Open car windshield hinge bolts - proper install.

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2005: Open car windshield hinge bolts - proper install.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George House on Saturday, July 07, 2007 - 08:39 pm:

Just finished painting my restored original '14 runabout windshield pieces. After a few days of curing I want to assemble. I then visited 'From Here to Obscurity' and viewed page 132 where I saw the machine bolt HEAD fastening the 2 halves of the windshield hinge on the outside. This seems like it would be difficult to assemble the top and lower halves onto the 2 windshield braces. Two man job if the bolt should first enter the brace then each half of the hinge? From 1915 on to the end of the 2 man top era this book shows the nut on the outside (page 147, 175 and 190). Can anyone either confirm or correct the proper placement of this 1914 machine bolt? Also, do we somehow lubricate the hinge internals - the tips and dimples that 'lock' the w/s in any number of positions? Thanks in advance


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Saturday, July 07, 2007 - 11:25 pm:

George,

There were lots of pictures of 1914s but most of them I could tell which direction the bolt in the windshield was installed.

It is shown the same way with the nut on the inside on page 176 of Bruce's book also the Vintage Ford article on the 1914 cars page 20 Sept Oct 1983 (used by permission -- please don't reproduce for distribution without writing the editor of Vintage Ford). The illustrated car appears to be original.



And from Bruce's new CD the parts list the 1914 price list shows it with the screw head on the outside of the hinge also. Based on that I believe the way it is pictured is acceptable.



Is it the only way it was done? Who knows? But clearly it is an acceptable way.

If you want additional proof recommend you order Ford Archives picture B33209 and B33208 shown on pages 154 & 155 of the Model T Ford Restoration Handbook. Original factory photos but in the book even though they are full page size I cannot make out the windshield bolt arrangement. I think with a high resolution scan or a real 8 x 10 you probably could.

I also ran across the following while looking for that info:

1914 T WINDSHIELD BRACES
Missing one brace for the windshield of my ‘14, I found what I needed on a 1964 Oldsmobile. The tubular braces between the inside of the front fenders and the radiator support are the exact size tubing and identical shaped end, with the exception of the extra hole for the top strap on the ‘14 brace. A piece of metal can be added for this. The Olds’ braces are too short, also, but two can be welded together and smoothed down, then bent to the proper shape.
James Jordan
Williams, Oregon

And of course I always like to ask if you have found the body number on your car and/or a letter stamped into the front or rear heel panel. If so, pleaes let me know what it is as I am trying to collect that data to help figure out how to tell which body make produced which bodies. Thanks and good luck with you T.

Hap Tucker 1915 Model T Touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and 1907 Model S Runabout, Sumter SC


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Saturday, July 07, 2007 - 11:48 pm:

George,

I forgot to comment on an idea of how to install the windshield brackets and the braces. There are probably several ways it could be done. And having someone else to help you steady everything is probably a good idea no matter how you do it. Dropping the windshield would be a "bummer."

Two ideas: If the braces can easily be removed from the body, remove them and attach the braces to the hinges and then the hinges to the windshield and then the windshield to the body and the braces to the body.

If the braces are not easy to remove from the body, then attach the lower windshield frame and the complete windshield brace to the car. Putting the bolt through the brace. Then put the upper windshield onto the hinge.

For lubrication -- lots of things would probably work fine. A little grease while you have the hinge apart would probably work for years. I would guess (but it is only a guess) that graphite would work well. And I think the graphite would be less of a mess and would be easy to add again later (one of those tubes for adding graphite to the door lock etc.). I'm sure others have more experience with that -- (I don't ever recall lubricating that part -- we probably should have -- but it seems to work fine and we just haven't thought of it.)

Good luck with your project.

Hap Tucker 1915 Model T Touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and 1907 Model S Runabout, Sumter SC


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George House on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 08:19 am:

Thanks Hap,
As usual your advice was 'spot on' like our English cousins say. I was hoping you'd see fit to 'chime in' on my query. So I shall install the '14 w/s hinge bolt with the brass nut on the inside of the assembly. I hadn't thought of your 1st good idea on w/s installation . . . braces to hinges, to winshield, to firewall and body bolts. I can't help but wonder why the hinge bolt was then turned around for '15-'22 production.
I'm afraid my '14 runabout body won't have an original body number or heel panel letter because it is being built by Ray Wells out in east San Diego. Was supposed to be ready by the end of June but I haven't heard from him yet.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R.V. Anderson on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 09:21 am:

FWIW, I have 4 original '14 hinges and all of them have the nut on the inside.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George House on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 06:16 pm:

Thanks again to you too R.V.,
And I acted on your previous advice and sent Mark Cameron a brass headlamp off my '11 Hupp and a E&J Pat'd 08 left side cowl lamp ('14 T) for him to change over to a right side. You are also cherished for your sage advice. . . george


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