How Henry is Your Ford?

[Tadpole]

Ford was the first to mechanize the masses with the Model T, leading to it becoming a prime target for all sorts of not-so-OEM gizmos we have come to enjoy collecting and even using. Let's see your machines and all the non-Ford goodies you have installed to make Lizzy suit your needs. About on average how many functional accessories do you use?

[TWrenn]

I don't have any pictures, but all three of my Ts have Rockie Mountain brakes, and I love 'em. The Fordor has-ahem-an alternator, and I love it too!!

[Steve Jelf]

Some aftermarket items are T era and some are modern. Some are manufactured and some are DIY.

T era, manufactured:

Modern, home made:

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG106.html

[Kevin Pharis]

Here’s a few...

[Erik Barrett]

That’s a great idea for an oil sight gauge. I have done bearing work on several engines that went south after a rock thrown up from some of the dirt roads we tour on broke glass sight gauges.

[John kuehn]

These days we use or try to use modern safety glass which Ford didn’t.

A truly totally original Model T has the original plate glass which is not really safe especially if you have a wreck.

Makes you wonder how many purists still use the original glass and especially for the windshield. Not trying to be sarcastic but but there is limit to try be totally authentic if you drive your T.

[Rich Eagle]

The Roof 8-valve has been both a joy and a headache. I had wanted an overhead for years and was happy to find this one. There is a lot of prestige to having it but it has a few drawbacks. I have not found a way to make it cool properly though we have discussed it many times on the forum.

The bronze liners in the guides like to slide down and cause the valves to stick, particularly the #2 cyl exhaust guide. I pushed the liners back in place and peened them over a few years ago and they haven't failed since but we take short drives and don't tour with it. These are the second sets of guides and the valves are ground to the limit. New valves have to be compatible with a spring keeper that has a recess for oil so there is expense in getting them. Also, it is the lowest compression version they made.

We drove the car 3000 miles and had plenty of fun with it but a stock, low head would be less trouble in the long run. I'm sure some dedicated thought and work could make it run nicely but it hasn't been a priority yet. I'm running a stock T carburetor but have several exotic ones I'd like to try out on it.
Just time and money.
I believe any accessory you add can have some disadvantages.
Rich

[Kevin Pharis]

The Roof 8-valve has been both a joy and a headache

Could have been worse... you could have started with one of these

28527CE2-0A49-4CC0-B86E-3A23148FC9AF.jpeg (109.6 KiB) Viewed 3720 times

And for some reason did this

[Allan]

You could almost call this an accessory body. This is my Duncan and Fraser wide body roadsters. Accessories fitted are;
Richards Wilcox road smoother shock absorbers
Corbin speedometer
Kick plates
Nickel plated fittings
Acuret oil dipstick
These are all part of the D &F package.
I have added;
Ruckstel rear axle
Running board tool/battery box and luggage rack
Stromberg OF carburetor
E timer
Nickel spotlight and mirror
Hayes wire wheels
Twin external mirrors
Indicators and brake lights, and probably other stuff I csnnot recall.

Allan from down under.

[TXGOAT2]

The Roof head may be intended to run with a water pump. At some point, adding HP will outrun the capabilities of a thermosyphon system, if the engine develops the higher available power much of the time. OHV engines generally run cooler than side valve engines, all else being equal. Ford added a water pump in 1928 on the 40 HP Model A and more frontal area for the radiator.

[TXGOAT2]

Does the Duncan & Frazer body provide more legroom that the USA stock body?

[Jeepbone1]

It’s overkill but this engine is going in my TT. 280 cam, Prus head, model a manifolds, model a Marvel Schebler carb, buckeye 12v alternator and Wosp starter. The engine picture shows a stock generator that’s now on the shelf as a spare. Let’s not even begin to talk about the OHV engine I have in the works…….

Brad

[Kevin Pharis]

Let’s not even begin to talk about the OHV engine I have in the works…….

You tease...

[Steve Jelf]

I forgot to post one of the most common period accessories...

...one of the most important...

Don't leave home without 'em.

...and one widely used in the mid-teens.

[Allan]

Pat, the Dand F wide body roadsters are coach built individual bodies. There is more leg room, there is a space behind the seat back to stow the side curtains, and a parcel shelf behind the seat. All this comes with a steering column lowered and offset to the outside. It really is a pleasure to drive, and I can even get into the driver's side, with the help of a Neville slide up fatman steering wheel I forgot to mention in the list of accessories.

A byproduct of the offset steering column means this RHD car can and has been fitted with a dual exhaust manifold, another omission from the list

Allan from down under.

[old_charley]

Well, here's what I have to offer from Otis:

Waukesha Ricardo cylinder head and aftermarket air swirling heat stove.

Accessory wishbone, Apco adjustable radius ball cap and drag link cap, first version of Hassler shock absorbers.

Accessory steering stabilizer.

Ford service pickup bed, robe rail from its previous life as a touring, and, notice the vertical cut in the seat back...from one of the fold down seat camping conversions.

[old_charley]

And a few more from Otis:

Ford Faithful oiler and exhaust cutout.

Rubber pocket watch holder and gas tank pressure pump from previously installed and removed overhead vale setup.

Running board spare carrier and running board tool box.

[Allan]

Bryan, I didn't know you had become the latest caretaker of Otis. He couldn't be in better hands. Well done. What does old Rusty think?

Allan from down under.

[John Codman]

Other then a few modern fasteners and a lousy clamp-on outside rear view mirror, the only non-stock part on the car is a modern fan pulley with sealed bearings. There was nothing wrong with the original, but I became really tired of cleaning up the grease that it slung all over the engine compartment.

[tiredfarmer]

My 26 Touring is all stock except for the side rearview mirrors, the rearview mirror on the windshield, and the New Day timer. I even use Champion X sparkplugs.

[Will_Vanderburg]

There are 5 items on my car (not counting the top, upholstery or glass and wiring) that are not Ford manufacture: New Day Timer, outside oil line, rear seat panel, mag post and generator cutout (it’s a diode in a period looking case)