Today made it all worth it

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Oldav8tor
Posts: 1929
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
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Today made it all worth it

Post by Oldav8tor » Sun Aug 04, 2019 12:08 am

Today, 11 months and 3 days after taking delivery of my 1917 Model T I started and drove it for the first time. The car had sat for at least 30 years before I got it so I went thru everything! I learned a lot along the way and faced many challenges, both physical and mechanical. I made new friends and reconnected with some old ones. All and all it has been a rewarding experience.

There are lots of things remaining to be done to the T but at least I can drive it now :D The attached photo is from a frame of video and shows my friend and partner in the rebuild, Gene, driving and my wife Joan in the back seat.

I'm going to try to put some miles on it over the next two days and if there are no problems, I'll be off to Sault Ste. Marie next week to participate in the Michigan Jamboree. Wish me luck!
8_3.jpg
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor


Erik Barrett
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Erik Barrett » Sun Aug 04, 2019 3:16 am

Well done! The best is yet to come, you have many good times to look forward to. Your model T will often require your attention but will pay it back many times over. Any time you have trouble there is help here.

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Jim_PTC_GA
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Jim_PTC_GA » Sun Aug 04, 2019 6:01 am

Beautiful.
Just give me time to Rust and I'll be good as new. :) Wabi-Sabi


Dallas Landers
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Dallas Landers » Sun Aug 04, 2019 7:08 am

What a great feeling Tim after a long project and your setback. Now the fun part begins. The best part is if the T gets an attitude you know how to straighten it out. Thanks for taking us along on the journey to see another T on the road. Photos of your travels will be expected!

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Jugster
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Jugster » Sun Aug 04, 2019 7:26 am

Heartiest congratulations! The car looks gorgeous.

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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Henry K. Lee » Sun Aug 04, 2019 7:36 am

I do not see anyone holding an ice cream! What gives?

Nice Job!

Hank in Tin-A-See

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Hap_Tucker
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Hap_Tucker » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:20 am

Tim,

Congratulations! And yes, be sure to drive it as much as you practically can before you take it on a long trip. (Actually -- if you have your wife or someone else follow with a trailer -- you can take a long trip and if it something happens you can fix it or trailer it. My wife has rescued me several times after we have done some major work on a car or when we are "sorting out" another car that we are not familiar with yet. Usually minor issues, but if it won't drive it is usually nicer to trouble shoot it off the major road rather than on a tight shoulder or backing up traffic. ) Of course cell phones and AAA etc. have reduced the need for a safety trailer.

Related item -- how much experience do you have driving a T? Safety folks in the 1980s (it has been a while since I've been in a safety job) said it took about 50 hours of flying the new airplane before you would perform the emergency procedure quickly and correctly. They often used the illustration of the person who learned to ride on a coaster brake bicycle as a kid. They learned to pedal backwards to stop. And in the 1980s lots of those kids were now adults who purchased their first 10 speed bike. If they were still very new to the 10 speed bike and a car pulled out in front of them -- they would instinctively pedal backwards -- and often hit the car. Good news -- they weren't going very fast in most cases -- better news -- most of them had a narrow miss that only scarred them and help reinforce that they needed to use the hand brakes.) So if you are very new to driving a T -- be careful and don't try to jerk the steering wheel hard right or left while you are going at speed to dodge a pot-hole etc. The front wheels can quickly go to full lock and the T can roll. Also don't back up quickly -- as the front wheels have a negative caster when going that direction and can go full lock one direction or the other. And when I was learning to drive the T -- I often stalled it when the light turned green. Ah the joys of jumping out, starting it (did I remember to put the spark up... another thing that is easy to forget when you are in hurry etc.).

OK -- off the safety soap box... You have done a beautiful job getting the car ready. It will bring you, your family and others years of enjoyment. Good luck and have fun and post photos!

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Scott_Conger
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Scott_Conger » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:32 am

My heartiest congratulations!
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

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RustyFords
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by RustyFords » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:37 am

Congratulations!

I hope to take my first drive soon as well.
1924 Touring

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Angmar
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Angmar » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:45 am

Fantastic, drive the wheels off of it.
Still crankin old iron


otrcman
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by otrcman » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:47 am

Congratulations and well done, Tim. One of the next rewarding events in your Model T career will be to perform your first "one-car car show" at the local ice cream parlor.

And as Hap said, give yourself some time to get the hang of driving it. It's a little like your first tailwheel airplane.

Dick

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Topic author
Oldav8tor
Posts: 1929
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Oldav8tor » Sun Aug 04, 2019 10:40 am

Thanks all for your kind words.... I'm sure there will be much excitement and frustration ahead. As to experience driving a T, just what I did yesterday ;) It actually went pretty smoothly - no stalls, or serious missteps. I've read a lot about technique, watched youtube, talked to drivers and the rest, absorbing as much info as I could and it seemed to work. I didn't have to think too much about what I had to do with my feet.

Over the next couple of days I'm going to pretty much stick to back roads and the local school parking lot as I practice, practice, practice.... I've read about some of the "dangers," studied T-related accident reports and the rest. I do not plan to push beyond my comfort zone.

As to the airplane comparison, I was/am a flight instructor and had to learn many types of airplanes in order to teach in them - as a result, I tend to pick up on the quirks of mechanical conveyances pretty quickly....I'm hoping this will be the case with the T but am proceeding with caution...I don't want to be a danger to anyone else.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor

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Steve Jelf
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Steve Jelf » Sun Aug 04, 2019 10:53 am

It's always a good feeling when you fix something and it works the way it's supposed to. :D
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:37 pm

Congratulations Tim! See you in the Soo too!


Joe Reid
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Joe Reid » Sun Aug 04, 2019 6:35 pm

Congratulations Tim, the car looks great. Best of luck to you in the Michigan Jamboree. It is really fun, I went to Harris, Michigan a couple of years ago. It was a very nice group of people.

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Topic author
Oldav8tor
Posts: 1929
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
Location: Thumb of Michigan
MTFCA Number: 50297
MTFCI Number: 24810
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Oldav8tor » Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:13 pm

I spent half a day tweaking the T then took it out for a couple of spins, bringing my total to 80 miles so far. I intentionally sought out challenging roads, hills, etc., just to see if it and I could handle it. Satisfied, I loaded up my wife and our little dog and went for ice cream :D

Tomorrow I'll adjust the bands (again) install the horn (had to make a spacer) and put a few more miles on it before loading it in the trailer. One plus of going to the Jamboree will be that hopefully I can get some more experienced guys to look it over and take it for a drive and give me some advice.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor

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MKossor
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by MKossor » Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:27 pm

Great story and success. Congratulations.
I-Timer + ECCT Adjusted Coils = Best Model T Engine Performance Possible!
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Dallas Landers
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Dallas Landers » Sun Aug 04, 2019 10:23 pm

Are you going to OCF??

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Duey_C
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Duey_C » Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:02 am

You know exactly what you're doing Tim.
Was there 21 years ago as I set out, down The Hill with my wiggling/flexing T. Dared a Hill right away. Had to. Any way to get to a road for me is to conquer The Hill. I have complete faith and I didn't even have any tube clips then. Read how to operate him and then tweaked it like you do.
Nice Touring!
Since I lost my mind mind, I feel more liberated


Original Smith
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Original Smith » Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:28 pm

What a rewarding experience for you! Model T's have been my pleasure since I was 17 years old, and I'm still at it. Never quit. We have our problems from time to time, but touring is what gives me the most pleasure. If you leave your car pretty much the way Henry designed it, you will have years of trouble free driving ahead.

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Ed Baudoux
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Ed Baudoux » Mon Aug 05, 2019 9:56 pm

That's a great looking Ford. I am looking forward to seeing you this week!
Grayling Michigan
1927 Fordor
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Founding member of Northern Michigan Drone Skeet Shooting Club :twisted:

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Topic author
Oldav8tor
Posts: 1929
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Juhl
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
Location: Thumb of Michigan
MTFCA Number: 50297
MTFCI Number: 24810
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Oldav8tor » Mon Aug 12, 2019 10:40 am

I made it to the Michigan Jamboree although it was not without some frustration. The car starts and idles great but stumbles when you increase RPM. I made the first days tour (185 miles) but skipped the other two---things just weren't right. Ed Badoux was there and checked my coils - some new friends from Wisconsin (Denis & Gary) checked the valves, timer and carb - Dan Treace and Brian Dowell spent a couple of hours on it and Steve Shotwell loaned me his "lucky" carb to try and so on ---- I found out the easiest way to meet new people at a Model T tour is to open the hood and look perplexed :D

Guys much more knowledgeable than me checked out just about all the possibilities. The one thing we couldn't check was for "carbon tracks" in the old wood of the coil box. To eliminate that possibility I have a fun products plastic rebuild kit on the way from Birdhaven....fingers crossed.

Jamboree was frustrating but I really had a great time. I'm convinced there are no better people in the world than T people - everyone was so open and friendly and free to give of their time, tools and expertise. This was a good shakedown tour and I'll get it right for next time. Thank you all for welcoming me into such a wonderful hobby.
Proof I made it!  My car is parked between Brian Dowell on the left and Gord Koll on the right.  My guardian angels who watched over me on the first day's tour. Thanks guys!
Proof I made it! My car is parked between Brian Dowell on the left and Gord Koll on the right. My guardian angels who watched over me on the first day's tour. Thanks guys!
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor


Dallas Landers
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Dallas Landers » Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:18 pm

100% right Tim!


Mark Osterman
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Mark Osterman » Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:31 pm

Well, you were brave to do the tour without driving it around your own turf for a few hundred miles first. You never know what kinks there are to straighten out when you first get an old car up and going.

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TWrenn
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by TWrenn » Mon Aug 12, 2019 2:12 pm

Congrats & good job Tim! It'll keep getting better. I bet the FP coil box kit will make a difference. It did on both of my cars that I put it on. Other thing to check is the nuts on top of your coils...I hear they can work loose causing a bit of a hiccup in high gear. Friend of mine had one that was loose and once tightened problem solved. Enjoy the ride!
The other Tim


Craig Raynor
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Re: Today made it all worth it

Post by Craig Raynor » Mon Aug 12, 2019 5:35 pm

Nice looking car congratulations!

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