Model t's never came with a 16 louver hood right?

Nick,

The 1909-1914 Model Ts did NOT have louvers in the hood. With the introduction of the 1915 year model cars Ford switched to a hood with louvers in the side. And for the 1916 model year the hood changed to steel. Ref:
http://mtfca.com/encyclo/F-H.htm#hood1

Welcome aboard. From your profile it looks like this was your first posting. If you let folks know where you are from -- you may find someone who is in your area. Also I would encourage you to check for a local chapter near you. They are listed at: http://mtfca.com/clubpages/chapters.htm and http://mtfca.com/MTclubs.htm . Even if there is not one that meets next door, they often have members spread over a much larger area. One of their members may be much closer than the point of contact for the club. For example our South Carolina club Point of Contact is near the east Coast -- but we have members all over the state and we also rotate where we meet. That allows members from any part of the state to have the meeting a lot closer some of the times so it is easier for them to drive their T to the meeting.

Also if you are new to Ts -- please see some of the posting for new folks. They contain some useful information such as:

How to remove a T from mothballs at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/8538.html and scroll down to Tom Mullin’s posting the third posting from the top.

Information about how to drive it see http://www.mtfca.com/books/bookmenu.htm and scroll down and click on the 1911 at: http://www.mtfca.com/books/1911Inst.htm and compare to the 1921 instruction manual at: http://www.mtfca.com/books/21manual.htm they share more than you may need at first -- but it was given to new Ford owners -- along with a how to drive from the dealer. A quick 10 minute check out with someone will save you lots of time.

See also:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/8538.html

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/6815.html

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/6/1662.html

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/15776.html

Jim Patrick posted : www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/102160.html. This thread contains an article from the July, 1963 issue of Popular Science, entitled, "Any Dope Could Drive a Model T", which I first read as a nine year old boy and saved until finally obtaining my own Model T at the age of 16 in 1970. In the days before the internet and Model T clubs, this article taught me how to drive my Model T. It is all I had and it served me well. I hope it helps you as well.



Before you start driving it in other than an empty area be sure to check out some of the safety items discussed at:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/13483.html

on cranking: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/68644.html?1224126132

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/69444.html

they are not fast – slow moving vehicle sign: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/96515.html?1246128999

Safety Glass is nice: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/72116.html

Use safety wire and not lock washers or cotter pins on the two studs holding the wishbone to the underside of the engine. http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/47898.html

Lots of safety items – looks like I’m behind on writing that safety article… http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/69429.html

Over center steering – shouldn’t happen on the later Ts – but if someone replaced your later teens steering gear housing or rebuilt it without the lock pin – it might happen: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/86345.html

Types of safety wire: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/41859.html

Example of loss of brakes caused by drive shaft failure: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/47804.html

Top T tips – many of them are safety related also: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/85208.html

Tour safety check list: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/44331.html

And if you have a gas hot water heater in the garage – be very very careful. The float in a Model T Carb will sometimes stick (or trash in the valve) and the carb will leak gasoline. Not too bad if there are no sparks. However, several homes, garages and cars have been lost when a gas hot water heater was near by and the car leaked gas. If you do have a gas hot water heater in the garage area – one thing that can help reduce the risk is turning the gas off on the T (often you will need to work on the sediment bulb to get that function to work. Many of us install a second shut off at the carb as it is easier to reach (unless the engine is on fire – and then it is very important that the one on the gas tank works). The vendors such as Lang’s sell them see: http://www.modeltford.com/item/6055.aspx which looks a little more like an old style fitting or http://www.modeltford.com/item/6055RE.aspx which looks more modern. Both work. And you can adjust the garage door so it stays open about half inch to an inch. Gas fumes are heavier than air and will follow the floor to the open door (as well as to the gas hot water heater – which hopefully is mounted off the floor – newer homes that is the case – older homes – ours was on the floor).

And for some general background on your car see Bruce McCalley’s online encyclopedia at: http://mtfca.com/encyclo/index.htm and click on your year model.

If you have a 1916 when you have a chance please look at your car for a body manufacture’s letter and/or number. See the posting “Home for the Holidays” at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/40322.html for details on where to look and what to look for. Please e-mail me if you find a number so I can add it to my research. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 Model T Ford touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and l907 Model S Runabout. Sumter SC.

1915-1925 Ford hoods had varying design, but always 6 louvers per side. For 1926/27 the number of louvers was increased to 18 per side

Yes, they did in SA! The South Australian Ford distributors Duncan & Fraser offered from 1911 onwards an "aereated" bonnet at £-/10/- to help combat or hot summer temperatures. Attached is the relevant page from one of Duncan & Fraser's accessory brochures.

Photo courtesy of Ian Denton.

Duncan & Fraser Ltd. used a standard Ford bonnet supplied with the car, put the side panel under a press and centrally stamped 8 flutes per side. the flutes are not the same size nor witdth as the 1915 onwards bonnets. Attached is an original surviving example of the "aereated" bonnet from 1912 tourer serial #109657.

Photo courtesy of Arthur Mullins.

Attatched is an original photo from a glass plate negative of a 1913 tourer bought by Mr. Budge of Farina (northern South Australia) in September of that year with an accessory "aereated" bonnet. Dave C.
Photo courtesy of Peter Musared.

Hi David, how are you going, I was just filling in time and saw this thread, I have seen that sort of bonnet/hood on early cars before (on a lot from memory) I will do a dig through my photos tomorrow and see how many I can find and try to load them or send them to you as I may not be back for a while as I have to many cars to repair and we are bogged in with water. I am sure you will be told that they do not exist but it will come down to US cars verses Canadian cars again and just because its not in the US dose not mean that it dose not exist, maybe Peter Kable could add more to this if he reads this... Ray Green

Hi Ray, hope all is well. I agree apart from the Canadian differences we have our wonderful legacy of our colonial bodies that make Australian Ford 'T's so interesting and colourful...here are some of the main players.

South Australia - Duncan & Fraser, Holden Motor Bodies and in very small numbers T.J. Richards.
Victoria - Tarrants & later Holdens
New South Wales - Davies & Fehon, Properts & Steenbohm (I saw a beautiful 1910 Napier with a Steenbohm body earlier in the year).
Queensland - Sweeney & Peel.
Tasmania - Nettleford & Jackson
Western Australia - Daniel White & Co.

We sure did it different "Down Under"! Dave C.

Well David, with the body makers out here using such non Ford designs gave the cars a unique style of their own with the diverse bodies and not having just BLACK in our colour range or as the only colour helped. At least we had a choice of the colour in the whole production from 1913 on as BLACK was a funeral vehicle colour and who wanted to drive a hearse as Mr French from the Ford Company found out when he was here to find out what happened in our dealships and what other vehicles the dealers of the time also carried that was not Ford. ... Ray