MTFCA Forum

Russ T Fender

No AI until AI can crank start a Model T! AI is dangerous stuff and just like the internet bad people will use it for bad things!

Russ T Fender

On my ‘12 T I did what you did Keith but mounted it under the running board so I could keep the generator in place. Made up a bracket that used existing holes in the running board. I was a bit concerned about ground clearance but it’s been that way for a long time with no issues.

Russ T Fender

I have been using an MC tank for years without a regulator. It is mounted under the car on an angle. I just crack the bottle open a bit, light the lamps and adjust the flame. Admittedly, I keep the flame fairly low as I use the lamps more for affect than to light the road. I never paid much attentio...

Russ T Fender

Are people intentionally advancing the spark to start or is their timing too retarded initially with the lever all the way up? The timing rod on one of my cars needed to be adjusted when I got it as it was too retarded with the lever all the way up. I just marked the quadrant three notches further d...

Russ T Fender

Not on my ‘14 runabout.

Russ T Fender

That is what I wound up doing but there are still spots that refuse to buff out and it seems like it does not last. That’s why I was interested in what you use to seal the brass. I think in spots it’s almost as if it is an impurity in the brass that has come out.

Russ T Fender

Thanks. I had my ‘10 in Florida on the east coast and the salt air killed my brass. I have never been able to get it back so I am always looking for something new to try.

Russ T Fender

Brent what cleaner and sealer do you use?

Russ T Fender

I worked the new gears in the old case on my ‘14 with green timesaver. It took a while but the results were worth it.

Russ T Fender

My good friend worked on and drove his T regularly for more than the 25 years I have known him. He has had a pacemaker longer than he had his T. I wouldn’t worry about it, he never did!

Russ T Fender

I thought Kevin was just making the oval tanks. I bought one from him last year.

Russ T Fender

That was my concern too but if I can’t get it started on the crank I will keep one hand on the coil box switch and use an extra long tow strap. Since it’s a fresh rebuild and has never been run it’s pretty darn stiff and at 79 I’m not as strong as I used to be!

Russ T Fender

I know it’s not brake drag so I will try backing off the bands and freeing up the clutch discs. Would it hurt to pull start the car in high gear as I’m not sure I can crank start it with a new tight engine. It’s a 13 without a starter.

Russ T Fender

I had an engine and transmission rebuilt over 25 years ago but just now installed them in a project I am working on. I was getting ready to start it up with the rear wheels on jackstands but when the hand lever is in the neutral position and before the brake is set the rear wheels are locked. With t...

Russ T Fender

No picture

Russ T Fender

I may be wrong but I thought ‘22 was the last fulll year for the Centerdoor so your car may be one built in ‘23 with leftover parts and a metal firewall. My late 22 Centerdoor still has a wood firewall.

Russ T Fender

I had been driving my ‘10 Touring for years and never even considered starting it on mag. It came with a battery and I just assumed that was how it was supposed to be. One day I stalled at a busy intersection, panicked, I jumped out, pulled up on the crank and the car started right up. I got back in...

Russ T Fender

If you put it on a pallet Fastenal will ship it cheaper than anyone else I have been able to come up with.

Russ T Fender

Steve my Autocar had 2 on the rear only. They are fairly complicated and clearly designed to be adjusted. After 100+ years they gave up the ghost bouncing around in my trailer. I eventually found a saddle shop that was willing to reproduce them but they are extra heavy, thick leather. I don’t see ho...

Russ T Fender

My original, unrestored 1907 Autocar has them in the rear. They were very common and were made of very thick retanned leather.

Russ T Fender

I find that with my Centerdoor it’s easier to get in and out on the passenger side. Easier but not easy!

Russ T Fender

My experience with ethanol fuel is that a powdery substance developes eventually that clogs the small passages in the carburetor. The gas is volatile enough even after sitting for a while and is probably still better than anything the car was designed to run on back in the day. I finally got tired o...

Russ T Fender

Thanks, it looks like everyone I ever sent an email got that message. I changed my email password and Comcast suspended my account temporarily so hopefully that is the end of it. This hacking business ought to be a capital offense and I’d gladly volunteer to be the executioner!

Russ T Fender

You certainly do if you have split rims. The early automotive books all seem to reference flaps but I think it is more to prevent pinching the tube when mounting and not to protect the tube from chafing after it is mounted.

Russ T Fender

Steve, we may not like growing old but it beats the alternative. I know it is frustrating but I just cut the number of things I want to get done in a day by half and double the time allocated to get it done. Sometimes that even works!

Russ T Fender

I have one V nose trailer and one coffin nose trailer and if there is any difference in mileage I don’t see it. If you go with the V nose make sure the tongue length allows enough clearance to drop the tailgate or hatch back on your tow vehicle. The extra space you get in the V extends over the tong...

Russ T Fender

In the 11th picture what kind of self starter is that? Never saw anything like that before but I assume that is what it is since the crank has been removed.

Russ T Fender

If you can’t find what you are looking for and your housing is good why not run chain. I run chain in all my T’s with no issues. I tried one of the cable substitutes years ago and it wound up ruining a good speedometer.

Russ T Fender

Front fenders would be normal t fender brackets. Rears May have to be made up to work with your hack body. Ford didn’t make a hack. When I put a Cantrell hack body on my ‘13 chassis I used hack fenders and made up the brackets.

Russ T Fender

You might find that the tires will air up and hold air long enough to move the car to your trailer. If not you may be able to drag it in place. If you are careful the rims won’t be ruined even if the tires come off since it looks like you will be going over dirt, not pavement. I think your bigger is...

Russ T Fender

The owner of that TT certainly got his money’s worth! It’s probably 20 years old or older and still on the job.

Russ T Fender

Says Portsmouth NH on the truck.

Russ T Fender

John, it’s a late ‘12 slab side. There’s one in my garage in Northport.

Russ T Fender

My unrestored ‘22 Centerdoor has no dome light. All original interior.

Russ T Fender

Hey Noel, it certainly is easier in Florida but I have cars in Upstate New York too that I run in the winter but admittedly I wouldn’t venture out often these days when the temperature drops below zero even if I had a starter. For cold weather starting up north I jack up a rear wheel and use a short...

Russ T Fender

Starters are highly overrated and, along with generators, are more trouble than they’re worth as far as I’m concerned. I’m 79 and always crank start my T’s, even the two I have with starters. If you take the time to set them up correctly they’re easy enough to start on the crank. I certainly wouldn’...

Russ T Fender

Snubbers make a big difference, especially on a Centerdoor.

Russ T Fender

I have cars in Florida where I live and then I have cars in upstate New York where I spend the summer. That way I get to drive all year, where ever I am! Can’t have too many T’s!

Russ T Fender

Put some of the girls away for the winter

Russ T Fender

I have both AC and Rocky Mtns on some of my cars and the AC brakes are not as effective as the Rocky Mtn. Brakes no matter what I do. I think it is because of the smaller drum and the fact that they do not seem to self actuate the way the others do.. I have all 3 systems set up to operate so I feel ...

Russ T Fender

Thanks Wayne those are all great suggestions. I have everything I need to implement them so that is the way I will go.

Russ T Fender

Thanks. I guess I will have to go with the earlier hogs head then. I was hoping that all I might need to do would be to swap the later clutch pedal for an earlier clutch pedal so if I decided to set the power plant up as a spare for one of my early cars the floor boards would not need to be changed.

Russ T Fender

I recently acquired a complete running power plant with a ‘26 block and an earlier hogs head. The back of the block is tapped for the later hogs head that bolts to the block. I have a later hogs head with the ears and wider clutch and brake pedals that I would like to use to replace the one currentl...

Russ T Fender

The sun is your friend. Set the tire out in the sun and let it get hot. Makes it flexible and relatively easy to mount. Of course
I live in Florida so I do have an advantage!

Russ T Fender

The AC brakes work in reverse but they are not self actuating.

Russ T Fender

I should mention that it was that way when I acquired the car so I can’t swear that it is correct. For what it’s worth the windshields on my other early cars all have the manufacturer’s tags there too so I’m assuming that was standard practice in the industry.

Russ T Fender

Outside so it’s visible from the front of the car.

Russ T Fender

It’s down by the dash on my late slab side ‘12.

Russ T Fender

To follow up, I tied the Pat’s suggestion and soaked everything in a vinegar bath over night and this morning the brush came out with a gentle tap with a wooden dowel and light hammer. Everything cleaned up nicely and is going back on the car today.

Russ T Fender

Thanks for the quick replies. The car was stored in an un air conditioned building in Florida so I am guessing that was the problem. I will try vinegar first and drill it out if that doesn’t work. Either way, if the rotor is undamaged, I’ll be in for a replacement brush. This rotor uses the square b...

Russ T Fender

When the TW Timers came out I bought one and was so impressed that I put them on all my cars. They have been very reliable and almost maintenance free. However, the other day I encountered a problem and am wondering if any one else has experienced the same thing and, if so, how they dealt with it. O...

Russ T Fender

You have it backwards. 30X3 is a 24” and 30X3-1/2 is a 23”. The formula is double the width and deduct that from the diameter.

Russ T Fender

Here is my set up

Russ T Fender

My car came with a vaporizer and it ran well but was impossible to start cold with the hand crank so I made the switch to an NH. It did start cold OK with the starter using full choke while cranking but I rarely use the starter on my cars and didn’t want to have to use it on my ‘27. I used the over ...

Russ T Fender

My ‘22 Centerdoor has a similar vent in the cowl. Handy accessory for a Florida closed car.

Russ T Fender

Depending on where the hole is I would certainly try patching it. I am running old thick wall tubes in many of my cars and at last count one of them had 6 patches and never requires airing up more than once a year. The problem may be getting a big enough patch and decent glue. If there is a truck ti...

Russ T Fender

I use them on my '14 speedster with a stuck hood. Don't need them but I like the look!

Russ T Fender

My '22 Centerdoor is unrestored original and must have been a low mileage vehicle based on the condition of the interior. Quietest transmission of the eight T's I have. I have always assumed that is how they sounded from the factory.

Russ T Fender

My AC brakes use rods and work just fine. The original set up was with cables which makes equalizing easier but the rods work great once they get set up correctly.

Russ T Fender

I have Gabriel snubbers on my Centerdoor and they make a big difference so I would think Hasslers, or any type of shock absorbers, would be a plus on a tall car. I had Hasslers on my '14 Runabout and took them off. I did not like the ride with them on at all!

Russ T Fender

I run Gabriel snubbers on my '22 Centerdoor.

Russ T Fender

For what It's worth, my car was restored from a compete original car and that is the way the horn and cable were set up when the car was found. I assume someone secured it along the wood runner at some point to keep it from slapping on the door as I doubt that is correct.

Russ T Fender

Can't say it's right but this is how it is on my late '12. Can't measure the length as I'm not near the car now.

Russ T Fender

That's how they get all of the oil out of the pan dips, ha, ha!

Russ T Fender

John, I rebuilt the firewall shut off on my '27 touring and it works fine. No need for another one at the carburetor. On my other cars I have a shut off by the carburetor because it's too hard to crawl under the car and shut it off at the tank every time I use the cars. That said, I do shut the gas ...

Russ T Fender

My '14 touring smokes but hardly uses any oil and runs just fine. It doesn't take much oil for you to leave a blue trail. Mostly my car smokes when you take off from a traffic light and then it clears up a bit. I am assuming the source is valve guides as a result of my car not having a return drain ...

Russ T Fender

Could that oil be running down the torque tube and into the rear end? If it ain't smoking and it ain't leaking out on the floor it has to be going somewhere and you can store a lot of oil there. Just a thought!

Russ T Fender

Many years ago I had the open valve engine on my '10 repaired along the water jacket where it had been weeping in numerous places along a number of spider cracks. The fellow who did it was a true master. He started by cutting away all the damaged area and sent a piece off to be analyzed. He then mad...

Russ T Fender

My '78 F150. One owner, me!

Russ T Fender

Pulled from a garage where it sat since the early 60's. Had to rent a trailer because it was too tall for my closed trailer

Russ T Fender

I worked in a gas station on Long Island in the early 60's and routinely smoked while pumping gas. There were 3 gas stations at the intersection and gas wars often sent gas prices as low as 13 cents a gallon.

Russ T Fender

That's great. I will hang on to them for you. I missed Flywheelers in January this year but might be going in February if you can't find someone near me who can pick them up.

Russ T Fender

I have two 4.50-5.50X21" Allstate Safety Tread tires if anyone needs them for the cost of shipping. They are old but still pliable with plenty of tread. At the very least they would make good spares or rollers. These tires never wear out. I have been running them in the 19" size on my 1930 Plymouth ...

Russ T Fender

Steve, the beauty of the blocking I used is that you can easily raise the car one corner at a time adding as you go. The other nice thing is they cost nothing. They were made from scraps that I collected at local building sites.

Russ T Fender

I am 78 and was able to do the body on my 1930 Plymouth myself and it probably weighs 5 time more than a model T runabout body. Four reasonably able guys should make the job easy.

Russ T Fender

Will that's what I was afraid of. I doubt my original interior could survive that. I wonder if anyone has tried a clear mylar over the glass as a way of keeping the plate glass from shattering? I spoke with a window tinting guy who said it could be done but he said they use a lot of water in the pro...

Russ T Fender

I have a '22 Centerdoor with original interior in good shape and have yet to figure out how I can replace the plate glass with safety glass and not disturb the interior panels. While I have replaced the windshield, I am uncomfortable using it with all that plate glass, even with the windows down mos...

Russ T Fender

I used to go touring on January first with my '10 T touring regardless of the weather. With snow over 3" on the ground I would wrap the rear wheels with rope and found that to be very effective. Less snow than that I didn't do anything and never had a problem. Sometimes I had passengers in the rear ...

Russ T Fender

That's the sound I love most about my T's. I miss it on my '27 where the coil box is under the hood!

Russ T Fender

My '27 is not punched out and I chose to use the conversion kit rather than maul the block when I switched to an NH. Works fine!

Russ T Fender

Norman you raise an interesting point about the gas tank. The car I have to richen the mixture on is a Centerdoor with the gas tank under the drivers seat.

Russ T Fender

One of my T's will not start cold unless I open the fuel mixture a full 1/2 turn no matter what I do. It has a stock NH carburetor set up exactly the same way as my other T's running NH carburetors. Don't know why but that's just the way it is.

Russ T Fender

Alan you are probably right but I believe split rim clinchers were produced by Stanweld back in the day when the tire size was available. I'm sure they make mounting clinchers a bit easier and, as you point out, they make mounting straight side tires possible.

Russ T Fender

Alan, the rims I was referring to are 36X4-1/2" slit rim clinchers on my 1910 Chalmers-Detroit. Years ago that size tire was not available. Today I believe they are available but ridiculously expensive so using straight side tires can save you $300 or more per wheel.

Russ T Fender

That makes sense. I can mount them because my rims are split rim clinchers.

Russ T Fender

I run straight side tires on my '10 Chalmers-Detoit with has split rim clinchers. They are a bear to mount but with rope set in the clincher grooves they work just fine. Can't understand why anyone would have cut those rims because it just isn't necessary to do that to run straight side tires on a c...

Russ T Fender

I keep them partially inflated in old tire casings in my basement where the temperature is fairly stable.

Russ T Fender

This is the welting on my original '22.

Russ T Fender

I have not been able to patch the new tubes effectively. I don't know if it is the tubes or the adhesive as I have not had to patch any of the old tubes I have lately but I never had any issues before and, being the frugal guy I am, some of my old tubes have 4 or 5 patches that have held for years!

Russ T Fender

On my T friendly road

Russ T Fender

If you drive a lot and like to change bands cotton is fine but changing bands is not my favorite things to do and that's why I switched to Kevlar. As far as leather is concerned, cone clutches will grab unless they are oiled slightly with neats foot oil but they will start slipping terribly if over ...

Russ T Fender

I have 10 T's and each has Kevlar bands. Don't over tighten them and drive appropriately and they are a one time band change. If you want to try leather find someone who can supply retanned leather like was used for leather cone clutch material. It's tough stuff but I would think that it would slip ...

Russ T Fender

It also relieves the pressure on the one or two wood spokes bearing all the weight.

Russ T Fender

The original crank on my '10 broke right behind #1 which is no surprise but on inspection I found that there was a void, almost like an air bubble, that had been there from day one. What amazed me was that crank lasted as long as it did with that latent defect. Fortunately there was no damage to the...

Russ T Fender

I did the plastic kit on my '27 and it came out well but the coils are so tight in the box I can barely get them in and out.

Russ T Fender

There was a fair amount of T stuff in the Orange Field last year too!

Russ T Fender

When I buy a car I examine it closely and if anything seems sketchy I assume it will need to be repaired or replaced and adjust what I am willing to pay accordingly. Cars sold as "barn finds", "ran when parked" and other obtuse descriptions suggest that everything will need to be done in my experien...

Russ T Fender

My 1908 Type I Locomobile!

Russ T Fender

That's what I was doing after the problem started but I never had an issue before and I wanted to find the source of the problem and correct it. I rarely use the starter and usually crank start on battery but my back is not up to crank starting on mag so I wanted the problem resolved. Always started...

Russ T Fender

Went to swap coils and found that that the coils from my '14 just won't fit in the '27 coil box. Don't understand why that would be as they are all Ford script or K&W coils. Even the coils I had in the '27 coil box are a very tight fit but I was able to get them out one at a time eventually. I found...

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