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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2011: Getting started
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 10:17 pm:

Hello,

I have been wanting to refurbish and have a model t for many years. I have recently retired and now have the time and resources to do this.

I just don't know where to start, what to look out for and where/how to buy a car that I would be able to restore.

I am a master craftsman at woodworking and have a working knowledge of cars/mechanics.

I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts,

Michael


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By tyrone thomas on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 10:34 pm:

The is one piece of advise I would like to ofter, it comes from experence. If at all possible, buy a running, driving car. Even if it needs work. I have bought cars that appeared to be complete on the outside, NOT running, get it home to find out costly tranny or engine parts have been taken out, missing, broke, cracked, completely worn out and/or just plain junk. At least if running and driveable, you have a 99% chance of knowing what your really getting yourself into.
The car may cost a bit more up front but it beats finding and buying the parts that was suppose to be there. Good luck.
PLUS, you get to drive it while your working on it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 10:51 pm:

Thanks Tyrone,

Where does one even beging to look for one of these? Also, are parts pretty available?

Not suer this a sensible question, but what price range would I need to be in to find one that was running?

Michael


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 11:21 pm:

I bought a pretty good running 1923 touring for $8500. This was from an ad in Vintage Ford. Recently I got a nice 1915 runabout, also for $8500, from an ad in Hemmings. I agree, it's best to get a running car you can enjoy after somebody else has taken the financial hit of fixing it up. In addition to Vintage Ford and Model T Times and Hemmings, watch the classified ads on this website. Look at cars for sale on ebay. Many will be overpriced and won't sell, but some will sell and give you an idea of what someone was willing to pay. Another online source is Craigs list. Local clubs can also be a good place to find a T for sale. Check this website and the MTFCI site for clubs in your area.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Dugger on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 11:23 pm:

Micheal:
As Tyrone said find a running car and go from there. They can be pricesy. I have seen eBay cars and others that would be nice to have but I wanted to do the ob from the ground up. If I would have known then , what I know now I would have spent the money and bought a running vehicle. I bought a basket cae and it in my spare time took a heck of a lot long er than I thought it would. The Depot Hack I built took about 1 year. It has been a challenge to say the least.
Try and join a club where yu are and get some pointers, and maybe someone will have a car for sale or know of one. Neiothe of ;mine are show cars but I DID IT mistakes or not who cars I did it and know if the mistakes.

Good Luck and Happy T'ing.

bill d
Redding, Ca.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 11:37 pm:

Here's a previous discussion of prices. I think the post by Paul Griesse is especially helpful

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/157694.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 12:18 am:

yes, Steve...this is a great thread. Thanks for pointing it out!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By tyrone thomas on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 08:20 am:

Michael. I agree with Bill, scout out a club and join. You will find them a great sourse of info and always eager helping hands. Where to get a car? Ebay, but you better be able to view it in person or I have seen the good people on this forum that my live close will go look at it and advise you. Craigs list is a source. Just getting to know people in the field.
As for a price paid? Seems like 5-8 grand seems to be the price for an older restoration car. One that runs and looks good but needs minor work to get back on top again. To find a good beginner car that runs that needs restoration runs around 3-4 grand. Because I have never restored an orginal car I have no idea the amount of money you could invest into a restoration. I have only built a couple speedsters. Starting with basket cases I have spent 4-5 grand per car including the normal 12-15 hundred I have paid for a rolling chassis.

The way I am, I would get so much more pleasure and pride out of a finished car if I was the one to restore it as apposed to buying a car that just needed to be cleaned up. Plus the fact that when you are the person who did all the work, in process you also learn how to fix it. Important when it stops running 20 miles from home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR. on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 08:22 am:

Michael -- Look for a Model T club near you and join in their activities. You'll find plenty of help there, and maybe just the car you've been looking for.

Try this link: http://www.mtfca.com/clubpages/chapters.htm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 08:32 am:

Someone in the club will find out about a T for sale. That is how I got mine. Get in to the local club and meet the people. Let it be known you are looking. A T will turn up. Talk about it with all your aquaintances. It is amazing how often, if the topic of a model T comes up, a random person says "Oh I have, my dad has, my uncle has, a 19..... T he may sell", etc


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 08:33 am:

Also, look at and get to know as much about these cars as you can so you will be a more educated shopper. Take a T guy with you to look at any car you may want to buy.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Mahaffey on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 08:48 am:

I'm in Atlanta, and I'd like to invite you to my shop to see my T and talk about what it will take to restore one. I just finished the second restoration of my '27 tudor. I can show you the tools it required, photos of the restoration, and books that I recommend.

Some observations: Almost any car you buy will require restoration, at least to an extent. I've restored a few cars, and when I start out, I just want to make it drivable. Things quickly get out of hand, and I wind up making it look like it just rolled out of the factory. An old Ford is one of the few antique cars that can be restored completely without spending a fortune. Parts availability is breathtaking, and information is complete. A driving Model T requires constant mechanical attention, and a firm grip on the wheel.

If you want to talk old Fords, please come by. benzdr@bellsouth.net


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JOHN ROSSI. BRANFORD, FL on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 09:08 am:

SAY MIKE, HOW COME NO GA CLUB LISTING?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 09:21 am:

Michael, there are smart ways to go about this, most of which have been already mentioned and there are not so smart ways, like the way I did it.
I was just driving a long one day and saw an old Ford with a "for sale" sign on it. The sign said "$5,000 and it runs". I asked the guy to start it up, it ran, and I wrote him a check.
I got it home and with absolutely no Model T experience, I had it on the road within a month.
I was poking around on the net and found this site. The guys here have been "baby sitting" me for years. While I don't recommend doing things my way, these cars are simple and great fun to work on. It still amazes me how worn out a Model T can be and still putt down the road. You started out the right way by asking here and as everybody has said, find a complete car that will at least move under it's own power. They are much more fun when you can play "wrench and ride", the rest is only a matter of money.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By CharlieB-Toms River N.J. on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 09:51 am:

Locate one as mentioned above, preferrably running.The best advice given here so far is bring a T knowledgeable guy with you.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 10:28 am:

There's no MTFCA listing for Georgia, but MTFCI has this one:

NORTH GEORGIA Ts
Calvin Watts
PO Box 672
Fairmount GA 30139 US
706-337-5964


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 10:46 am:

Wow! Thanks so much to everyone who has jumped in so far.

This seems like a great group and a good place to get started…I’m taken aback by the kind responses to my questions.

What strikes me is the fact that this journey will be so much easier today than it would have been just a few years ago without forums like this. Imagine, you just type a question about some esoteric fact regarding an old car and in a few hours (minutes) you have an expert answer.
Thanks again for all the kind advice…I’ll keep following this thread for other thoughts.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harvey Decker / Monterey, Tennessee on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 11:26 am:

Hello Michael

And welcome, Kid

This Forum, is the epicenter of all Model T knowledge known to mankind on this planet; and maybe beyond ???

Again, welcome


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Magee on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 11:52 am:

Michael,

The internet is a truly great thing. I wish my grandfather was still around to use it. He could tell us all a few things about Model Ts that we probably did not know.

I am just getting back into the Model T hobby after a 27 year hiatus. I was lucky enough to get a big exposure when I was 8 or 9 thanks to my grandfather.

Don't forget to check out T speedsters and have fun!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - 10:18 am:

Just a couple more questions for you guys...

Is this a proper place to ask if folks have cars to sell? If not, what is the best way to get that request to a group such as this?

Other than mechanical/woodworking skills, are there other special skills needed for restoration? Welding, painting???

Thanks again,

Michael


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - 10:38 am:

Forgot to say before, Welcome to this fine area of interest. Keep us posted.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - 11:38 am:

Welcome to the hobby.
Here are a few things to consider. If you like the working on a car to restore, or the driving of the car, or showing the car. These are 3 definate aspects of the hobby, and are not completely compatible. This is why. If you are restoring a car and it is completely disassembled, you can neither drive nor show it. If you have a driver car, it will not be in perfect condition and therefore not win prizes in car shows, and if you keep the car in perfect condition for show, you will not be driving it very much. So first thing is to decide what you want out of your car.

Some above posts suggest that you buy a running car. This is a good idea if you want to be able to immediately enjoy the driving part of the hobby. If you have enough room for 2 cars, I would suggest that you buy a driver and another car to restore. That way you will have plenty of things to do while still being able to go on tours and enjoy driving a Model T.

After deciding what you want to do, next decide what era and body style you want. The early brass cars are more scarce and higher in price. The black era cars are lower in price, and the "Improved Model T" are also a bit higher in price than the black cars. Look at the pictures in the club photo gallery and decide which era and body style(s) you like, and then look for one of that type for sale.

The bodies of all the cars before 1926 were made of a sheetmetal skin tacked onto a wood framework. With your skills, you might want a car of that type. The 1926-1927 cars except for the fordoor sedan have an all metal body with wood only for tack strips and floorboards. And all cars both open and closed of all years have wood in the top bows.

If you decide to restore a car, you might be spending some time at swap meets looking for individual parts, or better parts than your existing ones on whatever car you buy. That is part of the fun too.

I prefer to start with the chassis and build up from there. You might however, start with the chassis, and then send the power plant out for rebuilding and while that is being done work on the body. You will find some setbacks at various stages of the restoration, and it is good to be able to have a plan to work on one part, while looking for another part or having machine work done etc. It will take 2 or more years average to completely restore a car, so that is why it is nice to have another one for driving while the work is going on.
Norm


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