1929 Ford Model A, Completely Restored and Runs; and Model A Parts

1929 Ford Model A, Completely Restored

1929 Model A Pickup

Some history of this vehicle by Marvin "Leon" Stovall (Written August 17, 2021):

This pickup was purchased sometime in 1955 by my dad, Donald K. Stovall, and a friend of his, Jerry McClain, for $200.  After some time, but less than a year, Jerry decided to sell his interest to my dad.  I remember the back end was loaded full of extra parts.  The pickup was complete but not running.  With very little work, my dad had it running, and we were driving it around the farm.  I learned to drive in this pickup, and so did my sisters.  Over time, Dad would collect more parts here and there.

 I grew up a little more and moved away from home.   Dad mentioned several times about selling it, and I told him I didn't think that would be a very good idea, but if he did have to, to let me know, and I would buy it from him.  He never sold it.  I think Mom talked him out of it several times.

I know Dad overhauled the motor in it sometime after 1973, the year he moved to Kansas from Dumas, TX.  I still have the old engine block.  I don't know why he overhauled it other than it was getting pretty worn out.  A neighbor here in Burden, KS, remembers him doing it and taking an engine block to someone in Ark City, KS, to have some machine work done on it and have new babbit bearings installed.  The engine that wound up in it was from an old Gleaner Combine.  At some point, Dad put a new canvas top on the cab and reupholstered the seat.  He did some painting on the inside to keep rust from taking over or starting.   There still isn't much rust on it anywhere, only a little along the very bottom of the doors.

Some time during 2019, I decided to “Hot Rod” the pickup a little.  I didn't want to modify it so that it could not be put back to its original configuration.   Almost all the changes can be reverted to what it was when it left the Ford factory.

I spent a lot of money on what I have done.   Probably more than the vehicle is worth.   I did not cut the frame or body anywhere.  I will be detailing the major components overhauled, repaired or replaced while doing these modifications.

One of the first things I did was to convert it to 12 12-Volt negative ground and get an FSI ignition.  I drove to Ponca City, Oklahoma, to talk with the guy (J.D. Hanks) who makes them.  I probably visited with him for two or three hours and came home with a unit to fit the Model A Ford motor.  This was in October 2019.  I ordered a new “Leakless Water Pump”, a new terminal box, a new floor mat, grommets, and distributor parts.  I ordered a wiring kit, a tail light bracket (to mount a tail light on both sides), an oval speedometer cable, and a safety fuse.  I ended up ordering three stop light switches.  One was incorrect, worked backwards.  One was for a different model.  New tail light, Brake pedal return spring, clevis pins etc.  I ordered wire connectors, tail light parts to overhaul the original tail light, head light parts, sockets, etc, and  an Ammeter.   

I ordered a “LOGO Lites signal kit for turn signals.  I'm still unsure if I like them or not.  Also got a manifold heater, which I never really used, so I'm unable to verify that it even works.  I bought a 2006 Chevy Equinox electric power steering unit from Lumbert's Salvage Yard.

The first thing I did was overhaul the brakes.   I put new brake linings on the parking brake.  I checked all the pins on the brake control rods and replaced the worn ones.  I replaced a couple of the control rods, too.   I sent the front and rear brake assemblies to Snyder's Antique Auto for a complete overhaul and replaced the stamped steel drums with new cast iron drums, and they put new linings on the service brakes as well as center them with the drums.  Both front hubs were replaced at this time, also. I did NOT replace the bushings on the parking brake cross shaft or the service brake cross shaft.

I did an overhaul of the steering column.  It was in terrible shape.  There were no balls left in the bearings.  Even after the overhaul, it was still harder to steer than I liked, so that's why I chopped it up and mounted the electric power steering unit on it.  If desired, an original steering column can be refitted easily.

January 2020:

I had the speedometer overhauled.  Wow, looks brand new and says 0 miles.  I put a new speedometer cable and the end that goes into the transmission in also.

A lot of time was spent waiting for the delivery of the last wheel.  I got the white sidewall tires, and the wheel order had one wrong wheel.  The box was mislabeled, so I had to send that one back. They didn't have the one I needed in stock, so it took a while. That is why it was September 15, 2020, before I got the wheels mounted.

While waiting on the wheel, I had the clutch housing rebuilt at Snyder's, as well as getting a lightweight flywheel and a V8 clutch all balanced.  I purchased a new heavy-duty radiator from Snyder's.  (FYI :  The original radiator has 6 cooling fins per inch; the HD radiator has 8.)

Eric overhauled the engine at Model A Medic in Wichita, KS.  It took him a long time to finish the overhaul because he couldn't get the parts.   Lots of delays due to the COVID-19 virus.   It is the smoothest engine I have ever seen.  Starts right up and idles so smoothly.  With the 6:1 compression head, insert bearing, and the Stromberg 97 carb and manifold it is plenty snappy for a Model A.  (See the engine build sheet for more information on the overhaul)