VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Tubes for a32

Where is the cheapest place to purchase new tubes with the metal valve stems .In Canada the best I could find in $90 plus tax,

Check with Coker Tire or Universal Tire to see how their prices compare.

Be sure when you order that you get center stem tubes. I got my tires and tubes from Coker and did not know the difference until I had a problem. Their sales person did not have the correct info either.

You can order the rubber stem tubes, cut off the stems and insert metal clamp-in style valve stems with bridge washer & nut and then rim washer and cap. The metal stems are available from Model A part suppliers such as Snyder's Antique Auto Parts, New Springfield, OH. BTW Chevrolet used the same metal stems as the Model A. I have installed the stems on numerous tubes without any problems.

If you want to do your own. Here's a you tube on how..Joe

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/clamp-in-style-valve-stems

Nice link and good video tutorial

What, if any, is the advantage of buying a metal stem and installing it when it is cheaper to buy the tube with a metal stem to start with?

When I purchased my tires and tubes from Universal Tire, they installed the metal stems, dust cover and etc. on the new tubes for me.

The prices I get are approx. $ 17 for rubber stem tubes and $ 39 for metal stem tubes. The metal stems with bridge washer is $ 15 which by my math is less for the DIY installation than buying tubes with stems installed. Of course the metal stems in most installed tubes are vulcanized. If you think that the factory installed metal stems are better then the premium might be worth it.

If you have a better deal I would be interested as I have to buy several sets of tubes and tires in the next year or so.

When I did our '31 Coupe I purchased the Schrader Valve Stems from the Schrader Valve Company. This was about 1963. They still had 19 in stock so I purchased the 19. I cut my valve stems off, ground the tube flat, and installed the Schrader Valve. I have never had a problem. By the way they were .35 each.

I kept 6. Five went in my dad's model A. Five in my brother's model A and three went to a family friend.

I remember at the Tenth Anniversary Meet at the Judges Meeting they said they would not take points off for rubber valve stems because the metal ones were not available. Now that they are masking repros they are required.

Thanks for the info, I have some new tubes but the valve stem is not in the center. I like the idea of installing the metal stems. Putting two kids through college so I need all the savings I can get.

Universal lists tubes with rubber stems at $16 and $33 for the metal stem ones. Seems to me the total is pretty much the same except they do the work!

On line they are listed as $18 and $33. Also listed is metal stem tubes for $43.00. I believe the difference is whether the tube is USA or foreign made. The $43.00 tube has the metal stem installed by Universal and it is originally a rubber stem tube that they install the metal stem and it is then vulcanized by them. The $33.00 Nickle stem tube is imported.