1919 Model TT Ford Fire truck restore

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: 1919 Model TT Ford Fire truck restore
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David A. Siver on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - 08:04 pm:

I have just become the proud owner of a 1919 TT fire truck. It was restored once back in the '70s but needs it again. It is mechanically sound and runs like a top, had a complete overhaul about 8 years ago but has very few hours since then.

The truck box and posts are all oak and was looking for an opinion from someone on using popular instead of oak since it is much easier to get a smooth finish, the open grain of the oak will have to be filled before finishing.

When built into a fire truck someone made rear fenders our of an old porcelain gas sign. They are in great shape but won't take paint as they are so was thinking about buying truck fenders or would one want to remove the porcelain so paint will stick to them?


1919 Model TT


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerry van Ekeren (Australia) on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - 08:19 pm:

porcelain paint would not be hard to find, tiles and old bath tubs are painted all the time in make overs.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Button III (Chip), Lake Clear, NY on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - 08:25 pm:

David, be very carefull to seal any end grain in the poplar. It will wick up water and rot. Otherwise it does paint well.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 01:24 am:

Will all the wood be painted? Is any of it structural? Neither red oak nor poplar is a good choice for structural wood. Hard Maple is a good choice, as that was used in early car bodies.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Spaziano, Bellflower, CA. on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 01:44 am:

You'll find ash is a very good wood for automotive body use.

Costs less than maple. Isn't quite as hard as maple yet is much more dense than poplar. Maple can be very difficult to nail into without pre-drilling each hole.

Ash has a tight, fine grain and is easy to nail and screw into.

Good Luck,
Mike.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 08:00 am:

David,

Great start on a fire truck. I noticed this is your first posting or you may have changed names/login. If this is your fist T -- please check out some of the threads for new folks. The T has some known "gotchas" but they are well documented and easily avoided (such as don't hand crank the T with the spark advanced etc.) One that I always like to mention is -- don't store the T in a garage that has an open flame. I.e. gas or propane hot water heater. It is not a question of "if" but more often "when" will the old Ford leak gas on the floor. I would like say as long as you remember to turn the gasoline shut off valve off it will never be a problem -- but for many of us -- there have been a few times we forgot to turn the gas off. (At the current prices it is easier to remember to turn the gasoline shut off valve off.) There have been a few Fords and houses lost that way. See other safety / new owner items below or if you are an old head at this just skip to the next posting. Again welcome aboard.


Lots of safety items http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/69429.html

Use safety wire and not lock washers or cotter pins on the two studs holding the wishbone to the underside of the engine – the lock washers can prevent the nuts from backing of the studs but the studs have been known to back out and it causes the front end to become lose initially and if not corrected it gets worse and worse and can cause an accident. Types of safety wire: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/41859.html pick one to use if you need it.

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

Example of loss of brakes caused by drive shaft failure: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/47804.html -- note anything that causes the drive line to fail will also cause the main service brake to fail.

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

Events to avoid: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/13483.html

And depending on the condition of the wood – you may be able to refinish what is already there – especially if you plan to paint over it with red paint.

And be sure to check out the local club nearest to you. See: http://mtfca.com/clubpages/chapters.htm and http://www.modelt.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=15 You will not only discover some new friends but you will also reduce the number of "oops - that didn't work so well" events.

See also the http://www.modeltford.com/item/FIRE1.aspx which is a book you may enjoy getting. (Father’s day is around the corner and if you have kids – send them the link).

Again welcome aboard.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David A. Siver on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 07:01 pm:

Thank you all for your responses. I will look into using maple or ash for the rebuild and I plan to paint all the wood.

Hap,

This is my first post and first attempt at restoring a vehicle. Thanks for the links they will be very helpful.

There are only a few spots that have started to rot, it was kept inside mostly. One of the things I want to do before I reassemble is move the seat back about 6 inches. I am 6'1" and I have to really curl my legs up to operate the peddles.

I have the chemical tanks that were mounted in the back but the copper tank that set behind the seat with the hand pump is missing. I suppose the copper tank went to the scrap yard when copper prices were high in the 70's. I plan to restore the fire fighting equipment last I want to be able to get it back on the road by next June so that should be doable if I get started on it this fall.

David.


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration