Overview

Content creator David "Fryburger" Fryberger and mechanic Derek of Vice Grip Garage drove a bone-stock 1929 Ford Model A coupe from the Los Angeles area toward Phoenix, Arizona. The planned route covered approximately 420 miles through the desert. The vehicle had sat for several years before Fryburger acquired it. Derek prepared the car for the trip, which began with a mechanical failure at the first refueling stop.

Initial Failure: Cylinder Head Leak

At a gas station, Fryburger observed water leaking from the side of the cylinder head where it meets the engine block. Derek drained the oil and found it contaminated with coolant, giving it a mocha-latte appearance. The contamination indicated a failed head gasket.

The team retorqued the cylinder head bolts. Several bolts showed significant movement, which indicated the head had loosened over time, possibly through repeated heat cycles. The team replaced the head gasket and torqued the head again.

Because the Model A uses a non-pressurized cooling system, sealant products designed for pressurized systems do not work reliably. The team added K-Seal to the radiator and to the crankcase, targeting the head gasket and the piston rings. Fryburger noted that the product consumed a large amount of water during early testing.

Test Drives and Initial Observations

The team tested the car on local roads. Observations included:

• Clutch: Engagement occurred within the last 1/32 inch of pedal travel. Fryburger reported improved clutch feel with repeated use.
• Brakes: Mechanical brakes operated without hydraulic fluid.
• Instrumentation: The ammeter and speedometer functioned. The odometer did not.
• Wipers: The vacuum-powered windshield wiper operated.
• Speed accuracy: A radar reading of 40 mph matched the speedometer.
• Transmission: The three-speed transmission had no synchromesh. Fryburger used double clutching and RPM matching, with double clutching judged the more reliable method.
• Cooling: The system overflowed and sprayed water onto the windshield. The team identified more rubber under the cab as a possible remedy.

The petcock, which had leaked coolant, began to close and open without leaking. The team did not replace it.

Water Leak Test

To check for combustion gas entering the water jacket, the team added more K-Seal and ran the engine with the radiator cap off. The team looked for bubbles in the coolant. Bubbling diminished compared with the earlier test, and no water seeped from the side of the block except at one location.

Oiling System

The oil drip point, located behind the engine and called the "dripper" by the team, released oil at a rate the team considered excessive. Derek stated that the adjustment method is to add more oil. The team accepted the rate for the remainder of the trip. The car uses a total-loss oiling system.

Engine Performance and Fuel System

The engine performed well at 35 mph, which the team identified as the car's preferred cruising speed. Some segments required 25 to 33 mph. The car overheated on hills and at low speeds in traffic.

During a stop, the team added two gallons of water. The team also found fuel and water contaminated with rust. Derek and Fryburger removed the carburetor and found a sealant fragment in the main jet. Cleaning the jet and fuel bowl with fuel injector cleaner restored flow. The team reinstalled the parts.

Spark Plug Analysis

The team removed and examined the spark plugs:

• Cylinder 1: Heavily oil-fouled and black. The plug was not firing. The team treated cylinder 1 as the primary fault.
• Cylinder 2: Burned cleanly, with a marshmallow-colored insulator.
• Cylinder 3: Showed oil contamination.

The team rotated plugs between cylinders during testing. Ignition timing was set at approximately 24 degrees during cruising. The team planned to advance timing toward 30 degrees and observe the soot ring on the plug base as an indicator.

Compression Test

The team used an adapted compression tester fitted into the spark plug hole. Results:

Derek stated that a healthy hot rod Model A typically reads 90 to 95 psi. A typical stock reading falls between 50 and 65 psi. The minimum figure cited was 40 psi.

Diagnosis and Repairs

The team considered several explanations for cylinder 1:

• Worn or stuck piston rings
• A burned or hanging intake valve
• A worn distributor cam lobe
• Ignition gap problems

The team determined that the points gap was set too narrowly, so the points did not open properly on the worn lobe. Backing the adjustment out a quarter turn restored spark on all four cylinders. The team also replaced the spark plugs.

The team swapped the carburetor for a 1931 Zenith unit. Derek stated that the Zenith carburetor is made for this engine. The change produced smooth idling and improved performance, but cylinder 1 still showed intermittent misfiring.

Oil Drain and Transmission Service

Fryburger drained the engine oil. The oil contained no metal particles, and the team recorded a generous oil volume remaining. The team did not identify metal in the oil.

The transmission contained very little oil. The team filled it with Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer. Derek's contact, Sam, recommended 600-weight gear oil, which was unavailable. The Lucas product label recommends 25% for light-duty manual transmissions, 25 to 50% for heavy-duty transmissions, and 50 to 100% to reduce noise and wear. The team used the product at a high concentration. Fryburger reported that the transmission shifted without grinding afterward.

The team flushed the cooling system with a hose supplied by a local business. The radiator was refilled after flushing.

Headlight Repair

The headlight circuit had a short. The team installed a fuse and added a dash switch using an existing hole in the dashboard. The left headlight was dim, and the team found a burnt filament in one stage of the bulb.

Final Repairs and Arrival

After the cylinder 1 ignition adjustment, the engine ran on four cylinders. Near Hope, Arizona, the car ran hot, and the team cleaned the spark plugs roadside. The engine then failed to start, and the team restarted it after a short period.

The team reached the destination after completing the trip. The trip ended at Rick Payway's property, where Fryburger handed the car over to Derek. The car is a 1929 Model A.

Summary

The team confirmed the following:

• The head gasket failure was addressed through retorquing and gasket replacement.
• Sealant products did not provide a reliable repair in the non-pressurized cooling system.
• Cylinder 1 was affected by an ignition timing issue identified as a points gap problem, and mechanical wear was not ruled out.
• The carburetor was replaced with a 1931 Zenith unit.
• The transmission was treated with a high-concentration Lucas product.
• Engine performance remained limited under load, with the car's preferred speed at about 35 mph.