MTFCA Forum

What have I here? Found in my own stash during a clean-up.
Allan from down under.

Well that is almost certainly a thingemabob, can't do without one !

Looks like a steering column support bracket, RH drive style.

that and a few more parts and I could build a right hand drive!

Allen, sent you an e-mail. Im in need of that part if for sale ...

So,…. what is it Donnie ??

It is a RHD steering bracket, BUT..........

Allan from down under.

Allen, But what?

Is it for a right hand drive TT?

But it doesn't need the wood block?

Is it for a right hand drive TT?

No, its not.

That extra bracket almost looks like it was welded on to the casting?

Adrian, my thought was TT too. The mounting holes on the bottom flange are at 2.75" centre to centre. Is that TT spec?.

I did sme more wire buffing on the threaded boss. It is not an addition, being machined after casting. The threaded hole is 3/8" coarse thread. I have no idea of it's purpose. Just being there interferes with the usual wood block fitting. I had no idea if was TT or not.

There are no casting marks or part numbers evident.

Allan from down under.

I have had this listed as a Truck bracket. It is a different angle to the cars. I think the wooden block is eliminated and a metal tube was placed between the chassis and the boss locating the tube when attaching.

George. I thought it was just a RHD bracket for any RHD car. It appears that it may be for TTs. I need a car RHD bracket.

So, would the difference be in the angle created for the steering shaft and spark/gas ?

Interesting indeed.

I can only comment on the RHD truck.

Indeed the TT has a different steering bracket with different dimensions to a car one with more reinforcing gusset, however, the ones I have seen before do not have the extra boss in them. That may be just a Canadian thing? (Car p/n: 3539-B or D; truck p/n: 3539-C).

Looking at the boss, it does not appear to be long enough on its own to pass through the frame rail. It appears that it will still require a block (or tube as suggested) to 'fill the gap'.

The spark and throttle follow the steering column and the extra angle does not make a difference to operation, the angle seems to me to get the steering wheel more upright so the seat can be closer to the wheel (more load room in the back?) and probably more leverage to turn the steering wheel under load.

I need a car RHD bracket.

PM sent Donnie

I have had model T speedsters where the steering bracket was moved up almost an inch and placed inside the frame rails. This helps facilitate the positioning and lower angle of the steering column (that almost an inch helps clear the pedals!). Having the bracket and bolts inside the frame rail doesn't leave much room for a block of wood. So a couple cars did not have a block of wood.
The top of the bracket however, having been raised up, clamps neatly against the upper part of the rail. Bolt position is changed, and the bracket pulled tight against the frame rail itself. Very solid, very stable, very strong. (The amount it can be raised is limited by the need for the pitman arm to swing both directions.)
I suspect this may have worked the same way? While the "engineer in me" isn't crazy about the idea of the bolt pulling tight mid-span of the channel? It would actually probably be just fine that way, without a wooden block or pipe stub. As long as the top of the bracket sits firmly against the top of the frame rail.

Adrian, As you have a RHD TT it must be a Canadian made one, so if the steering bracket is different from Allan's you have a bracket that has so far not been noted. I did an article on the different brackets for our club magazine over 40 years ago and the only bracket that was noted was this particular one.
I have since tracked down 3 other RHD Model T brackets (non Ford) and would be interested in adding the bracket you have in your truck.
I don't expect you to dismantle your steering to take a photo but if at some time you see another one the same (or anyone else does) I'm sure everyone here would be interested to see it.

Thanks Peter. You have confirmed what I thought. The tube insert makes sense. It would have to be fitted as the bracket was fitted. This would also mean a unique bolt to mount it. Where else on any T is a 3/8" coarse thread bolt used?

Allan from down under.

Re the different angle on the bracket, it may just be compensation for the difference in depth of the frame rail. It starts at the front at the usual thickness, but the taper will be steeper to get to the deeper section on a TT rail.

Allan from down under.

I did an article on the different brackets for our club magazine over 40 years ago and the only bracket that was noted was this particular one.

Hi Peter, can you repost it here? I would be interested to read that.

Will have a snoop in the parts box for the other brackets. Given the variation I have seen in simple items like front timing covers it is possible (perhaps) that the two other steering brackets I have seen are the odd balls?

Cheers
Adrian

Adrian, I don't have an article on these brackets, as it was a long time ago I hand wrote the article, my wife typed it on a type writer and it was photocopied to make the club magazine. I should have a copy of the magazine which I will try to find.
Just checked some of my files, the Canadian Ford parts books list "THREE" TT brackets, labeled "steering post bracket"
3539C - 1918 - 21 / this would be for non generator (starter) trucks before and during the belt drive motors.
3539RE -1921-23 / for generator equipped motors.
3539RG-1923-27 / and obviously an alteration to the previous one for whatever reason. I suspect Allan's bracket is this one but I'm guessing!!

Not having a TT I must admit I took not much interest in looking closer and as no one ever has noticed ( of if they did said nothing) like Allan it slipped past us.

So a bit of investigating needed. Unfortunately Trucks have always had a low interest for most Model T Owners and lots were stripped of the motor and the rest of the chassis dumped. So finding the answer will be a bit difficult and as the USA doesn't have RHD ( I have had a USA club magazine reject RHD as being of no interest to it's members???) and I'm not sure how many RHD TT owners will read this.
One point which may be correct is the threaded boss on Allan's bracket is in direct line with the spark rod and steering shaft holes. The bracket may be fixed to the chassis at such a point as the bracket is too close to the generator so using a bolt and a nut through the bracket is not possible so they added the threaded boss. All the normal brackets have the third hole for the bolt ( to go through the wood block) are no where near the spark rod or steering shaft.
Allan, I think your observation about the angle is right, the TT chassis frame side member is wider, the taper from the front to back is different and to keep the steering column at the same angle the shaft holes in the bracket are at a different angle from the bottom of the bracket under the chassis. That's if the TT steering column itself is not different to the cars????

An update,
I have contacted a active TT owner who has a 1927 TT. He confirms that the bracket with the threaded boss is on his truck and the position is such that it is impossible to use a bolt ( that's why the Boss is threaded) and it sits so close to the generator a nut couldn't be placed on the end of a bolt, and as is obvious the bracket is made such that a bolt would pass through the steering shaft and spark control rod.
So the other brackets must be placed in a different position to this set up. Need to see the other RHD truck brackets that are listed. and determine if the position (or the angle) on the chassis is different.
Some more questions. When Britain was converted back to RHD (in 1923) were the RHD components supplied by Ford Canada or did Ford Detroit again provide RHD parts they made and were they in anyway different? Are the British RHD brackets given different part numbers? Maybe some English TT owners can supply some information.