MTFCA Forum

Hi again Cody! You can do a general search worded “Model T depot hack photos” and you’ll see all kind of versions and everything in between. Good luck.

In other words it’s the same looney tune narrative of “everybody gonna die” if we don’t accept their odd ball truth.
Remember folks 2+2=5 or didn’t we already know it?

Find an original Ford starter switch. The foot switch nuts and bolts contacts have to be treated the same way as the starter stud bolt where the cable attaches to. They aren’t really backed up internally enough to really tighten them down. Use a thin wrench to use on the outer nut and tighten down t...

You can build it as you want. There is no “official” depot hack body that I know of. As the T era progressed T’s got pretty popular and body builders would make bodies for different uses and the depot hack style came out of that. Some styles became more popular than others as time went on.

Go to syverson cabinet company. They have been in business for a long time and make different styles of T bodies or at least they use to. There in a depot body that looks sort of close to the one you have pictured.

You should be able to contact the seller through Hemings. When you talk to the seller he might know about it. Seems like the seller might know. But the seller might not know either if he bought it from someone else. Ask all questions throughly before you decide to but it. The emblem on the back of t...

We had better be careful when we go to the outhouse. The excess gas from us poor folks and cows, babies, and the vapor from outhouses can’t be good. After all isn’t that what killed off the dinosaurs besides Model T’s?? And didn’t we just find out that 2+2 really does equal 5 ?? Come on folks get wi...

It looks like it might be a Hearse or some type of funeral home vehicle. Maybe?

We live about abt a 2 hr drive from the LBJ presidential library and took a short trip there several years ago. I remember seeing the car and thinking it wasn’t exactly black but it seemed like it was a dark bluish black. I read Perry Gobles paint description but don’t remember seeing what the color...

Whoever it was the Coke company paid a lot for that many trucks from mostly the same truck builder! It was a big contract!
There are a few others that may be other brands but most are the same. I think?? Can’t see the other brands at all but the grills are a little different.

Here’s a Coca Cola company photo shoot of its truck fleet. I’ll bet it took a while to get this shot! It’s looks like it’s from the early 30’s to early 40’s. Anybody know what kind of trucks these are? I can’t tell by the angle of the shot.

https://www.radiatorexpress.com/product/radiator/ford/1923/model%20t/base/29l-l4/229614/1485411?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvt_rk4_CgQMVjiCtBh0ciAlKEAQYBCABEgJY8vD_BwE Here’s a USA made T radiator made of aluminum that appears to be pretty correct. Purists won’t like it since it’s aluminum. The company shows ...

It’s usually somthing simple when looking for a miss or a non firing cylinder! Glad you found the missing spring issue!
Be aware a T owner can “over think” these things and think in todays terms about vehicle engine issues.

It’s good to see Steve is coming back around! Keep on keeping on!

When you have the engine turned to when the no.1 cylinder wiggle the wires, jiggle or what ever. Loosen the nuts on no.1 terminals and make sure there is good contact. Maybe carbon tracking in the coil box? Rebuilt coil box or original. That happened to my 24 Coupe once and checking this that over a...

Good to hear about the good service. These folks seem to have the right kind of priorities and they probably are not new to old cars and parts. I’m not saying our other vendors aren’t and not implying it. There are some good folks still out there that we can really talk to and know what they are doi...

Here is a Coke bottling or delivery TT truck. Early days of Coke it seems.

If the body was off the chassis that’s probably the reason for the “shorter rods” . Every little bit makes a difference if the body was removed. If you removed the body loosen the body to frame bolts, and try to move it up a bit if you can. Use a long nose punch to move the brackets and body with th...

It will a good while before any insurance claims, police reports, or going through lawyers about who was at fault will be settled. We must remember to be patient about Steve’s situation and recovery time. Injuries can take years to be settled and I hope it doesn’t in Steve’s situation.

Did these come from an old car parts stash or? Do we know for sure they are auto related?

Folks we ain’t seen nothin yet. Say it ain’t so Joe. But it is.

What happens on tours is what happened in our school days in the cruising era of the 50s 60’s and 70’s. We were out and about and running and gunning trying to keep up with the guy who had his car souped up a bit. I remember having some close calls and our cars could get up and go pretty good. Not s...

When driving to work, to do errands, picking up the kids and no telling what people are concentrated on just getting there. We old car drivers have to remember where we drive to use common sense not to get on roads where people are going and coming at todays speeds and vehicle responses. A lot of fo...

I have a friend who had a son that grew up restoring a 64 Ford SWB pickup with him and lightly modifying it for a nice street PU. He would talk about it at work with us and was looking forward to the day when he was going to gift it to him for a graduation present. His son got the 64 PU and his Dad ...

Some type of governor or distributor shaft for a 30’s era car or close to that time frame. Another one of those parts you might find in a trailer load of parts and pieces you might see at a swap meet.

I found out by reading this post that Lang’s now offers an original T starter switch washer rebuilding set.
That’s a great idea! This is a much needed item for T owners. As T enthusiasts soon find the original switch’s are the best in the long run.

I agree with the comments that any thoughts for getting Steve another T ought to wait to see what happens with any insurance claims that will arise out of the accident. This is going to be a long recovery process for him besides driving another T. We all want the best for Steve there is no doubt.

Thinking of a T owner in those days and situations it’s a reminder of the hassle of changing out the transmission bands. And when doing it hoping you won’t see severely grooved drums when removing the bands!

Where I live in central Texas driving on main highways and thoroughfares 50 mph or slower will get a line of cars behind you pretty quick since running 70-85 is normal these days. In just the last 10 years and even adding more lanes on I-35 folks just keep getting faster. And the semi’s are usually ...

We have to realize that in todays road use having a fast reaction time is an utmost necessity. . WHY? Because the majority of todays vehicles have faster response times. easily seen turn signals, and simply are faster. Being around vehicles like that and being driven by drivers who are listening to ...

With the work you put into it I hope it does a good job of cooling.

Museum quality Model T’s are restored to the point of perfection and probably haven’t been driven a lot on the roads of the T era. Those cars are quieter because they are built or restored better then Ford was building them until 1927. In other words they haven’t been broken in. A quiet T will have ...

All I can say this really makes me think about drivers on our roads. Whether it’s in an antique car or a 2023 vehicle you have to watch out for the other people on the road. You can’t always depend the other drivers are watching close enough. I sure hope that’s Steve’s OK. Prayers go out to him.

It’s pretty much to do about a big nothing!! So what if Ford didn’t always use “brand new” or lumber straight off the factory wood storage bins or wherever it was stored! As for as using junk crates that just ain’t so!! The wood wasn’t rotten or defective but relatively almost new wood. If the crate...

The first picture with the T with a bucket under it. Now what was leaking. A radiator hose, radiator or what?? Interesting to look at the pictures and the stories they tell. The T has front shocks on it too. Along with the “ little house” that’s close to it. Maybe that’s an early version of the litt...

It was pointed out that the TT trucks didn’t have rear fender brackets and now I know that. Appreciate the update for that. I’ve never been around that many. I was thinking with my experiences with my 3 T’s that have the front and rear brackets for fenders which are cars and not a truck. Over time t...

When you’re refitting the fenders to the frame make double sure the front fender brackets and the rear fender brackets are straight. This especially goes for the fronts. Over time it’s the front brackets that can get slightly bent or twisted out of shape. Also the channel running board brackets need...

After you get the whole unit repainted and add the new lettering I wouldn’t worry about the galvanized boxes in it. If you want to use them buy some styrofoam containers with lids or some insulated lunch kit boxes that would fit close enough. Just a thought to reusing them on a T tour or show. This ...

Great information! The Waltham that I have wasn’t running when I got it out of the closet. I Hadn’t thought about those clocks in a good while. I unscrewed the back and used a pencil to give the small spring loaded wheel a push and it started ticking. You have to put it to your ear to hear it. It’s ...

Here are some old clocks for cars, boats or an accessory for whatever I think The center Waltham runs well and has a 8 day movement. It’s a very well made brass clock. The other two are Westclocks that need work. So were they accessory items for cars or whatever? I’ve seen the smaller Westclocks in ...

That’s a good reminder about JB weld. Do as Dan M says so that you can get your T going and driving and you may get lucky and find out your radiator still cools fairly decent. I hope it does.

Your TT is in pretty good shape! It appears to be a solid TT that has been sort of redone here and there but it’s an enough Model T to be the real deal. This is a T that can be good enough as it is with just some minor work. It doesn’t need a restoration and I wouldn’t think about it at all. Hopeful...

I’ve seen adds for old cars and of course newer too. Lots of sellers say it “runs and drives” . So what does that mean? Same goes for Model T’s that were parked in a barn 50 years ago. If you’re looking for a good running and driving Model T, a car that isn’t real cheap is what you will have to buy....

Thanks Pep for sizes for the nut. Those sizes aren’t real common. I don’t recall seeing the 21/32 wrench lately. Seems like I have an older Craftsman that size but don’t know if they are put in the newer sets?? It makes me wonder if those sizes were original to Ford or if they were an industry stand...

I do remember the same thing on my cars and especially my 24 Coupe. I finally found a wrench but it was loose fitting and I rounder off a nut a bit. I’m trying to remember if I could get to it with a crescent wrench. But if I did I’m thinking I would have used a 8”;crescent wrench. I did use some go...

It’s amazing it lasted as long as it did over the years. There are people that reproduce these types of emblems. If you send a really clear picture to them and the size they can fill in the missing lettering and etc. Or you can do it yourself and then glue on the reproduced emblem. Check out Radioda...

Get on the net and type in vinyl block lettering or or something similar and Amazon along with it.
They have all kinds,types, fonts and you name it. It comes in different sizes and so on.

They have what you need and the cost is really reasonable.

You can do it this way too! Just one guy. It’s a snap with two men though! But I guess it’s more fun with several other people. You can reinstall the same way by reversing the procedure. It mentions you can have someone align the u-joint but it can be done alone. That’s one procedure I can do alone!...

Nice redo but I would have cleaned it up, got the mechanicals right and started driving it. But it does look nice. Two points of view of what to do to a T when they are found in nice shape. Clean it up or restore and there will always those points of view. As long long as you can find a nice origina...

I have to say the primed brackets aren’t correct for a 26 Touring or Roadster. As far as the rake goes it’s determined by the bracket angle when it’s attached to the body. Norms correct on this..

So what did the Ford dealerships use to remove the rims? Probably like was mentioned using four hands.

The trick is getting the rim pushed in EVENLY. If that doesn’t happen you won’t move it. WD-40 helps too.

Looking close at the picture I’m not seeing any kind of fencing for a Rodeo other that the cars in a big circle! I’m wondering if it was a Rodeo or if they were just working a few cattle. Maybe branding the livestock or just dehorning them. Whatever they were doing the cattle would have put some den...

Yes I do know that there are posts about losing a member and it doesn’t bother me about knowing about it. But not everyone see’s it that way. And no I’m not a jerk and not care and I do. It’s a way of letting us know about the what’s going on with Model T hobbyists. I don’t like to see it but life g...

What’s the deal about posting somebody’s name with out explanation?

Name Ken Burns
Explanation Documentary film maker

He can do great historical work. When history is made into a documentary it will be good IF they actually follow it as it really happened. The history channel did a story on the rise of automobiles and did it in a generalized way. It was good but the purists didn’t like it because of the detail that...

It sure is. The green paint and zerk fittings gave it away.

Looks likes something in the 40’s or 50’s from a piece of farm equipment. Maybe a tractor? It has a zerk grease fitting in it that’s from that era. But I’m guessing.

Betcha the Ford service centers put it the position that they thought was best. And it wasn’t exactly every time.

When you’re broke down in the pasture and that’s all you have in the tractors tool box you use what you have. But I do carry a crescent wrench and I’ll bet I’m not the first that used a pair of pliers with the screwdriver end and that bit his palm! And they were Model T owners back in the day that d...

When you’re broke down in the pasture and that’s all you have in the tractors tool box you use what you have. But Ido use a crescent wrench sometimes!

Could be it’s some type of door closure for a for a piece of equipment? What’s puzzling for me is the short side mounting surface isn’t flat but is slightly angled. It won’t fit flat against another surface. What ever it is it could be wound tighter or looser with the notches on the spring end.

I have a pair of well used pliers but no markings like the ones pictured. The screwdriver end drawback is when you are getting down on a nut or something the sharper end of the pliers can bite into your hand!

The later lids up to 25 are still around. I wouldn’t buy a repro just yet. Originals can still be found fairly easy. Lang’s has lots of good used parts. Call and ask if they have a good original.

I’m wondering if there are lug nuts for later vehicles, tractors that aren’t plated or at least made of better material. And yes I know you would want them look close or real similar to the T lug nuts. The nut for more modern vehicles don’t easily strip considering how much torque or ft lbs that use...

So is it safe to assume that the repro nuts are made in China?

One of his last was posts was that he selling his stack of T blocks but you had to pick them up. I think that was him. Isn’t he in Colorado?

That’s interesting for sure! I guess us older guys have kind of an advantage with old equipment, cars and etc. I grew up around Model T’s with the 24 Coupe I inherited when I was around 10 -11 years old in the late 50’s. And some old folks didn’t have the advantage of having one in the family. But t...

If you’re interested in buying it make sure the car is mechanically sound. In other words a good radiator that really cools, a rebuilt engine and transmission , Good solid wheels and tires and a rebuilt differential. That’s what counts, The body and paint comes is 2nd. To have a complete rebuilt cha...

Yes someone built up a “ fun, parade type” T. You’d have to ask the current owner where it came from and go from there. From your questions it seems like it might be for sale.

Don’t know if it’s for sale but it won’t bring the selling price that a pretty much correct Brass era T would bring.

I would use some type of epoxy or something that would rejuvenate the wood. Reattach the trim pieces and they should hold pretty well . The wood is probably dried out and slowly deteriorating BUT by the looks of the car the wood is still stable enough to last as long as you have the car. Tearing dow...

When you’ve been driving modern cars with manual shifting or an automatic you have to remember ( if you can ) a Model T is 100 year old technology. Learning how to use the spark lever and gas lever especially when you’re shifting into low or coming to a stop going down hills is totally different tha...

The turtle deck that George posted is exactly like the one I bought years ago for my 1919 Roadster. When I installed it I used the battery area for an idea where I should cut the wood floor and the overlaid sheet metal. Thinking back about it I couldn’t find any information about a “cover” over the ...

A point to remember is if you put $ 15.000 in a T don’t expect you can make money after you do it with the intention of making money. You can find a pretty solid car that others have put the time and the money in to it for a decent price if you look. The same goes for any antique or classic car. Ver...

I forgot to mention in my post that I covered the wood floor I installed with sheet metal. As far as I r ember it was either 18 ga or 16 ga sheet metal. Since I worked in a shop that had sheet metal breaks I bent the edges and the metal floor came out pretty good.

I was thinking the turtle deck floor was the same for the battery cars until late early 22. In my 1919 Roadster I used cabinet grade 5/8 “ plywood and left the battery area open for the battery. The battery indention on the turtle deck gave me a good idea where the battery was to be placed and the p...

If he’s really interested in trying to market them give him Lang’s and Snyder’s addresses and that would be enough. Gearing up to produce a bunch of parts isn’t cheap. He might create interest if he advertised in the classifieds or suppliers section. But that’s his business if would want to. Most of...

I’ll bet the suits in that time period were hot!
After all the men usually wore long underwear most of the time!

I don’t think Steve would have really “gotten down” on the mag post screws going into 100 yr old aluminum but somewhere in the past doing that a few times to many couldn’t have been good. And cross threading a fine thread can’t help at all. Don’t ask me about the Discount tire store here in town whi...

Is using JB Weld a no - no to use on an aluminum transmission cover? I agree that originally Ford should have used a coarser thread instead on a fine thread. Would a self tapping screw work? But of course that wouldn’t be right for a T. Using a 10/24 would be the best way to go.

For those out there who have a Model T Roadster and want to make a Hot Rod out of it go to Speedway automotive and buy a repro fiberglass body and frame set up. They have a 23 body and a 27 body that look pretty good. That way you can relive your younger side with one of these bodies instead of ruin...

My two cents. The reproduction exhaust manifolds are pretty good. I’ve straightened two originals for my cars and decided to buy a new one for the third. Is it cost effective to straighten an original? If an original still has good threads and decent shape it can be done but time spent building a ji...

I would wonder if he would be a caretaker or if he’s in a position to own it and at least keep it for a while. I was around 10-12 years old when I inherited my Grandfathers 24 Coupe. But we had a farm and was it stored there for several years and it was kind of part of the family and it still is sin...

I don’t know if shipping has changed as far as using a pallet of heavy stuff and expecting it will arrive OK and not banged up or barely hanging on to a pallet or crate. It will come down to the two to three terminals and how they load freight when it arrives at the destination. Whoever you use you ...

Remove the bendix assembly first as Scott says. It sounds like the starter itself is OK from your comments.

It may be time to replace the whole bendix assembly with a new one. They do wear out eventually.

Say it ain’t so Joe. But it is

Not that it makes any difference now but I wonder if Leon Parker’s updated drawings had the corrections. He made a few changes on some of them.
But we’ll never know and the truth is out there somewhere. All the drawings he had are in somebody’s closet by now being saved for posterity.

That’s good to know Dan about the seemly wider opening ! I’ve always thought they were spread out from using on a hard to turn nut. Considering their intended use for the band nut the thinking was that’s all they would be used for I guess because the band nuts aren’t that hard to turn and loosen. BU...

Question When the engine stalls and dies do the ignition coils still buzz or have enough current to buzz? And on the other hand is it getting a good fuel flow after it stalls? If you hadn’t mentioned it being an electrical issue the stalling and sputtering description would be very similar to a fuel...

Well said Harper. For Model T’s issues can be over thought out and made more convoluted than they really are by thinking in todays technology and trying to solve them that way. Trial and error and starting with the most obvious thing first usually works every time. Checking the battery first and the...

Disconnect all the headlight wiring from the terminal block and on the back of the switch. Start the car and see what If the car stalls again then there are other issues.

I guess I’ve been lucky rebuilding the generators on two of my T’s. There are enough ‘how to’ posts on the forum to figure it out and the MTFCA electrical system booklet for ModelT’s are a real help. I’ve used the above plus being raised in the country on our farm fixing tractors, farm equipment and...

The first thing I would is to clean up the armature. Besides that it’s time to rebuild your generator going by the looks of it. The loose post can’t be good in the long run. Do the simple things first and cleaning up the armature is one of them. It can look like it’s clean but a clean up with fine s...

I don’t know the car but if the previous owner had changed over to 12 volts could it be there were issues that caused the idea of 12 volts might be better? For me changing over to 12 volts on a stock T is akin to the reasoning of needing a water pump on a T. And we know if the car is getting hot alm...

It will really help if you familiarize yourself by getting a Ford service manual and a Lang’s, Snyder’s and other suppliers parts catalogs. They can be really helpful in identifying parts that are used for different years and what they look like. While there is lots of good advice and information ab...

The radiator looks like a flat tube. Ford made a flat tube for a while for the 26-27 T’s. If it’s not a T radiator it could be a aftermarket or recore that built up later. It can be made to fit with blocks or shims to fit with what you have. It won’t be perfect but would work. But make sure it will ...

So it’s an after market spring plate for the later improved cars and that good to learn. But it could have used on any T for added stability.

The front engine mount is the earlier mount not the one for the high cowl cars. It sure seems like it has a low radiator. It’s a typical T that came with extra parts and seems to be put together that way on an earlier chassis. That’s the thing about Model T’s. You can build one from parts and it can...

I also thought about doing something along the lines of what speedytinc mentioned. And it could be the female piece that the plug screws into that’s had too much wrench torque put to it and separated from the pan. But get the bottom crankcase area super clean with brake cleaner or lacquer thinner du...

My opinion When I went to the Welding technology school around 50 years ago it was learning the basic manipulative skills with Oxy-acetelyne, brazing, stick arc, mig and tig. All of those types of welding types use heat. Joining sheet metal without warpage takes a while to learn. Heat is the enemy o...

Are you sure it’s not coming from above in the area around the crankcase arms? That’s an area that there is a lot of factory brazing. But as others have pointed out use a cardboard under the car where you park it. Model T’s do leak a little here and there after a while even after a rebuild. Just wat...

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