Building a 1924 roadster pickup

[1925 Touring]

EDIT: TO BE CLEAR, THIS CAR IS NOT GETTING CHOPPED UP, THE TOURING BODY WILL BE SAVED AND A COREECT ROADSTER BODY INSTALLED.

The adventure begins!
I am going to try and document my progress here on the forum of working on converting our 1924 touring into a roadster pickup. My uncle bought this car a few years ago with the intention of it being my first T. When we got it home, we did have it running once. We found that it was mixing oil and antifreeze, when we drained the radiator it was tan and milky. That pretty much marked the end of working on the car, other than having the radiator fixed and painted. It was pushed into the corner of the garage and there it sat. Later, as my graduation gift from high school, I acquired my 1922 touring. That has kept me busy for the betrer part of 2 years, and I've done a lot of work to it, with the current project of rebuilding a good engine for it. Fast forward to early this spring, and I get the bright idea of converting the old 1924 into a pickup. I've wanted a T pickup, and after doing a lot of work on my 22 touring, I've gotten pretty comfortable working on Model T's. I've been gathering parts and pieces this spring and summer, so far with a roadster body and soon to be wood kit being the major items. I've gone through most of our T parts both mine, and my late grandpa's, and found a lot of miscellaneous parts that I would like to put to use. About 3 weeks ago, I dug the car out of the corner of the garage and out into the open. Since then, it's been gnawing on me to get it running. I got a few other smaller projects going too, and with a few of them done, I decided to try and get the car running this week. It's been too hot and humid to paint the set of wheels for our '25, and I'm waiting on a few small things to complete that, so I started working on the 'basket case' as it has become known in the family.
With this thread, I hope to document and share the journey of converting our 1924 touring into a pickup. I don't see too many of this type of thing on the forum - going from start to finish with a project of this size, and I've enjoyed following the few projects that others have shared and hope to do the same with this. My goal with this car is to make it a driver. I dont plan on making it a showpiece, but something I can drive, and take places without worrying about a gravel road or a few scratches.

EDIT: TO BE CLEAR, THIS CAR IS NOT GETTING CHOPPED UP, THE TOURING BODY WILL BE SAVED AND A COREECT ROADSTER BODY INSTALLED.

[1925 Touring]

The first thing I had to do was pull it out of the back corner of the garage where we had put it after we bought it. I was able to jack the 20 centerdoor up and put it on dollies and get it out of the way. I was able to put the touring in gear and use the crank to pull itself out of the corner and eventually into the open. (All the tires were flat).

[1925 Touring]

I started working on getting the car ready to run this week after work when it wasn't too hot. I found a lot of the headbolts loose, so I tightened them up and filled the radiator with water and left the drain plug out of the pan. I rebuilt a coilbox quick because we had stole it off to replace the one that went bad on the 25. I replaced one of the tires with an old spare I have, and aired up the rest. One has a chunk out of it and you can see the cord, so that needs to go too. This saturday, I went through the fuel system. I took the carb apart and sediment bulb and cleaned everything. The gas tank was full of old gas and dirt. I poured vinegar in and flushed it out the best I could. After that, I was happy to see my fluid level in the radiator had not moved much so I'm hoping that I don't have a cracked block or anything. The front wheel bearings were very bad. They both fell apart when I removed them. I replaced those and with a new battery and some gas, I primed it, and it started! It ran great! I am very happy how easily it started. I let it run a bit and drove it a few inches. The handbrake, I found needs to be replaced. The car was idling, I was in the car when the lever released and it put itself into high gear. Luckily it didn't go far but the gear and pawl needs replacement. I was able to drive the car around the block and up and down the road a little. I'm very happy how responsive it is.

[Original Smith]

Don't do it! It's fine the way it is. Find a top for it somewhere.

[1925 Touring]

I was able to drive the car a little, the rear end makes some noise, and the steering is loose, otherwise it went well.
Except for one small problem.
This is the second time now a headlight lens has fallen out and broke onto the road!
Unfortunately this lens isn't just a ford H lens, but a neat aftermarket one.
I've since removed the other lens, but if anyone has one of these lenses, I'd be very interested!
It says 'top - lecalite junior - 8 1/8 inches - pat. 12-12-16, 5-1-17.'

Again, I'd be interested if someone has one of these.

[1925 Touring]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WcwEuu ... p=drivesdk

Hopefully the link works.
As of this posting, this is what I've accomplished so far.

More to come...

[Dan Hatch]

I have mixed emotions.
On one hand I hate to see a nice touring cut up to be a cut off touring.
Then the other side is makes my stuff worth more.
If it was me I would find a real Roadster Pickup and not make another CUT OFF TOURING.
But it is your car do what you want.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

I really wish you would reconsider cutting up a nice, solid touring car. There are a lot of cut-off Touring cars out there, with all due respect to those who own one, they never look exactly right. If you want a Roadster pick-up, then buy or trade this car for one.

[1925 Touring]

To be clear, I AM NOT CUTTING UP A TOURING CAR.
I have a roadster body already for it, and will be removing and saving the existing body.
I have the same feelings. I do not want to cut up the body. It is a nice body and will be saved!

[Dan Hatch]

Well to quote the Wizard: “That is a horse of a different color “.
Glad you are not cutting up another Touring.

[Henry K. Lee]

Don't let others tell you what you can do or not do to your car! You own it, make it fit your needs! Welcome to America, the land of the free!

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

To be clear, I AM NOT CUTTING UP A TOURING CAR.
I have a roadster body already for it, and will be removing and saving the existing body.
I have the same feelings. I do not want to cut up the body. It is a nice body and will be saved!

Austin,

Thanks so much for clarifying!

[babychadwick]

I was able to drive the car a little, the rear end makes some noise, and the steering is loose, otherwise it went well.
Except for one small problem.
This is the second time now a headlight lens has fallen out and broke onto the road!
Unfortunately this lens isn't just a ford H lens, but a neat aftermarket one.
I've since removed the other lens, but if anyone has one of these lenses, I'd be very interested!
It says 'top - lecalite junior - 8 1/8 inches - pat. 12-12-16, 5-1-17.'

Again, I'd be interested if someone has one of these.

20250628_203504.jpg


20250628_203512.jpg

Looks like an aftermarket lens in an earlier gas housing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/387331847402?_ ... R6KsspD4ZQ

[1925 Touring]

I was able to drive the car a little, the rear end makes some noise, and the steering is loose, otherwise it went well.
Except for one small problem.
This is the second time now a headlight lens has fallen out and broke onto the road!
Unfortunately this lens isn't just a ford H lens, but a neat aftermarket one.
I've since removed the other lens, but if anyone has one of these lenses, I'd be very interested!
It says 'top - lecalite junior - 8 1/8 inches - pat. 12-12-16, 5-1-17.'

Again, I'd be interested if someone has one of these.

20250628_203504.jpg


20250628_203512.jpg

Looks like an aftermarket lens in an earlier gas housing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/387331847402?_ ... R6KsspD4ZQ

Thank you for the lead!

[Charlie B in N.J.]

I don't know if it's been mentioned before Austin but retorquing that head would be a good idea if it's not leaking anything. Can't figure why the head bolts were loose. Maybe a torque wrench broke or a gasket replacement job got interrupted but retorque it.

[1925 Touring]

I've began the process, finally.
To build up, first, you must first tear down. We trailered the car down to where I wanted it. I spent a good part of this past weekend pulling the body off and getting it close to just the frame. I've been taking pictures, but probably not enough... (probably foreshadowing)
I did have to have a little fun driving the chassis around the yard before I tore it apart. It was kinda hard to get myself to tear the rad off and pull the car apart knowing it will be a while before I can do that again.
I'm hopefull the engine is sound, I got a few free starts with it even. I want to keep it mobile until I get my touring back and get the fordoor home again. This is all new to me so if anyone has any pointers, I'm all ears

[1925 Touring]

[Tmooreheadf]

Henry, liked your comment to do what he wants with his own car!

[1925 Touring]

The past few weeks I've been able to make good progress on the car. I tore the car the rest of the way apart, down to the frame and clean the frame up with an angle grinder and a sanding pad. I removed both the front and rear axles and tore each apart to gauge what all parts I needed. I have began to put the rear end back together, and I'm waiting on parts for the front end. I also cleaned up all the spring leaves, surprisingly they were in nice shape, all things considered. What I found interesting was all of the Ford scripting I found on all of the leaves. Each leave had at least one Ford script, and the main rear leaf over the rear axle head not one, not two, but three scripts on one leaf!
Someone had been in the rear axle not too long ago and replaced all of the bearings in both the drive shaft and the axle itself. But what I found interesting was the fact that they had saved and reused the original Ford thrust washers, so it is a good thing I decided to tear it apart. I am now in the process of testing and installing new brass washers. Another thing I found interesting was that there was a lot of flash rusting inside the differential. It did have an adequate amount of modern gear oil in the back, so maybe this is more common with today's gear oil, than with the original really sticky Grease.
As far as the front axle goes I am going to replace the axle itself because both spring purchases are welded in place and are worn out completely. The pitman arm is going to be replaced as well because it is worn both on the ball and shaft end. A 'new' wishbone is going to be added as well, as the ball on the old one was pretty chewed up.

The front crossmember was bent. I pounded it back the best I could. I had to cut the front engine mount/ spring Mount because the two nuts on the bottom were completely rusted and did not budge. Thankfully I have another mount to use.

The frame almost completely stripped down.

My one axle shaft was pretty pitted on the driver's side. Luckily I have a replacement that should work from another axle.

Oroginal ford U joint with script was in really good shape, all things considered, so it will be reused.

[1925 Touring]

Someone decided to weld the wishbone to the bottom of the front axle and therefore locked the spring perches in for life. I won't scrap the axle, but it will be a project for another day. As you can see, one of the perches is extremely worn, I elected to buy two new spring perches, I figure these parts take a lot of stress and load, I want them to be in good shape.

[Steve Jelf]

The hinges on your touring body say 1925. I expect the engine serial number will indicate 1924 after August 1.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG90.html

[1925 Touring]

The hinges on your touring body say 1925. I expect the engine serial number will indicate 1924 after August 1.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG90.html

Thanks, Steve. It's funny you mention that because my engine block is actually a replacement 26-27 without any number stamped in it.
I don't have pictures at the moment, but most of the structure in the forward cowl section of the body is still wood, with the exception of the floor board risers which are steel. A lot of the 25s to my knowledge are mostly steel in the front.

[1925 Touring]

A block with no name.