Installing a 26 roadster body.

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Mike Robinson
Posts: 78
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:36 pm
First Name: Michael
Last Name: Robinson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Speedster 1914 Speedster 1925 Touring 1926 roadster pickup
Location: Escalon CA
MTFCA Number: 22510

Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by Mike Robinson » Mon May 06, 2019 11:28 pm

After painting my 26 roadster pickup I am installing the body back on the frame. When I took it apart there was wood in odd places between the frame and body. Things really didn’t line up right either . Does the body bolt directly to the frame or should there be some type of spacer like a rubber washer? Thank you for any input on this.

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Humblej
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
Location: Charlevoix, Mi
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Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by Humblej » Tue May 07, 2019 8:30 am

The body brackets bolt directly to the frame brackets except at the rear crossmember. At the rear frame crossmember there is a wood filler block in the body sub frame.

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DanTreace
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Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by DanTreace » Tue May 07, 2019 8:52 am

This photo shows the runabout body blocks, there are four, two each in the long crossmembers of the subframe. The blocks are offset from the mounting holes, that is normal. Body bolts secure these blocks from moving.

There are two more small blocks up at the corner of the cowl/subframe, those are held by wood screw thru the inside body frame, and are used for wood screw with larger washer to affix the leading edge of the splash shields to pull the front edge of the shield to the eliminate gap there, and for anti-rattle. And place round head wood screw with large washer into the longer wood blocks to also secure the splash shield.


DCP_1083 (800x383).jpg
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford

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DanTreace
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Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by DanTreace » Tue May 07, 2019 9:09 am

This site has the blocks shown and the how to place info.

http://www.antiqueautoranch.com/montana ... yBlock.htm
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford

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Humblej
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
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Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by Humblej » Tue May 07, 2019 10:58 am

Oops, forgot about the other pair of wood blocks.


Norman Kling
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Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by Norman Kling » Tue May 07, 2019 11:17 am

Dan is correct. First thing, however is to be sure the frame is not sagging in the middle and that it is not distorted. You need to measure diagonally from front corner to opposite rear corner of frame. You should get equal measurements. Then check along each side for sag in the middle. Usually the right side will sag more than the left due to torque of engine and effects of quick stop with transmission brake. When you are sure the frame is true, next install the body. Put the radiator on first. Then adjust the cowling so that the hood fits correctly. This might involve some raising in front or under the windshield area. A washer or two will help. Then check for door fit. You might need to raise or lower the area around the door post under the latch If the door is too tight at the top, you need to lower the rear of the body a bit and if too loose at the top, raise the rear a bit. Lowering can be done by planing a little off the block, and raising by installing a shim under the block. The straighter the frame is, the less fitting you will need to do when installing the body.
Norm


Arnie
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Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by Arnie » Tue May 07, 2019 4:24 pm

I would like to know if the body shown is a roadster or roadster pick-up. If one looks at an area in back of the round wood post holding the body at an angle (a couple of feet back) there is a hole in the subrail. I believe this is for one of the rear fender fasteners. There is another "bun panel" which has a vertical embosing and is shorter than the one shown.

At one time the shorter panel was considered used on the roadster and the longer panel shown in Dan's picture thought to be used on the roadster pickup. However I am not sure of this and have even seen pictures of the Indy Plant with a roadster with the "bun panel" as Dan shows in his picture. Has this been cleared up over the years? Could it be a earlier/later part as opposed to roadster or roadster pick up having different panels?

Arnie

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DanTreace
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Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by DanTreace » Tue May 07, 2019 5:16 pm

DCP_0523.JPG
Arnie

That body being sandblasted is a '26, Nov. '25 build, with the pickup bed, early version with front stake pockets immediately at the rear of the body tub. Has features of runabout with the panel used on most ones I have seen. It isn't the plain one. Was told to me it was always a pickup. Could have been so, as there were no holes or captive nuts in the sides of the rear tub used to fasten a turtle deck. Plus the old rubber plugs were still in the top prop holes.

Over the years the battery lip in the deck got rusted along with the hump section too, so someone flattened out the original battery door and just drilled holes in the flattened sides for screws to keep it in place over the battery cutouts in the floorboards!


DCP_0522.JPG
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford


Topic author
Mike Robinson
Posts: 78
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:36 pm
First Name: Michael
Last Name: Robinson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Speedster 1914 Speedster 1925 Touring 1926 roadster pickup
Location: Escalon CA
MTFCA Number: 22510

Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.s

Post by Mike Robinson » Wed May 08, 2019 2:17 am

Thanks for the photo of the blocks. That really helped. I will set it up as suggested and things should line up a lot better.


Norman Kling
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Location: Alpine California

Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by Norman Kling » Wed May 08, 2019 11:11 am

On each side of the seat backrest there would be a set of bolt holes vertically for the roadster turtle back to be bolted to the back of the body. On a body made for a pickup, these holes would not be there. However, it was common in the day, and still is, to remove the turtle back and install a pickup body.
Norm


Topic author
Mike Robinson
Posts: 78
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:36 pm
First Name: Michael
Last Name: Robinson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Speedster 1914 Speedster 1925 Touring 1926 roadster pickup
Location: Escalon CA
MTFCA Number: 22510

Re: Installing a 26 roadster body.

Post by Mike Robinson » Wed May 08, 2019 11:52 am

Yes the holes are there.
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