Hello
I am mechanic to a fellow who has a budding car collection and have started working on his Model T truck with tanker attached. Its really pretty decent condition, except it was in a mueasum and not driven, so they made some things look OK but the engine and electrical (what there is of it on a T) are rough and butchered. Good part is the engine turns over smoothly and it seems it did run at one time.

I have been on many forums before but did not find a "sticky" or similar things addressing my questions and I tried various searches, I even messaged the moderator until I figured out this board doesn't have a mail feature for him to get back to me from what I can tell.

Anyways, here goes:

1. Is there a way to tell what general year this vehicle is? The papers say '27 but the "tag" for display says '25.

2. It has a horn mounted to some angle iron on the carb side (R) of the engine attached at the head. Is this correct?

3. The coil box is bracketed off the head on the L side of the engine. Its wooden, has what appears to be an improvised handle with a metal strap going lengthwise. It is also missing a lid. The firewall has the holes for the coil to poke through, but this coil is mounted to the side of the engine. Which is correct? I wonder if the engine was from another year vehicle? I want to know if we should look to put the coil in the firewall, or find the proper way to seal the holes - better than the painted duct tape that's there now!

4. The cable for the rear brakes - the forward one that has a hook in the middle of the loop that pulls the rear loop - this cable is badly frayed and needs replacing. I've searched on net for this part and can find about everything else but. Any hints?



I do have the Ford service manual reprint from 1919-'27 model T's. That is helpful. I look forward to your responses. Cheers.

Sott, 1926/27 model T cars and trucks had a coil box mounted on the top left of the engine with four coils, one for each cylinder.
Also 26/27 had two holes on the top back of the cylinder block for attatching the newer style transmission cover which had two ears that lined up with the holes in the block. (two bolts hold there two together)
Pictures would help a lot to help idendify the parts.
There should be a serial number stamped on the left side of the block above the water connection. There is a list of serial number that can get the engine to the month of manufacture. If the engine is original that is the year of the truck if no??? Fenders on 26/27 were much the same for all years of trucks. They did not use the 26/27 style fenders.

1. Look on the left (drivers) side of the engine at the water inlet (at the top of the tube that comes up from the radiator). There should be a 7 or 8 diget number. Post it and we can give you the date of engine manufature.

2. It does not sound like the horn on the truck is "correct" for a T or a TT.

3. The later (1926-27) Model T's had the coil box mounted on the engine, but the firewall should not have any holes. I seem to remember that on a TT the coil box was always mojnted on the firewall, so I suspect someone changed it from the "correct" original configuration.

4. Model T's and TT's did not have brake cables. They were equiped with rods. A picture would help us help you figure out what you have.

Cheers!!

Welcome Scott. If you check just above the water inlet on left side of engine,you should find a serial number and then you can either look in the online encylopedia or post it here and someone will tell the year it was made. Engines have often been changed so it may,or may not be correct for the truck you are working on. As far as I know,all TT trucks had dash mounted coil boxes. The engine mounted ones were used in 26-27 cars. Your horn is mounted on the wrong side of engine. If the truck is equipped with outside brakes,they could have had a cable to actuate them. Original TT brakes were activated by a brake rod.

OK Scott, lets start with the year. Late 26 and all 27's had a frame number.

You'll find it on the top frame rail on the passenger side (usually), near the emergency brake cross bar. Don't get too aggressive looking for it, they are stamped by hand. If you don't find it on the passenger frame rail, look in the same place on the driver's side frame rail.
The engine number is on the driver's side of the engine just above the water inlet.

The 26-27 body had a cowl mounted gas tank with a lid that lifts up. The 25 had the gas tank under the seat. Like everybody else has said, pictures would get you the best information. You'll have to shrink them to 200 kilobytes or less to post them.
From your description, it sounds like it's been built from a bunch of parts.

Oops, just went back and read "T Truck". The engine number location will be in the same place but I'll have to bow out and let the 'TT' guys take over.
Got to have pictures.

Oops here also, according to "Model T Ford" by Bruce McCalley at least some 26 trucks had the coil box in the dash.
I have more than one TT with the coil box on the engine. Do not know if it is correct, it could have been with a replacement engine/coil box installed at a later date??????
I know that TT mostly kept the 1925 style and did not follow the inproved cars for 1926/7

All TT's had the coilbox mounted on the firewall. If it is on the engine, it has been changed. Dave

cable for rear brakes??

Likely an aftermarket external brake set-up. Need photos to ID.

Thanks so much for the information guys!
Very helpful. One comment that seems to be very helpful is placement of fuel tank. This truck has it under the seat, which means at least that part of the truck (body) is '25 from what y'all are saying.

I will look for the numbers and take a few pictures and try to make that for uploading, wasn't sure how that worked on this forum.

I have some other projects been working on ahead of this one but will get pictures soon for your curiosity and assistance.

Scott

The Rocky Mountain brakes on my '21 Runabout operate with a cable. Maybe it has the original RM's.

Orlando

I believe that all the TT's had the under-seat tank. My '26 TT has a serial number on the frame, on the passenger side, top of the frame.

I could be wrong about the tank, but I'm pretty sure, as the trucks have a cowl vent that opens up.

Christopher you are correct gas tank were under the seat, TT's used up prior yrs T Parts, fenders on front also. if anyone needs TT parts I keep quite a few, have a good sq cab and doors presently , one extra door, also wood kits for sq cabs (top), lots of used, NOS, and reprod. parts T and TT new email address danuser88@ktis.net

Lets see if I can get a few pictures to load. Testing...




Had crop pics a lot, will have take more in low-res and see if I can get away with less cropping. The exterior isnt' too bad, but the strength of those wood in the wheels is questionable after all those years.

Brake cable

I guess this is an add-on due to the weight of the fuel tank? It has external drum style brakes that cables attach to. This end of it worn pretty bad and had to be reinforced by prior owner.


FYI I have worked on cars my whole life but only recently worked on collector cars and no T's until helping a friend out with this one. So I'm a newbie. I have the Ford Service manual, is there a recommended book for history and what changes were made when, that sort of thing? Sorry as I know these are FAQ's but I didn't' see a FAQ or sticky on this forum.

Scott,
Looking at your coil box photo I see that what you originally described as, "an improvised handle with a metal strap going lengthwise." It looks the wood piece is to hold the coils firmly in the coil box. The original, now missing cover has springs that hold the coils in the coil box.
Jim

I'd guess from the coils being on the engine, not on the firewall, that it's a replacement 26-27 engine. The rest of the vehicle may or may not be 26-27. Many times what people have isn't what they think they have, like my "1922" TT project that turned out to be a 1924. Some obvious "adaptations" on this truck are the external rear brakes, the modern wiring, the coil hold-down invention, the starter solenoid, and the airplane cables. That copper wire holder is a hoot.

The major source of information on which parts were used when is Bruce McCalley's Model T Encyclopedia. http://mtfca.com/encyclo/intro.htm
You can buy a more extensive version on disk from Bruce for about $50, and in my opinion it's money well spent. There are also some books by Gail Rodda showing photos of the differences by year. I don't have those, but I intend to get them. And many times when you don't find something in the books, you can find it with a question here on the forum.

I also always preach to new guys that one of the first Model T parts they should buy, in addition to the shop manual, is the series of MTFCA books on The Engine, The Electrical System, The Axles, The Transmission, etc. Some things on a T are not what you expect, and these books can save you from doing costly unintentional damage.



A very easy way to resize pictures for the forum is: http://www.picresize.com/

Willy 5, Pacman 2... ws

Of man, that could live in my garage and stain the floor any day! Its beautiful!

Nice looking truck!
FYI. Wood wheels are a lot stronger than most people think. Age alone may weaken them some, but not a lot. The most important thing, and this is very important, is that the wheels cannot be loose. If they are loose, and the vehicle is driven, things move around and the wood wears away fast. Up to a point, wood wheels can be tightened. That quickly turns into a lengthy discussion about what methods are better ideas, which ones are bad ideas, and beliefs wood wheels break too easily. The fact is, good wood wheels are resilient, and very tough. My background for that is having run antique racing cars on wood wheels. They do often break on impact, collisions etc. Otherwise, unless run loose, they rarely break.
I have digressed enough. Beautiful truck! Welcome to the place for answers. Bruce McCalley's encyclopedia (or it's CD version) is great information.
Drive carefully, and enjoy the New Year! W2