What have I gotten myself into ?

[bassgruvn]

Hello Friends,

New member to the club. 35 year veteran BMW master technician, motorcycle side. Long time VW and English car restorer. (current project in the garage is a 69 Elan S4.) Then this happened. My wife sends me a text with a picture of this T and says, " would you be interested in this ?"
Well yes I would.

Turns out it belonged to a friends dad that passed 4 years ago and the daughter just could not look at it anymore in the garage.
I know nothing about it and she had nothing but a title, a key and some great stories of her and her dad driving this truck together.
It was towed home and is now in the garage next to the Lotus. I will be posting pictures with questions as I have NO idea what I am doing.

Thank you for any help.

Jon

[Norman Kling]

If it runs as good as it looks, you've bought a great T and a fun car to drive in the "slow lane".
Norm

[TWrenn]

Find a club near you, and you'll get "all the help" you need, and then some!!

[Steve Jelf]

A swell 24-25 runabout with home made pickup box. Looks to be in great shape. As the saying goes, welcome to the affliction.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html

[TXGOAT2]

If you can deal with English cars, you can easily deal with a Model T. The Model T is the American VW. The Model T is also the ANTI "self-driving car". Personally, I enjoy driving automobiles and motorcycles.

[Scott_Conger]

Welcome!

Model T's and their admirers are a unique bunch that's for sure.

If the car was towed home on all 4 wheels, don't be in a hurry to try to start it. Contact someone near you that is familiar with t's and have them go over it with you and proceed slowly. Buy a FORD Service manual for it from any of the vendors and study it carefully before attempting any work. This technology is both familiar and unique and your being a mechanic can lead you to some obvious conclusions which can get you into a heap of trouble! This is one time that being a novice and afraid of the car could lead to prudent caution, where being a professional mechanic can lead you to ruin.

Other folks will chime in and I'll sign off here. Go slow, be careful, have fun!

[Angmar]

You in for an adventure and lots of fun, nice pickup.

[John kuehn]

Welcome to the world of Model T’s!
Get yourself the Ford service manual. It’s a necessary resource. It’s good that you have mechanical skills and you probably won’t have any issues with a T in repairs BUT do go over the manual as it will help you in knowing WHAT NOT TO DO in working on one!

It’s 100 year old technology that’s a little different in what your use to in modern vehicles.

And when you drive it remember to drive it as if there isn’t any brakes! Because they don’t have brakes as we now know them.
Good luck and when in doubt read and study the Ford service manual!

[old_charley]

If you got your T from Art Landry's family, you got yourself a nice T. Ruckstell, Rocky Mountain Brakes. It was a good running T.

[George House]

Really nice looking Model T ! You’ll be excited to enjoy what 20 HP can do. Almost as important as the above mentioned Service Manual is the Model T chassis lubrication chart. Get one from the vendors, frame it and hang it in your T workshop. A Model T is lubrication dependent. Thanks

[Norman Kling]

You are not far from Burbank. You might see Jay Leno's Garage! If he can't help you, I'm sure he knows someone who can!
Seriously, there used to be a San Fernando Valley club. Don't know if it still exists, but am sure there is one in Long Beach. There are members in your area who can help you find one and perhaps help you learn about your car as well.

[Steve Jelf]

Richard Arroyo in Mission Hills is listed as contact for the S F Valley club. He's very active online, but I don't know about the club itself. Maybe some of our regulars from the valley can tell us about that.

[Rich P. Bingham]

Welcome to the affliction!

In the 21st century, I fear you may be both disappointed and frustrated if your perception of the Model T is that it is an automobile, and akin to those of your considerable experience.

You have a 1909 horseless carriage disguised as a 1920s auto. True to its roots, it is essentially an ATV, in many ways superior to modern vehicles in that classification. In keeping with its initial customer base, an affection for horses and experience with them is a useful mindset. Like the horse, it is happiest on dirt roads at an easy pace, has a distinct individual personality, and each one handles a little different. It will take some time for your new mount to get used to you and fully trust you.

In short, the Model T is it's own "thing", and may not bring satisfaction to a "gear head" owner. Evidence of this mis-matching of temperaments is amply illustrated on these boards by the number of posts by owners who wish to travel at highway speeds, and work any number of retrofitted alterations to accomplish "modernization", many of which engender more problems than they solve.

Good advice from an old horseman: "Don't try to make your pony be something he's not." Or, to quote the car salesman in Chevy Chase's Summer Vacation - "You think you hate it now - wait 'til you drive it !"

You might very well fall head over heels in love with your tin lizzie, too. There's nothing quite like the "T" experience. Just ask the men who own them !!

Best wishes !!

[John bevardos]

Hi Jon ,
I am in Canoga Park and can help out I I can .


John

[Oldav8tor]

When you say "towed it home" I hope that was on a flatbed. Model T's should not be towed on all four wheels or you risk damage. You obviously have the skills to work on a Model T, what can bite you is making assumptions which might not apply to the technology used in the vehicle. Educate yourself and get to know some local Model T people. It's a great hobby with great people....welcome!