MTFCA Forum

Hello specialists,
I'm currently restoring a 1917 Ford T Touring by Dunkan and Frazer from Adelaide, Australia. Because I also want to adjust the valves precisely, I removed the cylinder head and both valve covers. I discovered that the tappet outlets were fitted with short plastic sleeves from a plastic hose. What could have been the reason for this being done by a previous owner?
Note: The installed valves all have a larger "plate." I removed these sleeves to adjust them to standard. But what was the previous owner's intention?
Thank you for all the technical advice and best regards from Anton from Beilngries, Bavaria, Germany (www.ford-model-t.de).

Perhaps to retard oil leakage from the pushrod action of crankcase oil splash.

Thanks for your assessment. That was my initial guess, too.

DanTreace wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 31, 2025 3:44 pm

Perhaps to retard oil leakage from the pushrod action of crankcase oil splash.

There should be oil drain back holes in the chamber.
I would be concerned that inhibiting oil here might minimize the oil to lube the valve stems.
This would limit oil being sucked past the guides reducing oil consumption/smoking from excess guide/stem clearance.
These rubber caps/tubes are a patch for another issue(s).
They are unnecessary in an in spec motor.

Yes, that's what I was thinking about, too. I've already checked the play in the valve guides; it's really minimal. Perhaps that was the case with the older valves. The valves installed now are fairly new. I think those plastic sleeves would be rather unfortunate. That's why I removed them.
Thanks for your assessment.

Anton Seelmann wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 31, 2025 3:36 pm

Hello specialists,

Note: The installed valves all have a larger "plate."

Are the larger "plates" just flat washers? If the valve springs are retained by the original style keeper pins, a simple flat washer will allow them to drift out of the valve stems. Maybe the hoses were supposed to help retain them?? The original "plates" have a recess in them that captures the pins and does not allow them to fall out.

Hi Anton, are you able to post the casting date on the engine block? this will help in my research in establishing the timeline on when Ts started to be imported back to Australia after the embargo was lifted. Thanks.

Hello Anton. Duncan and Fraser produced a close copy of the original Ford body. Yours is the much fancier coach built special bodies they produced. Lots of nickel plated brass fittings probably nickel plated radiator shell and headlight rims, deep buttoned leather upholstery etc lots of nice curves and timber finishes.
A common upgrade to a restored engine is the fitting of one piece Holden V8 exhaust valves to replace the original two piece valves. These do not have the usual cupped keeper and pin to retain the spring. If you can see collects holding the keeper in place they have likely used the V8 keepers as well. The standard T valve spring engages the same land on the keeper as the inner spring of the V8, so the flat washer you are seeing may well be the outer rim of the larger keeper.
I cannot see any benefit to the plastic hose bits either.
Do you know if your car was once owned by a long time T enthusiast Bob Chantrell in Adelaide?

Allan from down under.

Well Allan, it can be a small world! I have a painting of Bob's T that was done for David and gifted to Bob many years ago.

Here are some more pictures before the restoration. I'll report back here in the forum later. Thanks for your feedback.
Regards, Anton

Beautiful car.

The license plate numbers in the painting match the license plate numbers in Antons's photo and the car looks very similar.

Hello everyone,
Jerry: The larger valves are "modern style" with valve spring retainer split keepers.

Kerry: The casting number is C100017; I believe the date is 7-19-16. I'll check again in the next few days.

Allan: Yes, it really is a nickel beauty, as you described. On the exhaust valve plate, you can see Holden and an N. The valve spring retainers have a split keeper. It's now certain that this is the T from Bob Chantrell in Adelaide. I compared the license plate number on the painting Kerry posted with the photo I also posted. They are identical. Many thanks to Kerry for the painting!

Thanks again for your help and best regards from the unfortunately rainy Beilngries in Bavaria
Anton

PS: I'll get back to you shortly when the restoration is finished.

Anton Seelmann wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:41 am

Hello everyone,
Jerry: The larger valves are "modern style" with valve spring retainer split keepers.

Great! Thanks for the update.