Everyone knows Derek at Vice Grip Garage is all about seeing if he can make things run and drive that have been sitting forever. In fact, he buys random vehicles sometimes just to see if it’s possible. But usually his stuff looks like crap, and this time it doesn’t. This time he’s gone out and bought a Model A Tudor Sedan, which is the Model A I’d love to build FYI, and is going to see if he can drive it from Iowa down to Tennessee. Is he crazy? I mean this thing won’t do 75 mph on a modern highway.
And is it reliable enough to make that kind of trip anyway?
In typical Vice Grip Garage fashion, there are some laughs, some adventure, and a few surprises and while I want to let you know all the stuff that is going to happen, that would be no fun at all for you! But I will say that this is a really special trip and one of my favorite VGG episodes ever. It was so cool to watch this go down and I’m so happy for Derek.
Watch, and you’ll know why. Watch, enjoy, and tell us whether you’d do this yourself or not.
What do you mean “tries” sounds like you never watched it!
In 1958 I bought a 1928 model A ford roadster for 100 dollars in Miller SD. On may 12th 1958 I left St Lawrence SD for a trip to New Mexico. The trip was 1539 miles. Ever thing went good. In the middle of August I drove it back to SD. After I got home I sold it for 150 dollars and joined the army. Good memories.
Interesting video of a great road adventure. Thanks for sharing your experience. I would leave the color scheme the same if it was mine. Looks Great and it would match the video for days when you look back on this road trip.
Loved the video. Would like to see a follow up video when the car is finished.
Needed a Picnic Basket Tomato Sandwiches ,,,Marvelous Marvelous
Thanks for sharing the Model A trip.
I had. ‘30 2 dr sedan for a few years. I can relate to the 40 ish country driving. I put on 800 miles that first summer. Live in northern MN. The second summer we were out for a 200 mile drive and about 45 miles on the road somewhere down in the bowels of the I-4 flathead there was an unusual rattling. Shut er down. While pondering the situation. I fired her up just to listen, no no. No. Shut er down, called a friend, trailered it home. Pulled the pan a couple of days later and one of the connecting rod bearings had spit out Babbitt till there was just a 3/4 inch triangle left in the bottom half of that bad bearing. The Babbitt had Un bonded from the rod cap. The crank was still perfect. The machine work of the previous OP was very good. I put in new rods with insert bearings. I did the things you talked about, 5 -1 head, B Cam, new water pump with modern seal, adjustable lifters, updated the spark a later, easier turning fan. It pulled good, I figured 5 plus hp increase. In the next few years I did a 100 mile day in the rain, just because, we also did a 200 mile day. That day we started with 3
A sedans, one went down early, but four of us in 2 A’s had a very memorable beautiful day, we can relate to your epic trip. I listened to the whole thing and was glad you preserved!
Thanks,
Bob