Even though I have owned and worked on Model T's for over 43 years now, I still come up with silly questions. I have to help my son put together a 1917 roadster body, and I am not sure which body brackets are correct. (not that I am that much of a purist most of the time.) Anyway, in the photo, approximately what year did the "long" front bracket shown come into use, and what years would use the other two types shown? Also, I don't think I have enough brackets to do the job, so if anyone has any extras I would like the opportunity to pick up a few more. And while we're on the subject of silly questions, when did Ford change from the wooden firewall to the steel one?
Thanks for the help!
Ken
Ken-
I believe the 1917 uses all the short brackets. My guess is the bracket on the left. I think the long bracket was used for the front on the 1923-1925 cars. That being said, I have the long brackets on my 1919.
I think I have some extra short brackets. I'm not sure about which style.
: ^ )
Keith
I agree with Keith about the long bracket. Those came into use about late 1922 or 1923. The 1917 used the short bracket in the front. The lower brace going to the firewall rib is wood. Also, those are the 2 different kinds kinds of body brackets. The one on the right is the older one. I think it would be the right one for the 1917. I used to have an original 1917 chassis and it had the older style (one the right). The body bracket on the left is for about 1918 to 1925.
Also, take a look at this older thread. It has photos of the wood for a 1915. The wood at the front of the body should be the same on a 1917.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/7861.html
I'm more familiar with 15's, and they have the earlier rounded-end ones as pictured on the right, including the front ones. As Rick says, the primered one on the left is later, but I don't know when the change was made. My '21 has the ones on the left.
Lang's lists number 3601A for '09 - '16, and 3601B for '17 - '25. But their illustrations both show the earlier one.
My '24 had the long one on top and I think the small ones were like the one on the left.