I recently purchased a 1927 Tudor Sedan. the sub-frame is gone from what would be, below the door area. My question to you, is where can these be purchased? I see they are readily available for the Model A, I've found nothing for the T. Thank you for reading, and for your time.
Michael,
I notice this is your first posting so welcome aboard. You didn’t mention if you have been around Model Ts for a long time or if you recently acquired your first one. If you let folks know that – the answers can be tailored to match your experience a little better.
Note I have not worked on the 1926-27 Tudors so I do NOT know how they are put together. They are probably similar to the 1928-29 Model A Tudors – i.e. all the structure is metal and the wood is just for tacking the upholstery to. I would guess that a parts body such as the one listed at Model T Haven and shown below would possibly have the parts you need. I’m also sure that they would have just the sub rails in various conditions. And for several parts between the 1926-7 Coupe and 26-27 Tudor interchange. I do not know if any of the sub-frame / sill parts under the door do or do not interchange. Please see: http://www.modelthaven.com/bodies.html and scroll down to the bodies. From the rusted out right front cowl I would think the body may have been left upside down and tilted so the water collected there. Or it may have had some dirt or something on it that helped collect the water to cause the rust through. But if the body was upside down – there is a good chance the sills are in good shape – or at least a Model A body I found that way had great lower sheet metal and the top metal that was normally good was rusted badly.
Note Mark is in business and buys T parts low and sells them higher to pay for the gas, time, lights, insurance and food etc. But if he has what you want and you do not have time to look for it at the swap meets etc. – it may be a good price for you. In my case the cost of just going to Hershey for a week would be the $350 he is asking for the body – a lot more if my wife went shopping during the same time. And of course e-bay will also have bodies and parts for sale. As well as much better bodies in case you want to jumpstart your restoration.
Ebay has a similar but higher priced Tudor body shell – but also has better photos of the rails you are probably looking for: see: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1926-27-Ford-Model-T-Tudor-Sedan-Body-hot-rod-rat-ratrod -hotrod-lakester-26-1927-/230870816038?hash=item35c0f91526&item=230870816038&pt= Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr
Good luck with your search. And recommend you join the local club near you. For locations and contact information please see: http://mtfca.com/clubpages/chapters.htm and for some reason the MTFCI site did not come up – but you can try: http://www.modelt.org/ later and go to their chapter listing. Depending on how many "parts" folks have saved they may have exactly what you need in the rafters of the house are garage.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Sorry Hap, you are right I should have introduced myself before posting. I am new to the Model T, this is my first purchase, and will definitely be a project. I'm hoping someone can steer me in the right direction as to where I can locate new sub rails. I will look for the local T clubs around here, I'm sure there are some local to me. Thanks for all your info Hap
Michael,
First T -- that is a fun time in life that only comes once. Have fun and build special memories with your family, friends and T. (Make that “build positive special memories” as we can over do it and wear out the T’s welcome if we push too hard at the expense of other family priorities etc..) Welcome not only to the Forum but to the hobby. Others will chime in with good recommendations etc. but joining the local club even if it is several hours away -- can be a big encouragement and help - to you and also to them.
Kitsap Peninsula Model T Club
Port Orchard, WA 98367
Appears to be about 37 miles from you. Their contact information is located at: http://mtfca.com/clubpages/chapters.htm#wa
And there are a couple of other local clubs less than 75 miles from you. You are in a great location for Ts.
If or when your T has gasoline in it be very careful where and how you store it. For the most part it is not a matter of "IF" but "WHEN" the needle valve in the carburetor will stick open and leak all the gas from the tank onto the floor. On a properly sorted out T it will not happen for years (it took two years before it happened to me and it was not in the garage but the grocery store parking lot and a light wrap/tap with the Crescent wrench stopped the flow. ) A little trash in the gas or wear on the seat and/or float and it can happen. The vendors sell shut off valves you can install in the gas line (easier to use than crawling under to turn it off at the sediment bulb under the tank – be sure you can turn it off there also – because if the engine catches fire (not a normal occurrence – but it can and has happened) – then the shut off valve near the carburetor can normally not be reached. [See Lang’s (I often refer to them because they have good photos in their catalog that I refer folks to. They also have great service and several pages of 1906-1908 Model N, R, S, and SR parts. ) See Lang’s (and the other vendors as well (also some hardware stores – caution the compression fittings have been linked to some lines breaking where the fitting is used. That appears to happen sooner with copper. Note the original fuel lines were brass for all years of the Model T (ref Nov-Dec 1995 page 13 of “Model T Times” John Regan’s “Archifacts” .)
And depending on how you decide to tackle the restoration – you may want to consider a temporary body such as a speedster or open truck etc. so you can drive the car while you restore the body. Not a right or wrong way to do it just many different ways it can be done. Not to mention sometimes folks start with a project when it is usually easier and more encouraging to start with a driver. There are pro’s and con’s to both approaches.
So back to the original question: Dose anyone know of anyone reproducing the sills located under the front doors of the 1926-27 Tudor bodies or will Michael need to find a used set to replace them with?
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Closer still is
Puget Sound Chapter
c/o Walt Berdan
16713 SE 35th St.
Bellevue, WA 98008
425-643-0858
I agree with Hap. Joining a local chapter was the best thing I ever did. I am part of the Carbon Canyon Model T Club of Carbonado Wa although I have an Orting address and live in Kapowsin! We do get around with our T's.
If you can find someone near you that has a 14-16ga. sheet metal brake, they should be able to form some weld-in sections. No one that I know of is making the sub rails for the Model T.
I replaced the entire sub frame on Model A Phaeton and that's a job I don't wish on anybody. There wasn't enough metal to just section in pieces. The whole body had to be removed in pieces and rebuilt from the ground up. Most important was getting the body structures attached at the same locations on the new rails. (They don't come pre-drilled.) Tedious job to say the least. And if you don't have a way to jig/brace the body while cutting out your sections, your car will never fit correctly to the frame.