MTFCA Forum

Kathy,

Thanks for posting all the pictures.

It just so happens that I have the McCord Oiler for my 1908 Model S Roadster on a bench at the moment so I took a picture of the pulley with a tape measure next to it. IMG_0470.jpeg The S Roadster’s engine is on another bench nearby, so here is a picture of the drive pulley. IMG_0468.jpeg Hope these...

I have been using Neway valve seat tools for many years. My tools are capable of less than .001” valve seat runout, but it depends on the condition of the seats and especially the guides. Number 4 exhaust is the most difficult to do in a Model T because of the firewall, but removing the firewall hel...

I am not a professional engine rebuilder, but I was taught how to rebuild Model T engines by a man who was a professional engine rebuilder. The Model T engines he built for himself were used to win the Montana 500 several times, and when he didn’t win, he was always in contention. The techniques he ...

I have been working on the connecting rods for the Model S Roadster. I am using Model T aluminum pistons, so the piston pin is clamped in the rod’s top, like a Model T. The threads at the top of the rod are standard 3/8x24, so the original bolts that adjusted the clearance in the piston pin bushing ...

Actually, in the last photo that is Larry Smith and Steve Conniff (RIP) in the back seat. I was the photographer.

You can substitute an early Model T handle for the NRS handle. You will need to make a new crank handle bolt since NRS cars use USS course threads, but Model T’s use SAE threads.

The problem with the original Ford design is wear. Wear inside the roller bear housing, and wear of the roller bearing itself. More than .005” wear in either of these two parts results in excessive runout of the driveshaft pinion. This makes it much more difficult to setup the proper ring and pinion...

Here are three additional questions:
1. Is the car number stamped into the front seat riser on the right hand side of the body?
2. How does the front radius rod attach to the front axle?
3. What does the right side of the engine look like?

Thx

This is truly an amazing car. I had a chance to drive it in April 2000. As Kim stated, its low end power is quite remarkable.

Stevens also made a camshaft nut wrench that works very well.

No, there are at least two survivors. This one is NOS.

A complete KR Wilson setup is used to pour, bore and align ream Model T and A main bearings.

Someone was asking about cam bearing dimensions. This drawing is from The Henry Ford’s website.

I have been caring for this one for the past 55 years. It has always been in my family, and yes the wood body is original. It has never spent much time exposed to the elements. IMG_0965.jpeg What makes a TT bearable is high speed worm and ring gears. Originally my truck came with the slow speed gear...

Another clue that this is a Model R and not a Model S Runabout is the front fenders have two fender irons per fender. IMG_2865.jpeg Model S Runabouts used front fenders that resembled those of the Model R, but they only used one fender iron per front fender. Respectfully submitted, Trent Boggess

One of this winter season projects is replacing the rear tires on my 1924 TT. Getting the tires and rims off the wheels wasn’t too bad, but getting the old tires off the rims was a challenge. After I got the lock rings off, I pried with my TT tire irons, and drove the old tires off with a hammer and...

Thank you, Erik.

Trent Boggess

There are two used on each car. They are located near the bottom of wood fire walls ( dash) between the firewall and the floor board riser.

The Heinz coil box and the Rubes double twist horn setup have been spoken for.

Thanks MTFCA!

The 1910-12 Heinz points, ‘09-12 rear ball cap, the torpedo gas cap and the Kingston 5 ball carburetor have all been spoken for.

Thanks MTFCA!

There will be a completely rebuilt small drum Ruckstell at Lang’s Hershey spaces, RCG 41-43.

A few more Hershey items:

1911 Torpedo/Open Runabout gas cap.

‘09-12 rear ball cap on driveshaft.

Stevens Tools

Thanks MTFCA!

Some of the things I am bringing to Hershey, spaces RCG 41-43 (Lang’s Old Car Parts: Early cylinder heads, 12-13 pan, complete Rubes double twist horn set up. IMG_2714.jpeg ‘10-12 Heinze coil box, good coils, new points. IMG_2715.jpeg IMG_2716.jpeg Show quality 1911 Kingston 5-ball restored by the l...

“ I've been in the hot rod building profession for over 50 years.”

Having seen some of Pete Eastwood’s creations, I’d say this was an understatement.

Try The National Ford Tool Collectors website at Fordtoolcollector.org

My 1911 Torpedo Runabout has sold.

Thank you MTFCA!

Keith, It is not necessary to get on M-153 Southfield Freeway to get to Greenfield Village, in fact I strongly recommend you don’t. Having said that, there is an access road on both sides of Southfield, called Southfield Freeway Frontage Road. When you get to Southfield, turn north on the frontage r...

I will be attending this year’s Old Car Festival in Dearborn, MI September 6 & 7. I can deliver the car in Dearborn or points in between there and NH.

1911 Model T Enclosed Runabout (Torpedo) for sale. The car is a June 1911 Model T with a Wilson body (as opposed to a Beaudette). It was restored about 25 years ago and it is painted a dark Mercedes blue. It has all white tires front and rear. The car was restored according to the original shippi...

“The Customer Can Have Any Color He Wants So Long As Its Black: A Study of the Materials and Methods Use to Paint the Model T,” The Vintage Ford, vol. 32, no. 6 (November-December 1997) pp. 26-41.

The Stevens rear axle sleeve puller is hollow in the center, so it can be used with the axle shafts still in place.

When setting up the valve train on a Model T I time the valves using a degree wheel on the crankshaft and a dial indicator to determine the point at which the valves are open and closed. It’s a lot of work, but the results are very satisfying. I can’t time the valves that way with the engine in the ...

This what is called oil pocket motor. The ridge you see in the casting for the camshaft gear case was put there to collect oil and channel it down to an oil filler timer. Oil pocket motors appeared in the fall of 1911 but are considered to be 1912 model year motors (along with oil fill timers). Resp...

I’ve owned my 1924 TT farm grain truck since 1968. It is a stock TT with the addition of a Ruckstell two speed rear axle. When I took possession of it it had the 7-1 rear axle gears, and it was slow. The 18 mph others have mentioned is about right. In 1973 I found and installed the optional Ford 5 1...

From the 1926 KRW catalog.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

I volunteered in the Benson Ford Research Center for many years (pre-Covid) and had complete access to the Ford Motor Company’s accounting records during the Model T era. Each month the Accounting Department produced a report entitled “Comparison of Cost and Sales of Autos Produced”. I have a copy o...

Richard, I admire your workmanship. It looks really good. One thing I have noticed while using my KRW Transmission Bushing Reaming Fixture is that clamping the circumference of a drum too tightly can force the drum off of the centerline of the reamer. So I only tighten fixture lightly around the dru...

And sometimes solved problems reemerge. One of the issues that has been cited for the reluctance today’s drivers to purchase an electric vehicle is “range anxiety”, the fear of running the battery down before reaching a charging station, and being stranded on the side of the road. Owners of pre-T Fo...

Certainly. The overall length is 5.525 inches. The major diameter is .328 and is about 4.440 inches long. The minor diameter is .162 and about 1.112 inches long. The lengths of the major and minor diameters do not quite add up to 5.525 inches because of the transition from the minor to major diamete...

This is a NOS Stevens T-180 I found at Hershey this year:

Respectfully Submitted,

TrentB

First of all, I agree with Jerry, metal fatigue is a major cause of Model T crank failure. But what contributes to metal fatigue? Here is my list of causes of metal fatigue in Model T crankshafts: 1. Lugging the motor. Keeping the rpm’s down when driving can cause the crank to lug causing metal fati...

Like every other Stevens tool I have ever run across, the T-138 Camshaft Nut Wrench works very well.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent

Is there a discount if you supply a used Ford cutout at the time you place your order?

Thanks,

This is what my mentor (he built racing engines) taught me about valve guides. You need .002-.0025” clearance between a Model T valve guide and the valve stem. Less than that increases the likelihood of a sticky valve. That clearance also allows the valve to find the best position to seal at. Model ...

Just to add a bit to Scott’s description of how to use Neway Valve Seat cutters, make sure you clean the valve guides throughly before installing the pilots. Use a bore brush if you have one.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

The confusion over triple pins arises from the fact that from 5/29/23 on Ford produced two (2) slightly different triple gear pins at the same time. Before 5/29/23 the same triple gear pin was used both for new production and for repairs when triple gear pins had to be replaced. The factory symbol n...

My personal favorite is the KR Wilson engine stand on a roller base. B1B066CE-0BB7-4B20-9A04-7749E1319704.jpeg The advantages I see in his stand is that there is very little flex of the stand with the motor on it. More modern stands made from welded square tubing always have some movement when holdi...

Hi Larry, Thank you. The pins are coming out nicely. I chose 21/64 as the oversize because that is the same as first oversize of valve stems. If someone’s clevis holes are worn, they can use a valve stem reamer to open the holes up enough so the new oversize clevis pins will fit. The cotter pin hole...

FS: New production early style clevis pins with the correct domed head for 1909-1913 Model T Fords, T-2564E. These are available in standard (5/16) and 1/64 oversize (21/64). 5 used per car: 4 brake rod clevis and 1 clutch shift clevis pin. $2.25 each or 5 for $10 plus $9.55 shipping. CAFB926F-076A-...

I’m impressed! Milford and Amherst, NH are just west of Manchester. It appears that Chas. J. Upham may have been a sub-dealer for D.F. Sullivan in Manchester, NH. These cars could be in FMC Accounts Receivable records, but we will not know until the Benson Ford Research Center reopens sometime in th...

This photo shows why the KR Wilson motor stand was a best seller.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

Check the compressed thickness of the felt with micrometers. Most transmission cover felts are twice the thickness they should be. I usually split the felt in half by pulling it apart starting at one end. Then I coat both sides of the felt with RTV. I also trim the length of the felt so it just come...

Here is one we came across about 18 months ago.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

The Model N is intriguing, but somewhat puzzling. It appears that someone converted it to thermo siphon (I wonder how that worked out for them) by removing the water pump and connecting the water pipe directly to the radiator. An original water pump appears to be on the seat, so perhaps someone was ...

Made these for a 1911 torpedo runabout.

The black one is a NOS original.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

Some years ago I found the story on the straps that run from the back of the engine block to the top of the pan arms in the Walter Fishliegh files, accession 94 in the Benson Ford Research Center. When the “Improved Cars” were introduced in the summer of 1925 they did not have these metal straps. Fo...

In 1911 Ford was still manufacturing cars using the stationary assembly technique. Cars were completely assembled at the Highland Park plant and either driven away by dealers or shipped to either Ford branches or to dealers in more distant locations. The assembly plant system was not used until afte...

This is one of the most difficult KR Wilson Model T tools to find. https://www.ebay.com/itm/145106362338?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3tjkqyhvqm-&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=Jf3dZK5kS4-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY In my opinion, it is one of most desirable KR Wilson to own. It holds...

What’s its engine number?

Respectability requested,

Trent Boggess

My understanding is the current market price of original KR Wilson pan straightening jigs is $2000-$2500.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

Adam’s suggestion should work. Alternatively, create a dummy valve by grinding/turning down an old valve’s head so that it is only about 1 inch in diameter, and it will completely clear the valve seat. Remove a valve, spring and keeper, and clean the guide and top of the pushrod, if you have not alr...

FWIW: The camshafts Bill Stipe produced came about as a part of Ford Motor Company’s T-100 project which produced 6 brand new 1914 Model T Ford’s for its centennial celebration in 2003. I pulled all of the FMC engineering information on Model T camshafts from the collections of the Benson Ford Resea...

What Dan McEachern writes is generally true, however, relatively few Model T parts had the name “Ford” in script on them before March 19, 1919. After that date virtually all genuine parts had Ford script on them somewhere.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

In MHO, the article is a vast simplification of what made the Model T so successful. I prefer to describe it as a large number of interrelated compromises that ultimately proved successful. The study of those compromises has fascinated me for over half a century. Respectfully Submitted, Trent Bogges...

Jerry VanOoteghem wrote: “Trent, Do these tools actually cut away the deformed portions of any threads, or do they re-shape a burred or rolled-over thread? Thanks.” Jerry, That’s an excellent question. Here is a close up of the inside of a Stevens T-181. 5638BDEA-37DB-4A5B-A93E-BC8BE94B3E5E.jpeg It ...

Disclaimer: I have not personally handled or examined the Stevens T-181 tool listed on eBay. Having said that, I have handled, examined and used a number of T-181 tools over the years. The condition of the thread chasers on these tools is critical to the usefulness of these tools. The chasers are su...

It does appear that the original McCord mechanical oiler has been replaced with a more modern oil pump on this Model S roadster. If I am seeing it correctly, the modern oil pump is drawing oil from the bottom of the crankcase and pumping oil to the right hand side of the motor. Originally, oil from ...

You really need just the Sea Lion, mandrels can be made. The original Stevens mandrels were made from 1-3/8 diameter steel bar, then turned down to different sizes to fit different makes of cars. Only one was made for the Model T and it came in standard size only. 76EB181B-06D9-4290-91EB-3814B4FBF5C...

Accessory rear license bracket for 1909-1914 cars.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

I have posted a dimensional drawing and photos of the KR Wilson transmission bushing shell reamer mandrel on the discussion forum of this web site. Enjoy!

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

Here is a dimensional drawing of the KR Wilson Transmission Shell Reamer Mandrel: D8333730-312B-4E76-BEE1-A163652024F6.jpeg The body of the mandrel is made from 1.125” drill rod with an overall length of 11-3/8”. The left end is a an 11/16” square. The right end has a very slight taper of approximat...

Give me a couple of days to make up a drawing and I will post it on the discussion page, not this page.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

The mandrel for the shell reamers is not that easy to make. That’s because the hole in the shell reamers is slightly tapered. The mandrel has a corresponding taper. This insures the shell reamers are tight fit on the mandrel and will be properly aligned with the bushings when reaming them using the ...

Mr. Brown, Thank you for posting the photos and drawings of the Stevens T-138 camshaft bearing splitter. Based on what you posted I made one for myself. D50C29A0-7C7F-492B-8B79-BB7A28A03DE0.jpeg 1755B867-2E63-4400-9810-85DDCCFFA6CB.jpeg DB18D3F4-C614-4F59-AC7A-DE4BA6706340.jpeg Whew, that was a lot ...

You’re welcome!

There has been quite a bit of interest on the MTFCA swap page in transmission bushing reamers, especially the reamers used with the KR Wilson transmission bushing reaming machine. For those who are unfamiliar with the Wilson Transmission Reaming process Here is a photograph showing the 5 different r...

I agree with Adam.

This piece is riveted to the top tank of black era radiators and protrudes through the rear wall of the tank. It is threaded for the radiator stay rod.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

KR Wilson also advocated reaming new camshaft bearings and sold a special holding fixture and reamer for doing this. The reamers are usually marked W7. 521840DC-B841-4B59-BB6A-2951938E8672.jpeg 9E2A95AD-E264-40AB-825F-B7E293FDDE0C.jpeg 3C43DD68-BF57-4C33-AEF5-5F28C90A3588.jpeg Respectfully Submitted...

Ford Y block.

These can be converted into NRS valve lifters by grinding off the cup.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

When the first Model T was shipped on October 1, 1908 there were numerous flaws that needed attention. Ford was making design changes to the Model T at a rapid pace as production expanded. This was particularly true of the motor. Somewhere between motor number 400 and 500 several changes were made t...

Only unplanetary people back up hills in a Model T. I carry a second gas cap which has been fitted with a tire stem. The only time I have ever had to use it was on Stoney Pass near the headwaters of the Rio Grande a few miles outside of Silverton, CO, and that was on a full tank of gas (it was a STE...

Ford did specify the size of the crates used to ship Model T parts to the factory for two reasons. First, the crates took quite a bit of abuse and by specifying the size Ford could make up replacement boards so the crates could be repaired quickly. Second, the crates were designed to hold a specifie...

I decided I wanted to check the alignment of a Model T connecting rod using the KR Wilson alignment fixture: FE764D60-EAE2-4FF3-B686-D6658B8EDD20.jpeg The C clamp’s purpose is to hold the spider tight in the top of the rod. The spider is not machined to accept a piston pin clamping screw. 4E5A504A-B...

The old Sioux 645 series of valve grinders had attachments on the right hand side of the grinder for valve stems and push rods. The stones for the right side were much thicker than the valve facing stone on the left side. EB328389-EE7C-4B10-A999-1136B11F8301.jpeg These grinders also had a provision ...

I think this is a valve refacer for cast iron head valves.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

The US made 1911 Enclosed Runabout (Torpedo) did not have a separate battery box under the seat or elsewhere, though it certainly would be nice if it had one. Under seat storage space is very limited on these cars, but small motorcycle battles will generally fit. Respectfully Submitted, Trent Boggess

Bear with me as I am working from memory here. The first thing to remember is that Ford did not move from Piquette to Highland Park overnight on December 31, 1909. It was a gradual transition as one department after another moved to Highland Park. It was the final assembly department that was moved ...

Might be part of a front plate distributor setup that was powered by the camshaft.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

If you are watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” today or tomorrow, take note of the credits at the beginning of the film. The screenplay is based on a story by Phillip Van Doren Stern, who was also the author of “Tin Lizzie: The Story of the Fabulous Model T Ford”. Respectfully submitted, Trent Boggess ...

[/quote] Trent, It hurt a little bit to see that con rod in your vise. Did you check for bend & twist afterwards? [/quote] Jerry, The next step is to straighten the rebabbitted rod: 8BFFC01D-A941-4D3C-B95A-7F820B306367.jpeg 7A0EE6B6-7CC6-46E2-A260-1C93EC13ACED.jpeg EAFEA6DC-DCBE-4F89-8718-6B8C73D686...

An alternative is to use a Bridgeport style milling machine equipped with a right angle or horizontal adapter and power feed on the X axis. I have seen this used to power a Wilson line boring jig. With an rpm of about 400 and a very slow table feed this set up bored main bearings to a sufficiently f...

Hi Jerry, As a point of reference, here is a photo of a NOS narrow brake drum. Note that it has both the name “Ford” in script and the factory number T-709 cast into the web of the drum. The one in your photo shows that it has the catalog number 3311 cast into the web. To my knowledge, Ford always u...

1926-27 blocks are notorious for cracks in the valve chamber under the water inlet. The casting is very thin in that area and not supported by the cylinder walls or the center walls of two piece valve chamber blocks. 1923-25 single valve cover blocks do not seem to suffer from this flaw for so often...

Actually, NOS blocks are not all that hard to find, and a dozen years ago I assembled one into a running motor. There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you are thinking you might like to build a motor using an NOS block. First, a NOS block is still going to need to make a trip to an automoti...

I have been able to rebabbit Model T main bearings for some years now, but I thought I would try my hand at connecting rods. I made a jig for boring the rods on a milling machine (based on a set of jigs a good friend of mine had made up for his own use). I used one of the commercially available mold...

Try Lang’s:

https://www.modeltford.com/item/6005-ADP.aspx

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess

Another way to distinguish a high dash (firewall) from a low dash is by counting the coil box terminal holes. The low dash has 10 holes for 10 coil box terminals. The high dash only has nine. The coil box battery terminal was eliminated (along with the switch on the coil box) when the high dash was ...

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