MTFCA Forum

There is no James McNeal in the 2018-2019 HCCA roster or in the current HCCA database.

Jim,
Yes. That is the type of shift lever I am looking for.
Would you be interested in a swap? Or selling?
-Keith

Still looking...

Darel,
I was looking at the brass plated side lamp brackets. I thought thatcwas Torpedo...
Keith

Eric,
IIRC, the lower compression high head was in response to the low quality, lower octane gasoline that was available at the time.
Keith

In picture 3, the five big boys behind the skinny tree, are in/on a Torpedo.

Did Bruce McCalley ever do any Vintage Ford articles on Town Cars? I'll have to dig through my VFCD library.
I wonder if there were any town car articles in the MTFCI Model T Times?

Is he in the HCCA roster?

Message sent.
We are touring with the Portland Regional Group HCCA today.

: ^ )

Ricky, Since towncars, like delivery cars were not in as high of demand as a touring car, it was not uncommon to have an earlier body on a later chassis. This would account for some 1912s to have fore-doors and others open front. I dont know if the fore-doors on the town cars were called removable l...

I'd replace the valves, put in adjustable lifters, but add a "new" cam. I have a reground cam that has Chaffin's "touring grind" and have been pleased with the results in my 1915 and my 1919.

YMMV

Keith

Haydon, Beautiful looking paint job. Is it black? Since you are bown under and the car is right hsns drive, I presume the body was made by Wm. Gray & Sons. I'm curious; What is the body number? It will be stamped into the wood on the seat riser in front of the gas tank cover, and on the underside of...

For you coil box, I'd suggest replacing the wood with either new wood or plastic, which eliminates the possibility of carbon tracking.

1915-1916.

Austin-
How are you feeling?
Any updates about your car and insurance?
Keith

Does the no slit box have round mounting holes or square holes?

Round bolt with slot goes on the inside with springs. The nut goes on the outside along with the loop for top hook and cotter pin.

Sometimes windshield hinge parts get mis-matched.

Allan,
The coil box on my non-starter 1919 has the switch on front and the center support.
: ^ )
Keith

The center strip was added about 1918.
If the mounting holes are round the coil box is 1915-1916.
Square holes are 1917-1922.

"Ish"

The coilbox with Corbin "lunch box" type latches are from 1913, as the Heinze coils in the box. The Upside down switch is KW.
The second photo is a different coil box

David-
Here is your opportunity to own you very own!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/317237024859?i ... rNWP&pfm=0

: ^ )
Keith

I only have one like this and always wondered why these holes were here.

20250903_172543.jpg

Now I know...

Screenshot_20250903_172106_eBay.jpg

Screenshot_20250903_172118_eBay.jpg

What type of latch goes here?

: ^ )
Keith

I only have one like this and always wondered why these holes were here.

Now I know...

What type of latch goes here?

: ^ )
Keith

I have a 12v motorcycle battery tucked into the V shaped tool compartment next to the gas tank on my 1915.

: ^ )

Keith

The C clamp looks like it would be easy to fabricate.

Austin, I'm glad to hear that you are not seriously hurt. Sometimes it takes a few days for whiplash or back pain. If that happens, go to the doctor. The insurance adjuster will determine the estimated cost to repair your car and make you an offer. I think that you will need a new radiator from the ...

The rear curtain should follow the trajectory of the back of the seat back outer panel.

That is just plain wrong!

Text and pics sent

Original check board sill plates have smaller squares than reproductions.

IIRC, installation of the inner neoprene seal requires shortening the inside end of the axle sleeve by the thickness of the seal (?)

Different years of cars used different styles.
What year of top boot?

James, For 1916 a large head (9/16") tack holds the skirt of the top to the bow. Unfortunately those smooth shank tacks often come out. On my 1919 I attached the top skirt with a screwed-on snap base, then attached a snap top and cover on it. It will never pull out and looks the same as the large he...

Bill, Are you a Facebook user? There are a couple of different ALF and SPAAMFAA pages that would probably have someone that can help you out. https://www.facebook.com/groups/477024619926645 https://www.facebook.com/groups/61776127093 https://www.facebook.com/groups/2235215712 Most (all?) ALF rigs of...

Have you ever gone, Jabbo?

I have what I believe to be a Perfecto or early Ruckstell shift handle. I am looking for a later Ruckstell style shift handle. The shifter I have uses three mounting bolts at the ball cap. The rod (not included) mounts at the same relative location as on a Ruckstell, but the shaft of the handle come...

I'd like to thank the good people who make Hellmann's mayonnaise for providing me with a replacement license plate lens for an electric tail light.

: ^ )

No windshield either, but it does have the spacer board...

Before I understood the safety aspects of acetylene lighting, I used an MC tank mounted at an angle under the rear floorboards based upon information that Val provided. I even wrote an article on how I mounted everything that was published in the HCCA Gazette. One night I was on a fairly long drive ...

John,
What size of burners are you using?
Keith

I just painted it...

John,
An MC tank does not have the volume capacity for safe operation. It will draw off the acetone which will destroy the regulator and compromise its integrity and safety.
Get a B or E tank.
Keith

My thought was to fabricate one out of a lug bolt.

Mine has no stud, just a square hole, about 7/16".

I'll take it.
Do you have the bolts for it?
Keith

Looking good, Tom.
I love the Hayes demountable wire wheels on my wife's speestder!

Mark,
In about 1996, RCMTC dues went from $7 to $10.
It almost started a riot...

I have painted all my top irons mounted on bodies gloss black. I'm going to assume you mean top sockets? The top sockets on my 1919 were a mis-matched pile of parts, some were pretty rusty with deep pits. I had them stripped, then powder coated with semi-gloss to help not draw attention to them. I w...

Joshua,
The Rose City Model T Club meets on the third Thursday of the month.
Contact Randy or me for details.
-Keith

Eric,
All of my cars have Ruckstell axles on them. On my brass era cars, I use complete Ruckstell era axle assemblies and the complete "correct" differential and driveline stored away to go with the car as it goes to the next steward. Use a later housing and be leak-free.
-Keith

I filled out my INF 70 form a week ago to get written documentation that my untitled speedster was never tited in California. The nice lady on the phone ran the serial number for me and said that it had never been titled in California. I asked if I could get that in writing she said I'd have to fill...

You might check with Richard Gould.

Thanks a lot, Gilligan!

Go online to California DMV and do a title search.

Cool, Tom.
Are those original torpedo dash brackets?

Along with paper currency, including $2 bills, there were also different gold coins used up to 1933.

Art, It sounds like you can cobble together parts to make a radiator work for your car. Allen, If I recall correctly (since this was nearly 50 years ago and I was a kid) the brass radiator outlet fit better than the black radiator outlet. John, I like your solution to make everything fit. Is your ra...

Short answer is, "No."

The angle of the inlet for the top tank is different for the tall and short radiators.

That being said, I did it 50 years ago on my 1919, not realizing the differences.

I would not do it again.

Keith

Brackets are painted, but will burn off even with high heat paint. The muffler is wrapped with asbestos and secured with 3 straps.

: ^ )

Keith

There you go, Kim...
Once again, teaching me something new.

Thanks for sharing.

: ^ )

Keith

It looks like a standard chassis to me.

I was going to desigh a trailer or Depot hack with this design. The cot springs double as screen sides.

: ^ )

Early.
For a carburetor that has a "tickler" instead of a choke.
: ^ )

I find it interesting that the Speedometer wrench is listed on an April 1912 tool list.
I though the threaded speedometer pinion gear nut was a feature for 1911 only?

: Speedometer wrench and nut.jpg (60.31 KiB) Viewed 408 times

No Twinkies.
How about a turnover?

: ^ )

Eric,
That was, indeed, one of the hilliest tours that I have ever been on! A full tank of gas and momentum can be your friend. And just when you think that you will beat a hill, the guy ahead of you misses a shift!

I'm so glad so many people made new friends.

Thank you for your well wishes and kind words.

Keith and Yvonne

Happy Independence Day.

She said, "I do."

We still have the car, too!

1911
The 1912 door includes: MADE IN USA stamped under the script.

Nice.

Carbon tracking in the coil box?

Also one of my first and favorite Matchbox Models of Yesteryear cars was Y-1, which they called a 1911 Model T. If you take a close look, you will realize that it is actually a 1912 slab-side body without the fore-doors. A 1911 car would have the step-side body. We won't even go into their color cho...

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, ther...

Brent, I LOVE burning my acetylene lamps with my Prest-O-Lite B tank! Prest-o-Lite light.jpg As noted above, the stock acetylene generator is messy and needs to be cleaned out after each use. Brightness depends of what size of burners you have. Burners are marked: 1/2 , 5/8, 3/4, etc. The number ind...

Happy Birthday young man!

Demountable wood wheels with a collapsible 21" rim was introduced as an option in 1925.

: ^ )

Marty, Michael Francis at Classtique does nice work. I'm glad to see you don't have diamond tufting. American LaFrance used this square upholstery pattern. I supposed it carried over to their partner rigs like Brockway. AFL seat upholstery.JPG I don't think ALF used any springs. I would use modern r...

I don't know what brand of acetylene generator is pictured, but on the E&J generator for my 1911, when the water valve is turned to the "off" position, it opens a port to vent the acetylene in the bottom of the tank to the outside.

Herb-
I believe that is the effect of 100+ year old spun brass that has been exposed to the elements.
The upper chamber is the water reservoir. The lower chamber would have had the acetylene gas.

: ^ )

Keith

Mike, I can say things like this about Larry because he is a good friend. I first learned about him when I was 13 years. My family was on vacation and going through Reno. I wanted to see Harrah's collection and we did. I bought McCalley's book, From Here to Obscurity. It was $14.95 and I paid for it...

Larry uses an Armstrong starter.
He is a cranky type of guy.

Since the head is off, the valves are stuck, and they are original two-piece valves. This looks like a perfect opportunity to grind the seats and lap in a new set of valves.

: ^ )

Keith

Corey does nice work.

Tad, are those carburetors Zenith HP-5As?

Thank you, Sally.
I send you a message.
-Keith

Kim,

I hope the next Steward is as good and faithful as you.

: ^ )

Keith

The hood shelves on my 1915 (which should be painted black) have the hood latches on the outboard ends and the 1/4" carriage bolt that anchors in through the top and bottom channel of the frame are on the inside. 20250612_154359.jpg On my brass era speedster, the latches are (inboard) where the anch...

I would like to find a set of Rootlieb's curved speedster fenders.
I have a set of Rootlieb flat speedster fenders.

Anyone want to swap?

: ^ )

Keith

Phil's 1911.
Note at the mounting end of the bracket, the "shaft" comes to a rather distinct "point."

: ^ )

Phil's 1911.
Note at the mounting end of the bracket, the "shaft" comes to a rather distinct "point."

: ^ )

Chad, I have thought about drilling and tapping the cover to install some oilers, but hate to put holes in the cover. However, to oil the rockers, the hood needs to be removed, then the cross-over carburetor heat-pipe has to be removed, and finally the valve cover has to be removed, then i can give ...

So these 6v LED bulbs mounted in reproduction E&J 666 headlamps would be illegal...

But the original acetylene powered headlamps on my 1911 would be legal?

YMMV

: ^ )

Bill,
He cut them with a plasma cutter.
: ^ )

What carburetor is that, Steve?

We got the engine running but it was running really rough. Very sputtery and the intake manifold was really cold. I arranged a heat tube from the carburetor to an area near the exhaust header and it ran considerably better, so we made a heat collector and plumbed it into the carburetor. It runs much...

We got the engine running but it was running really rough. Very sputtery and the intake manifold was really cold. I arranged a heat tube from the carburetor to an area near the exhaust header and it ran considerably better, so we made a heat collector and plumbed it into the carburetor. It runs much...

Should there be a gasket under the valve cover for a Frontenac overhead valve head?? I've got an oil soaked typewriter felt above the rocker assembly. I dont want oil drooling down the sides on my engine.

: ^ )

Keith

I love my Marquette tire tool! I keep it in my flat tire bag of tricks and recently used it while teaching a Chebby guy how to mount 30x3-1/2 clinchers. He watched in amazement and asked, "where did you find that tool?" After mounting three tires with four hands, he mounted the last one by himself u...

Bruce,
I have a very nice "Circle S" made by FW Stewart.
2.5:1 RHD. gears are as smooth as silk forward and backwards.
$275 + shipping.

Email me for pics.
; ^ )

(the other) Keith

FWS Stewart_1918_2pgs.pdf: (137.99 KiB) Downloaded 51 times

Thank you for all the comments and guidance. My friend bought new bridge washers and nuts from Coker that fit his new tubes. This has been educational for both of us. It was my first experience with metal stem inner tubes and his first experience mounting clincher tires. We got three of them mounted...

Search found 1314 matches