NJ at 12:00 noon
Sept. 8 - 11: New England Meet, Westford Massachusetts
Oct.: Fall Foliage Tour, lead by Matt Petitjean . No date presently scheduled
Oct. 5 - 8: Hershey Regional AACA Fall Meet, Hershey PA
Oct.: Concours d'Elegance lead by Bern Davis. No date presently scheduled
(possibly October 16)
Nov. 6: Frost Bite Tour lead by Don McNeil. Arrangement time and place to be
determined
Nov. 26: Newton Day Parade lead by Ron Dee & Brian Lockwood. Time and place to
be determined
Dec. 11: Christmas Party/Installation Brunch lead by Ezell Brewer & John Morgan, Perona
Farms, Andover, NJ at 12:00 noon to 3:00 PM
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 7
Antique Car & Parts Auction – April 9, 2016
The legendary early Ford car & parts collection of the late Mike Torowus is up for
auction
April 9th 2016 @ 9:00AM Rain or Shine
Location: Wamsley’s Texaco Garage, 52 Harding Hwy (Rt 40),Upper Pittsgrove, NJ
08318
Lee M. Fox Auctioneer/609-970-5163 [email protected]
See Terms below, Absentee bidding available!
For pictures and updates visit: www.auctionzip.com/ID 4959
On Face book search: auction antique cars Torowus
A well respected authority of early Ford cars, Mike kept the hobby alive by restoring many antique cars and
collecting thousands of old car parts over the past 50 yrs. During this single day auction event, held at the
historic Wamsley’s Texaco Garage, 50 yrs. of Mike’s picking expertise will be won by the Antique highest
bidder.
See terms below. Absentee bidding available on. A well-respected authority of early Ford cars, Mike kept
the hobby alive by restoring many antique cars and collecting thousands of old car parts over the past 50
years. During this single-day auction event, held at the historic Wamsley’s Texaco Garage, 50 years of
Mike’s picking expertise will be won by the highest bidders.
Items included: Tohkem 850 Clock Face Gas Pump, Eco Air Meters, rack of oil bottles, Advertising items.
Cars include: 1932 Ford 2-Door Sedan beautiful 30 yr. old restoration, 1931 Panel Delivery, 1931 Sedan De-
livery, 1928 Model A Pickup was driven daily, RARE! 2-Door Deluxe Phaeton, 4-Door Slant Window Sedan,
1928 2-Door Sedan solid, a piece of history 1943 World War ll Jeep with capstan winch, 1963 Ford Falcon,
1984 Mazda RX7, Mullins Trailer, Gibson Garden Tractor, (2) Depression Tractors, 1952 Crosley Super Sport
for restoration (try to find one!). Model A pickups in attic of home, cab and bed totally disassembled
(have titles attached). Would make cool custom street rod. 2N Ford Tractor, Alamo Hit & Miss engine, May-
tag kick start engines with washer. Older air cooled small engines.
Thousands of Model A and other old car parts to be auctioned including: many Model A Bodies
and Cowls 1931 Roadsters (2 total, 1 is a Deluxe), 1930 Sport Coupe, 1930/1931 Truck cab, 1928/1929 2-door
Sedan, 1930 Cabriolet cowl w/doors & rear panels, 1928/1929 Closed Car cowl, 1929 cowl. Car Parts: “A”
Roadster tops (2), phaeton & roadster top mechanisms, “in box new” LeBaron Bonney, “A” roadster seats/
upholstery. Many Model A doors, gas tanks, fenders, running boards, aprons, bumpers, lights, horns, electri-
cal, carburetors, generators & starters, “A” brass spark plugs, wheels, drums, tires & pickup cab parts. Many
Model A engines & blocks (40)(by mfg. yr.), transmissions, chassis, rears/fronts, frames & Ford lacquer
paint. Crosley engine-complete, 1926 Plymouth engine, Model A “Depression” and MANY other “A” parts…
if you need parts for a Model A, you should find it for sale at the auction. Ford V8 parts, Model T parts: en-
gines-transmissions-radiator-body parts. Yep, just found 6 more model T motors and transmissions, & car
parts from many other makes/models. Many cowls and frames have titles attached. WOW 1925 Dodge Broth-
ers 4 cyl. complete ,Model a engine marine conversion , 2 sets doors for 1928-29 pick-up , Restore or build
a Rat Rod from parts. Yep we will have TOOLS.
All cars have a title! All items are sold "AS IS, WHERE IS."
1931 Panel Delivery
1928 Model A Pick up
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 8
2016 MARC Nat'l Tour - Hudson Valley Regional
The Model A Restorers Club Inc.
If you’re interested in attending the 2016 MARC National Tour you should go onto the web site
http://hudsonvalleymarc.org/index.html for all the information you’ll need to register.
The registration forms and information for the 2016 MARC National Tour are on this site and are ready
for you to take a look at and sign up! The box at the top of the page will take you to the registration materials.
Descriptions of the tours, hotel info, contacts, websites to the various sites and a list of restaurants from bur-
gers to upscale are all there for your perusal following the registration forms. Unfortunately, you can't directly
print pages 2 and 3 (the pages we need to process your registration), so please right click on the document,
then save to your computer, then you may print the appropriate pages. This material will appear in the
March/April issue of the Model "A" News but you can take advantage of an early registration by using this
site. Please feel free to contact anyone on the included list with questions or comments. Remember you must
be a member of the national Model "A" Restorers Club to participate in this event. Please be sure to add your
membership number to the registration form (or include dues payment) as we must check these for insur-
ance purposes.
DO YOU REMEMBER? For those who grew up in Kearny, Newark, the Oranges, Harrison and
other cities in NJ, you should remember these:
Subject: Newark
1. Meeting under the clock at Bambergers 2. Shopped at Bamberger's, Klein's, Ohrbachs, Kresge's and Hahne's.
3. Went "down the shore" on your summer vacation.
4. Went "up the lake" on Sunday afternoons.
5. Know where Olympic Park was.
6. Knew at least one person who knew Connie Francis.
7. Knew at least one person who knew Frank Sinatra.
8. Never went through a summer without real lemon ice.
9. Were never allowed to go to the City Pools because you might get polio.
10. Always went shopping downtown..
11. Knew that Ballantine made the best beer.
12. Knew that Prudential made the best insurance.
13. Know that the Italians lived in the North Ward; if you were Jewish, you lived in the Weequahic section;
the Polish lived "down neck" and the Irish lived in Vailsburg.
14. Can remember the finest hotels in the world were on Broad Street; the Robert Treat and the Military
Park Hotel.
15. You knew that only people on welfare went to City Hospital; everyone else went to Saint Michael's;
Saint Barnabas, and Beth Israel.
16. Are aware that there was a reservoir on South Orange Avenue.
17. Knew what a "stoop" is.
18. Think that the Adams Theater on Branford Place was bigger and better than Radio City Music Hall. 19. Think the Newark News was the world's greatest newspaper.
20. Remember the Thanksgiving Day rivalries between Irvington and West Side, Barringer and East
Orange, and Kearny and Nutley too.
21. Remember that the "Two Guys" were from Harrison.
22. Knew that ours is the only "New" state that doesn't require the "New" (like, try...Mexico, York, Hamp-
shire; it doesn't work.
23. Never pumped your own gas. (AND STILL DON’T)
24. Know where "down neck" is
AND FINALLY
25. Can actually remember when Newark was....GREAT!!!
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 9
MAFCNJ Treasurer's Report as reported, March 2016
By Bruce Acheson, Treasurer
ADVERTISER’S SECTION
Do you have a business card you’d
like us to include in our newsletters? This
is a wonderful way of letting people know
where they may go for business services.
If so, let one of the officer’s know. The
cost is $25.00 per year and I’d be most
happy to include you among the one be-
low.
A NEW WAY TO USE YOUR HEAD FROM AND EMAIL SENT TO ME BY WALT MUEHLING
Lost your car in the parking lot? You
just need to use your head...really. So much
for the old saying, "You have water on the
brain" That will be interesting to everyone es-
pecially we seniors who forget where we
parked our cars if your car can be opened
and locked with an electronic key. Just be-
cause you are not a senior, still watch this
video and learn something that may be useful
to you. The wave length of the electronic key
is limited to a certain distance. If you want to
expand it, learn the trick by watching this
video. You won't forget it.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Uqf71muwWc
Income
Badge Fines .75
Coffee Receipts 42.00
Donation from Raffle 15.00
Due’s Receipts 150.00
Expenses
Staples Newsletter Printing (November Mailing) 45.79
Marian Acheson newsletter postage 28.40
Unless someone
jumps up and says April
Fool, this is a pretty neat
physics experiment and an
example of some physics
principles you might know,
but wouldn’t think to apply
this way.
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 10
Model A Restorer’s Club (MARC)
Dues are $45 per year
Includes a subscription to the Model A
News magazine.
Send to: MARC
6721 Merriman Road
Garden City, MI 48135
“MARC” membership is required of all members
Membership Application is online @
Website: www.modelarestorers.org
Model A Ford Club of America
(MAFCA)
Dues are $40 per year
Includes a subscription to
The Restorer magazine.
Send to: MAFCA
250 South Cypress Street
La Habra, CA 90631
Website: www.mafca.com
Model A Ford Foundation Inc
(MAFFI)
Dues are $25 per year
Includes a subscription to
The Preserver Quarterly newsletter
Send to: MAFFI
PO Box 95151
Nonantum, MA 02495
Application is online @
Website: www.maffi.org
You may join any of the above clubs online or download the
Application Forms to join these clubs. When you join our club
(MAFCNJ), you MUST join MARC and show your current
registration when renewing your membership in the
MAFCNJ. Please note the dues for MARC has in-
creased to 45.00 a year. Make sure you send the cor-
rect amount when paying.
POKER RUN BY ED SANIEWSKI and JIM DUNLAP
The first part
of the Poker Run
( l e d b y E d
Saniewski) will be
on Saturday, April
23. We’ll be meet-
i n g a t t h e
McDonalds parking
lot on Mountain Ave.
in Hackettstown, at
8:00 AM and travel-
ling to Hellertown,
Pa.
For those of you who wish to
continue on following Ed’s outing,
Jim Dunlap and Cindy are planning
an overnight trip for anyone who is
interested in joining them.
Jim states: Saturday, after we
leave Hellertown, we will try to visit
a distillery and have dinner
there. We’ll spend the night near
Center Valley, PA. The plan right
now is to visit a winery on our way
home on Sunday.
I will try to have all the details
before the April meeting and I will
try to keep everyone updated on
the website.
If you have any questions or
suggestions, please contact me
(Jim), at 973-219-9694. This won't
be a Vest Pocket tour, but since
we're out that way, we might as well
enjoy the area.
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 11
Joan
Crawford
riding in
her 1933
Ford
Roadster
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 12
FASHIONS FOR THE YOUNG MAN IN YOUR HOUSE
Volume 58 Issue 4 THE ACCELERATOR Page 13
Engine Fails to Start Although engine turns over but won’t start
Culprits include:
1. Ignition switch is off
2. No gasoline is in the tank)
3. Gasoline line valve is off (needs to point down for on)
4. If engine is cold, mixture may not be rich enough.
5. If the engine is warm-mixture is too rich, over choking
6. Breaker points too close together. The correct adjustment is .018 to .022
7. The spark plug gap is incorrect. The correct gap is .035.
8. Water in filter bowl or carburetor
Starter Fails to Turn the Engine Over
Culprits include:
1. Battery run down
2. Loose or dirty battery connections.
Missing at Low Speeds:
Culprits include:
1. Gas Mixture to rich or to lean
2. The spark plug gap is incorrect. The correct gap is .035.
3. Breaker points improperly adjusted, badly burnt or pitted.
4. Fouled spark plug-spark plugs should occasionally be cleaned and the gaps checked.
5. Water in gasoline
Missing at High Speeds:
1. Insufficient gasoline flowing to carburetor due to gasoline line or filter screen being partly clogged.
2. Gas Mixture to rich or to lean
3. Water in gasoline
Backfiring Under Load (throttle wide open at relatively low rpm’s) often indicates a problem in electrical/ignition/timing.
Culprits include: 1. Insufficient point gap (should be set at .018 to .020)
2. Timing
3. Bad condenser
4. Bad distributor body
5. Frayed wire between upper plate and lower plate on the distributor
6. Intermittent connection of the ignition switch
Backfiring With No-Load (example: shifting between gears and coasting downhill). Often indicates too little fuel in combustion cham-
ber for proper ignition. (During the exhaust stroke, raw gas is expelled into the muffler where it ignites)
Culprits include: 1.GAV adjusted to lean
2. Intake vacuum leak
3. Low carburetor float
4.Backfiring around 45 mph indicates insufficient fuel to supply to the carburetor.
Engine Stops Suddenly:
1. Gasoline tank empty
2. Dirt in fuel line or carburetor
3. Gas mixture to lean
These are just a few of the things to look for if your car won’t start or if you have trouble keeping it going.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING Taken from How Model A Things Work - Online
Model A Ford Club of New Jersey
Bruce Acheson
649 Canistear Road
Highland Lakes, NJ 07422
THE ACCELERATOR