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New Member welcome area/page?

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:58 pm
by fireheadman
Is there a section to say hello for those of us that are new?

I just joined the MTFCA
-Ben

Re: New Member welcome area/page?

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 5:11 pm
by speedytinc
Right here. Have @ it. Welcome.

Re: New Member welcome area/page?

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 5:16 pm
by Craig Leach
Welcome aboard Ben.

Re: New Member welcome area/page?

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 7:13 pm
by fireheadman
well that is easy enough... thanks!

Guess I will start with this as my first order of business....
Trying to figure out what I am exactly working with.
I created a post in another area on here...

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=49345#p371883

Re: New Member welcome area/page?

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:38 am
by Craig Leach
Hi Ben,
That is a very nice specimen although it may not be totally correct it has the memory of your grandfather in it. I would think that keeping it
as it is would be a tribute to him. I also think that he had a reason for what he chose when building it. Leave it as he built it & keep his
memory with every mile you drive it & share as much as you can with yours & others as you go. The only things you may want to consider is any
safety issues that may be present or come along. You have received a great treasure.
Craig.

Re: New Member welcome area/page?

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 12:25 pm
by Jerry VanOoteghem
Welcome Ben! What a nice looking Pie Wagon! Don't be too concerned about the later parts. Having a starter and generator may have been a great help for your grandfather in his later years, when cranking doesn't come as easy. There are many Model T's that have been coverted to "starter cars" for that very reason. Also, 1911 engines and drivelines are not very cheap, or even easy to locate. If you plan to do a lot of driving, (and I hope you do), using a later engine, that is more plentiful and less valuable, is good insurance against expensive breakdowns, should they occur. Many folks run later engines/drivelines while keeping their earlier engines safely tucked away in the garage.

The body is an aftermarket type, (i.e. not sold by Ford), that may have been available over many years and suitable to fit any number of model years chassis. If this is an original example of an aftermarket body, (versus reproduced), then it is among the very few that have survived. Either way, it's a particularly attractive example.

In short, you have a very nice Model T! :)

Re: New Member welcome area/page?

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:47 pm
by fireheadman
Craig Leach wrote:
Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:38 am
Hi Ben,
That is a very nice specimen although it may not be totally correct it has the memory of your grandfather in it. I would think that keeping it
as it is would be a tribute to him. I also think that he had a reason for what he chose when building it. Leave it as he built it & keep his
memory with every mile you drive it & share as much as you can with yours & others as you go. The only things you may want to consider is any
safety issues that may be present or come along. You have received a great treasure.
Craig.
Your words align to my intentions... my priorities are safety first, then follow up with any replacement (one for one) parts that are in bad shape/condition. I rode on my grandfather's lap in many parades in this truck, so there are definitely a lot of good ole memories to preserve. I would love nothing more than to help promote the history of the model-T and drive her once again in parades.

Jerry VanOoteghem wrote:
Sat Aug 09, 2025 12:25 pm
Welcome Ben! What a nice looking Pie Wagon! Don't be too concerned about the later parts. Having a starter and generator may have been a great help for your grandfather in his later years, when cranking doesn't come as easy. There are many Model T's that have been coverted to "starter cars" for that very reason. Also, 1911 engines and drivelines are not very cheap, or even easy to locate. If you plan to do a lot of driving, (and I hope you do), using a later engine, that is more plentiful and less valuable, is good insurance against expensive breakdowns, should they occur. Many folks run later engines/drivelines while keeping their earlier engines safely tucked away in the garage.

The body is an aftermarket type, (i.e. not sold by Ford), that may have been available over many years and suitable to fit any number of model years chassis. If this is an original example of an aftermarket body, (versus reproduced), then it is among the very few that have survived. Either way, it's a particularly attractive example.

In short, you have a very nice Model T! :)
My grandfather was definitely a tinker-type person! I've read about some of the mishaps from others and the crank arm, so I can understand the desire to add a starter and other creature comforts. His workshop had 4 or 5 other antique cars in it that he was always doing something with. I do like the storage space in the back of it. I'm wanting to use this as my grocery-getter and occasional lowes/home depot runner just to turn some heads.

Thanks for the kind words!