MTFCA Forum

It's old technology.... a challenge to learn yet easier to understand than today's computer controlled cars. I can actually work on it! I also have a family connection ---- my family's first car was a 1917 Touring. My '17 was actually built on my dad's tenth birthday (Sept 23, 1916.) My maternal gra...

I have a new radiator and my car never runs hot...never! My car had an old water pump when I bought it but I didn't want to introduce another possible point of failure. If I felt I needed a water pump I would buy a modern unit from Texas T's and use the other for a wheel chock.

The pictures on the news are heartbreaking.... what our western friends are having to endure is beyond belief. Here in Michigan the sky is more gray than blue and towards evening the Sun is just a dull orange ball... they say it is due to the smoke from the west. Incredible, just incredible and sad.

What an interesting idea.... I think it is certainly worth a try. Let us know what happens

You've got to forget the "Mr." stuff....those guys will get big heads and be impossible to deal with. You can buy bent Oak bows from the vendors like Langs and Snyders for a reasonable cost. If you want a laminated bow (more $$) contact Jonathon Anderson <jpautowood@gmail.com>. I bought a complete s...

Along the same vein, I started collecting "Do's and Don'ts" in late 2018 but then was taken out of action by a shattered ankle and never shared the result with the forum. I dug it up and polished it a bit and here it is - you'll need to download the free Adobe Reader if you don't already have it. T_...

I've attached a photo that may better explain what I was talking about. First of all, my Rip Van "Wrinkle" top was in a never-opened box under my rear seat when I bought the car. The box was from J C Whitney and had a 1989 postmark. I have no idea who actually made the top but I'm sure it wasn't JCW...

I am so glad everyone is OK. Hank definitely kept his cool... I am also glad that I installed rear disc brakes over the winter.... my wake-up call came on a steep hill on last year's covered bridge tour. Live and learn - maybe it should be "learn and live..."

Thanks to all for sharing

Over the last few days my wife and I joined seven other couples and their Model T's for a tour in Mid-Michigan. This was the first outing with my new top. We encountered some light rain and for the most part stayed dry which was nice. One leak occurred where the rain fly on the top of the windshield...

Not all sectors of the economy are hurting. I have a friend in the antique car maintenance business who is booked thru December.

The position of the windshield hinge appeared in later 1917. The bow sockets look square which along with the previous comments would make it 1918 or non-starter 1919 (maybe

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I found something similar when I looked at my top bows although I think yours is worse. If the bow fails you could damage your top and who knows what. I suggest you replace it and perhaps others. Jonathan Anderson<jpautowood@gmail.com> makes beautiful replacement bows. I replaced all of mine and as ...

I bought a pair of these mirrors for my 1917 touring. They have the least vibration of others I have tried. A quality unit.

Here in the Thumb of Michigan it is 68°, blue skies with a few clouds and a nice breeze. One of those days it feels great to be alive. For the most part Michigan has a great climate but we too have seen some aberrations over the past few years. At least we're not melting, burning or being blown or w...

Hmmm....I read the comments on the AACA forum and learned something new. I'd never thought of doing a google search by image. I tried it and it worked very well. A good way to find out if the pictures are legit or from another source (ebay ad, forum posting, whatever.)

There are lots of knowledgeable Model T guys in SE Michigan. Many belong to the Casual T's. You might check them out. <http://www.casualts.org/>

Peter - thanks for your comments. You make an interesting point. Yes, I can change a tire. I carry a spare, jack, lug wrench & etc. I also frequently check tire pressure.

Prestolite pioneered the process of compressing Acetylene gas and storing it in cylinders.

OK - to answer your questions. 1.) The tires are Universal T-Drivers. The tubes are Hartfords. They had 2200 miles on them when the trouble started. 2.) The tire stems were cut / torn on one side not fore and aft which I would have expected had the tires slipped on the rim. I'm going to put little p...

Awhile back I went out to my barn to work on the T and found the left rear tire flat. I removed the demountable rim and took it to my local tire shop where they found the valve stem had been cut on the side! Their theory was that the beads of the tire allowed so little space that the tire itself cut...

When my radiator filler neck came off I took it to an old time radiator shop. He did a great job and it cost me only $20. I would have spent that much for the materials to do my own repairs and might have produced amateurish results.

Actually, I have a wood firewall. The photo I posted is not of my car. I used a small router bit to make a slot in the wood because the push rod doesn't move straight back and forth. On the inside the slot is covered by an oval shaped brass disc with a centered hole. I've attached a drawing that may...

I have a related question. I recently had a flat - crack in the valve stem on one side. Tire inflation was checked the day it happened. There was no evidence of a sudden loss of pressure --- I just found it flat when I went to the barn the next day. Any theories as to why this happened? My tire guy ...

I have the same thing....a '17 touring with a starter added. The setup is similar to a '19 or '20. When I had my Holley G carburetor overhauled by Russ Potter I asked him to add a double-ended choke lever which allows the attachment of a choke wire from the front by the crank and from the panel. The...

I've met Mark and his dad and seen their shops. I doubt anyone does finer work on Model T's. That said, the fact that Mark can suffer such a horrific injury is scary and should be a lesson to all in the hobby. My '17 didn't have a starter but I added one when the engine was rebuilt. Purists might ob...

Brakes? Jonah, that is a very astute observation. Getting a Model T to "Go" is a great accomplishment. Getting it to "Stop" can be equally rewarding. I had some experiences on a tour in really hilly country that were a little scary (where I live is pretty flat) so this spring I installed hydraulic d...

Swiss Army Knife - besides the obvious uses, the little magnifying glass helps my old eyes read the numbers on drill bits

Maybe you need to change your diet

From a January 1923 Newspaper. Boy! talk about predicting the future!

Pennsylvania to Studio City....I sense a story there. I hope we aren't overloading you with too much information but as Kelly Bundy said, "To be forewarned is to have four arms..." (Obscure Married With Children reference typical of a babbling old guy.) Part of the fun is the research...followed by ...

Welcome to the hobby... good luck in your search! Don't buy a Model T if you're looking for a speedy antique. A comfortable speed for a T is in the 30-35 mph range. I've had mine up over 45 or so on busy roads but it isn't a comfortable feeling, especially in an open car. Also, why beat your engine ...

Tom, Looking at your photo of the "broken end" what I see doesn't look much like the cut end of the material I used. It looks more like plastic. I wonder if we're talking about the same material? I have a test piece I cut and bent to learn how to mold the material that I'm going to hang up and see w...

Lisa, I like your enthusiasm and the obvious intelligence you are putting into researching your choice of a Model T. I agree with others....A T is not suitable for freeways. The only exception might be on an organized tour with other Model T's and then only for a short distance. If a modern car pile...

Dick is correct....never say never. My motto is “have trailer will travel.” A Model T tour is a great place to see new country (at a modest pace) and meet new people. Thanks for your comment about my tail light. I didn’t mention that I’ve installed LED bulbs in my headlights and all the oil lamps. I...

You are correct - when I refer to the "period" I mean the years that the Model T was being produced or still in common use. If you read "Farewell my lovely" by E.B. White (which was posted recently) you'll see mentioned the huge number of aftermarket accessories available to personalize your Model T...

Aircraft fuel available today is still leaded and set at 100 octane. My aircraft's engine was originally certified for 73 Octane but only 100 is available. The only issue I notice is a greater tendency towards lead fouling of spark plugs. No improvement in performance compared to when 80-87 octane w...

Lisa, So far you are doing everything right. You have also received some great advice from guys on the forum and have a wonderful resource in your club. I don't have much to add but will throw out a couple of points. 1.) Decide whether you want a "driver" or a show car. For a driver you should look ...

FWIW - I purchased straps with T-cotters from RV for my '17 Touring. They are nickel plated which is correct for my car. I dug out the rotted original wood inserts and poured epoxy as recommended by RV and others. I then drilled and tapped the epoxy for #8 machine screws. I think the epoxy is a grea...

Why own a Model T? I'm about to turn 71 and when I was born the newest Model T was already either in a collector's hands or quietly neglected and rusting away somewhere. I bought my first and only Model T in August of 2018. Ironically, I was nudged in that direction by my wife who loved riding the M...

I'd say there is a lake in the background as the trees seem to end at the water's edge. Also, the leaves on the ground appear to be Oak.

Pretty impressive load of pigeon poop.

John Regan is the expert when it comes to firewalls. You might ask him what's available as far as reference material. You can find him with a member search.

Does it even try to start when hot or simply turn over with no firing at all?

I tried to find some originals but so far no luck. With the swap meets cancelled there aren't many places to look.

The new ones available have an inferior bridge washer so I've avoided them. The ones that must be vulcanized on seemed like they might be a good alternative IF they work.

Can anyone share their experiences good and bad with the brass replacement stems available from Lang's and others? Specifically, the type that has to be "hot vulcanized" to the tube. I recently had a flat caused by a cut or tear in the side of the rubber stem on a relatively new Hartford tube and I ...

My friend is on his way to Texas and is really grateful for all the suggestions. Hopefully we'll see him on here as he digs into his new Model T. Thanks!

A friend of mine is hauling a '23 Coupe from Texas to Michigan. He'll be using a open car hauler. His question is whether it would be easier on the car to haul it facing forward or backwards on the trailer? It has a sunshade on the front that doesn't look too substantial for 70-75 mph winds. I also ...

I have a '17 and the windshield looks like yours. The offset hinges first appeared in April 1917, prior to that they were still like the 1916. My car was built in September of 1916 and doesn't have the offset hinges. Regarding the "modern" radiator hose - there is a steel tube that goes in that loca...

Hmmm..... The casting date on the engine block is January 20, 1917. The rest of it looks like maybe 1916ish? Brass radiators ended with the 1916 model year. The headlight lenses are from the 20's but they could have been replaced. The demountable wheels are 1919 or later The engine serial number is ...

Does anyone have a couple of original type brass valve stems for Model T wooden wheels? The kind Steve Jelf recommends. I need the stem, bridge washer and nuts. I have a couple of good tubes with damaged rubber stems.

Did you ever tell us what kind of timer you have? That's another potential source of engine stumble.

Thanks to all for your comments....they helped. As I said, I purchased material from Classtique to match my top. It came in three pieces with the end pieces cut on the bias. I agree that you could likely do it in one piece if it was all cut on the bias. What I did was glue the material to the inside...

Ok, I'm back again. I ordered some material from Classtique that matches the rest of my kit. The front bow wrap comes in three pieces with the end pieces for the curve cut on the bias. Now I am faced with how to proceed with attaching it. I don't want to ruin it and have to buy replacements and lose...

Many town have wide streets because in the horse and buggy days parking was usually angle -very hard to parallel park a horse and buggy. Angle parking usually carried over to the early automotive days but is far less common today.

The wishbone cap is usually held on by studs that are threaded on both ends and castle nuts. The exposed end of the stud is drilled. Safety wire is used because just sticking a cotter pin in won't prevent the stud from backing out. The alternative for you would be to drill the heads of the bolts you...

Dave is correct - often the only recourse is to buy fasteners from a vendor. If you plan to stick with bolts securing the wishbone ball to the pan you might want to drill the heads (if there is enough meat) and safety wire. Alternatively, Aircraft AN bolts are fine thread and may be ordered plain, d...

I was the one who mentioned your driveshaft was flipped. The angle might result in a clearance issue on the driveshaft coupler that prevents a big grease cup from being installed. You can't just flip the coupler 180° because it has to align with a hole in the ball around the universal. Until you get...

Thanks RV, that is just what I was looking for. I should have clarified that my car is a September 1916 build with oval sockets. I'll have to throw a tape measure on the existing loops and see how close they come. I'm using bows that Jonathan made and they are top quality. I look forward to installi...

Steve,
If you do decide you need a hub, try Hank Lee. He's helped me more than once and heaven knows what he has stashed away...

Ok....not coffin humor but a few from the archives: Back in the twenties a lunatic escaped from the asylum and stole the first car he found - a Ford touring car. His first stop was the laundry nearby, where he somehow persuaded two employees to take a break and go for a high speed ride. Unfortunatel...

Is the new race an actual Timken or from overseas? Like Walter said, I'm curious about the dimensions of old and new.

To build on what the other Tim said, it reminds me of steam locomotives having to stop periodically to take on water.... I had an old round tube radiator and replaced it with a new Bergs and never looked back. It never overheats and I never have to add coolant. With all the hot weather of late havin...

Not only should the cap on the ball of the wishbone be safety wired, the ball itself should not be loose in it's socket. They make shims for it but sometimes if it is badly worn, you may need to replace the ball and maybe the socket that is attached to the oil pan. Another subject to google :-) If y...

Sorry for your troubles....You never know what the guy before you did so take nothing for granted. I am no expert - but if the inner cup is just loose enough that you can turn it with your fingers but otherwise fitting the space without an obvious big gap, you might consider using a product like Loc...

My 1917 Touring didn't have a top on it when I bought it, just the rotting remains of the top bows. Some of the bows may have been original but others were obviously made by a previous owner. As I prepare to install my new top bows, I have questions about the footman loops. Since I'm pretty sure the...

Looking at one of your photos it looks like the big grease cup on the drive shaft where the ball of the shaft tube meets the transmission hangs down which is opposite the way Ford did it. Some guys did this so they could access the grease cups without taking the floor boards up, but it does create a...

You didn't mention what kind of timer you have. Some need lube, some don't. When you're turning the cups to add grease, don't forget that the ball around the universal is supposed to be packed full of grease so don't be sparing there. Some will likely squeeze out with use as the seal to the back of ...

I like it

Any more Model T jokes? Those of us newer to the hobby haven't heard them all yet....

Ron, did you rebuild the engine yourself or have some one do it? If the latter, was it someone experienced with Model T engines?

Allan brought up something I meant to mention. With a 6 volt system you want the cables in the battery to starter circuit to be very heavy to reduce resistance loss - 0 or 00 gauge is common. Some guys even use cables designed for an arc welder. If you use what is available at the autoparts your sta...

Brendan, Scott Conger makes an excellent float valve for a NH carb <https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14252> You'll want to take the bowl off and check the float condition as well. Nonetheless, a shut-off valve at the carb is always a good idea. If your car is going to sit for awhile it's...

Responding to Dick's comment: Tim, with respect, that sentence is ambiguous. It could be read to mean that not having a water pump is a good thing, or that a water pump is a good thing. Having hung around this forum for years, I am going to assume you meant the first. As a retired schoolteacher I am...

Sold to Dan

Being in a northern clime you should seriously consider running a 50/50 antifreeze mix. Be sure to use "conventional" green, coolant designed for older cars. It protects against corrosion and removes any chance of freeze cracks in the block. They make an additive called "wetter water" which is suppo...

Brendan, welcome to the hobby. You're in for quite a ride in more ways than one :D What Jerry said about avoiding any contact between the magneto and the battery is really good advice. You can easily demagnitize the magnets, rendering your magneto useless. If you think your magneto is weak, there ar...

"As the twig is bent, so grows the tree....." Good job Hank!

Larry, I think you are going a little hard on some of the posters. We're all trying to do the best that we can. The vinyl that came with my kit is cut on the bias and I've tried everything I can think of and a few things others recommended with no luck. It looks better now than the first photo I sub...

The planning group has carefully considered our options and conflicts and decided the 2021 Michigan Jamboree will be held August 25th thru 28th in Bad Axe, Michigan. Mark your calendars!

I'll post again when I learn when registrations and motel and camping reservations will be accepted.

I regret to inform everyone that due to increasing rates of Covid-19 infection and the real possibility of even stricter restrictions in Michigan, the 2020 Michigan Jamboree has been postponed to 2021. Next year's Jamboree will be held in Michigan's northern Thumb, just as we had planned to do this ...

I know what it's like to have a medical issue knock you on your a##. Having a goal is a good way to keep your spirits up. You do what you can but the important thing is to keep "doing."

All the best for a speedy recovery.

Dan, did the wrap on your front bow come in more than one piece? It looks like a seam in the photo.

Sale Pending - thanks MTFCA

For sale, a lightly used 6 volt starter I purchased from Buckeye Auto Electric. Installed August 2019, removed July 2020 as part of a 12 volt conversion. Includes installed Bendix plus a new, unused complete Bendix spare. Works great! A good deal for someone. $350 plus actual shipping charges. Email...

It's a 17 Touring, two man top. Instructions say to wrap the front bow in vinyl. The vinyl is cut on the bias. It's cooking in the sun as I type and I'll be going out shortly to work on it.

For those who have installed a vinyl top I have a question. Are there any tricks to smoothing out the corner puckers in the vinyl used to cover the front bow? I'm going to leave it in the sun tomorrow to heat it then try stretching it into shape but other than that I'm out of ideas.

I have a Bergs low radiator in my 1917 Touring. Even on these 90+° days it has never come close to overheating. The only issue I had was that my radiator neck came off a couple of weeks back. Yeah, I had a motometer and winged cap which Bergs had advised against..... I took the radiator to an old-ti...

Is the victim known to anyone on the forum? It would take a knowledgeable person to drive it away.

Hank,
Do you remember what stain you used to get that color? It's a good match for original spokes.

You're in New Zealand so rules may be different than the US. The Hocken didn't create the images so it is doubtful they could force you to pay for their use. Also, in the US we have the "Fair Use"doctrine that allows for the publishing of even copyrighted images for non-commercial educational use. T...

Mark, I'm so sorry to hear of your mishap....I winced reading your post. I wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

Does anyone have experience pro or con with the new production 12 volt geared starter that some vendors carry?

Mike Catlin of the Casual T's put together a modest progressive tour in mid-Michigan over June 25-27. Starting from the Vestaburg area, our nine Model T's visited some Amish Craftsmen on Thursday and then drove north on Friday about 80 miles to the city of Cadillac. The weather cooperated, raining o...

Happy Birthday Darel...keep on "T-ing" !

Personally I think one national tour a year is enough. That said, regional or state tours can offer a good substitute for those who like big gatherings. In Michigan we hold an annual "Jamboree" (MTFCI) which attracts 75-100 cars and has many of the features of a national but on a smaller scale. We a...

You need a thick piece of wood or the sandpaper can cut right though the sides of the New Day and you end up with two pieces in your hand. Ask me how I know that. Good point. The HF disc is rubber so I planned to cut the sandpaper so that it was like a mm short of the edge. That way only rubber con...

Greg,
The USB adapter is connected to a 12 volt battery as is the starter, LED lights and battery post on the coil box. I just assumed if we used the above charging circuit to charge said battery that the higher magneto voltages would be added to the mix, albeit as pulsing half-wave DC.

Anyone with a New Day timer knows the value of cleaning the interior contacts from time to time. Previous posters have described devices made from plywood and the like. I'd like to suggest an additional possibility. I purchased a 3 inch sanding disc holder from Harbor Freight. By cutting off a tiny ...

Let's see if I have this right. John's charger is essentially a half-wave rectifier so it will output pulsing DC at whatever voltage the magneto is putting out at the time. I have a USB adapter in my Model T that was originally designed to be installed in a boat. I assume it drops the input voltage ...

I bought the FP kit but never installed it. I run a 12 volt battery for starter and lights but also have a USB adapter that I use to power an old GPS that I use for a speedometer.

My question is, will this charger be safe to use with my USB adapter and GPS?

You could have given him my number.....

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