Had a visit from fellow T owner and he thinks the front axle has been changed and is actually a 1917. Reading the MTFCA encyclopedia the description of the 1919 front axle says its the same as the 1918, the 1918 front axle description says its the same as the 1917.

In the 1919 Major Model Features states: "Front axle assembly modified; used new radius rod assembly that now fastened below the spring perches." I don't have a 17 or 18 FA to compare but mine has the radius rods fastened below the spring perches. See attached photos.

Also the U shaped bracket below the crank has been repaired or beefed up as it appears a piece of strap iron has been gas welded on.

The question is "do I have a 1919 front axle under my TT. The truck has only had 3 owners, the city where I grew up, two brothers who bought it from the city in 1952 and me. The previous owners did not replace the axle.

Right view from front:


Left view from rear:

Correction to the above msg. Looks like the radius rod is attached to the top of the axle and a brace of some sort is attached to he bottom.

The axle appears in the photos to be a 1920 or later, can just read the Ford script under the paint (just left of the perch boss) in the 2nd photo, that was done around March, 1920.

The spring perches are earlier than 1919, as the under the wishbone kind came out in 1919. The brace under the perch is an accessory to stiffen the axle when the above axle wishbones were used, many owners did that for more stability.

The frame's front cross member has been cracked over time, that large plate welded on top is to hold up the previously broken cross member.

And various bits of fasteners need replacing with cotter pinned castle nuts, the spring clamps are missing their fasteners too.

David,

Also remember that, particularly with the TT's I think, Ford would introduce updated parts, but before they'd be used in production the assembly plants would first use up what they had on hand. So the fact that your TT has spring perches earlier than 1919 doesn't necessarily mean they're not "original" to a 1919 truck.

You have the earlier perches. They have the holes for the wishbone above the axle. In 1919 the perches were redesigned, eliminating that hole, because the wishbone was now attached under the axle. The change was made because with the wishbone above the axle, sometimes the impact of hitting something would fold the axle backwards. Attaching the wishbone under the axle was a stronger arrangement. That's why a lot of earlier T's and TT's have the accessory brace added under the axle, like yours.

Everybody types faster than I do.

In 1952, my father purchased a complete and unrestored touring from the original owner. It had a September 12, 1919 motor number making it a 1920 model year Ford.

This car has the earlier style perches. (My dad sold the car in 1952 but I was able to see it in 2011.)

When the encyclopedia says "1919" it does not differentiate between calendar year and model year.

I would say that if your truck is not a "put-together," your front perches are correct for the 1919 model year.

Thanks for all your responses, I looked up my engine serial number again and it is stamped Aug 1919 ( 3322677).

Looking at the high res photos I see some numbers on the front of the axle outboard of the spring perch. I will have to crawl under it and take a closer look.

Erik, I'm positive it is not a "put-together", there is a chance the city of Erwin, SD had to replace the axle while it was their firetruck. I have found a former resident that is 95. I have a call in to see if I can get in to talk to him next week to see if I can obtain a little more history on the truck.