MTFCA Forum

Hello,

As I dive into the mechanical work on my speedster, I want to inquire about the changes in sizing, geometry, etc. for the tie rods, pitman arm, etcetera over the course of the T’s production. My car is a bitsa car and I have even more extra pieces that I want to swap out on the car for my RHD conversion.

I am aware of some issues that can arise, as I’ve driven a T racer that ended up getting stuck in full left turn lock by another driver. Apparently the pitman arm was too short for its respective tie rod, or something to that effect, which caused it to do so. That was when I first learned of the dangers of mismatching different components.

I’m looking please for both clarity on the above issue, and what to look for to prevent those issues happening.

Thank you,

Ryan

This is a timely subject that was discussed by members on a tour last weekend. Who can comment on what combination of draglinks etc contribute to
T steering going "over center" when the wheels are near full lock? None of us considered that the longer pin in the sterring gear case on later cars was a full solution- even more so on early cars with the riveted gear case??????????????????????????????

I remember a thread here that asked if any part in a Model T had been used for all years. IIRC, the final conclusion was that the Schrader valve in the inner tube might have been that part. A lot of parts will fit all years, but are probably not identical to the original equipment. My point is that you should probably stick with the correct part for the year. Mixing and matching can sometimes have unintended consequences.

Thank you both for the input. I suppose I’ve got a bit more sleuthing to do. All part of the Model T fun!

When building a speedster, every modification is likely to lead work-arounds later in the build. For example, If you use a dropped axle, you will have to consider which spindle arms to use. If you introduce a double wishbone, you may have to reconsider spindle arms again. Adding an accessory transmission leads to further compromises/alterations. It is often a trial and error project which makes for an interesting time.
Enjoy the challenge.

Allan from down under.