Block Off Plates (Gen. & Starter)

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Block Off Plates (Gen. & Starter)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 12:35 pm:

Here's something I read on the Barn site and found interesting. The fellow states he recently bought a '25 engine that has block off plates for the starter & generator that appear quite old. Is that what the factory did for a non-starter car? I can't see them "selecting" starter & non-starter engines on the line. I don't think they were that sophisticated. Never gave it any thought before and factory plates don't seem to have been mentioned here. They might be rare if they exist. Also: would you expect to find a flywheel with teeth on a non-starter order?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert G. Hester Jr., Riverview, FL on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 12:52 pm:

Hi, Charlie. My 22 TT has the block off plates at the generator, starter and starter bendix locations. They appear to be factory equipment. I checked the flywheel and there is a ring gear. I think the idea was that electrical equipment could be installed by a dealer without a major tear-down. There is also no battery carrier or provision for a "hotshot" battery for starting. These machines were intended to be hand started on magneto.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 01:01 pm:

I totally agree Robert. It just makes sense, especially in those days, to have all blocks with the starter & generator holes and all flywheels to have teeth. It would make it insanely easy to retrofit the stuff later wether by dealer or owner. Today computer selected options meet the car on the assembly line but that wasn't happening back then. I'm far from an expert but I've never seen one blocked off nor have I heard any mention on factory plates. I'm thinking many many T's went through this refit and the plates faded into history.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 01:15 pm:

I have several sets of the block off plates and use them on my Model T engines in storage to keep the critters and dirt out. They're pretty easy to find at swap meets.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 01:45 pm:

I have a couple of starter plates that are still mounted on transmission covers. They had to come from the factory that way or you couldn't run the engine. And every Ford car left the factory assembly line under its own power.

T3382 - Trans cover rear plate
T3383 - Trans cover front plate

T3017D - Timing gear cover plate


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert G. Hester Jr., Riverview, FL on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 01:58 pm:

It has also come to mind that if you planned to continue to run one of these engines without a starter it would be a pretty simple job to fabricate an auxillary oiler that would feed out through the starter plate and not have to depend on the mag post or cut a hole in the hogs head.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 03:51 pm:

Ken's post brought a thought to mind--was driving the car off the assembly line the "pass-fail" test? It would be the ultimate quality control inspection!
T'
David D.
PS Sorry for the thread drift!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Chantrell - Adelaide, Australia on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 05:12 pm:

Also they were fitted to cars that were sold non-starter models, such as commercial vehicles & 'TT's.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 06:10 pm:

David; and open cars that did not have a starter, of which there were many, right through until the end.
I have a '26 touring that came with clinchers but I believe it had a starter, although I am not sure, but the battery box has been bolted in, not riveted.
I see no holes in the cowl for cowl lights though.
The non starter cars had cowl lights right through including the improved Fords.
Has anyone ever heard of a closed car of 1919 and later without a starter?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Schrope - Upland, IN on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 09:23 pm:

Yeah, several years ago, I ended up with a chassis of a '26 Tudor. It had the blank off plates for the starter and generator. It also had non-demountable clinchers with large brake drums. I still have them. There isn't much demand for them. I don't remember anything about the lights or dash.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 10:45 pm:

My non-electric '24 TT project came with the block-off plates.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garnet on Sunday, October 28, 2012 - 12:01 am:

I see you have the optional Lucas lights on it Steve. Very rare!

Garnet


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Mikeska, Denver CO on Sunday, October 28, 2012 - 12:12 am:

Over the years I have collected several sets of the blank off plates.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ROBERT BERGSTADT on Monday, October 29, 2012 - 08:38 am:

I have lots of them also if needed, Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Monday, October 29, 2012 - 10:45 am:

Early in the generator block era there was a cast piece for non electrical equipped engines, almost giving the appearance of a non generator block. They are fairly rare, so perhaps they were only used for a short period?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Miller, Mostly in Dearborn on Monday, October 29, 2012 - 11:14 am:

I am guessing that cast piece was never used in production since it would have required the use of the earlier front cover. My thoughts are you would have purchased that part if you purchased a replacement block for a non generator engine from Ford.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Monday, October 29, 2012 - 12:43 pm:

My grandfather had a 1919 that he bought new. It was supposed to have a starter & generator, but there was still insufficient stock of them so his car had block-off plates. At a later date, the dealer sent him a letter stating that starters and generators were now available and he should make a visit to get his installed. (Still have the letter, but not the car) He figured that cranking and running on mag worked fine so he couldn't be bothered and never had them installed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By george house on Monday, October 29, 2012 - 01:04 pm:

Roger,
I used to have 3 of those cast 'fingers' you referenced.Only have one left. Tom is right in his guess. Lets say you brought your '14 runabout to the dealership in, say, 1923 because a few rods went through the block. The hometown dealer would've taken a new replacement block designed and cast for a generator to replace yours. These little cast 'fingers' would've fastened to your '14 timing gear cover and replacement block.


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