MTFCA Forum

Hello,

Our 1909 Model T roadster has a stock wood firewall. I want to take the firewall off. What is the easiest way to get it off in regards of the steering column?? Is it possible to unbolt the steering box and pull the column and steering box through the circle hole in the firewall the steering column goes through?? Or do I need to take the steering wheel off and pull the unbolted firewall that way by leaving the steering box bolted to the frame???? Any help appreciated. Andrew

For starters, the steering box is under the steering wheel. The tube can only go one way after undoing the bolts at the flange on the fire wall.

The steering column flange is way too big to fit through the hole in any firewall I have seen, so forget about taking the firewall off the wheel end of the column. I doubt the steering bracket on the frame will fit through the firewall hole either. That leaves you with having to remove the short arm with the timer connector on the end of the shaft. They are pinned to the shaft. All you have to do is drive out the pin so the little lever can be removed. Then the steering column can be withdrawn, leaving the bracket bolted to the frame.

I'll leave others with tales of how to extract the pin through the lever!

Allan from down under.

Thank you two for your help. I will be csreful and hunt for the pin and how to remove it. Andrew

is ezmerelda o.k. with you doing that to her?... changing her dash?

We got it!!!! Thanks to the members for help=)

Got her firewall adjusted. I realize the brackets that connect the winahield to the board it rests on are incorrect for 1909, but I am putting her back to her 1960's trophy winning era. Black and white picture is of same care, firewall and windshield. Current paint and condition is from the 1960's. In 1964, Ray Head a fire captain in Chico, California found the 1909 Model T with mother in law seat in Frank W. Boyle's house garage due to a fire. Ray acquired to T from Frank who has purchased the T in 1920 to use with his new wife on their honeymoon. His new wife couldn't resist the cute looking T.

Ray took from 1964 to late 1966 to complete a full restoration which is the current condition of the car. Ray and his wife showed the Model T named Esmeralda (by Ray's wife) all over California and Nevada from 1966 to 1970. Newspaper articles claim that Esmeralda won 17 first place trophies during that time period. My good friend Dave met Ray and his wife on 1968 or 1969 at a show and left his number with Ray and his wife on hopes they might sell Esmeralda. Sadly on Feb 2nd 1970 Ray was injured in a commercial building fire in downtown Chico. He was transported to the hospital and passed away mid Feb 1970. Soon after Ray's widow contacted my friend Dave and sold Esmeralda to him.

I first met Esmeralda when I was around three years old. I was in love with riding in the mother in law seat. Esmeralda was owned and showed by Dave and his family from 1970 to 2021 when my family was able to continue caregiving for her. Thanks to Dave and Elaine for letting me enjoy her=)