Floor Boards

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Floor Boards
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Lorenzen on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 05:02 pm:

I purchased a set of front floor board p/n T3626A
From <http://macsautoparts.com/model-t-ford-front-floor-board-set-3-pieces-marine-grad e-plywood-touring-roadster-t3626a/camid/mdt/cp/js0r3chl1070286/>

from MAC'S Antique Auto Parts in Lockport NY to finish the Restoration of my 1925 Tudor sedan. The problem is that it appears to interfere with my starter switch on the floor and the board does not have a notch cut out for it. I called Mac's technical consultant and he said that it does not need such a notch and that it should clear the starter switch. But if I install it forward enough to clear the switch. It leaves a large gap between the seat and the first board. Suggestions are welcome from anyone.

Also, I need to drill a hole for the shift lever for my Rukstell rear axle in the middle across the first board. I was anticipating this, but my question is, can anyone save me some time by telling me what size hole to drill and its location?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 05:23 pm:

I have a copy of the original installation sheet for the Ruckstells. It says to drill a 2" diameter hole for the shift lever. It gives a template to locate the hole, but it's too big to post here.

Basically, the center of the 2" diameter hole is 12.5" from the center line of the hand brake slot. You'll have to figure how far forward from the seat kick panel yourself as no dimension is given, however on the instruction sheet is looks like the center of the 2" diameter hole is even with the center of the hand brake slot going from front to back.

Clear as mud? Probably, but you should be able to figure it out ok.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Lorenzen on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 05:36 pm:

Thank you Keith for the helpful information. This should help me get started.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Sosnoski on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 06:23 pm:

David,

First of all, the link you posted is for a set of floor boards they claim is for a 15-25 Roadster and Touring. In actuality is is for a 1919-25 Touring and Roadster. These will not fit a 25 Tudor Sedan. There are only three pieces, you need four, and the angle of the ends of the boards are different, and the handbrake slot is different. I looked through their site and I don't see a set of floor boards for your car listed.

Second, they are correct that these floor boards do not have a hole for the starter switch. That is because the Touring and Roadster have a metal panel across the back of the floor board which covers the area where the starter switch is located. The starter switch comes through the hole in the metal panel. Of course this is all moot as you don't have a touring or roadster, you have a Tudor Sedan.

Third, you are correct that the floor board for a Tudor Sedan should have a hole/slot for the starter switch. The 1924 floor board has a round hole. The 1925 floor board has a slot.

Try Lang's. If you want the plywood ones, I think they have one in stock with a slot for the starter switch. Ask for Steven - he will know what you are talking about. FYI the plywood ones are slightly thicker than the originals as you can't get plywood that is 9/16" thick. The hardwood ones are exactly as original. They come with the hole for the starter switch, but all you need to do is make two cuts from the hole to the edge to make it a slot.

Hope this helps.

Dave S.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Lorenzen on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 06:50 pm:

Thank you so much Dave, your help is much appreciated. I will give Steven from Langs a call and order the correct floor boards.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Sosnoski on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 07:29 pm:

Dave,

Any time. Also, you may want to pick up the Ruckstell floor board trim plate.

http://www.modeltford.com/item/P189TRIM.aspx

Once you figure out where the hole should go, you can then cut it to the size and shape of the hole in the plate and use the plate to make it look nice.

Dave S.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 07:36 pm:

Dave'
Just make some floor boards. It's not that hard. Then they will fit.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 08:47 pm:

David, there is nothing worse than putting a hole in the wrong place and ruining an otherwise good job. May I suggest the following?

If you need a 2" hole for the shifter lever, measure the distance back to the kickboard and then cut a 2" hole in a piece of card that distance from the edge. Place your card over the shifter with the hole centred in the correct position. It is not necessary to have the edge of the card hard against the kickboard. Then use extra sheets of card to extend out to the edge of the floorboards/register in the floor. These should be hard against the kickboard and shaped at the ends to follow any taper in the body. Tape these sheets together securely and you will have a template which is accurate to the body and will get you the hole in exactly the right place.

Hope this helps,

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - 10:16 am:

Jon Anderson, RV's brother makes top quality floorboards. I would stay away from Macs. As far as drilling holes for Ruckstell shift levers, measure at least 3 or 4 times before you drill, to avoid mistakes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Miller, Mostly in Dearborn on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - 11:02 am:

I second Jonathan Anderson's floorboards. They're made to the correct dimensions off Ford prints. The ones he made for my Fordor are works of art.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - 08:04 pm:

As are the hardwood floorboards made by David.
I got the "good" ones for a '25 Fordor and they were absolutely gorgeous.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - 09:37 pm:

Is the plate for the Ruckstell something that Ruckstell made? I've never seen it mentioned in their literature. From the picture, it looks a little larger that it should be for the application.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - 11:02 pm:

When I was in Sacramento Vintage Ford getting tires for Barney two years ago (???) I looked at a set of floorboards they had and they were JUNK--not cut "square" looks like the edges were cut with a bandsaw. Even their counter guy thought they looked bad. So be careful where you purchase them!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 01:51 pm:

I just measured the cutout I made for my Ruckstell shift lever. I made the hole only big enough to do the job, after all I had to cut a NOS floorboard, and of course had to get it right the first time. My cutout is 3/4" wide, by 1 5/8" long. Just enough to do the job. After all, who needs a bunch of unnecessary air coming up from below. The shift lever is an original, as is the rod back to the Ruckstell.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Page on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 04:52 pm:

I seem to remember that when I did our Fordor floor boards I found the measurements for the Ruckstell shift lever slot in one of my Vintage Ford magazines. I did a search of the index and can't find it.
I think Larry's measurements look to be close to what I did. This is for RHD but would be the same for LHD. Regards, John


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Page on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 11:33 pm:

I remembered where I had seen the information for the shift lever slot. It was in The Model T Times No. 132 March - April 1971. The article was on the Perfecto 2 Speed Axle,and is a reprint from original instructions. I used the drawing that I have posted below as a guide, as it is for a Perfecto not the Ruckstell. For some reason the slot is set at eight degrees off square. That I didn't do. I also made some changes to the dimensions shown. A little hard to read in this reproduced picture from the article. I would think that floor board sizes would have varied for different bodies. So I guess that it was only a guide when it was used all those years ago.
My measurements are exactly the same as Larry's.
Regards, John


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Thursday, July 18, 2013 - 10:12 am:

The picture John posted looks just like what I did. It appears to me the plate Langs is selling is a bit too large, and is probably not something that Ruckstell supplied.


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