MTFCA Forum

Photo is from the forum on this subject, pro method. https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=228154 That is cool Dan! I looked at that picture and thought "that guy's Booth looks just like my Booth." Then I looked at the painter and said "Wow, that's Jimmy." Jimmy retired with me about 3-...

One of the shop tasks for this week is shaping & fitting a set of new Wood Bows into a new set of Sockets on a 14 Touring. We do not have anything to sample off of, so I am looking for hints or tricks from those who have experience doing this without a template or sample to pattern from. Maybe I am ...

Hi Brent, I have a set of victor light just like the ones in the picture. They are in great shape. The light buckets are all painted in perfect shape, included are very nice forks, the lens are incorrect, the rims are nickel, a couple small imperfections. All in all, great shape. Call or email me. ...

Curious - anyone out there ever use TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) to clean parts? I had a wreck of a South Bend lathe about 30 years ago - tons of grease and built up layers of lead paint on it from WWII on. I got a big metal tub and put the dismantled parts in it with a TSP solution (can't remember c...

all great information from posters above, but when I think of a Parts Washer, I envision something akin to a kitchen sink with a lid, mounted over a tall wastebasket with a tiny fluid pump (yes, I know they are not kitchen sinks mounted on wastebaskets - there's no need to waste time explaining tha...

My thoughts are coming from a Restoration Shop that also rebuilds Engines. We use a soak tank (-a/k/a hot tank) with about a 15% solution of Sodium Hydroxide that is heated to around 200°. Ours has an agitation system where the basket is slowly rocked back & forth. Our usual cycle time is 8-12 hours...

Mark, I'll take them if not already spoken for. Will send a PM also.

Lots of comments above. My rod choice for cast repairs is Muggy Weld 77.

Daniel, being that you are in the San Antone area, I would think you are in Pipeline welder country. Research a product called Muggy Weld 77 . I use it to weld cast iron blocks, etc. While it is relatively a low heat welding rod, I would still have a heat blanket or a bucket of sand to let it cool i...

Two or three names come to mind. Joe Swann (717) 252-3014 in Pennsylvania does HCCA type vehicles, -and Gene Fletcher (828) 413-2456 is in N. Carolina. David Coco may be another one. He is in Virginia. My shop is in Tennessee which is even further away from you. My only response to your ' not wantin...

Could be wrong but don't see any difference compared to later short nose selectors except for name on it. Mark, these Shifter Assemblies are kinda like a teenage Boy and a Girlfriend. It always seems that when a lad is looking for a girlfriend, they're never any prospects to be found however once h...

Mark, see if a local machine shop can hone the lifter bores for you instead of reaming. It has been my experiences that most chucking reamers need a minimum of about 2% of the diameter (-in this scenario about 8 thousandths) to keep the flutes loaded during the cutting process. Otherwise, you genera...

Alan, An upholstery friend who helped me with my 1911 upholstery told me that, "within 1/4" is acceptable." You will always be your own worst critic . Keith In my line of work, I only wish that were always true Keith. The irony in the Restoration world is they either criticize the costs ...or the c...

I am replacing the glass in my 14. I ordered new brass channel from Speedway Motors. The channel they sell is designed for 3/16 thick glass. The original glass channel was designed for 1/4 inch. I am not sure why the available brass channel is 3/16 vs 1/4. I talked to several glass shops and they t...

Thanks Dan. Now here is where things are confusing to me. Tim above mentioned his #1 Top Socket was 25" in overall length. My new reproduction #1 Socket is 26" overall. (My 1915 Socket is 25"). Tim shows a measurement for the #1 Socket & Bow at a total length of 36". According to Dan's post, the amo...

Thanks everyone. So we are ' singing off the same page of our Hymnals ', a little backstory on this Glass Shop. We do well over $5k annually with them cutting glass for vintage automobiles we restore, -and we have used them since I opened in the late '90s. And, I'm sure they install glass for other ...

What about the heights of the two vertical Sockets (-the ones attached to the Top Support brackets) to the top of the Wood Bow? I have seen the picture floating around of the 1915 and newer Top measurements, but is the height on the 1914 the same as the 1915 & newer? (There is nothing worse than a t...

Dropped off a 1914 Windshield Frame along with the brass Glass Channel to mount it in. The shop calls me to inform that their Plate Glass is 3/16" thick however the Safety Glass is 1/4" thick. The option they gave is to have Plate Glass cut and then tempered however he also felt like that was agains...

RE: https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=51850&sid=1bfc58e084562b309c65c0518d237cf9 There is an interesting post in the Classifieds, and since myself, Steve, and a few others kinda hijacked John's ad, maybe it would be best to continue our discussions here. So my next questions are; -in ...

Thanks Dan

vanco wrote: ↑
Tue Feb 03, 2026 9:16 pm
WTB: Or (Borrow One). Camshaft rear bearing reamer bar that is put through the camshaft journals to align bore the rear bearing. Just trying to rebuild my T engine the proper way. I don't have a lathe to make one, any help would be appreciated!
Thanks, John

Do you have a picture??

On the Top Support Irons that bolt to the Seat and support the Top Irons where the top pivots, how does the interior Upholstery wrap around this Support? Was it hand-stitched underneath, or ?? We are specifically working on a 1914 Touring, but any of the early open cars will likely be the same. Any ...

Well interestingly enough, they have no definitive manufacture date on either brand tire, ...and in a phone conversation this morning, Ricky said that likely means they have not had enough interest to even schedule making another run. They do have a few White Non-Skids in stock, but even my cost on ...

George, I have limited experience with metal spinning however I have watched it firsthand and contemplated tooling up for it, but my observations have always been that this method of metal forming is more suited for larger objects such as headlamp pieces or large hubcaps. In the case of the brass ca...

I know this is going to be difficult since most people won't have experience with using both types for a true comparison, but since I need to get onto the waiting list for either of those two 30x3½ Clincher White tires, I gotta make a decision. So, between these two brands of tires, which tire will ...

E-mail sent

Brent, I think some of your hypotheticals confuse copyrights with design patents and utility patents. Not that this answers your initial question, however... I am fascinated with your initial assertion that none of this is/was a novel, original creation of the authors to begin with. Maybe think of ...

I really didn't want to 'pollute' some of the existing threads regarding these Copyrights, so I started a new thread. For those in the know, exactly ' what ' is the Copyright actually covering, -or protecting? Where my confusion stems from in this is that as I understand it, Mel & Leon used existing...

Are you looking for aftermarket or the 15 only fork mounted electric lights? Aftermarket accessory lamps would be satisfactory like the ones in the Sears Roebuck ad above. I have after market all brass electric fork mounted head lamps if interested . They are in good condition call / tex or email E...

Looking to purchase a pair of the Fork-mounted Electric Headlights. Restored or Unrestored, any condition considered as long as the lamps are complete and restorable. Below are examples of what I am looking for; https://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/pix/hl12a.jpg https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file.p...

Scott, I think your answer starts by knowing if this is for a one-time project -or a tool that will be used multiple times. If multiple times, -and if you are handy with wood, a 4'x4' sheet of ¾" Plywood from your local big box store is your friend. Rip into 3 equal widths (approx 16" ea) and glue t...

Without question the setting channel was never painted on new ford cars. I have owned enough original examples and studied unrestored cars to say this is established fact. It was also very common for owners to paint over the brightwork on their cars as they aged. The ford owners manual for 1913 rec...

With all due respect, I am not looking for generic speculation but what I am looking for is what is considered authentic on the 'color' of Brass Glass Channel? Was the Windshield Frame originally painted (dipped??) prior to installing the Glass Channel, -followed by the installation of the Windshiel...

As per the Ford Parts Price List dated 1916. Side Curtin Rear R.H. 6937X Side Curtin Rear L.H. 6938X Side Curtin Front R.H. 6935X Side Curtin Front L.H. 6936X You can see the Manuals, parts lists, etc. at Cimorelli Model T on line. The issue with those numbers is those will only be Assembly Drawing...

Email sent.

https://youtu.be/UZQXPLfOPXc?si=gx-KHtq3oTf9e-SC For fun! a go pro inside of a tire with balance beads. see how they work Bryant Oh, way to go Bryant. Here you are posting a link to some random video that corroborates the facts while potentially disrupting some of our dear member's opinions. :lol:

Let me preface this by saying we have been a DynaBead dealer for about 20-ish years and we have been installing them on customer's vehicles for a long, long time because they work. As Bill and others stated above, static beads are very sensitive to the proper amount of beads being installed. Too few...

For those of you that knew Cassel, here is his obituary...

https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/t ... d=60325314

With respect Jerry, it follows the rules of a 501C in that you are not allowed to promote a business directly but may post sources. This is to prevent shell businesses from forming in a non profit. Protect the club comes to mind. All Good I may be slightly wrong in this because it has been awhile, ...

Mike, I sent you a message on FB.

Here is the left side of my Tourabout.

Larry is correct..., the rounded trim is actual for boats. I have to make it on a sheet metal brake in the past or use a power roller with 3/4" flat dies..., works either way. Just Sayin Thank you Sir. I have definitely considered either making it on my Pullmax by making a set of dies out of Delrin...

Is anyone still making, (-or does anyone sell) the flat brass Firewall Trim like was used on the edge of 1914 Firewalls??

TIA

Those are pretty cool!!

https://www.mecum.com/lots/1155382/1908 ... t-touring/

There was another Reeder low in the orange field but had some pitting on the gasket surface all around. $275 wasn't a bad price until I saw the pitting. IMO $275.00 for a pitted head should not be a deal-breaker. An hour with a Tig welder and some alloy rod (-such as Muggy Weld Super Alloy) and tho...

I believe this is the height of the filler plug that you are looking for.

I think I have one like you are asking about that was professionally rebuilt (-by a T shop in Texas) and driven about 100 miles before I replaced it with a Ruckstell. I wish you were looking for one back during the Luray Swap Meet as I had it there. Send me an email and we will discuss it.

If you think about it, the difference between a high and low head, from a functional standpoint, is the size of the water jacket/cooling passages. As your engine produces more power, it has more heat to get rid of, so a high head makes more sense from a reliability perspective. That's probably why ...

speedytinc wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 24, 2025 4:11 pm

Maybe this helps.
I am running a low head, milled 1/8" with hi dome pistons. Performs well with 95# compression.

I may have to do that ...but I likely will give up 4-5 horsepower.

Jim, I feel your pain also, as I too need a Low (hi-compression) Head for a current project. I hate to butcher a firewall just to run one of the high ones being offered.

PM sent. I would like to purchase those.

Melba Nolan wrote: ↑
Tue Sep 09, 2025 8:13 pm
didn't get anything

It shows that a email was sent to your email address and I received a copy.

Melba, PM sent

Tom, my GF was setting up to manufacture these back in the early Spring but she has been battling cancer and started going thru Chemo soon-after she started prototyping them. It appears she is winning the battle but getting this project going again is probably low on the priority list at this time. ...

This is what TCP coatings told me Kinda like a Politician's answer, ....huh.??. Geez, there is not a thing wrong with spraying Epoxy primer over the top of the substrates to act as a Sealer, .... except you just spent many hours blocksanding to 400, -or 600 grit only to find yourself priming with E...

The short answer from the land of only water based base coat clear coat is, that crap doesn't look right on older cars. IMHO. 1980 or so the fenders, splash, r boards, rad shell, blah blah we're Acrylic Laquer and color sanded/ buffed, look nice. (Still). A little touch up required. Easy with lacqu...

I will be using Acrlic Lacquer I snuck into Kalifornia.😱 Not sure what your thoughts are, but there aren't really any benefits to using a non-catalyzed Lacquer vs. a two-component catalyzed urethane paint. The PPG line called Essential or Axalta's line called Imron are Catalyzed Urethans that have ...

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. While I am not an expert at this, my thoughts from afar is that you are going to find yourself using White Rouge and machine buf...

Brent what cleaner and sealer do you use? I have used several and I honestly don't know if there is much of a difference between them. I initially used one by White Diamond, but have used the Chemical Guys, and a couple others. Right now, I am using a product from CJs (-linked below) only because t...

Brent, I wish that you'd have offered your opinion when I asked the same question earlier this year. I had a Ruxtell, already rebuilt with 3 to 1 gears that I was going to put under my 27 T coupe with Prus head and Stipe cam. Almost, if not everyone who responded, said go back to standard 3.63 to 1...

Look at these Seat Covers. Are my eyes playing tricks on me??

I thought it was the late Reverend Campbell that was making the stainless Tail Pipes. Pretty sure that Brian Dowel purchased all of the remaining pipes from Doris Ann. Brian & I had discussed the possibility of me reproducing new Pipes and possibly Mufflers since I have a friend who owns a large per...

I know this topic has been brought many times in the past but I thought I would look for your opinions. Here in Florida it's mainly flat land in any direction. My car has a high compression Z head and was rebuilt about 14 years ago with all new Stipe touring cam and crankshaft. I also have a Ruckst...

A couple of observations based on the time I have spent polishing my '09 and other brass-era stuff... I concur with others that Brasso is lame. Semichrome & Flitz are much better products to use based on my experiences. With that said, what I have noticed when polishing my brass cars is that I can m...

Hey Mike, This might be old news to you, Ford Wood in Utah still makes and sells Model T wood kits and the door kits are sold separately from the rest of the body. https://fordwood.com/ Pick your body style, then year, and misc. wood kits. The "n" kits have no fasteners, the "F" kits include fasten...

Karl Von Neumann wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 14, 2025 2:10 pm
Do you need one with drum or just the hub?

Just the hub. It was damaged when removing the wheel from the axle.

So Brent, what do you recommend to etch the tank? Aluminum Oxide media. To do the job correctly, the surface needs to be abraded so the urethane has a mechanical bond. Once the insides have been thoroughly blasted, the tank is fixtured and rewelded. . IMG_9908.jpg IMG_9909.jpg 3031GasTank2.jpg

It always amuses me how auctioneers and other uneducated people throw around the term, "Barn Find ", as vanderbrink did in the title of this auction. If all these items, or even just those on wheels that could roll, were found in a barn, that barn would have to be the size of an aircraft manufactur...

Tim, we are the largest restorer of Model-A Gas Tanks, and the only thing that we have found that will partially dissolve the coating is a 15% mixture of hot Sodium Hydroxide and water. Generally we soak the tank for a minimum of 12 hours in around 210° Sodium Hydroxide solution. Sometimes it soften...

I am looking for a nice Wood Wheel Rear Hub for a 1926. If someone has one to sell and is coming to the Owatonna Tour in a week or so, that would even be that much better as it would save on boxing and shipping.

TIA

Almost every vehicle that comes to, -or leaves my Shop is transported by Bill. Has been that way for several years. Another satisfied customer many times over!!

Hi Brent, Most all of these distributors are very much alike the bolt in the side of the body goes into a groove that keeps the distributor from turning to far & from lifting out of the body. & many you have to drive the pin out of the driven gear to lift the shaft out. The Bosch 600 series have a ...

I have two of the older Texas T Distributors (-I think that is who made these) with the Bosch head. Both of these have the bell-crank timing adjustment rods if that helps identify them. Has anyone actually removed the head on these and removed it from the mast? If so, what is the trick to releasing ...

Brent, What car will you want to burn acetylene headlamps? I would not run an mc tank for more than 15-20 min. Before I became more informed, I used an mc tank and regulator and went for a long drive, maybe 45 min. When I shut off the tank, i could distinctly smell the acetone. With the B tank, the...

The Prest-O-Lite "B" tanks are what I have been using for about ten years. I suggest setting up your headlamps/burners with an acetylene tank even if you use carbide later. You don't want to break a Mangin reflector with a leaking burner or base. I wasn't able to find a POL regulator that Keith has...

Thanks Keith, et/all!!

So define "intermittent" please. Again, this is a parade that lasts approximately 1½-2 hours.

FWIW, I don't have a Running Board to mount a Prest-o-lite tank onto, so I'm not sure a B or E tank would be an option.

Planning ahead, I would like to be able to use my Gas Headlamps at OCF parade or at a evening Cruise-in display. I am on the fence on whether I would like to use a small 10cf tank of Acetylene, -or Carbide (-see link below) in my Carbide Generator tank. How much difference in light (Lumens??) output...

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑
Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:39 pm
I've got a new, never installed one that I bought from CHAFFINS. Paid $439.95 plus shipping for it. Will sell for same price, but the shipping is on your DIME.

PM sent

Marty, are you wanting to do the entire seat or just the cushions? Are you wanting it in leather or vinyl?? If Mike doesn't do it, we can do it in my shop. We are doing a frameup restoration a 1935 ALF for a municipality down near Gatlinburg and just finished sewing theirs in leather. I can send pix...

These guys are the US WOSP distributors https://www.race-parts.com/wosp-lms256-high-output-race-starter-motor I have two of these and they work great. Here is the 6 volt version https://www.ccw-tools.com/WOSP-LMS256-6V---Ford-Model-T-high-torque-starter-motor-6-Volt__p-183761.aspx Thanks Rod. Unfor...

I have two 1913 T's that require a battery for cranking. I have found a Lithium battery that is about the size of a Model T coil to work very well. The best part is they are 12 volt, and fit nicely along side my spare coils under the seat. Mr. Larry Smith, didn't earn the nickname, "Original Smith"...

I avoided lithium batteries, not entirely certain I wish to take a chance on the things spontaneously combusting to burn up a non-replaceable Model T. Check out MGuy on YouTube to see just how bad lithium batteries can be. Do Ni-Cad batteries fall under that same category? One of the easiest ways t...

Does anyone know of a current source for the gear reduction 12v starters? We need one within the next few weeks.

TIA

Awesome!! We too received both of our confirmations this afternoon also. Excited to be doing the Lansing Run again this year too.

Dan, FWIW I actually have one that I purchased when I was building a Model-A powered Big Car. At first when I read your ad I really did not want to sell my stuff, but then after some soul searching on what my realistic future project builds look like, I am gravitating towards selling everything I ha...

To the top one last time, then gets tucked away until I can get to it. Ohhh ...I have agonized over this car for several months now, but as they say in real estate -Location, Location, LOCATION!! :D Transporation costs for me having it professionally transported to my shop are about 1/3rd the sales...

What am I missing? When I open the link, my computer says;

Date(s) 6/7/2025 - 6/19/2025

Bidding Opens Saturday June 7th, 2025 - 10am Soft Close Thursday June 19th, 2025 - 6pm

"ONLINE" ONLY Richard Eagles Estate

Just FYI, Summit Racing has One Shot available in their catalog. Not inexpensive though!! Suppose nothing is these days- just glad to be able to get it! Summit usually has pretty good pricing on their stuff, but their one shot stuff is grossly overpriced. common 4oz colours are about $15 (black/whi...

Darryl: Looks like a good meet. Hate I missed it. We’re all those cars for sale or just there? Hope to see everyone at Hershey, good Lord willing and the Creek don’t rise. Dan Hi Dan, let me first say that you were sincerely missed. You & Gator both!! It appears 3 of the 4 vehicles pictured above w...

I have a Phinney-Walker Rim Wind clock that is very accurate twice a day ...however, I would like for it to be accurate at other times too. Who repairs these that can clean and repair mine??

Brent, I am working on a 14 front top iron that I have dug the rotted wood out of and was considering a shaped wood piece surrounded by autobody strucual adhesive. What are your thoughts on that? That would probably be OK. The key to everything is to have a strong spine inside. Brent will it for in...

Good enuf. By chance are you coming to Luray where I don't need to crate this thing??

I have a customer's project in that has an OHV engine with a Model-A crankshaft conversion that appears to have never been finished on the front end. The Rods & Mains have been completed, but the nose of the crankshaft was not machined for T pulleys, etc. Is there any shops that still do the A crank...

Brent, is the problem confines to just the bottom bow when the top is folded? Are you averse to repainting the bows after you have fixed the problem? If not, using a torch to heat the socket may break down the epoxy contact within, allowing easier and more complete removal, using your tool to draw ...

I am beyond livid right now trying to correct what IMHO is nothing more than poor craftsmanship on a set of nearly new reproduction Dog Leg Top Sockets. The issue is they bend because of incorrect gauge metal and poor craftsmanship. The first three trips the vehicle went on, it came home with bent s...

I asked few weeks ago and the answer was they were still rebuilding fixtures.

On a side note, if you need a cam, Kevin Pruss is manufacturing a camshaft with almost the same specs. I have installed a few to date and the reviews back are they perform the same at the Stipe 280.

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 24, 2025 9:15 pm
What is the story on the box?

Dan, that box has the original paint on it.

(I should know, ...I put the original paint on it!!!

)

Does this mean that if I am driving ANY vehicle with tires over 4 years old that I am liable for any accident that occurs ? It looks like I need to stop driving all my vehicles. Utter nonsense. As I stated above (-please reread!) that Coker Tire has a policy for themselves that they deeply discount...

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