MTFCA Forum

Hi I recently bought a 1908 Model S from an estate. The owner bought it in 1959. The car was loved its whole life BUT I know nothing about it. Any help would be great, I would like to start it and give it a drive. The family wanted me to own it so it would be cared for.

I collect cars but not this old. The car needs to be freshened up and has a long history and lots of local Trophies. I joined this club to get the car sorted out and on to a owner who will enjoy it. Even has a 1908 License plate that went with it.

Your best bet may be to go to the Early Ford Forum, although people here4 will help with info and advice.
https://earlyfordregistry.com/

We would love to see some pictures of it if you get time. So would the Early Ford Registry. I have loved them since the VF had coverage of one 50 years ago. They are wonderful.
Here are some I have of one 40 years ago. I am envious but will never have one.
Rich

Larry,
Hope to see you on the EFR site. We also have a weekly Zoom meeting that might be helpful if you care to join us sometime for one.

Early Ford Registry discussion forum:
https://earlyfordregistry.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=3

You don’t have to be a member to post, just register for free.
Hope yo see you, and your car there,
Rob

Just sent a set of repoured rods to Valley City Ohio for an S, I guess it got a new crank.

Laryy, Pate's early ford encyclopedia is also a wealth of information and comes with a cd containing the operating manuals supplied by Ford to new owners. It also has reprints of parts books that really help seeing how things go together

Not sure what That Brass thing is?

The brass thing on the running board is a carbide generator. It makes acetylene gas to burn and make light in the headlights.

It is an SR meaning S Roadster, has the metal cowel mother in law seat. Top was an option so not on this car. looks pretty clean and complete.

Nice model S Roadster!
A lot of people on this forum will love it! The crowd on the EFR is much smaller, however they would REALLY love it!

What a beautiful car. It should be tons of fun.
Thanks for the pictures.
Rich

Larry,
Very nice 1908 S Roadster! Do you happen to know the engine number? If you have any engine pics, it’s on the left or passenger side just behind the camshaft/oil pump drive pulley on the aluminum crankcase. Thank you for posting,
Rob

Oh drool. What a cutey!

Thank you for all the useful information hope to get this up and running this spring

THANK YOU Herb we have been wondering what the heck that was!!! We guessed everything from a heater to keeping water in it!! So glad we finally know!

Neversurrender wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:47 am

THANK YOU Herb we have been wondering what the heck that was!!! We guessed everything from a heater to keeping water in it!! So glad we finally know!

Larry, you were on the right track about the carbide generator. The top part comes off as you probly know by now, and yes it has the water in it, and you put carbide pellets in the basket in the bottom. You regulate the flame of the lamps by adjusting the "lever" on the top, clockwise reduces the amount of drips so your lamp flame will be smaller. The engine looks pretty good to me but I"m not as educimated on these as would be Rob Heyen. But I don't see a carb adjustment rod attached to the "T handle" but then I don't know if NRS's ever had them anyway. Sooner or later someone will let ya know. What a nice car, lucky you!!

I like the layout of those engines. The oil pump is a later replacement as is the breather on the inspection plate. I'll bet the Model T carburetor works well on it.
Thanks again for sharing the pictures.
Rich

I think the pump is an oil pump, reminds me of a Stove Bolt pump. Dave in Bellingham

Thank you for the photo. If it’s the original motor, and if I’m seeing it correctly (26XX), then I think it’s a late June early July 1908 car (Trent Boggess ledger database).

Is that by chance an oil pump? It looks like the original McCord oiler isn’t on the car (it would drive from the camshaft end to the right side of the motor, the same shaft currently driving the device on it now.

Hope to hear more on the EFR site if you come over. We have several members and participants with NRS who may be able to help with any questions or parts.
Cheers,
Rob


English bodied chassis:

It does appear that the original McCord mechanical oiler has been replaced with a more modern oil pump on this Model S roadster. If I am seeing it correctly, the modern oil pump is drawing oil from the bottom of the crankcase and pumping oil to the right hand side of the motor. Originally, oil from a mechanical oiler was fed to three location on the motor and transmission. One feed went to the front main bearing, a second feed went directly to the side of the crankcase, and the third feed went all the way back to the rear of the transmission frame.

One wonders what the right side of the engine looks like and where does the oil line go to. An additional question would be if there is a supplemental oil tank somewhere? Model NRS engines had a total loss oil system. Oil escaped from the main bearings, past the piston rings, out around the push rods, and from the rear transmission bearing. The lost oil had to be continuously replaced.

The oiling system differed between Model N cars and the Model R and S cars. The Model N used a pressure fed oiler. Gases from the exhaust manifold pressurized the oil tank forcing oil to drip into two lines, one back to the crankcase and the other to the rear transmission bearing. The quantity of oil flowing was adjusted through needle valves on the side of the tank. The operator measured the oil flowing through the two lines by counting the drops per minute through two sight glasses on the oiler.
The oil tank on the pressure fed oiler had to be replenished regularly.

The Model R and S cars used a more reliable mechanical oiler. This oiler was powered by a steel spring belt, that looked like a screen door spring, from a pulley at the front of the camshaft. Integral with the mechanical oiler was the supplemental oil reservoir. Oil was fed through three lines, as mentioned before, to the front bearing, the crankcase, and the rear transmission bearing. The flow of oil going to each line could be adjusted individually.
As in the Model N, the oil in the mechanical oiler had to be replenished regularly.

You might want to ask where does all the oil on a NRS car go? The answer is everywhere! Oil leaks flown the side of the crankcase to a drip pan. The operative word there is drip. Oil from the rear bearing leaks onto the exposed timing gears. Oil from the rear transmission bearing leaks down the driveshaft tube towards the rear of the car. Oil leaking from the motor is joined by semi-fluid grease leaking from the transmission, which results in oil all over the underside of the car. It is not uncommon for an NRS car owner to have to spend an hour of cleaning and maintenance for every hour of run time of the car.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

Good to see the steering wheel is on the correct side of the vehicle

I really like the vintage Diet Coke can in one picture. Must have been hard to find!

Luke wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:23 pm

Good to see the steering wheel is on the correct side of the vehicle

If Ford made a right hand drive for the Colonies, he must have made a left hand drive for the Commonwealth

Everyone has been so helpful with the information on this Ford Model S not sure how this will look in my collection of 1956 Jaguar XK 140, Dodge Viper and Aston Martin & 1960 Indy car but it will be an interesting comparison on how far cars have come.

I just want to thank everyone again

Larry

Luke wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:23 pm

Good to see the steering wheel is on the correct side of the vehicle

Wonder how many "points off" judging that caused?

Neversurrender wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:43 am

Everyone has been so helpful with the information on this Ford Model S not sure how this will look in my collection of 1956 Jaguar XK 140, Dodge Viper and Aston Martin & 1960 Indy car but it will be an interesting comparison on how far cars have come.

I just want to thank everyone again

Larry

Ha ha Larry, I would say BETTER!! No offense to those otherwise pretty cool cars. They're just too modern for my taste!

TRDxB2 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:06 pm

Luke wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:23 pm

Good to see the steering wheel is on the correct side of the vehicle

If Ford made a right hand drive for the Colonies, he must have made a left hand drive for the Commonwealth

Frank, that's cheating!

Antique stationary engine people might have some early McCord oilers.