What have you done to your Model T in March?

Post by **NealW** » Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:20 pm

The month is 1/3 over, and no posts on this topic yet!

I can't say that I've done anything on our two T's, as they are still on jacks for the winter, but my wonderful wife finished this wall hanging quilt of our 1911 touring that we restored for my birthday at the beginning of the month. She used the picture below it as the inspiration.

Post by **Dallas Landers** » Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:10 pm

I drove the 26 RPU to the firestation monday for our meeting. It was dark when I left for home. I started through town and could hardly see, the headlights were too dim. I stopped and called a buddy who was on duty as Johny Law. He followed me home so I could see the road.

Yesterday I checked things out as to why. The battery cable at the battery was corroded. A good cleaning and baking soda bath for all effected parts and lights work as intended.

Post by **varmint** » Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:39 pm

Re-built the starter switch, from a new starter. It still works after a week.

Rich P. Bingham · Post by **Rich P. Bingham** » Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:51 pm

Side-lined by a seized wrist-pin last June, Lizzie’s been in “sick bay” ever since, undergoing an engine and transmission rebuild. As of March first, the engine assembly is in place, along with the newly reproduced dash that’s been two years in the making. Assembly is going on a-pace, probably be complete and ready to roll long before the foot and a half of snow we got last weekend melts. It was 8f above yesterday morning, winter is hanging on.

Distagon2 · Post by **Distagon2** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:36 am

I spent hours on the Rands windshield frame for my 12 Runabout. I have it to the point where now it needs cleaning up and polishing. What a challenge! The first rule of restoring a brass car is "Thou shall be patient." The second rule is possibly "Perfect thy silver soldering skills." (A nice fellow from the Cincinnati area known for superb restoration of brass cars helped with parts and advice.)

Rich P. Bingham · Post by **Rich P. Bingham** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:45 am

Beautiful !

Post by **JBog** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:49 pm

Working on my wheels. Boiled linseed oil last weekend and spar urethane next weekend.

Post by **Bryant** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:14 pm

Spent sometime with my boy putting the engine back together. He’s making the head bolts “finger tight”
Bryant

Post by **varmint** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:20 pm

Made some floor boards. Wife is staining them black now.

: floor boards 03.jpg (66.46 KiB) Viewed 6964 times

Post by **RajoRacer** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:28 pm

Nice looking power plant & mechanic Bryant ! Is that your own "oil splasher" design ?

38 coupe · Post by **38 coupe** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:14 pm

Does buying my Model T count as doing something to it?
I'm really an early V8 guy, but the T crowd has so much fun doing things it wore me down. In a moment of weakness I agreed to join the madness. Picture taken when going with friends to retrieve it.

mtntee20 · Post by **mtntee20** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:33 pm

Fred, OUTSTANDING! Good Luck.

Post by **DHort** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:11 am

Fred

Looks like all you need is some oil, antifreeze, soap, and water. You want to look nice for the ladies.

Lil Teezy · Post by **Lil Teezy** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:06 pm

Spent about a hundred hours flattening the hood that came with my roadster. The damage to the cowl is preventing a perfect fit but the alignment is good enough for the hold downs to catch easy, so I’m taking it!

I really like the fenders and hood but it was a lot of work and the rears are still only half done. I have four of them each with one good end I have to graft together….

These are just the rear halves, with the damaged areas that mate to the aprons and running boards cut away and then hand formed to bolt up to the rb’s and aprons. They are mounted to the bed at the right height but rotated forward one set of bolt holes, giving a “bobbed” look to them, which of course makes the truck faster!

Also reversed a front main leaf spring as the one id been driving on was visually sagging at the ends. The first two springs I did as practice were very badly worn and saaaawwwwwfffft! After I got the hang of it and set up a good jig in the press it took about 45 minutes to flip a nice one with minimal wear and a lot of bounce still in it. The front end came down about an inch an a quarter which was just right for a little of the ol’ ford pickup truck rake. I was already impressed with the overall handling of the T but dropped a bit on a 7 leaf rear and the reversed front spring put the little buddy on rails!
Happy T-ing everyone and please post lots of pics from the swap for those of us that can’t make it! Thanks! Chris, in Boulder

Lil Teezy · Post by **Lil Teezy** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:21 pm

Good looks Fred! I think all hot rodders should feel obligated to get a stock model T or A and drive it! My import tuning friends are even coming around to the idea of us running a gang of Ts around town and never hesitate to take over the tiller. I know the guys that meet up on the weekends and cruise near me have more fun than everyone else put together and the first T tour I went on was the funnest car event of my life! Since getting my T I have almost put the V8 hot rods in the shed completely. It’s just such an awesome type of motoring. Zero to thirty five turns into the best feeling rip-ride ever and the amount of input per drive required is really entertaining. Good luck getting her going and have fun! -Chris, in Boulder

Post by **Bryant** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:06 pm

RajoRacer wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:28 pm
Nice looking power plant & mechanic Bryant ! Is that your own "oil splasher" design ?

Thanks! Yes that’s what I came up with. It’s approximately half the weight of magnets but retains some rotating mass. It is experimental. There is a thread on it but I don’t know how to attach it. It’s called Oil slinger build. My son really likes helping.
Bryant

Post by **CudaMan** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:38 pm

I drove my '24 on my usual 16 mile loop today, then gave it a sponge bath to remove the grime that it accumulated from winter driving. Next I need to change the oil and go over lubricating all the usual spots in preparation for the spring/summer/fall driving seasons.

Post by **varmint** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:45 pm

Made some door panels and other interior panels ('26 Coupe). Here's the ugly side.
That's actual panel board, not cardboard.
We plan on coating the inside with something more water resistant.

hah · Post by **hah** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:49 pm

Sale— gone swimming!

Post by **DHort** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:09 pm

In the Atlantic?

hah · Post by **hah** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:10 am

Ocho Rios!

skyhunter · Post by **skyhunter** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:55 am

Engine is at the machine shop. Rear is at Lang's getting Ruckstell installed. They are also doing work to the front axle. Had the frame sandblasted and it is in primer while I reconditioned the springs and reengineer the front Z bar drop.

Post by **DanTreace** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:05 pm

Sometimes the old Ford has to go to the elephant grave yard. ”Bad Penny”was an early eBay purchase unseen except photo, was stated as rust free….not

Did get the engine out and was put to use, but the rest of the rusted out , with window screen backed Bondo patches in all the sheet metal , sad ‘27 touring, became Yard Art.

Fast forward 16 years, and the Ford finally has decayed to the point of removal, piece by piece, execution style, with the SawsAll.

So off to the scrapper today

p.s. a few pieces salvaged will appear at Luray

. And, the little maple sapling that has grown over the years in the back floor board area was saved, by sectioning off the rear frame!

Post by **RajoRacer** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:36 pm

You gotta do what you gotta do, Dan ! I had the same task when I moved for retirement - couldn't take it all !

38 coupe · Post by **38 coupe** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:52 pm

Thank you to everyone for welcoming me!

Lil Teezy wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:21 pm
Good looks Fred! I think all hot rodders should feel obligated to get a stock model T or A and drive it!
...Good luck getting her going and have fun! -Chris, in Boulder

Just for the record, I'm not a hot rodder. I understand I am now in the less visible group of flathead V8 era enthusiasts, but I prefer Henry's products in substantially unmodified condition. Here is my 6 cylinder 53 sedan being used at a vulture wagon during the 2022 Texas T Party.

michaelb2296 · Post by **michaelb2296** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:18 pm

Thanks Neal for getting the ball rolling! Good to have a nice wife.

I’ve been Trying to figure out how to get the last 2 of 6 of these out of their sockets! Currently have a flywheel dangling from one hoping that over time it will just fall out… tried water, steam…. Not budging in the last 2. Smh

Post by **Nathan Pederson** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:56 am

Sometimes it is fun to just start em up and then let em run.

Post by **Jerry VanOoteghem** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:59 pm

DanTreace wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:05 pm
Sometimes the old Ford has to go to the elephant grave yard. ”Bad Penny”was an early eBay purchase unseen except photo, was stated as rust free….not

Did get the engine out and was put to use, but the rest of the rusted out , with window screen backed Bondo patches in all the sheet metal , sad ‘27 touring, became Yard Art.

Fast forward 16 years, and the Ford finally has decayed to the point of removal, piece by piece, execution style, with the SawsAll.

So off to the scrapper today

Dan,

This brings to mind the closing words of E.B. White...

"The days were golden, the nights were dim and strange. I still recall with trembling those loud, nocturnal crises when you drew up to a signpost and raced the engine so the lights would be bright enough to read destinations by. I have never been really planetary since. I suppose it’s time to say goodbye. Farewell, my lovely!"

RGould1910 · Post by **RGould1910** » Fri Mar 22, 2024 3:32 pm

Cleaned and mounted the Fairbanks screw press I recently purchased on a bench I made for it. I need help making the fixtures that hold the centers if anyone has photos, dimensions etc.

Post by **Sarikatime** » Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:27 pm

Installed a somewhat period correct model T generator on my 12. Made the bracket and a friend machined an extension to the armature so the fan belt will line up. First bracket I made was too high, thinking if I wanted to have a water pump but made the second one to place the generator lower next to the motor and not sticking up. A modern alternator just did not look good next to all the original 12 motor and everything and that is why I decided on a generator. I will go just so far to be original but in this case there is nothing closer to original 1912 factory equipment. Installing brake lights and blinkers at the same time, a lot of wires.
Keepen busy.

vping · Post by **vping** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:30 pm

So it's not what I did to my T in March. It's easy I didn't do. I didn't push it in and out of the garage!

Steve King · Post by **Steve King** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:30 pm

Rebuilt this 26 engine and transmission. Put the rebuild in my 26 Touring. Put a Z head on and a NOS Turner Timer. Has a 280 Chaffins cam. Rebushed the fan pulley. Has Kevlar I need to adjust yet. Runs very sweet. I need to run it a bit more before I torque the head again. Getting a big winter storm again today in Central Wisconsin.

Art Wilson · Post by **Art Wilson** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:19 pm

Rich,
I have seen wrist pin seizure caused by the piston pin being deformed from tightening the small end connecting rod bolt. This was on a large diameter piston with a 1inch diameter wrist pin. Also I have seen Model T piston pins that had turned blue from the heat generated from the tight fit of the deformed wrist pin. It doesn't take much clamp force to cause the deformation.

RGould1910 · Post by **RGould1910** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:41 pm

Good to know Art!

Post by **Gracie'sDad** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 5:30 pm

I uncovered ol' Gracie aired up her tires and took her on her first "burn" of 2024. She ran flawlessly!

Post by **NealW** » Sat Mar 30, 2024 8:02 am

Last fall I bought an orphaned 1922 engine to install in our 1911 touring car so that I could preserve the car's original engine. During the teardown inspection I found cracked babbitt in the center crankshaft bearing, so Mike Bender kindly rebabbitted the block and put new transmission bushings in for me. The block was bored and decked while at it, with new aluminum pistons replacing the cast iron pistons. Thankfully the crank mag inspection was fine, but it needed to be ground 10 under. This required rebabbitted con rods, which needed to be replace anyway because there were three heavy and one lightweight con rods in the engine... The end result was that I completely rebuilt the engine over the winter, but for possibly less cash outlay than if I had to find a correct replacement block for the 1911 engine.

This week I installed the engine and used the intake, carb and oil cap from the 1911 engine. I was fortunate to find one of the early generator block off plates so that it looks more like original block. This was my third nonstarter engine that I needed to break in, and that can be quite a workout. It actually fired on the first pull after priming, but didn't stay running. About 10 more pulls needed and it roared back to life. After doing the break in run, I can easily start the engine on the magneto setting. When my wife got back from work, we took it out for the car's first drive of the year and the engine runs well.

Since it now has a "loaner" 1922 engine in the car, can I still call it a 1911?

Maybe I should average the two years and call it a "1916 and 1/2" for the purists. No matter what it's called, it's nice to have it done in time for warm weather driving, with the original engine preserved for the future.

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What have you done to your Model T in March?

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