1926 Coupe Family Project Advice

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: 1926 Coupe Family Project Advice
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rick Irvin on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 10:55 am:

This is our family's first project together and we hope to build on what we have. What we have is a Coupe body and frame that has been used as a field property line marker since the late 60's. We have no engine, transmission, springs or wheels. We do have lots of rust, a 110 flux welder, and elbow grease. The rear subframe under the wheelwell is nearly gone as is the front right where the doorand cowl meet together. The rest of the subframe looks to be sturdy. Is there a place where new subframes or sections are sold. We tried Howell's, Snyder's but have not been successful. Anyone here know where we might locate one?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:17 am:

Have you tried Model T Haven in Missouri? That should be within driving distance of Arkansas. They have acres of Model T's and parts. You should be able to find a good frame. Do you know what year the body is? The 26-27 frames are different from the earlier ones. It will be best to use the right frame for the year of your car. A frame gets the most pounding of any part of the car with possible exception of the axles. Start with a good one and a straight one, and everything else will fit right in.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Whitaker on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:32 am:

Norman is right. Model T Haven is a fantastic resource. If all else fails, there's always Craigslist and eBay.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:53 am:

Model T Haven is in Kansas.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Murray - Anacortes, WA on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:59 am:

Hi Rick, welcome to you and your family!! Great project for the whole family. Our Coupe was complete and running when we bought it, however upon closer examination the amateur body repairs covered serious rust out necessitating a descision gate to fix it, or find a replacement body. I found a rusty but solid body that had similar subframe deteriation at the right rear fender. Thankfully, I found another rusty coupe body with a good sub frame at the right rear fender and a good seat riser. I also used window trim and the front windshield frame from the original body. Ostensibly, I used 3 bodies to make one, and 3 Howell sheet metal panels. 2 floor panels for under the seat and in the trunk and the rear body panel under the spare tire mount. Howells trunk panel does not come with the "hump" for the rear frame cross member, so I again turned to one of the "donor" bodies for the best "hump" to weld in. I also bought a Howells trunk lid, but after spending 24hrs trying to get it to fit, I ended up using the original lid from the best rusty body because the compound contour curves are correct for proper fit where the Howells is not.

Bottom line, you have options, based on skill level, part availability, and pocketbook. Most of all look at restoration as a journey, and devote consistent effort each week to get it done so you can enjoy driving your family project !!!

Click on my name above to see our finished project that took us 8 years to complete.

Good Luck !!!

W


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Philip Berg on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:06 pm:

Great project, don't get too upset about the lack of responses. I like to read the build threads and not so much on commenting.

Good Luck with the build


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:29 pm:

Mike Peterson buys complete Model T's, specializing in 1926's and 27's, parts them out and sells the parts on ebay, so he is a great source for good solid, original 1926 Model T parts. I have purchased many hard to find parts for my 1926 Coupe and he is very honest, friendly, reasonable and easy to work with. I have his e-mail, but need his permission to post it here, so i will e-mail him and see if he will contact you through this thread with a PM. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:52 pm:

I'll look I might have the post in front. Have a 26-7 engine and trans. also, also have frames where are you located I'm in central Missouri danuser88@ktis.net


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:52 pm:

John - He's in Jonesboro, Arkansas according to his profile.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 08:56 pm:

Hi, Rick.... and family!
Best of luck on your family project! I think it's great you have your family behind you (more than just cheap labor! hehehe) ... You can all learn and grow with your new 'toy'!

Best of luck!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 10:14 pm:

Welcome, Rick. I always give new T guys a couple of links, so here they are:

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG79.html

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:11 pm:

Rick I have used 21 in wheels for the car, and used springs, and as stated above frames, maybe the post up front you need, engine and transmission that all needs rebuilt danuser88@ktis.net


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:45 pm:

I have purchased from both John and Mike.
Mike's ebay auctions NEVER show up in a "ford model t" search for some reason.
His ebay seller handle is gunman63
There is some of his current stuff and you can contact him from there: http://www.ebay.com/sch/gunman63/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3 984.m1543.l2654

BOTH are top notch sellers!....... :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 04:41 am:

Craig and others - search "model t" and limit the search to ebay motors, then Mikes & most others model T parts will show up - more than 2000 auctions most times. Sorting by Time:ending soonest or newly listed may help. For a 26/27 both 1926 or 26/27 can be used to limit the amounts of auctions to go through, but then there's a risk to miss something you didn't know you needed :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 09:13 am:

Rick, take some pictures of what you have right now and post them here.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Katy, Texas on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 12:25 am:

Rick, if you like metal work, it sounds like you have the right project. If not, I've got a deal for you, but it is in the Houston, Texas area. I've got a 26 coupe basket case that just needs assembling. The chassis is together on wheels and tires. I was told by the previous owner and MTFCA club member, that the running gear was restored in the 60's or 70's and has zero driving time on it. The engine and trans have not been restored, but may not need it. The engine and frame numbers match, but clear Texas title does not. The pistons are standard and the rods and mains are likewise, supposed to be. The sheet metal on the body has a tear in the trunk floor, but the metal is solid. It just needs to be bent flat and welded. The top of the cowl has some pin hole rust. No rust in the bottom of cowl or doors. All interior trim and windshield are perfect and included. Deck lid is as straight as you'll find. I have the car advertised locally for $2K, and believe me, I could part it out for probably more than that. No one locally is interested except hotrodders.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Katy, Texas on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 12:28 am:

Forgot to mention that fenders are perfect, also. Can email photos on request. I know this should be in the classified ads, but the next step is Ebay. The last resort is the local hot rod swap meet.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Murray - Anacortes, WA on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 12:38 am:

Rick, I drove 350mi to get another persons unfinished project Coupe parts that yeilded enough bodies (2) and chassis parts to supplement my decisions to use his or my parts, or toss leftovers to the swap meet pile. Terry's deal sounds like it may be a better start on your restoration journey. Can you supply pics of what you have out on the fence line ???


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike conrad on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 06:40 pm:

Wow, Wayne I never realized your car was such a project. I always thought you just dropped it off at your brothers shop and picked it up again in a few months all done. (kidding) I can say all of your hard work paid off as it is one of the nicest 26's I have ever seen. (or had the pleasure of pull starting)I have heard those cars are awful nice in the rain also. Hope to see more of it and you next tour season.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 09:09 pm:

Roger, I am aware of the other search criteria options but using those options screws up my saved searches.
Using the "-fits" tags eliminated a number of GOOD items so I put up with all the extraneous crap and scroll fast.......


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Murray - Anacortes, WA on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 12:59 am:

Mr. Conrad, Ahem...it is a '27 Coupe !!

The below pic is the 2nd body that we decided to use and how far apart it came. Note the right rear "cancer" was removed and eventually the subframe was removed in the same area. New metal was scabbed into the rusty body, and a subframe from another body was welded in place of the very weak subframe section.

W
tt


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