MTFCA Forum

I have seen very little to no complete information/ instructions or pictures for that matter posted about installing the top wood and top for a 25-27 CLosed Cab TT Truck. So here we go. I’ve been working on mine for the last few weeks but made some major head way last night with the top cover. No the base material isn’t the stock muslin material but it’s just as strong and it’s my truck and I didn’t want to look up at black all the time! I’ll post what I have then keep updating on this thread as the project progresses. Some pictures will be sideways but that’s what I’ve got. Any bright enlightenments are welcome.

Brad

Wood was installed with 3/16 phillips drive flat head machine screws. The recessed on their own and made for a nice flat surface and held quite nicely.

Some small C clamps were the trick when conforming to the compound curves on the sides and front and back strips.

More pictures

Thanks Brad, much needed. Keep them coming.

The corners were then rounded and better fitted together with the help of a good sized coarse wood rasp.

Last night was most productive of all. Started installing the top material. The base material already had straight lines in it so it was fairly easy to make sure it stayed that way.

High density synthetic padding went on next. Stretched tight, it made for a nice and smooth surface.

The edges of this layer were more poofy than the last after trimming but with little more trimming and the top layer it will be fine. Here’s the view from the inside too. It’s just from it laying on top. It turned out much straighter won’t I was able to put some tension on it and a few staples. That’s all for now. The hidem welt is on order and we still need to fit the top layer. Maybe it’ll be done before the weekend. Maybe not.

Looking very nice. Glad you took time to post photos for future projects missing these parts as alot are. Keep them comng!

Thank you for the pictures. I have to do the same thing on my 1926 TT.

Got the top layer on this morning. The hiddem welt should be in this afternoon and then it’ll be done. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. I even have a good looking headliner that breaks up the monotony of all the black! More to come this evening.

Headliner

That’s a “wrap”! Hidem welt came in this afternoon and is now installed. This project could easily be done in a weekend but some of have those pesky things called jobs. I did pretty good only using one solid piece for the trimming. Now to go finish a scratch made roadster top!

Thanks for posting all of that, it is amazing how talented some people are. One step at a time.

The pictures with reflections in the paint on the cab are interesting too.

That is going to be a top notch cab!

Nice job Brad. How about a photo of the entire TT. Nice to see another TT coming together.

Dallas,

Thank you! It’s not finished yet by any means but it’s coming together quick. I don’t have any good full pictures at this time but they’ll be here soon.

Just renamed the topic line. This will now be the progress thread for my 1927 TT build. Pulled the engine the other night with some help from a buddy and now it’s stripped down waiting to be cleaned.

Thanks to a buddy the TT engine is out of the chassis and stripped down! In case anyone was wondering, a model t engine minus the pan and hogshead will fit on a horrible fright 3 tray shop cart. Now time for cleaning.......lots and lots of cleaning.

More pictures

And more pictures

It’s been a busy week and I realized that I had e updated this post in a while so here it goes. Upholstery and all glass pieces are in. The rear axle is apart and partially rebuilt. It looks so good I almost want to just keep looking at it. New differential bearings, bolts and one of those fancy 5:1 ring gears. The truck should be able to get out of its way now. I enjoyed the TT differential way more than the T. Just something about thrust washer pins that haunt a persons dreams......Now to just clean up the axle housing and some outer bearings then were on to frame work.

The pictures with reflections in the paint on the cab are interesting too.

Looking at the latest pictures I was thinking that myself too! I was thinking how much my workshop looks like yours in the reflections --- the 'cosy' workshop seems common world wide. I do find it relaxing to retreat to the world of wonder in there.

I sometimes get surprised by what I find there - now when and where did I get that from?

Brad, that is looking great!!!
Too bad we have to pour gear lube all over those nice clean parts? I guess better to sound good than look good on those. Thanks for the update.

Rear wheel adapters are done! Setup to run 19” Model A wire wheels with enough clearance so that I can run disc brakes without any interference. The bolts through the back side have a shorter head than the stock nut so nothing will rub there either even when I do the final assembly with lock washers.

Brad

And the wheels. Nice New Zealand Firestone whitewalls should last for a while. Picked these up in Kentucky for a STEAL. Oughta give a cool final look when they’re all cleaned up and mounted.

Brad

Before and after! Went and picked up the short block for my 27 TT today with my uncle. Cylinders bored 0.040 over to be fitted with new aluminum pistons, rod journals 0.030 under and the mains are 0.025 under. Sadly it’s the first and only time this crank will be ground but hopefully it’ll have a long happy life. New crank gear also installed. I went ahead and had them install hardened valve seats and they had a set of modern big head valves fitted. Rods and cam bearings are on order from California. Transmission is rebuilt and ready. I still need to charge magnets and build the flywheel. There’s a Chaffin 0.280 cam and Prus head on the shelf ready for install. Still need to get a new cam gear. It’s come a long way from where it was just under a year ago but the project is coming along very well! I hope to have everything buttoned up and driving this spring. Time to get to work!

Brad

And the after!

Made a little bit of engine progress this week. I’ll probably have the hogshead rebuilt by this weekend. Cam bushing line reamed and cam installed with lifters and freshly ground big head valves.

Brad

Finally got to use my new Thor valve grinder. Luckily the Army printed a technical manual in the early 50’s that went into great detail do incould properly service and adjust it. Back to work for another 70 years!

New 280 cam and new rod bolts don’t like each other. All four on the cam side had to come back out for a little grinding because they were knocking solid against the webbing of the cam. Luckily it was an easy fix.

Valve lash set, magnets recharged, magnet gap set, transmission rebushed, new triple gear pins installed, rounded out with a new ring gear and the whole rotating assembly is done. Bolted up the timing cover and pan last night. Just need to finish the hogshead, put a coat of paint on the engine, add a head and manifolds, install the rebuilt starter, generator and carb then it’ll be ready to drop onto the run-in stand. Should be much easier to dial things in without having to lean over a TT chassis!

Brad

Hot TT!
Thank you for bringing this to the top again.
The cab top pics and your work there are priceless and helpful.

Engine done!

Frame and bed being blasted. I used a local guy that does dustless blasting. Nice finish surface.

I now have functional door handles and latches! Please excuse the Phillips screws they’ll be swapped out soon. Now onto finishing the frame and cleaning up the axles.

Brad

Brad,
I could see a lot of advantages to using a Model A Carb and manifolds. Is there anything special that you have to do to put it on a Model T engine?

BTW. I have a closed cab like yours and needs a top. I am getting ideas from the work that you posted. Thanks so much!

Matt

Matt in California wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 28, 2022 11:31 pm

Brad,
I could see a lot of advantages to using a Model A Carb and manifolds. Is there anything special that you have to do to put it on a Model T engine?

BTW. I have a closed cab like yours and needs a top. I am getting ideas from the work that you posted. Thanks so much!

Matt

I used the adapter plate and studs supplied with it from Snyder’s. Other than that, I just have to rig up the linkage. That top turned out way better than I possibly could’ve imagined! A guy could easily do the whole thing in a weekend.

Brad

Jeepbone1 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 29, 2022 1:12 am

I used the adapter plate and studs supplied with it from Snyder’s. Other than that, I just have to rig up the linkage.

I looked it up. It looks like the entire kit is $250. https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/prod ... &cat=41892

But I think the manifolds should not be hard to source... So it could be done with just the adapter pate (https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/prod ... &cat=41892) and some gaskets for closer to $70.

Jeepbone1 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 29, 2022 1:12 am

That top turned out way better than I possibly could’ve imagined! A guy could easily do the whole thing in a weekend.

I hope to be doing that in the not too distant future.

Matt

And just like that, we have a black frame!

Brad

Looks like can be done in time to drive it to Luray next week!

RVA23T wrote: ↑

Fri May 06, 2022 12:58 am

Looks like can be done in time to drive it to Luray next week!

That was my intent but this thing is just taking too long!

Brad

Installed some blasphemous modernizations on the TT motor tonight. Fancy Wosp starter and a Buckeye 12v alternator. Pretty soon this thing might drive itself……..

Brad

Finally got around to the rear axle housings today. Probably removed 15 pounds of filth and crud but they’re clean and in primer! I’m pretty sure there was about 2 quarts of sludged gear oil in the tubes.

Brad

I’m pretty sure there was about 2 quarts of sludged gear oil in the tubes

Was that all

Keep up the good work there

Now in shiny black paint!

Brad

Wow! Sure looks nice! Keep up the nice work and keep the pics coming.

A good press and an 11/16” socket sure do make quick work of old rusted TT shackle bushings. Let’s hope the new bushings fit good and snug after I clean all of the dirt and grime out of the holes!

Brad

Brad,
VERY impressive restoration! I am curious what you found for wear on the rear axles and bearings? Did you put in new sleeves and Hyatts? Any wear at all on the inner race (axle) themselves? Advice as I get ready to tackle a TT rear?

The carrier bearings were absolutely shot. Outer hyatts fell apart. The sleeves were oddly in good shape. Someone had added a collar around the axle shaft to keep the outer bearings in. Worn out in odd places. Axles were in good shape as we’re the gears. I swapped the worm and ring with a high speed set. As far as advice goes, there’s a long list but I’ll keep it kind of short. To keep them reliable and safe in modern traffic, you need auxiliary brakes, high speed gears, overdrive transmission and turn/brake lights. Take your time. Have fun!

Brad

It just occurred to me that I haven’t posted an update in a while so here we go. Rear axle was reassembled and installed with the Twin High transmission.

Front axle finished and installed.

Engine installed with new exhaust run.

Swanky new shift knob with the Twin High logo.

This one took some brain power. Finally figured out how to run the throttle control with the Model A carb without a hole through the block since it’s a late 27. Lokar cable and some flat bar. Remember kids, a grinder and paint makes the welder I ain’t!

Your TT is looking great and thanks for the nice detailed photos you provided!
I was looking at your engine photos and I missed seeing the internal oil line that runs from the front to the back of the engine. I’m sure it’s in there but sometimes it gets overlooked and forgotten about. I’ve been there and done that and noticed my wasn’t installed when I was setting the block on the engine!

John kuehn wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 01, 2023 9:06 pm

Your TT is looking great and thanks for the nice detailed photos you provided!
I was looking at your engine photos and I missed seeing the internal oil line that runs from the front to the back of the engine. I’m sure it’s in there but sometimes it gets overlooked and forgotten about. I’ve been there and done that and noticed my wasn’t installed when I was setting the block on the engine!

You had me questioning myself John! I had to go back and check pictures but I’m positive I put it in.

Brad