MTFCA Forum

As much as we all love our Model T Fords, I guess we all understand that Henry Ford and his engineers did the best they could during the 19-year Model T "era", to design, build, and gradually improve the "T" during the "era" to the best of their ability, but as cheaply as possible. However,......

Just out of curiosity (and perhaps for a topic to think about to somewhat relieve "cabin fever") and because nowadays, even some of us "backyard" Model T mechanics actually have at least SOME knowledge of modern and improved designs, methods, materials, engineering, ergonomics, etc, etc,.... So, if you could go back a hundred years and talk to Henry and all, what would you suggest to them that could have been done better, differently, maybe even easier, but still relatively inexpensively? I'll start it out with a couple "suggestions" that make sense to me:

I'd drive the generator with a belt instead of a gear off of the camshaft timing gear.

I would design front wheel bearings "WITHOUT" threads, especially without L/H & R/H threads!

I'd spread the clutch, reverse and brake pedals at least an inch further apart!

I'd attach the exhaust pipe to the manifold with a clamp instead of screw threads and the big brass nut.

Again, we all love our "T's, but I'm sure that there are many other things that could have been done easier, cheaper and better than some of the numerous "problem areas" that we are all familiar with. So how about it guys,....can anybody else suggest some others? Again, just thought it might make an interesting thread,.....harold

Rocky Mountain brakes...standard equipment.

Dave Hanlon - Yup! I agree with that,....especially the old "original Rockies" that worked well in reverse as well as forward! Only thing is Dave,.....I was thinking of things "Henry" would go for that wouldn't cost much! As you know, if he could save a nickel on every Model T, he'd do it! And those "Rockies" would sure cost a lotta' nickels per car, and ol' Henry would never go for that! You're right tho',......anything to improve the brakes would sure be a good idea!

How about making the doors, at least the front ones, wider for easier ingress and egress? Also, how about all cars having a left side drivers door? And a really good one, why not have a 3 speed forward planetary transmission? I know a 3 speed planetary trans was designed - could it have added that much to the cost? One more, why not an open driveshaft instead of the closed one? Did Henry have to be that cheap?

Keith

I have marveled over that three speed planetary design for 30 years Keith.
I'm pleased you brought that up! Knocked that image loose in my noggin.
Oh goll, that might've added $21.35 to the cost of the whole machine...
Yeah, the door/s.

"Maybe some rubber gaskets and seals instead of the felt that just sorta strains the oil on the way out. Jim"

Isn't there a supplier who makes them available? Could be an opportunity for someone......

I've never thought about changing a thing. Most of the things that people bitch about are the things that make make it what it is. I embrace the little nuances that would never be tolerated today on modern cars. And for that matter tolerated today by some owners of a hundred year old car. It never ceases to amaze me how people want to own an antique car, then complain about its antique features. Takes all kinds, I reckon.

I agree with Hal. On the other hand, how about some period correct "retro"
advantages ? Solid rubber tires, no flats ! Light weight, only two mechanical moving parts, self-driving when properly programmed, power unit repairs and replaces itself automatically, fuel inexpensive (often free) and readily available.

Rich, but they're flatulence leads to climate change and they mark their territory with a less friendly substance to step in....just sayin

How about putting bronze thrust washers in the rear axle instead of the babbitt ones. That was really going cheap.
There where plenty of improvements that existed but Ford was looking for lowest price to keep the Model T affordable

John, the 1915 parts book specifies bronze thrust washers. I'm not sure when the "babbitt" washers entered production, but as precision castings, they may have cost less, but certainly would have speeded production, and that amounts to the same thing. The die-cast replacements were not specifically babbitt, but a different pewter alloy which during the using life of the Model T was perfectly serviceable, even up to 40 years and more after Model T production ceased. That the material has not proven to be eternally stable is the problem T owners have had to deal with fairly recently in the T's first century.

When day-dreaming about "improvements" which would have cost more, had Henry not been so "cheap", one must remember that automotive history is littered with the bones of hundreds of marques which failed, although many were competitively priced and often had more refinements and arguably better materials than the Model T. In part, Ford was able to produce over fifteen mllion of them because of economies of scale and means which were continually improved upon throughout production.

On the Roadster I would put the battery where a human could get it in and out.

Dave, I'd rather side-step "emissions" than have to breathe them !

It is one of the mysteries of the universe that when Ford added the 6v starter and generator they did not eliminate the magneto and trembler coils and just fit a distributor and coil.
Just consider the cost saving for about 40 million trembler coils.

We must keep things in the mind of people 100 years ago! The T was faster than a horse and didn't leave poop, oil instead! The rubber available in those days was not like the neoprene and gasoline and oil would deterioriate it. The felt was good, but not as good as the modern material. Four wheel brakes would have been an improvement but hard to get them into adjustment so the car would not skid and turn to the side when the brake applied. I don't think the hydrolic brake had been invented yet and it had many problems with the early ones. In fact some of the early cars with hydrolic brakes also had mechanical brake which would be applied if the fluid ran out! The early Chrysler had that feature. The transmission brake although not as good as wheel brakes was at least self equalizing. For the speeds usually encountered with a Model T two speeds and transmission brakes were good. I do agree that a belt driven generator would have been an improvement. I also agree that wider doors and a drivers door would have been a good thing and would also have made it easier to work on the transmission and to install the bolts on the drivers side crankcase ears. Also a 4 dip pan would have been an improvement as was the 3 dip was from the early cars with no inspection plate.
My grandparents lived in the hills of Hollywood California and could have afforded a more expensive car, but preferred a Model T because of the dependability and it's ability to climb the hills!
Norm

Outside oil lines.