MTFCA Forum

Hi all,

Well I will start off as I just finished my boat tail - still have some finishing touches to do, but by my normal standards, they will be done in the next few years as the priority will be low. I also got my radiator rebuilt by Anglia Radiators in the UK for about $700, so if you are on this side of the bit of water, then that is a good option. They did it in two weeks.

Anyway, I know it is not period correct, but I have used all the original holes for mounting, so I have not damaged any historical items. I would actually like to have a period correct car one day with acetylene generator and such and keep it very correct, but right now I am enjoying the latitude and freedom of just making stuff. Hopefully November will see me actually driving it too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqHEbOl_srA

I also like to watch shed by the tracks, he is a fully fledged tinkerer on your side of the water:
https://www.youtube.com/@shedbythetracks

I built up a pair of spare wheels (one front, one rear) using the Hayes felloes that I bought from Melba Nolan in September. No, they are not for sale.

Used the old dog to haul feed and hay one day, then boulders the
next. Back at the shop, a rear tire helps prop up one of four new
matching windows for the shop.

I took out 1/4 of my crankshaft.

We took our 1911 touring car to our town's local car show last weekend. It won "best upholstery", which was an interesting choice in my opinion. It would have one "oldest car" or "most popular car with kids" if they would have had those categories. Little kids really seem to be attracted to Model Ts. One kid really like "all the gold" on the car. Another kid asked if it had air conditioning...

I was parked next to this 37? Chevy pickup/hotrod that was built from an old grain truck. It was purposely finished in a distressed look.

Neal

Trying to get my 25 TT back on the road. I began to create a wooden express bed. I'll post more pictures as it takes shape.

Bought a set of original rear fenders for my Centerdoor project for $200 bucks at Hershey

Our club took a few cars to a local teen center and told about early transportation and birth of the Model T. They loved sitting in the cars. Below is my 21 Touring full of kids and of course honking the horns.

A great October so far:
Rebuilt my brake/speed shifter;
New sockets and fittings for my lights;
Installed a new timer and related wire harness;
Rebuilt my coil box.

Next up, new rear fenders for the TT. Will discuss plans with my metal shop guy soon.

It’s great to see everyone’s work and helps me motivate myself to go to the garage. Just hope I join the world of driving model Ts soon…

disassembled my wheels today next will be to strip down to bare metal and then repaint followed by a trip to a wheelwright. Disassembled the hogs head to. Ready for stripping rebuilding and a paint job. One piece at a time
Bryant

I took out the other 3/4 of my crankshaft...
: ^ )

Keith

I did a post tour PM on the Tudor and winterized two other T's.

Trying to repair the “barn find” metal on the 1912 seat… I need to repair the wood next to do a proper fitment.

I removed the broken detachable ear brake band through the transmission inspection cover … and replaced it with another I lined with some NOS cotton lining … again though the transmission inspection opening. I was actually surprised how easy a job it was. Keeping my eye on the lining to see how it performs. I have some Kevlar in the wings.

Wired up the front and rear lights with separate grounds.
Ran the lace thru the radiator shell.
Finished two months of prepping the gas tank. Did not realize that it is 9.6 gallons.
Finished welding up the rear deck lid, I hope.

I’ve been working on my daughters ‘23 touring she bought a few weeks ago. Today I found out why there was 0 compression on # 4 cylinder.
Yup, that is the valve seat that broke and wedged under the valve.

Made all 12 standoffs for the B pillars. Two of the lower D pem nuts also had to be fabricated.
Riveted the cowl lacing.
Riveted the four gas tank cloth bands and mounted gas tank.
Installed Dash and then instrument cluster.

I picked up my TT (1300 mile trip )and have slowly most evenings been working on basic stuff to get it running so I can move it in and out of the shop .
Re wiring ,
Oil , carb , plugs ,, belt ,, basic stuff for you guys ,, but new and exciting for me .
Next is rubber .

Installed the (2) B-pillar inserts.

Disassembled the dash light to solder on a replacement wire, assembled, and wired to ammeter.
Test, removed bulb and filed off some of the positive contact so that it would turn off.
This light literally "turns on" and "turns off".

Painted steering column.

Installed a new fan on my '23 Touring. Fearing the possinbility of my ancient fan losing one of it's blades and wreaking havoc, I replaced it with one form Lang's. After installation and on the innitial "check run" I was astonoshed to find the amount of air moved was remarkably greater than the original. The design of the new fan blades is different with more surface area and a different shape. I have now made a couple of hour+ runs and found my engine runs cooler and I don't worry about loose fan blades. Life is good.

Truck hadn't been run this year. It was very happy taking a long nap and didn't think much of waking up and starting. But after some choking, cranking and carb adjustment. Repeated numerous times it staggered to life like a drunk the morning after. Even ran on mag smoother than battery. Saturday morning drove it next door to the Church car show about a 300 yard drive. Hopped the ditch like Ts were made to do since the traffic was stopped ahead and Berniece does not like stop and go traffic. My Truck was the oldest most original. ( Rough looking) vehicle there. No prize for that category.

But many folks stopped by some with kids who were thrilled with the jalopy. The car was parked right next to the broken cement base of My Grandfathers 1920s gas station pump with the ten gallon clear glass cylinder on top. ( long gone) I explained the T to all that came by and let a few kids sit in it for fun and photo ops. Had a great day and folks seemed to enjoy seeing the old (100) year old girl. 1923 / 2023 Named after my Aunt Berniece who told me stories of helping Her Dad work on model Ts just a stones throw from where the truck was parked at the car show.

Today - installed steering column w/o center shaft, connected three brackets, made wood block.
Disassembled horn button, paint, ran new wires, installed, horn works.
Installed sediment bowl.
Filled oil, first time in decades.
Painted coolant tube and choke rod.
Put air in tires - been three years.

The local machine shop had a seat on the shelf and ground the valve all for $5.00. After installing it, a couple of club members and great friends came over today and we cut the seat and lapped the valve, and checked the valve lash. A rebuilt starter, new timer, exhaust system including an ANCO manifold, spark plugs, cleaning the fuel system, adjusting everything we can and lubricating, it was a full day. It is going to be close, but it will be ready for next Saturdays Fall Tour to Washington, MO.

My fan pulley was a little loose. It appears to have a shim in it that's coming apart. I would appreciate any advice on where to get a new shim. I didn't see any on our vendors' sites. I prefer using an original pulley but may consider the modern version.

Mark,
An aluminum pop can makes a nice shim.

I took a big socket & trimmed the ID a bit to resize the pulley tube smaller.
Press fits the pully. Makes for a permanent tight fit.

Don’t shim it ! Use original. Email me the precision OD of the crankshaft. I have loads of large diameter pulleys.

Orange County MTFC does a tour/event every month. This month was our semi annual Gymkhana.
This years events:

1) Blind obstacle course. Driver is coached via a passenger thru a course between 2 cones @ 8 stations. Timed event. Deductions for hitting cones.
A real relationship tester. My wife wont participate any more. I wonder why.

2) potato stab. 8 stations. Passenger stabs, One cheek must be on the seat. Car must not stop. @ the end, stabbed spuds get dropped/thrown
into a bucket for extra points. Timed event.

3)Egg on a spoon. driver must not drop the egg, if so they must stop & reset it up to continue.(hard boiled)The course is a straight line over
random 2 X 6 boards. Timed. The luckier droppers were able to scoop the egg up from the running board without getting out.

4)Pole dance. A 30' rope is tied to the windshield. There is a weight in the middle. The pole is a weighted pole. Pull to hard it goes over. DQ
Each time the weight hits the ground, points lost. Timed event.

some adjustments

Put it in storage so I can take in one of yours for restoration!

Car show and tell at local elementary school today. Kids sure like old cars, got amazing stares when they were told the ole T is 100 years old today!

But other than my history lessons, they just loved to honk the elec blat horn and the mechanical aoohga.

I like that truck!!!

Painted the hubs and dropped my wheels off for new spokes at Calimers, painted the rims, replace the rear axel sleeves and seals. Looking into changing the oil in the Ruckstel- seems pretty thick to try to suck it out but will try. I’m in withdrawal not being able to take a drive until I get my wheels back, but that’s going to take quite awhile unfortunately.

Enjoyed some of the fall colors.

Put gas in tank and it did not leak. Opened flow valve and it worked. Bent fuel line and installed. Opened valve and it ran to carb. I see some sort of slow evaporation on the top side of the carburetor which needs to be checked.

I didn't even know that there was an overflow tube screw until yesterday. It is 1/4"-28 x 1" (UNF). My new screw is 1-1/4" long. Made the screw.

Made the overflow tube from 1/2" conduit and machined the OD to .674" on a grind wheel. Hole in side is about .192".
Lower support screw is not yet installed (or fabricated).

I removed the valves in preparation for replacement. Wait a minute. What's missing here?


Found 'em.

Why did they break off? More confusing is why were they installed loose over the stems UPSIDEDOWN!? They came out just as shown in my photo. Now what do I do with this mess?

Mark,
They are oriented right for being the upper guides. I would consider finding a new block if it were me.

Humblej wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 22, 2023 2:51 pm

Mark,
They are oriented right for being the upper guides. I would consider finding a new block if it were me.

You're right, Jeff. My brain was backwards.

Another possibility might be a machine shop boring the guide bosses and installing valve guides as would be found in a modern engine.

m_p_dean@yahoo.com wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 22, 2023 3:37 pm

Another possibility might be a machine shop boring the guide bosses and installing valve guides as would be found in a modern engine.

I had not thought about that. A friend of mine might be able to install guides for me. Thank you Maurice.

m_p_dean@yahoo.com wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 22, 2023 3:37 pm

Another possibility might be a machine shop boring the guide bosses and installing valve guides as would be found in a modern engine.

Easy enough to bore & install new guides. Maybe without removing the motor.

Put the key in the ignition with the wife present and recording video and turned it to BAT for the first time in decades.
The engine immediately lurched forward. Almost a free start. We could not get it started but it kicked a lot and we're excited.

m_p_dean@yahoo.com wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 22, 2023 3:37 pm

Another possibility might be a machine shop boring the guide bosses and installing valve guides as would be found in a modern engine.

Yes to this, my 19 block has unleaded chevy valves installed.

I put the side curtains on my 1924 today to stretch them out in preparation for the coming winter season.

Slowing pulling the flame away to anneal a drill bit. After that I lowered the bit in the vise with 1/16" above to peen it on one end. Why Vern?
Was working on the steering column and had a missing spark lever arm. So ordered one.
The end of the spark rod was is bad shape, filled in with a broken pin that I could barely find.
I drilled a new hole for the lever arm and at 85% job done the 3/32" drill bit broke off in the hole.
Since I failed to remove it, I came in from the opposite side to finished the task, removing the bit of bit.
The spark lever arm lined up perfectly but I did not have a pin! Then I saw the broken drill bit...

Since you asked..
Removed 4 tires and demountable rims
Put cardboard on the floor and Pulled the T out of the garage.
Put 4 tires and rims back on
Put the T on my trailer and tied it down.
Put the cardboard in the back of my pickup and Pulled the trailer and T 34 miles to our new home.
Unstrapped the T
Took it off the trailer.
Put the cardboard down again
Removed 4 tires with demountable rims
Pushed the T into the garage at the new home.
Instead of putting the demountable rims and tires back on the T, we put the T on short Jack stands so the wheels were not on the cement.
Picked up the cardboard.
Put the battery charger on the T battery.

The door on the new garage will have a higher door opening!

Filmed today - fall foliage run in the fordor. Full video will come out soon. Here's a taste.
https://youtube.com/shorts/MdBH4Tus5qw

Redid my JB Weld radiator outlet nozzle by adding a billet connection.

Steve

Took a short drive to see the fall colors in Tennessee

https://youtu.be/x6n5buegEJQ

Oiled the front axle and rear shackles, a few clevis joints under the car, checked oil, water, gas, aired up the tires to proper pressure. I freed up the choke flap in the NH and drove the car about 15 miles each way to an elementary school to show to 3 classes. We had 5 Model T's there and each told a bit about their cars. Then the kids got to honk the horns. On the way home I passed a local Indian Reservation and filled up the gas tank. They have the lowest gas prices in the area.
Drove home and parked. Then yesterday I drove to the local museum where we had open house for 2 hours and quite a few neighbors saw it with a skeleton at the steering wheel.
Norm

I brought my basket case to my new and first home after three years of pieces stashed away like a squirrel in different places. It’s been a stalled build, but seeing the parts in the flesh and a better work ethic I’ve developed since acquiring the car I trust will make for some good progress.