MTFCA Forum

It's odd that the radiator stay rod disconnected from the radiator. I wonder if it only had a thread or two holding it. The radiator appears to be OK.

It's good that cops were on the scene quickly.

Glad you are OK, and it looks like your car can be saved. It's not uncommon for people to crash into the back of police cars that are stopped on the shoulder with all lights flashing. Many people seem to have no idea what they are doing when driving a motor vehicle, or how serious the consequences o...

It might also be for some kind of early inboard 2 cycle marine engine.

Marvel Mystery Oil, of course!

The backward rake of the top should match that of the rear body panel and it should be the same or very close to that of the windshield.

The appearance of the gear teeth may not indicate a problem. I would not depend on that alone.

If the noise is coming from the rear axle, you have a very serious issue. But it could be in the u-joint or some other source in the drive line. I would NOT ignore it, since serious consequences can be expected to result from neglect. Do take a look at all the clamps and bolts related to the running...

The correct pinion to ring gear mesh is critical to quiet, smooth operation. If the pinion bearing or the thrust washer begins to fail, the running fit between the ring and pinion gear will change and noise will usually result well before total failure.

The first picture looks to be a family of professional T-sitters.

A coil or coils that are out of adjustment and drawing excess current will dramatically shorten the life of any timer. Bad coils can wreck a timer in a very short time.

Everything's just fine. The "Experts" have spoken!

Mali Kaliki Maka

I bought a 1950 Ford business coupe from a junkyard several years ago. It was fairly straight and ran like new with a better set of used plugs installed. It was a flat, faded greenish color, close to olive drab. Rubbing on the paint revealed that it was actually a deep blue color, and it looked pret...

Rust...... ?

Great news! I can now look forward to receiving my regular newsletter from Her Majesty's Royal Milk Goat Society in a timely manner.

How am I supposed to get my waffles?

Are our taxes somehow odious, and yours are not?

They're welcome to locate production in Texas, and use Texas cotton.

Churchill:
"Yes, madam, I am drunk; and you are ugly. Tomorrow, I shall be sober, and you will remain ugly."

Sad news indeed. His enthusiasm was inspiring, to say the least. May God comfort his family and close friends.

The tariffs are intended encourage American manufacturing of new goods. They ought not apply to antique goods.

A "spare bedroom", eh? There is room here for 3 worker families!

That is very sad news.

Most driving is done in High.

I have a 1930 Ford Model A coupe.The battery is under the floor and ahead of the seat, directly under the driver's feet. There is a metal access cover that snaps into the wood floor board. It is a 6 volt positive ground car. It has a belt-driven generator located on the driver's side of the engine. ...

Government, like fire, can be an able servant. But it is a terrible master. Government, like fire, MUST be limited and carefully managed.

If he's in the driver's seat of that thing, he might as well have blinders on. Maybe he put a really loud horn on it....

I believe it is a low cost way to improve the looks and prevent further deterioration of decayed painted surfaces, such as badly weathered old cars. It can bring up color and gives a low gloss to badly weathered paint, rubber, etc. You can rub it on with a rag after washing the vehicle, and perhaps ...

Perhaps the Vietnamese antique tire producers will move to Texas.

I'd leave the car 6 volt negative ground. If you want excellent headlights, get the projector type lights that plug right into the stock T headlight sockets. If you want to operate digital doo-dads in your T, get a 6 to 12 volt converter for them. The converters are small and inexpensive and availab...

In some cases, the pleated paper filters can become restricted from traces of moisture in the fuel even when there is no dirt present. It's not uncommon for ethanol gas to be slightly hydrated, and any gasoline can absorb a very small amount of moisture. The paper element will trap and hold the mois...

The car is supposed to be 6 volt negative ground. I would not convert the system to 12 volt. You will need to re-polarize the generator before running the car with the new 6 volt battery and be sure to connect the battery correctly. If you want to run 12 volt accessories, 6 to 12 volt converters are...

The rear engine mount to frame bolts are the primary electrical system ground point. You don't want starter current, or any significant portion of it, passing through the front engine mount, the gas line, or the control linkages. Even if you don't have a starter or a generator, you still need a reli...

The engine is grounded in original installations by the rear engine mount to frame bolts. Loose bolts, rust, or modified mounting will compromise the electrical pathway. If the rear mounts develop high electrical resistance, the current will seek other routes, which would typically be the front engi...

Draining the oil with the engine at operating temperature should be sufficient.

It is normal for the brake pedal to go to within about 1" of the floor, but it should not touch the floor. Pedal effort is higher than what is normal for modern cars, but not extremely so. I'd guess that if your adjustment has no detent feel, it won't hold an adjustment. Pictures would be helpful. A...

The boxmobile might be a small town paddy wagon. But why no fenders or lights? Maybe it is a work in progress. Might be a new ice wagon for a small community. Those coupe ladies aren't dressed for the milking barn, either. City girls, and twin sisters, I'm guessing.

...Keeps the brass shining....

A hollow plastic ornament finished with gold leaf might be light enough to put on any radiator.

Weight, or mass, of an accessory is what allows vibration to damage the radiator. A very lightweight ornament would be unlikely to cause problems, and the closer any added weight is to the radiator tank, the better.

I think broken pan arms and broken frames are the result of high service hours under harsh conditions, or outright abuse. A lot of cars probably ran with collision damage, too, not to mention dry rusty springs and built up springs to carry extra loads.

The starter may have been used on a number of applications, so they might be more common than the truck itself. Does the truck have a starting crank?

Somewhere in Ford literature, probably a late era service bulletin, there is a paragraph or two about deleting the wood blocks on TT trucks in severe service on very bad roads. I probably came across it on the Cimoreli site, but I don't remember for sure. If I had a TT in severe service on bad roads...

Ford quit using the wood blocks on late TT trucks, citing issues with trucks used on very rough roads. The point made above about engine grounding is a valid one. If you look at the way the T chassis is built, you will see that the engine unit serves both as a frame crossmember and as one of the 3 m...

Ibis wings, pyramid. Where's the scarab?

How so? Heck, I don't even have a cell phone. But when I was in school, they taught me to READ. That gave me ready access to thousands of years of accumulated knowledge from countless sources.

Ride a late model Harley. The 8 valve motor is quite smooth.

My car came without the wood blocks. I bought a set of blocks and the bolts that go with them and installed them. I believe that the car tracks a little better with them as compared to without them, and vibration may have been reduced a little, but my car had a well-balanced, smooth running engine a...

There is no easy modification to get vibration out of a Model T. A well-balanced engine and transmission can make a big difference in vibration, but the engine mounts are pretty much what they are.

I don't think Ford put anything under them, and I don't think there is much to gain by doing so. Both the front and rear axles are rigidly attached to the engine unit and depend on it to keep the axles tracking properly, so the engine needs to be securely located in the frame. Ford put wooden blocks...

Thin, high mountain air will reduce both your engine braking and your aerodynamic drag, so be extra cautious when making steep descents at high altitudes. Be wary of brake fade. It's very real, and it can be deadly.

"Question: Without a Ruckell Axle and in Colorado (high altitude), what would the estimated top speed be for a Model T?" Same as one without on a downgrade. On a steep downgrade, about any Model T with an engine in it will go way over 50 MPH, which is too fast for a stock engine without overdrive. S...

In my opinion, you can't beat a Garmin's "Garmin Drive 52 EX". They sell for about $100, and they have everything you need and more. 3X5 screen, day or night, portable from car to car, accurate and reliable. I gave about $43.00 for mine at WalMart. About a year later, they offered a "Garmin Drivesma...

Any older vehicle that has operated in road salt should be carefully inspected for structural damage from rust. Abuse or crash damage can also compromise structural integrity. A friend of mine had a new 1970 International Scout. He thrashed it from day one. When it was about a year old, it was up on...

I wonder if the front page had a dealer's ad?

I would not allow a new engine to overheat.

That mouse's life insurance premium payment has gone up by 345%....

Model Ts have changed a lot in the last couple of years....

If Williamson's is located in California, try an instrument shop that is located elsewhere. Some substances are banned in California, but available elsewhere.

There are several types of alcohol and as far as I know, none are banned as of yet. Carbon tertrachloride is now banned or highly restricted.

Do the original parts have part numbers on them? There are part number lists available for most Model Ts. I'd think the door handles should match, unless one is left and one is right, but I don't know that for certain.

What substance is used?

Available traction varies greatly depending on what the road surface consists of. The road surface condition, including washboards, loose material, pot holes and other defects, oil residue, as well as weather conditions, tire characteristics, tire inflation, vehicle loading, and other factors can ma...

The gap may allow annoying wind noise when on the road with windows up. It could also admit dust, rain, cold air, and even dirt daubers. I'd want to figure out why the gap is there and correct it.

Ever see the old "Roadhog" cartoon voiced by W. C. Fields? It's a true classic!

It's difficult to keep a belt on misaligned pulleys or pulleys with the crown worn flat.

Like my Father before me, I use and recommend Marvel Mystery Oil.

Very nice installation, and more brake than the tires can fully utilize. The double acting shocks will make a huge improvement in ride and handling, and will further improve braking.

QUOTE: " I only put a gallon or two of fresh non-ethanol gas in it. It had gas in it previously. Should I drain all that and see what I have?" The gas tank on this car may be clean. Don't take it out if it is not very dirty! From the look of the car, and the look of the gas filter bowl, the system i...

^^^^^"I only put a gallon or two of fresh non-ethanol gas in it. It had gas in it previously. Should I drain all that and see what I have?"^^^^^^ Yes, you should drain it ALL. That's the first thing you ought to have done. Stale gasoline may be the seat of your problem. Stale gasoline can cause a lo...

A sediment bowl that is working properly will prevent most issues.

If you elect to remove the tank and put pea gravel, BBs marbles, or whatever in it, then shake and slosh it, do not use gasoline. Use plain water or plain water with a quart of rubbing alcohol in it. When done, rinse the tank with plain water and shake all the gravel, etc out, then rinse with a quar...

Kevlar is a specific product. There could be differences in the actual construction of the bands. My car has Kevlar bands, and they work very well and have not required adjustment after many miles over several years. I don't know who supplied them.

More weight on the rear axle can increase stopping power. The available traction goes up, but so does the energy to be dissipated. Putting more rubber on the road will increase traction, up to a point. But it can be overdone. Maximum braking force is developed just prior to wheel lockup. It would be...

Too early for Tut's modern redux.

During what time period did Ford use the pyramid logo? Did it have any relation to the King Tut furor of 1922?

I prefer to drive cars that are older than I am.

I'd certainly do it. If someone complains, have them ride in the back.

I'd definitely want to retain the Ford transmission brake on a car with an auxiliary gearbox for the reason pointed out by Baby Chadwick.

You need to check your timer. It is probably worn or dirty or needs lubricated with a light oil, if it is a Ford type timer. I suspect that dirt or gum in your fuel system is causing your carburetor issues. There are several things that can cause the problems you're having, and all can be usually be...

With a T, a low idle speed will help with braking and with shifting sliding gear auxiliaries.

I used to have a 1998 Chevrolet 2500 HD with 5 speed manual. It had a 454 engine, 4.10 axle, and a deep low and reverse. If you backed up and shifted to neutral, you had to wait about 5 seconds to shift into low or the gears would grind. This was due to the very thin oil in the transmission and a la...

A dragging clutch complicates shifting any sliding gear unit. With a T, correct engine oil, gearbox oil, and proper adjustments will help. No matter what you are driving, you have to stay within the design limits of the vehicle. *

*.... And "smart cars" are no such thing.

If you drive any vehicle in such a way that other drivers must make way for you, you are going to be in a collision sooner than later.

It's normally possible to put a non-synchronized gearbox or 2-speed axle back into gear, while the vehicle is moving, without grinding gears. You have to use the throttle to match the speed of the gears you want to engage to one another. This used to be a common driving skill. You can't do this if y...

I wouldn't want to run a T on a near-empty tank unless it is unavoidable. If you must run the tank low, it's best to carry some extra gas with you. I try to keep at least 5 gallons in my tank. I've read that it's best not to run modern cars with in-tank electric fuel pumps very low on gas, since the...

I suspect you still have a fuel delivery issue.

Very nice!

Elaborate solutions to non-problems are inherently wasteful.

Will Persyns of Egyptian descent claim "cultural appropriation" and launch a massive lawsuit?

Even a small scratch or nick or dent could lead to failure. There is a process known as shot-peening which might be of benefit to used crankshafts. Surface scratches, gouges or dents from hammer blows or having been dropped can all lead to fractures.

If I needed more braking, I'd add a KC Warford. Besides having a wide selection of gears, including an overdrive, it's claimed they can be shifted easily while underway. A ratio around 6.6:1 is available, which ought to be excellent for mountain descents. There are a lot of good reasons to keep the ...

!! TOXIC CHEMICALS !!

Time to BUY!

If you really want a T to stop, you need front brakes. Front brakes and double-acting shocks would make an enormous improvement. Shocks aren't too difficult to adapt, and would help with braking, but front brakes would be a challenge, and the T front axle design is not really adequate for hard braki...

Hard to tell by looking. In my opinion, most breaks are caused by misalignment, incorrect grinding or finishing, abusive handling or operation, and perhaps very high accumulated hours. Did someone take a hammer to that front main cap? If so, why?

The item pictured in big2bird's Aug. 10th post, titled "Coupe Gizmo?", looks a lot like the metal items on the upper outer corners of the wood dash.

Taking unnecessary risk just isn't worth it.

If you are called upon to crank start a car you are not familiar with, it would be a good idea to ground the plug wires and then crank the car with the switch on Battery and observe where the crank ratchet pin is when the first coil buzzes to be sure it is past TDC with the lever up. If the car only...

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