Ranking The Best Ford Model A Modifications!

In this episode of the Epic Restorationz, Chris and George go over our top 5 Ford Model A Mods aka Modifications / upgrades for your 1928-1931 Ford Model A. With these modifications you can expect your Model A's safety and performance to improve.

Our top five modifications include
1. Replacing the Steel Fan
2. Replacing Steel Brake Drums with Cast Iron Brake Drums
3. Adding Front and Rear Turn Signals
4. Swapping the original Generator with an Alternator

Most of the modifications listed can be purchased from any of the reputable Model A parts vendors.

There are many worthy modifications worth mentioning include the Mitchell Overdrive, the High Compression Head, oil filter, safety glass, seat belts and so much more. Ask most Model A’ers about the modifications to their car and many will be able to list, for themselves, more than just a few. In fact, if you have a modification that you find particularly important, list it in the comments below and tell us what makes that modification important to you.

Check out the rest of the Ford Model A Restoration series at

Music Credits
Song: RocknStock - Rock It (No Copyright Music)
Music provided by Tunetank.

Disclaimer:
Videos produced by Epic Neon Epic Restorationz are provided for informational purposes only. All material provided within this website is for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only. Some of these projects, materials, and techniques may not be appropriate for all ages or skill levels. The DIY instructions used here are used to simply breakdown projects to their simplest steps. Please use a clear mind and use all safety precautions while doing your projects. Epic Neon Epic Restorationz does not make any claims of the safety of the projects, techniques, or resources listed on this site and will not take responsibility for what you do with the information provided by this site. Viewers must be aware by doing projects on their automobiles they are doing it at their own risk and Epic Neon Epic Restorationz cannot be held liable if they cause any damage to their vehicles or to themselves. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to educate themselves on their installation requirements before undertaking any sort of project. Be safe and have fun with your cars and restoration projects.

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[towgod]

I just found this video and found it quite interesting and enjoyable. I understand the automotive purists insisting that everything be as close to original as possible, though I think that is only relevant for a museum display. For a vehicle that actually gets driven, these changes strike me more as safety updates than mods. Keep up the good work. Cheers.

[Rottingboards]

I did all of these modifications. Thanks for the review.

[quailstudios]

This is a good video. Thank you very much.

[jdwht]

First, I agree with what has been stated earlier about replacing the ancient Ford two pin design brakes that they used until 1949 with the self energizing (Bendix) system and even adding a hydraulic system for added safety if the car is mostly used as a driver. Secondly, Powermaster has an alternator that looks like a Ford swing away generator (90 amp! )and has one with positive ground if deemed necessary. It's getting tough to find someone that can turn an armature on a generator, or worse, find reasonably priced repair parts. I swapped from gens to alternators on my cars about as soon as they were easily available (~1956 or thereabouts)

[pjcsmo]

I replaced the fans in both my Model A’s some years back. Same for adding turn signals on both cars - but still using the generators. Bought the new brake drums and hubs last year . But probably no. One on my list (in importance) was installing seat belts in both cars. The Model A roll over tendency in an accident can be partially offset by the seat belt keeping you inside the car

[christophercorso]

I'm not a purist. But i like having the 6v generator. The fact that its far deficient vs an alternator speaks to my stubbornness. Why would i want an easily accessible purchasable 12v battery went i can have two more to things two struggle with. The other being having to constantly turn the headlights on an off to maintain the batteries charge . Talk about a manual. Some cars are fun because theyre powerful or handle and brake. I like these clearly not for that reason. Its all the extra things you have to do that make them fun. Gav, spark, double clutch, choke "manual" turn signals, shifter, fuel cutoff. Always something to do.

[dalemettee]

On the subject of brakes, the brakes were shoes not pads. A new term that gets switched with the old ones.

[JimErvin-di]

First I'd like you to know that there is a way to reinforce the original two blade fan so that it won't crack and throw a blade. This information was published in The Restorer Magazine, although I'd have to look it up to say when. But I've been running a reinforced fan on my A for a long tine now.
Secondly, the cost of the those cast iron drums in Canada is just crazy expensive, especially when you get into doing a re and re on the hubs and studs. Add to that the cost of just getting them up here. I found a set of reinforcing bands for my steel drums, although they aren't easy to find. But also considering the limited amount of use of most Model As, cast iron drums are just not cost effective for me, unless I could find them at a swap meet.

Third, I do like the idea instead of an alternator instead of the old generator. I've been running a 6 volt alternator for several years although they have now become quite expensive. I'll keep my generator just to be able to say that I have all the original parts of the car. But with the generator, I couldn't ahooga the horn at night. Now I can.

Fourth the turn signals, which I believe are so important, I added cowl lights to my '3o standard coupe for them. But I also added my own wiring. To buy a special wiring harness with turn signal wiring added would now cost me about $500 Canadian. Nuts to that noise.

Fifth, I hadn't heard of the transmission seal kit. If I can add that without removing the tranny, I'm interested.

I'd like to add a sixth item and that's 16" wire wheels, usually from a '35 Ford. They're not all that easy to find anymore. But I like the idea of more rubber on the road so that my A isn't caught in the grooves which big trucks wear into the pavement in some highways. The cost of the tires isn't cheap, of course, but I especially like those wide whitewalls which I found at a a swap meet.

[joostderidder]

Nice info sir.
Are those alternators "plus" on the chassis? (and 6 volts? )

[zdavis]

I am glad I found this channel! Where in Michigan are you from?

[jeromebreeding]

Converting to juice brakes is arguably better than the original mechanical ones, and not that hard to do. Much safer too.

[desertlifestylegroup]

Thanks for the video. I found it helpful. Are you a shop that works on other's cars or are you only working on your own cars?

[pkerit]

#1. A high compression head
#2. 1984-87 F150 transmission. this is a fully synchronized 3 speed with overdrive and it is wonderful
#3. Bendix brakes to go with those cast iron drums, these are self energizing and self adjusting.
#4. 12 volt alternator and Pertronix electronic ignition
#5. 2 Su carburetors. The best carbs ever made

[PolyDotAVI]

I wanna get a Model A and i have a few questions about the electrical systems. i wanna have those big fog lamps that go under the head lights, could they be used like the cowl lights and be the blinkers while still also being fog lamps? or is it one or the other in this case?

Ideally i'd have phone charging, a heater, a simple AUX sound system and an interior light, and thats on top of the blinkers. Obviously the interior light and sound system are optional, but would all this be too much for a 6v System? Even with an alternator? in this case would it be necassary to switch it to 12v?

Thats all my questions, this is my idea for the actual sound system. No one has to read this:

my phone would already be in the car doing other things like acting as a GPS, so my idea was to have a small discreet device that i could plug my headphone jack into and have it connect to 2 small speakers in the roof of the car, definitely not original but nothing super fancy, my idea was to take a really small media device of some kind and strip it or modify it to at the very least look like it belongs there. the speakers themselves would be smaller flat ones that go under the interior in little chrome or wooden housings to match with the car. im not trying to slam a high fidelity sound system in this car i just like having music so the exact sound quality doesn't really matter to me unless its actually unlistenable