"Why would you ever trust fluid to stop your car?"
I just finished going over and setting up a Model A mechanical brake system for a very happy customer last week.
There are lots of items to check over and be sure are in tip-top shape, clevis's and pins wear, wedges and rollers need to be clean, free moving and greased. It's all easy stuff. After that there is an adjustment procedure that must be followed but it's not rocket surgery.
When you get the shoes re-lined, be sure to tell the shop that is installing them what you're putting them on and that it has mechanical brake so that they will use the proper linings.
The handbrake is a complete, second drum system inside the service brakes so even if something goes pear-shaped with the foot brake, it's still there and working.
When driving something with mechanical brakes, remember that it does not have a brain and you will be required to use yours.
If you have any questions, just send me a PM, I won't try to convince you to change your car, just how to set it properly.
That '34 Packard Twelve that we did last year has vacuum-boosted cable brakes and they haul that 5,000lb car down to a stop very quickly and in a straight line.
Nice Alfa btw. That car probably only has rear-wheel brakes.
4-wheel brakes didn't become common until the late-teens to early-twenties. There was a fear that brakes on the front wheels would cause the car to flip over. We've got a Simplex-Crane with rear-wheel brakes and stopping it takes some pre-planning.
In reply to mazdeuce:
I agree that a MGTC is something to seriously consider.. It has all the character of a Model A without the bulk or fragility. Plus it's not out of breath at 50 nor is it wobbly or prone to tip over..
The 54 horsepower of a TC/TD engine will propel the MG to 80 MPH and still provide fun going around a corner.
A MGTC is competitive or at least fun in the prewar group at a vintage race there will always be someone about your speed to play with.. Plus it's reasonably durable and reliable... My MGTD with the same engine as a TC is now on it's 3rd decade since my last rebuild.. Depending on how many vintage races I enter it last 2 to 3 decades before a rebuild. The work is simple and straight forward plus parts are readily available from several sources..
It's cool to hand crank a MG to start even though it will reliably start on the electric starter.. The TC does command a premium though and for less than 1/2 the price you can get a fine MGTD. It's just that without those 19 inch wire wheels a TC has a drop dead look that a TD doesn't match. I've seen nice TD drivers go around $10,000 where TC's seem to start around $25,000
mazdeuce wrote:
Rupert wrote:
NOHOME wrote:
Think outside the box...Nobody does eclectic like the French.
Wow!! I've always loved Citroens! But the people I know nearby who own them are always searching for parts.
That's amazingly pretty. If one is willing to learn some French and put parts on the slow boat, are the parts really available? I'd trade convenience for waking up to that in my garage.
Traction Avants have a pretty big following in Europe so parts availability should not be that big of an issue. It's not going to be Ford Model T or A easy, but the parts are available. There is/was at least one specialist in Britain as well - these were assembled as CKDs in Slough - so lack of French speaking may not be that big an issue.
I randomly found my way into this forum so forgive me if I am posting out of turn. My mom has a 1929 Franklin that we need to sell at some point. If you think that might be cool, let me know. It spent a little time at the Franklin museum, runs and drives. Good interior, cool old car.
Jcamper
