MTFCA Forum

Well lookie what showed up at my door today. All the way from Syracuse NY. It should be a fun winter project. The car hasn't been touched in 40 years. She's going to running the roads once again....in the spring...sometime.. I hope.

Great project! I know you'll do a great job.

Based on your previous projects, this one will likely progress at warp speed!

OH BOY! I get to hassle you all winter long again! Keep posting pictures so I can keep posting smart a$$ remarks!

Well this being number 5 maybe you'll get it right one of these times

You better stock up on M&M's and Twinkies before the snow flies

Wonderful !! Things may get back to normal this year yet. I cant wait for updates and photos and Mr Kete bustin your chops.

If there are rear door panels with pockets with a red stripe that might be replaced in the restoration I would have an interest. Thanks

Thank you Mark !!!

Thank YOU MISTER S A Pairofcleats !!! LOL

Dallas .... too funny !!!


Ahhh its good to have the acknowledgement !! LOL

It keeps the wife happy...

Joe, didn't i send you a panel a year or so ago ?

I will try to dig thru the panels and see what i have....stay tuned.

yes you did. I have rear door panels but someone had torn the pockets off (on both sides). The one you sent was perfect it matched the other side exactly in color and age. What do you do for window crank handles? Thanks again

Yup I recognized your name, i'm glad it worked out for you. The handles can be bought thru Langs or Snyders I believe. They use to offer them anyway, not sure if they still do..

Lots of close up clear photos please Don
Thank you

Andrew.... close ups of the wife or the car ? LOL. Just kidding I will do my best to document this project. Mike lives a long way away and I promised him I would keep him up to date with it. Let me know if there is anything you would like to see. Be safe my friend~

Thank you Don brilliant work

I've mentioned on prior posts about the main-rail crossmember tenon wear. Here is a perfect example of just that. The main-rail outer edge has settled more than a 1/4" on both sides of the car. This may seem minuscule but when the time comes for the final fitting and door operation it can make for a frustrating reward for a heck of alot of work.

Still having fun discovering this and that.

Yup, its time for a whole new base frame. Sometimes life gives you no choice, not unlike the doc ordering up a coloscopy....Thanks DOC !! (1927 Model T Fordor).

Yeah I'm done....that spagetti was good !! Now to take a little nappy-poo....

Day two....poo poo pee doo..

Finding lots to do... That's a good thing.

And the beat goes on.....

Don,
This is a good thread that shows just because the paint looks good doesn't mean the car is OK. These old cars need to be inspected down to the wood core to be sure that they are safe. Thanks for sharing and showing us what can be hidden underneath shiny metal.

Now that you're done sharing the pictures how about sharing some of those M&M's !

You ain't wrong Dennis, but I have to give the priors credit that they truly deserve. That patch of wood or that gob of bondo may not be a good or safe way to do it but, it did help keep the car around for 93 birthdays. If the car could talk the story may justify the why's. 93 years later the car is still here....93.

I gotta tell ya having the final finish paint on this project while you're ripping it apart......adds a unique challenge to the funky deal.

a few more pics..

I find it interesting what has become of my simple half-joking post on this forum. I was fascinated with the pictures you posted of your Retirement Project Fordor, and asked when I could drop mine off. How many T's have passed through your barn doors since then? A dozen? You'd think that you would stop posting pictures. You keep getting yourself into trouble!

Great work, Don. Always a pleasure to see something done right. Thanks once again for the documentation. In reference to another thread, there are well meaning but ignorant people out there that will inject epoxy into cars like this and call them done.

The remainder of the wood kit arrived today. Ok, I had to go pick it up but its worth it. Hand picked for this historical artifact. Let the good times roll !! ( The base is all set and fitted. )

Did I ever share that early on in life I needed to get a Fordor Body off the frame so I just jacked and cribbed it until the rear crossmember was clear and rolled the chassis out from beneath? (Had to do that twice as one the first try figured would be easier if pointed in other direction )

So now it was up on cribbing with 2x6 widthwise under the sills like running board supports and I figured...doors off, steering column out, seats out, I'll just lasso these 2x6 cross members, toss the line up over a big beam in the ceiling, make myself a bosun chair at a long angle and then with my legs out front like a stubborn mule, knock the cribbing out and let my body in the bosun chair be the counterbalance and walk slowly forward. ??

Oh never mind....you guys all know the answer.


(Like the pallet truck idea!)

George, don't feel bad it took me a while to figure out the forklift was the way to go. And no, I don't post photo's of the screwups....LOL.

Years ago a few of us got together and made four sets of Fordor wood, I still have many pieces up in the barn, these where for the 23-25 style, I notice the base had changed in 26-7 from your pictures. Did they still use the angled bolts on the front door post to roof in 26-7? We mad some extra's if needed.

Yes they used them. I won't be though, I prefer to use a tenon laced in 3M 5200 adhesive. It makes a strong flexible and waterproof joint.

The "A" pillars are starting to take shape....still have a ways to go.

The "D" pillars are done.... I will wait for the top rail to do the final cut and tenon.

Loosely speaking, just sizing things up....

Great coverage and looks to be coming along nicely. Happy wife, happy life. ( your wife is beautiful). Keep going and post often. Thanks, jw

Thank you John ! Well what I consider the worse part of re-wooding a Fordor is done. The "A" pillars are finished and re-skinned. Thank goodie for that~

Cleaning up the fit of the base and the rear tub. I had to add 3/16" on both sides of the base to get the fit where I wanted it. Keep in mind this is all very rough yet and has a long way to go...

Don,

I just love your work. I wish I knew just half of what you have forgotten. If I could get my frame to the "all very rough yet and has a long way to go" point, I'd buy a lottery ticket because I would be a very lucky guy.

It is extremely evident I and many others totally enjoy watching your progress towards perfection. I believe many of us hope to be respected at sometime, as much as you already are. It is truly a pleasure watching a great performance of any craftsman and especially one as good as you.

Thank You for sharing this build as you did with your center door. I, for one, appreciate immensely.

Good Luck,
Terry

The father of a friend of a friend bought a '25 fordor that appears to have been an intact car before the previous owner got it. Unfortunately he wasn't as selective as most folks need to be when doing body wood. Don't know whose kit he used, but he didn't insure the joints were "tight" so the bottom is spread out a bit, the metal covers over the base are nots tight against the center door post, and the rear panels spread out at their bottoms by at least an inch, if not an inch on each side! Then, after he died, apparently the kids "got rid of the junk laying about" so the lower windshield frame is missing, as are the seat springs and most of the glass channels. Apparently the window risers are still in place, as is the interior window trim. What a mess!! It really needs to be de-skinned and started over again. Oh, and all the screws are phillips, many are just modern deck screws. AAAUGH! I doubt this car will ever get back together--at least not with the present owner who "just wants to make it run, no painting, etc. No pictures, I guess I should have taken some. OH, and they hammered the front fender aprons straight out, didn't know the fenders were supposed to be bent in to match the radiator apron.
I think I need a nap now. . . .

Your wife does great work ...just sit back and enjoy your Twinkies and M&M's and watch a professional at work! Leave her alone she is busy

Thanks again Terry, you are too kind.

David, this and the '16 Centerdoor are clear examples of what you saw. Woodwork isn't for everyone, its filthy, filthy work both to the shop and the worker.

Dear Mr. Ferret-n-Heat, I have a good little women however, even she has her limits !!

Boy, that is the truth! Some decades ago I restored a '29 A Briggs Blindback Sedan--a model that is actually more rare than the infamous A-400 Convertible Sedan. There was NO body wood, although the doors still had their wood and I was even able to save and use some of it. Somehow the body metal had survived with only a few small dings, and no rust out. And all the brackets were there too. I don't know if I would undertake such an adventure nowadays--but then I'm much older (and wiser?) now.

Oh Dave you know you would !

Working on the rear window framing. Square as square is square...

My skin should be so tight.....

My skin should be so tight

It would be if you would stay out of the Halloween candy!

Get'n on top of the top !! I hope Henry forgives me but I'm adding a little muscle to the corner pieces. Every T I've worked on, the corner pieces had failed. So I'm making the entire rear top piece by laminating and crossing the grain so to prevent future problems. It's the hard way to do it but I'm sure it will last much longer. 1927 Model T Fordor ***keep in mind EVERYTHING is in the rough stage yet. ***

Laminating the top is a great idea and I wish I'd known about that when I re-wooded my Coupe. The extra strength will help hold together better because of the flexing of the corners on an uneven road.

And the cowl let out a howl so I said "fowl" and put it together...

and more...

Trial fitting the doors and "B" pillar....so far so good.

What beautiful work. You are a true craftsman. So interesting to follow your progress.

Your wife does beautiful work but I wish she would slow down some. When the weather gets bad I'm inside more and can spend more time harassing you two.

Thank you Roffe, I appreciate the kind words !!


Harass away Mr. Pairoffeets !! I too am enjoying the 70 degree November weather !

Doors are all fit and now just sizing up the old with the new.

Anybody have a fordor that needs restoration? Don will have this one finished by friday at this pace!

Don't give them any ideas Dallas !! LOL Working on the bow's.....we will see how it goes.

Trued, screwed and glued....she's topless no more.

What beautiful work!!! You will have a great little car when you are done. Congratulations, Russ Furstnow

Thank you Russ ! Just made the stapler guide for the headliner.... best way to have a straight headliner.

I just made a stapler guide for the headliner

Please be patient with a dumba** but I would like to know if I understand the purpose of the added wood strip... As you staple the interior roof liner in place the wood acts as a shelf for the staple gun to rest on so you get a smooth uniform edge and the interior braided edging has solid backing to keep it straight?

The sunroof you added in the middle is kinda small isn't it?

Nut'n dumb about that. You can use the shelf if the top isn't on. The problem I've had with doing it that way is, the bow's prevent you from stapling under them. I find its easier and can be done better by putting the headliner in from inside the car. It allows staples all the way around the inside perimeter. Just my preference and should mean nothing to any other living and breathing human type being.

Call me a rebel....

Keeping fit....ment !!

Way too boring when things line right up....makes me think I'm doing something wrong.

Thanks for the update it looks very nice.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while!

trudging along....

And more trudging .... cutting the block out for the NH setup.

Trudging even further....Floorboards.

It's all the little things that take the most time that nobody sees when your done.

Don, I love the way the grain still shows through on the black floorboards. This is much better than the artificial look achieved by priming, sanding and top coating with high gloss enamel.

Allan from down under.

I do too Allan! Well its the third week of wet sanding. Looking for volunteers ... will train if needed. LOL

Thanks for taking all the photos. It's interesting to me after going through my '25 Tudor years ago. So many similarities and so many differences.
Rich