They keys to any restoration is making sure the frame is in good standing and doesn't have any previous damage from accidents, frame sagging. I started by getting my 4 jack stands and placed the frame on them and used my grinder with a special wire wheel and attachments. Over the days I completed grinding down the frame and got it to bare metal. The frame was straight and had no signs of cracks or bends in it.

After making sure every last spot on the frame was down to bare metal, I wiped it down with a rag and WD40 and began to spray it with etching primer.  I used two coats of it on the frame and was very happy with the results. At first I was going to sand blast the frame like John did with his coupe frame but I'm glad I didn't because it shows both ways can be done with great results. Sandblasting took a lot less work but it was good to see it done both ways.

After uploading the 4th post I forgot to mention that before we began to disassemble everything we wanted to check to see what state the engine was in. We rigged up a cowl made of wood and used an old coffee can for a fuel tank and installed new plugs. To wire a Model A ford is pretty simply to get it going. Take 1 wire from the starter switch and hook it to the positive side of the coil. Another wire from the negative side of the coil to the distributor switch. Add gas, water and oil and it will run. Before we tried to fire it we checked to make sure there was power going to all the areas and we found we couldn't get the high tension wire to throw a spark. Quickly sanded the distributor points and we had it!

After a short time choking and turning the engine over it started and to our surprise it ran really well. Over all the years of sitting and adding oil down the spark plug holes for storage it smoked pretty good out the tail pipe. I will soon post a video of it running on our YOUTUBE page. Here is my father Jim and I celebrating after the initial run!  

After a few weeks of winter still hanging around our area the warm temperatures starting coming. We found some time to actually work on getting the whole chassis apart. Started with removing all the rivets that hold the running board brackets on. These had to be cut and drilled out. Next I unbolted the 7 bolts that go around the U Joint clam cover. Loosen all the bolts around the bell housing, engine mounts and front engine support. The rear U bolts that hold the rear end to the frame had to be cut because they were so seized on.

Next was bringing in the engine jack to hook up. We used a engine chain for strength and took two old spark plugs and knocked the porcelain out of them and installed a strong grade bolt through it with washer and nut. Worked like a charm. Vendors sell these todays but you can make your own....After the engine was lifted out and placed on the ground we took the transmission off the engine and began to inspect it all. The clutch was worn out and the pressure plate was covered in grease. The flywheel showed some minor wear on it's teeth but can be fixed.

They always say the dismantling is the easiest part. In this case, it was the opposite! Every nut and bolt on the car was either stripped or seized from all the years sitting outside.  PB blaster was our best friend and patients.  Once the fenders, rad and headlights were off we covered the engine and had to wait a few more weeks for winter to pass us. On a side note. The steering wheel was in remarkable shape and had no cracks in it. Very rare to find an original one that has not been cracked!

A few days past and I headed down with a truck and trailer to rescue the old girl from the snow. The snow had frozen and packed down in the tires which made it hard to turn and load. Help from a forklift we loaded it on the trailer and heading back home to Walkerton, Ontario. After the snow melted we began to clean it up and assess what we have saved. The engine turned over nicely but had no carb. Fenders looked solid except for a split in the passenger side, frame looked solid and the tires held air!.  

The search was on in January for a complete chassis to start our next project. After searching Kijiji, I had a gentleman call me from the city to tell me that he had an original 1930 Model A Sedan available that was sitting in the barn for the last 40 + years. The gentleman bought it from the previous owner with the intentions to use the body for his latest hotrod project. I went down to view the chassis and it was sitting outside in the snowbank..After seeing this I knew I had to rescue it and bring it home.... with my father Jim by my side this is were the story begins!!!!!!