MTFCA Forum

Allen, here’s a grey one I built 40 yrs ago. Wish the picture was better but it is what it is. I too, really like these colors together.

Ready to go in the trailer and head to Ohio. I am so glad to leave the heat.

We’re rollin now!

My pleasure Haydon. I learn a lot from other peoples build stories about how to do things, or what product to buy. Their experience can save you money and time. Did final sheet metal fit today and now final tweaking of brackets to get a good fit. Tomorrow we will acid treatment the sheet metal and p...

It took all day to do this. It’s 105 so I had to take some water breaks, but the good thing it’s done. I’m getting closer to finishing the first step in this build.

Should be on wheels in a day or two.

So I made the top arm extension pieces for the butterfly irons and bolted them into the fenders to see how they would mate up with the casting arms. I had to heat the casting arms and bend them down as they were rubbing against the skirt. IMG_4340.jpeg Next I cut off the casting arms where they turn...

The last hurtle to getting the sheetmetal on the chassis is the rear fender irons. You can see the casting inside the rear fender well. Now we need to make the upper section of the iron that fits into the fender bracket and welds onto the casting at the other end. You need to have the fender exactly...

With both rear fenders propped up and pre drilled for the running boards, you can put the running boards in position sandwiching the apron tail between the fender tab and the woodblock. They will come off and on half a dozen times for reshaping before they will sit fairly good. IMG_4333.jpeg IMG_433...

Then prop a rear fender into position. Then cut the running board blocks and drill them.

So finally starting to fit sheetmetal. Discovered the left frame rail was a 1/4” ahead of the right one, so we placed the frame catty-wampus between a 100 ton press brake and a forklift and with a few nudges we were back in square. The firewall has to be square or nothing fits.I will have to go back...

I picked up a set of Hayes Wire wheels from a fellow member on this forum. He was helping a widow sell surplus parts her husband had leftover. He said they looked pretty good, but didn’t really know anything about them. They looked to be in storage a long time. When I cleaned them I discovered they ...

I have always liked the extra cushion you get from Float-A-Fords on the rear of a light bodied T, so I put them on this one.

Thanks Art. Everyone’s favorite Sunday afternoon activity, mounting new tires. Some years ago I bought new rims, had them powder coated and stored away till now. IMG_4299.jpeg Was never a fan of flaps, so in the days before new rims I would wrap the inside with two layers of duct tape to keep the ro...

You really get a sense of how long the Torpedo column is when you step back and realize it’s length is more than half the length of the frame.

With the firewall in place I thought I might as well fit the steering gear in place. Center shaft was tight last 2” into housing, so I figured I got solder into the gear head opening. I’ll have to ream it when it comes back apart. Lower steering to frame bracket is another Tom Manochi piece. Fit bea...

This keeps the top of the frame rails from flexing out or in. Now if I can just get the r/b truss rods I can start to mount the fenders and aprons. Then I can build the rest of the butterfly irons upward arms. I got the bushing on the lower d/s. THE WORST JOB of this whole build. Fitting the U joint...

All holes welded up and finished off. Reprimed and ready to move along. IMG_4267.jpeg IMG_4269.jpeg IMG_4270.jpeg Found a Torpedo firewall in the wood shop. Looks to be a Seversons from 40 years ago. Some water stains that sanded off for the most part and a scare at the top that I think I can doctor...

I think the frame was a farm trailer at some point. I welded up holes that shouldn’t be there.

Put in new D/S collar bushing, while waiting for other parts.

Made new brake release rod after straightening hand brake lever.

Then reassemble the front end. Dry, no grease. It will come all apart for paint later and that’s when I will nit pick the finish on all the parts.

I used a new front spring and I didn’t care for the taper on the end of the leaves, so I reshaped and cleaned up the edges. Then took all the pieces to the sandblaster and then shot the parts with a sealer to keep them from rusting.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, they mean a lot from fellow builders. Jeff, I love machines that do stuff also. And Keith the brackets came from Tom Manochi probably 7 yrs. ago. When I begin to gather parts I like to put together subassemblies to see if the parts fit, if there worn out and be...

Torpedo column with a loose gear case on top, so I reset the rivets and silver soldered the joint. Now to clean the mess off.

I have a pr. of housings, so I bought a donor rear end. Turns out the guts were very nice. Put tha axles in the lathe and arrow straight. Ring and pinion very nice also. Axles are centered, so no bent housings. The usual thrust washers and pins were replaced. I’m waiting for a driveshaft to set the ...

IMG_4149.jpeg IMG_4160.jpeg IMG_4208.jpeg IMG_4210.jpeg For the last 7-8 years I gathered parts in hope of building a Torpedo. So I thought it’s time to put the chassis together and we’ll think about a body later. So for now I brought what I have to the shop and started with riveting brackets to th...

Email sent. Did you miss it?

or new set of driveshaft thrust bearing? Will take single pieces also. Thanks

have a decent driveshaft. Just need the center shaft. Thanks.

to match this one.

Since we no longer have body building personal in house, we are clearing out relative inventory. We have some top bows we would like to move out. These are steam bent oak, 1” thick by 1 1/2” wide and they have the ends shaped to go into the sockets, which saves you a big job. 09-10 roadster and tour...

Need a pr. of 1910-15, 7/16” truss rods that run between the running board brackets. Thanks for your help.

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

Right rear is 09/10. Left rear is 13/14. Fronts are 09/10. Aprons are 09/10.

Looking for 5 30X3 1/2 tires. Must be a matched set, good enough to put on the road. Not interested in ancient cracked wanta be tires. Something you got for a project and never used type tires. Thanks.

Using the hand brake bolts as an attachment location, I remove the paint between the bolts so the solenoid grounds to the frame. The mounting holes in the solenoid will have to be enlarged to accept the hand brake pattern.

Here is the wiring diagram I use. I don’t think it makes a difference if it’s 6V, except solenoid and battery.

I use the same solenoid mounted inside the frame with a starter button out the bottom of the coil box.

Looks like it’s lunch time, so with that I will say that we have reached the end of picture files. It has been my pleasure to bring everyone this glimpse into our past. I hope you have enjoyed this experience as much as I have. Regards Tom.

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