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TOUR PREPARATIONS
One doesn’t embark on a major tour without doing lots of planning and making preparations. A significant portion of the preparation involves the car and what tools, parts and clothing to take. Dennis and I left the latter up to Joann and Joan, for the most part. We concentrated on the other factors.
Unbeknown to me, Dennis decided that he was going to drive in as much comfort as the old Model A could provide. He knew that we would have lots of hot weather, even leaving in spring and covering the southern climes first. Several of our Texas friends in MATC have installed air conditioners in their Model A’s, so Dennis allowed as how he would do the same. As I said, I knew nothing about this until one day he proudly showed me his finished product! It was neat and it worked! This posed quite a problem for me. I hadn’t consider an air conditioner, but as I told Joann, “I’ll be darned if I am going to listen to Dennis telling me on the CB how nice and cool he is while I am sweltering in temperatures and humidity in the 90’s!” So, I went out and bought a kit to install “air” in the Victoria! It wasn’t easy, but finally I got it all in and working.
If you look at Picture 1 below, you can see the engine compartment with the alternator and the AC compressor installed as a unit behind the radiator. The alternator is on top. The hoses connect to the evaporator, or cooler unit mounted under the gas tank and instrument panel, shown in Picture 2. For those of you who know about such things, the condenser unit is mounted under the car, just aft of the differential and has a fan to help cool it. The Olsons’ car is similarly equipped.
Picture 1: Air Conditioner Compressor mounted with the Alternator on top.
Picture 2: Air Conditioner Cooling Unit.
The question of where to store all the parts, tools, clothing and other “stuff” needed for a 90-day tour was addressed by both families in a similar way. We decided to remove the rear seats and store most of the things in plastic tubs. The Victoria, with only two doors is difficult to load and unload regular luggage over the fold-down front seats. It is hard on the back and on the seats, so this arrangement should be an improvement. The Olsons’ car is a four door, so they don’t have the same problem. We plan to use small duffel bags, to carry our clothing and toilet articles between the car motel rooms.
The rear seat area of the Victoria is not a clear space. It has a large transverse frame member protruding up about four inches, which matches the arch of the rear spring. In order to make a flat deck for the tubs, I formed a box of 2 x 4’s and topped with plywood, in turn covered with rubber shelf material, as shown in Picture 3. Under the deck, I carry parts and tools (Picture 4).
Picture 3: Rear Seat Removed and Cargo deck Installed.
Picture 4: Tools and parts under the deck.
The areas forward of this deck are also covered with plywood to make flat areas to place our duffels and other containers and to form more under-the-deck storage space. In addition, the Vickie, and the Olsons’ fordor, have rear mounted trunks. Picture 5 shows the loaded “cargo compartment.” All of our tools, parts and “stuff” are inventoried and listed for quick access.
Picture 5: Loaded Cargo Compartment
That’s the preparation. We’ll let you know how all this works out as we wend our way east!
Regards,
Keith and Fellow Travelers
