MTFCA Forum

ewdysar

Original Smith wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:20 pm
What is a claw?
Never drive out the old bushing unless the front of the pan is held in it's proper location. and use plenty of WD-40.

I believe that the "claw" was a reference to the crank ratchet at the engine end of the starting crank.

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

Did anyone notice the date on the 1912 sheet? Hi D, what caught your eye about the date? If you're calling out April 15th (Tax Day), because it's the modern due date for filing US Federal Income tax, the 16th amendment was not ratified until 1913. The 16th amendment allowed Congress to enact a nati...

ewdysar

Hi Jim, Pay attention to your PT regimen. My sister had her left knee done 20 years ago at age 47. She figured that she could do better by pushing harder and doing “extra” PT. She ended up damaging the repair work, resulting in more damage to her knee than where she started. Since the first fix didn...

ewdysar

Terry,

Email sent.

Eric

ewdysar

Hey Steve. After seeing the terms like "wobble" and "true-ness" mentioned, can you clarify what kind of runout you are seeing/measuring? Axial runout (measured parallel to the axle) will show up as the rim or tread moving side to side relative to the hub while spinning the wheel. I believe that axia...

ewdysar

Weston wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 07, 2025 7:53 pm
From selecting the right materials to the final installation, Genix Flooring handled everything smoothly. Their attention to detail and quality of work really impressed me. Highly recommend!

Apparently, this guy has a 2019 Model T. Very impressive.

ewdysar

Regarding your cooling experience when going in reverse, remember a '14 hood has no louvers to help with air flow, and that may well be why you heated up a bit. If you have engine pans, they add to the issue. In reverse, your fan is actually reducing the air flow - Try popping the hood off and sett...

ewdysar

… Of course, had I known then what I know now, my tank would have been full before I started and the whole tour would have been much more uneventful. Another case of live and learn (hopefully). Eric Hi Charlie, You are correct. I posted that earlier. But the obvious answers are easier after the fac...

ewdysar

Thanks George, I had 5 gallons on the stick before I started, which would have been fine for the planned 40 miles if on the flat lands that I am used to. But with the hills and the unplanned detour later in the day before the real adventure started, things just didn’t turn out as I had expected when...

ewdysar

Could it be that when you go forward there is a natural flow of air through the radiator. In reverse, not so much. Mike That was my first thought too, Mike. And I’m sure that having to rely on the fan alone for airflow didn’t make things better. But the effect of tilting the entire thermo-siphon sy...

ewdysar

Steve, Trust me, it was not my first choice. That was my biggest concern, getting squirrelly in reverse. Surprisingly, that was not an issue. But I was pretty focused and even in ruxtell high, the backing up speed was manageable. I do have a set of running board cans, but all of the gas falls out of...

ewdysar

I guess that I should have mentioned that my ‘14 is running a stock Holley G carb. I do have a high-flow SC float valve on my shelf, but haven’t got around to putting one of those new-fangled NH carbs on the car. ;) Maybe there is a similar option for the earlier carbs. My fuel might have been a lit...

ewdysar

Yesterday, I went on a HCCA tour with my ‘14 touring that had more hills than I expected, and while I had plenty of fuel to cover the distance, there were a number of long, steep hills that caused some issues. The first long hill resulted in a couple of surges as the carb almost went dry, but then t...

ewdysar

Frank, I agree that your pics are pretty much a perfect match to the motor that Andre posted. I like the spare sparkplug rack on the firewall of the race car in your photos. I knew that my photos were not nearly as close of a match, but wanted to share what I have seen in person. The link that I sha...

ewdysar

IMG_0973.jpeg IMG_0974.jpeg My vote is for a giant Fiat 6 cylinder engine too. Jay Leno brought a similar 1917 Fiat racer, the Botafogo Special from his collection to the SoCal HCCA Holiday Motor Excursion on Dec 30, 2012. He always brings something interesting and it always gets lots of attention....

ewdysar

I just sent a PM.

ewdysar

... My USA supplier makes me buy 5000 feet of material, since my specs are different from what he normally weaves. He has to re-calibrate the machines just for me... Frank Earlier in this thread, Frank did say that the material for his kevlar bands was a custom order, not "off the shelf" product. I...

ewdysar

In the early ‘60s, my dad was using a square, dry cell 6v lantern battery with bare wire ends wrapped around the spring terminals. There was an old dead one still attached to the ignition when I pulled our grey ‘16 touring from 20+ years of storage in the ‘90s.

Keep crankin’,
Eric

ewdysar

This weekend I was able to go for a ride in my friend's well sorted '15 Runabout. Afterwards, while driving my '14 Touring around town, the additional rattles in my car became more obvious. I know that the Rocky Mountain brake rods and the regular parking brake rods are close and bang together every...

ewdysar

With any luck at all, I might have finished the fabrication and re-assembly needed to get the Pharis #32, "Frogari", road worthy again before next year's run. Coming back down to California to do this event is now on my bucket list, so if not next year, then another.

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

And remember, when the tool was made, there were no tires that had petrified on the rim for 30+ years. Using tires that were made in the same decade as when they are being removed or installed, is probably a more reasonable use case to determine the efficacy of the tool. Given road conditions at the...

ewdysar

Massachusetts does love their DMV code book. I think that most other states are a bit more relaxed (maybe not California). Since I just swapped a new set of the focused LEDs into my '27 runabout headlights, my first thought is to keep the old bulbs in my "road kit", so that if an officer wanted to d...

ewdysar

are balance beads a new thing I seem to have only heard of them in the last couple years. my shimmy doesn't start until about 80-85 It depends on what you mean by “new”. The motorcycle community has been discussing the pros and cons since at least 2008. And while I take your “80-85” comment as jest...

ewdysar

Hi Steve, My 30x3 1/2 T383 Hartford tube from Coker with the vulcanized brass metal stem for wood wheels, as shown in one of my posts above, is Shrader 12V1 which is almost 1/2" (apparently 12.2mm). This stem is threaded almost its entire length. From the Coker website "TR383 stem is brass stem 3 1/...

ewdysar

I've been told that all Schrader stems and hardware are not a standard thread size, which is discussed in more detail in the following discussion: https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36089&p=279598&hilit=12V1#p279598 While my measurement of M12-1.25 apparently falls within the manufactu...

ewdysar

I’ve got a new Hartford 30x3 1/2 TR383 tube here in my office with me. The stem is vulcanized to the tube. The bridge washer and lock nut were included in the box when received from Coker. The stem is unmarked, the bridge washer is marked “himile” and B5. I checked the thread of the lock nut which t...

ewdysar

Hey Craig, I recently took my 10-15 year old HF click-type torque wrenches to have them re-calibrated. Surprisingly, both wrenches (3/8 and 1/2") were tested, confirmed to be spot on, and returned to me "as found". Additionally, the company chose not to charge me for the testing, I believe the charg...

ewdysar

The tires are not ruined. I've seen worse hack jobs on tires that I have removed. But those tires worked well as modified, well enough to wear out the tread before any other failure. I have also notched that edge for clearance around the valve stem (as told to by my dad), but I was a bit more carefu...

ewdysar

That looks great, Michael! Great job!

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

OK, I am used to running with the oil-soaked felt pad in the valve cover with my iron Rajo head, but as I am setting up my new (to me) iron Roof 8 head, I am considering routing some of the oil pressure up there. At the business end of things, I know that one runs pressure to a hollow rocker arm sha...

ewdysar

In one of the threads that Shannon posted, the Patterson version of the transmission drive speedometer had various combinations of gearing to suit different Ford configurations as noted here: Patterson speedometer notes.jpg In the same thread, the original Patterson documentation shows what speedome...

ewdysar

Good info, Frank. I have a 4 pole solenoid mounted on the bottom of the frame rail in my '14. I have the start button on the bottom of the coil box where I can hit it with the tip of my shoe, very handy if the engine stalls at a traffic signal. Because I'm using the regular T ignition with coils, ti...

ewdysar

Do you have any idea about the tire size for the Nash car that the speedometer set up came from ? That will give you an idea of how much of a correction that you will need. The only thing that a speedometer cares about is the tire circumference and therefore, the number of rotations per mile. If the...

ewdysar

Based on the thread so far, the T in question is a Depot Hack, and therefore is not stock from the get go. If the gas tank is in a custom location, maybe lower and/or farther back, the gravity feed is less effective while going up inclines, leading to common fuel starvation. Many folks go with a mod...

ewdysar

Hi Dan,

Thank you for the confirmation. I’ve sent you an email for more specific information.

Keep crankin’,
Eric

ewdysar

Second email sent for the cam.

Eric

ewdysar

Hi Hank, I don't really want to hang an oil pump off the back of the cam timing gear (where the generator usually lives) because that's where I want the generator or alternator. I have a strong dislike for belt driven alternators. But I am not opposed to a front plate oil pump. My '27 Runabout with ...

ewdysar

Hi Jeffrey,

No box of loose engine block parts. Just the assembled short block as seen in the pics.

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

Actually, the camshaft is too long to use a VW oil pump. With the existing length, there is not enough room left off the end of the camshaft for the pump to clear the flywheel. I was already prepared to add the slot in the end of the shaft that drives the oil pump, but at this point there is less ro...

ewdysar

Thanks for the tappet info, John. That is 1 mystery solved.

As far as the camshaft goes, it looks pretty much like a cam. More pics here:

: Timing gear end

: Cyl 1-2 part of block

: Cyl 3-4 part of block

: Flywheel end

Maybe there is some subtle clue about this camshaft in these pics.

Keep crankin’,
Eric

ewdysar

I recently bought a speedster project and it came with an assembled short block with a drilled “C” crank (counterweighted Model A crank) and insert rods. The closer that I look at it, the more questions that I have. I don’t necessarily want to change any of these parts, but I would like to know what...

ewdysar

Ford made a tool to adjust caster...

(picture lifted from Lang's Old Car Parts online catalog)

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

Let's "pave paradise and put up a parking lot..."

Keep crankin'
Eric

ewdysar

I was just getting ready for a similar question. Brent asked about the T pulley in his first post. My new C crank block already has the timing gear installed. IMG_3626.jpeg IMG_3627.jpeg With no hole for a “T” pulley for a wide belt. My ‘27 runabout with a Rajo and A crank, the pulley is for a V-bel...

ewdysar

The Atlas is in my hands. Thanks Hank! On to the next challenge...

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

Thanks Steve. I'll keep that in mind when everything is coming together. I hope that this will be one of the answers for getting Robin Pharis' #32 back on the road with a "C" crank and Roof 8 "Liberty" head. However, all the mounts are custom (motor, R&P steering, suspension, radiator, etc.), so I'l...

ewdysar

Done deal. Thanks, Hank!

ewdysar

email sent, Hank.

ewdysar

I'm looking for an Atlas water pump, as seen in this photo:

: Atlas water pump.png (258.05 KiB) Viewed 2302 times

Does anybody have one gathering dust on the shelf?

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

I’m looking to put together a reliable engine together with an oil pressure system, drilled “C” crank, and a Roof 8 “Liberty” head. It’s my understanding that the various OHV engines had issues with sufficient cooling for the rear (#4) cylinder. This was known, even back in the day, so Frontenac inc...

ewdysar

I'm the friend that Keith mentioned, and while shopping for tubes on the Coker website on 4/11, I happened to notice that 30x3 black Non-Skid tires were $78, marked down from $500. I ordered 2, texted Keith, and when I checked on the Coker website about 5 hours later, those tires were now on backord...

ewdysar

I recently acquired a Roof 8 "Liberty" head with the original intake and exhaust manifolds. However, it appears that the valve cover has had the lower edge trimmed off. So now it is too low to fit over the valve train and there are no provisions for securing it to the head. This is one of the "egg c...

ewdysar

Gerald, It is simpler than that. Most pictures posted here are .jpg format and you can add files bigger than 1MB. Open the "attachments" tab in the lower part of the message editor, pick "add files", select a picture on your computer and hit "open". The file name and size will be displayed in the "a...

ewdysar

I’ve been getting Hartford tubes from Coker Tires. I’m waiting for an order delivery that includes a couple of 30x3 tubes right now.

Keep cranking’
Eric

ewdysar

Steve, That section of Frank's post was an "AI overview" so the strange wording and incorrect translation of the HCCA acronym is just part of the game. Our current guidelines at work are to proofread any AI generated text before sending it out, to catch this and many other types of errors. Personall...

ewdysar

email sent for 2 drag link ball caps.

ewdysar

Read the original post. He signed it "Abe Pro Full"

Eric

ewdysar

That particular wing nut is none other than the famous wing walker Lillian Boyer, and she is on her Curtiss JN "Jenny" biplane. Lillian was a pretty amazing person, performing stunts like this from 1921 through 1928 until Federal regulations concerning low flying and unsafe planes ended her performi...

ewdysar

WOW! Although I have heard of this extremely rare item, I have not ever seen a pic of the actual thing. That is quite the opportunity for someone to own a piece of history.

Eric

ewdysar

Dang it, another one that got away.

Eric

ewdysar

generally Model T cold engine starting is much better accomplished with mixture control manipulation. most T guys won't or are scared to fiddle with the mixture ! OK, just for the record, it's not that I'm afraid, but spending my first half a century of messing about with T's in SoCal, I found that...

ewdysar

I have found that starting my '14 cold is pretty difficult to do on mag. It is a little better on Battery. Once she's warmed up, mag starts are easy. That said, I've never gotten a "free start" on mag.

Keep crankin',
Eric

ewdysar

Hi Tom

In the last week, I've left multiple voice mails and sent you a PM here about getting more info on #32. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Eric
Six 26-497-Seven 013

ewdysar

I ordered a pair of these last week and they are currently crawling their way across the country to get to my house. I am looking forward to seeing the improvement. I’ll try and take before and after pics inside my darkened shop.

Eric

ewdysar

Just to pile on, this is what my ‘27 Runabout spare tire mount bolts look like.

Keep crankin’
Eric

ewdysar

I've read posts here where folks have used a distributer diagnostic machine to check the overall health and possibly tune their advance curves. If anyone has access to one of those machines in the greater Portland, OR area, I will gladly pull my distributor to document its specs. My distributor does...

ewdysar

Thanks Frank. Great info, especially the green box of regular operating instructions. Hi Keith, I agree, I am a solid timer/coils guy, I even have a set of fresh RP wood box coils in my '14. However, my '27 runabout (built for John Conners) came to me with a Rajo with a Winfield S and a "3 in 1" fro...

ewdysar

Thanks Craig, So the mechanical advance arm was to provide additional retard for starting only, leaving the centrifugal advance for regular advance curve beginning around 6-8 deg btdc at idle to whatever the top of the curve (maybe 26 btdc at 2000rpm?) I have read that the rule of thumb is 10-12 deg...

ewdysar

I know that there were some period centrifugal advance distributors with mechanical advance arms too. What was the purpose of both methods of advancement in one unit and how would it be used in practice?

Eric

ewdysar

This is what I bought… https://www.signaldynamics.com/01007 designed for motorcycles that had few/no signals and no dashboard for mounting. integrates with brakes, adds emergency mode, is self-cancelling in use. compatible with LED or incandescent. very inconspicuous installation in cockpit using sm...

ewdysar

This is another thread that points out how this hobby discourages younger, regular working stiff participants. If one has a M-F 9-5 job, one has little access to model T events or parts, other than online, through the vendors, classified ads here, or ebay. My father says that back in the ‘60’s, when...

ewdysar

Eric, lots of older postings about removing stuck wire wheel hubs, but I do not know how to attach a link. Whatever you use for a puller will still require pounding the axle shaft. If your puller has a big screw on the axle, wack the head of the screw repeatedly with a large hammer. A simple wheel ...

ewdysar

I was more taken in by the stretched limo. The destination sign on the vehicle is clear. All the printing in the background is reversed, suggesting a negative reversal. I can't reconcile this. Allan from down under. The reversed printing looks to be the back side of printed curtains/banners on the ...

ewdysar

Just to bolster your optimism, Steve, here is my story: When I took my rear wheels off a couple years ago, the regular puller worked like a charm on the first wheel. The second wheel was a different story. I tightened the center bolt on the puller until I was afraid that I'd strip the threads on th...

ewdysar

First off, they are trying to sell cheese, not make a historical documentary. The theme of “old ways” includes a text response “LOL” sent by post and other silly perceptions of modern lifestyle using early technology. But focusing on the Model T “5 seconds of fame”, my first thought was “that’s a pr...

ewdysar

duplicate post, sorry…

Eric

ewdysar

So this is off of some car of the era 1920's? But perfect for my 1927 RPU on steroids! I purchased this from another club member as after he received it and blasted the crud off, he noticed the repair and breaks. Disappointed in his decision of the buy, we agreed on a price. This size box will fit ...

ewdysar

More oil is better, too little is bad! In general, I agree. However, in my experience with various infernal combustion engines over the years, I have had problems arise from both not enough oil and too much oil. Hence my question about the oil pad for Model T overhead valves, how much oil; a tables...

ewdysar

My Rajo valve cover has no oiling holes and the pad is not secured to the cover. I simply remove the cover to re-oil the pad. My question is, under normal operation, how often should the pad be re-oiled and how much oil should be added? To date, I’ve been guessing and it is likely that I’ve been add...

ewdysar

IMHO, Mr. Tothill’s outfit is much more refined than a typical golfer. The pith helmet really makes a statement.

Eric

ewdysar

If you squeeze the handle when you apply the brakes instead of dragging the ratchet along the quadrant, both ratchet and quadrant will last longer. Always in my Ts, and my father taught me to do the same with modern cars too. Even as a teenager, I always held the button in while pulling the parking...

ewdysar

Thanks for the specs, Frank.

Mark, it looks like your estimate was right on. Thanks for your input.

Eric

ewdysar

Mark Gregush wrote: ↑
Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:39 am
I was replying to your question about shoulder length, yes I am sure. They have to be longer so can be swedged down when assembling the brake drum and hub.

Thanks for the confirmation, Mark. Does anyone know how much longer the rear bolts are?

Eric

ewdysar

I will also finish the electronic speedometer. I will drill a little hole in one wooden spoke... Do you have a cellphone? For about $2 you can download a GPS speedometer. The one I use is by Cool-Niks. It not only shows your CURRENT speed , it also shows AVERAGE speed ,total DISTANCE, MAXIMUM speed...

ewdysar

Thanks Mark. I couldn’t tell by your answer if you were sure or not, so I was hoping for another response to confirm. But it looks like this is the official answer. Does anyone know how much longer the rear bolts are overall, compared to the front bolts? I assume the shoulder length differs by the s...

ewdysar

Allan wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 17, 2021 5:01 pm
Rainer, you could simply back off to a more reasonable speed for a T. The car will appreciate it.

Allan from down under.

28-31 mph is not reasonable for a T?

Eric

ewdysar

Somewhere my son has pics taken at a 4 x 4 function where they were testing the flexing ability of those you-beaut long travel shocks and springs to see how far a chassis could twist from front to rear. They thought they had it nailed, till somebody put a standard model T on the wrack, and it was w...

ewdysar

I doubt this was a random theft. I bet the owner has shown the car to the crooks at one point. And the bastards knew what they were doing. We all know T rear wheels don’t just come off with lug nuts. LaGrange is in the middle of nowhere also. Hopefully the parts will find their way home… I agree. Y...

ewdysar

What is the difference between the front wire wheel bolts T-2883 and the rear wire wheel bolts T-2888? Overall length? Shoulder length? Shoulder diameter? Something else?

Thanks.
Eric

ewdysar

Has anyone here used the Evans brand waterless coolant in any of their cars? I've had Evans waterless coolant in my Model t for the last 15 years and have had no problems other than locating loose hose clamps that showed some leakage. If there's anyone else that has used Evans please post your expe...

ewdysar

According to the interwebs, the first photo is Venice, California in the 1920’s. The photo is part of the USC Digital archive from the California Historical Society https://i.pinimg.com/736x/15/6d/98/156d9802759f712bd97c986833b53f52--california-love-southern-california.jpg Eric edit: The photo link ...

ewdysar

ewdysar wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 12, 2021 1:39 pm
… Does 50mph on a trailer present issues that 50mph under its own power does not? …

Eric

Make that an open trailer (I know that it is inferred in this thread, but you know how things go around here)

Eric

ewdysar

I often get my ‘16 touring up to 50+ mph while driving with the top down and windshield up. Does 50mph on a trailer present issues that 50mph under its own power does not? Yes, I know that the driver’s seat won’t move with me holding it down, but I’ve never noticed the front or rear floorboards or m...

ewdysar

It was two days ago that I read the entry in Wikipedia on Tom McCahill, the automotive reporter for Mechanics Illustrated Magazine. McCahill was apparently given an exclusive to be the first automotive journalist to drive the first Chevrolet sub-compact, the Corvair. McCahill, being a bit portly, g...

ewdysar

This is period accessory 'wind flap' for the '26-'27 floorboard for around the brake/clutch hand lever. Rather stiff rubber now after 90 years! 26 27 meatl rubber plate.jpg 26 27 rubber pad plate.jpg Dan, That looks like a great solution. I’m a little surprised that they are not an available access...

ewdysar

You know, in all of the years of reading the Forum, I believe that this is the first time I've seen or heard of this part… honestly, this is a relief from "my car started running roughly...what could it be?" BTW Jeff your car has taken on a very nice look Scott, I thought the same thing earlier thi...

ewdysar

My '27 roadster is mostly stock with a Berg radiator and no water pump. It will run all day at 2000 RPM in 98F heat without overheating. I use "green" antifreeze at about 50/50. Which supports the very first sentence of this entire thread. “We all know that a well working Ford thermosiphon system w...

ewdysar

**************"*At what HP does this happen? I'd say way too many variables to predict that." ************ Correct. OP's original question has no specific answer. Your thermosyphon speedster would cool better with a taller radiator that had the same effective surface area as your low radiator. Evid...

ewdysar

Interesting study performed by the Society of Automotive Engineers "COOLING CAPACITY OF AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS" Author(s): E H Lockwood Source: SAE Transactions, 1923, https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/44723674.pdf I think this is very applicable as it was performed on the technology of the time and p...

ewdysar

There also often seems to be some confusion between flaps and rim strips. I use flaps in every T tire that I’ve mounted, the flap goes inside the tire casing to provide a smooth and regular space for tube to live in. Without the flap, the tube will squeeze into the gap between the tire beads under p...

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