MTFCA Forum

This car was built in 1902 (pre Ford Motor Company) and was nicknamed “999” after the famous steam locomotive that had set a world speed record. There were two race cars built, and their purpose was to promote public interest in Henry Ford and establish a reputation for Mr. Ford as a race car builde...

To Wayne Sheldon: 1915 was the first year Model Ts came with a combination tail light/rear license plate holder. Cars produced before May 1915 used a tail light bracket that did not include the rear license bracket. So to answer your question, the style used before May 1915 was the same rear tail li...

Actually, according to records at the Benson Ford Research Center, there were three different designs of rear tail light brackets used. The first style began to be used in May 1915. The first style, as mentioned above, was a 4 part assembly. It consists of the bracket, the arm, a 3/8 x 24 hex castle...

The Prototype Control system did not use a reverse lever, like the later two-lever, two-pedal cars did. Instead, the two levers on the prototypes were for 1) the rear hub brake (just like all the production Model Ts did), and 2) for neutral/high gear. Pulling this second lever back put the car in ne...

Jerry,

I wish you could have been there. After all, part of this story is yours. I would love to hear about how you got the removable cylinder head motor to Piquette.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

Been there, seen that. A rare privilege.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

Regarding valve seats: Have you ever had the opportunity to look over a stripped NOS cylinder block? I have, and I was surprised by the valve seats. In a new block it almost looks as if there is no valve seat at all. If you look closely at the seats you can barely see a very narrow seat. The ones I ...

I was part of a judging team that judged cars in this class at the MTFCI National Meet in 1998. Stynoski cars were judged in their respective classes as well as the special Stnyoski class. Honestly, the pictures do not do the car justice. To really appreciate this car you need to be with one foot of...

Ed was a good friend, who was also interested in NRS Fords.

We are diminished.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

Historically speaking, these were referred to as “Lizzy Labels”.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

1908 was the first year Model Ts were produced without a driver side door.

A more useful question is what was the first year in which Model Ts came with driver side doors. The answer to that is the 1911 enclosed runabout, aka torpedo.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

The fish plate frames were used on the first 2500 cars. They were required because the frame steel used was only 1/8” steel (the same as used on Model NRS frames). After the first 2500 cars the frames were built using a thicker grade of steel. Most early frames (am tempted to say all, but don’t have...

Just to be clear, the quote “ The customer can have any color he wants so long as it is black.” is from the book “My Life and Work” by Henry Ford with Samuel Crowther. Please take note of Mr. Crowther’s role in this book. In 1922 Mr. Crowther approached the Ford Motor Company about writing a book wi...

Hi Fred,

Nothing has come through from you, but I will check the university spam filter when I go in tomorrow.

Cheers,

Trent

Model T front axles were made by several metal forging companies in addition to the Ford Motor Company. Almost invariably, the forgings included the trademark of the forging company. The major metal forging companies who made front axles included Transue Williams, Cleveland Hardware, Herbrand, and F...

Responded by email.

Trent

My understanding is there are 7 surviving Model B Fords, one of which was a car without engine and transmission.

Total production of Model B Cars was about 500 units.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

1908 Model S Runabout.

Possibly a very early Model T on the left.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

Yes, it is very important that Model T crankshafts be indexed off the crankshaft flange when regrinding! Actually, a Model T crankshafts were originally ground between centers. This made the three main bearings on the crankshaft perfectly aligned. But after 90+ years, the rear main bearings have bee...

From your description of the problem, my money is on the valves being original two piece cast iron valves. After 100 years, there is just so much hard work these valves can stand befor the head, or parts of the head, break off. Before removing the cylinder head, follow the advice of Ruxstel24 above ...

From your photo, my best guess is that is made out of treated asbestos. One manufacturer of this type of band material was Raybestos. If indeed the material is woven asbestos, then you should handle them with extreme caution. Even better, buy some new modern bands that are made of a material which i...

Bill, I suspect that the internal dimensions of you 6 rivet housing have changed over the years. The reason I suspect this is because the differential does not turn freely until after you have shaved down one of the thrust washers to .170 from it original thickness of about .205”. Also keep in mind ...

One thing to keep in mind when fitting the ring and pinion clearance is that when you take off material from one side of the differential shims and washers you need to add material to the other side. Assuming that you have zero ring and pinion clearance to begin with, when you use thinner washers (b...

This is most likely a 1907 Model N, although it could be a 1906. One feature of note is the radiator cap. This is what is some times referred to as the light bulb radiator cap because the cap actually screwed into the radiator neck, not on top of it as in the later design. The threads on this cap re...

I think this photo was taken in Highland Park at the corner of Woodward and Manchester. This would have been at the southwest corner of Ford’s Highland Park plant. Part of the foundation of the “Administrative Building” is visible to the right. The real give away here is the street car in the backgr...

Hi Hap, I seem to recall that all bodies delivered to Ford before 1914 arrived from the manufacturer painted and trimmed (with floorboards). Beginning in 1914 with the completion of the the four big (!) 6 story buildings (Designated W, X, Y and Z) Ford began receiving bodies in the “white”, that is ...

I once had the opportunity to inspect the frame number on a 1927 touring. The first two digits were 1 and 5, followed by 6 zeros. We were checking to see if the frame number and engine number matched.

(They did.)

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

It’s an N. The first give away is the fenders. The plow share fenders were only used on the Model N. Since it does not have running boards, a step plate is used instead (barely visible behind the end of the fron fender). Second are the bail sidelights. These disappeared in 1907-08 for the Model N. M...

John Reagan is the most knowledgeable person I know of on the Beaudette Body Co. of Pontiac, MI. John has never indicated to me if any of the business records, including sales to FMC, have survived. My knowledge of body numbers comes from some work I did reviewing several thousand of the photographe...

We are diminished.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

It looks like the remains of a shim used on the front radius rod ball socket to take up slack resulting from excessive wear of the ball and socket. There was also a smaller version used in the drag link ball sockets.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

You might want to check out this article from a past issue of the Vintage Ford: “The Use of Scrap in the Production of New Model T Parts,” The Vintage Ford, vol. 35 no. 1 (January-February 2000) pp. 26-29. There were two main reasons that Ford decided to specify the sizes of the shipping crates for ...

This KRW tool might be referred to as “The Mother of all front spring perch pullers”. It was a late addition to the Wilson Model T line appearing after the 1926 catalog went to print. It does appear in a 1930 tool catalog that I have a photo copy of. The screw goes on the threaded end of a Model T s...

Late 26-27 engines that were intended for use in TT truck chassis used 1-piece all steel valves.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess