1926 -27 Improved models, a study of .... Rear Axle Housings

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: 1926 -27 Improved models, a study of .... Rear Axle Housings
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 05:39 pm:

This is the first in I hope a long string of threads and posts dealing with the 26 27 Improved Models parts changes. I hope to do a part by part study of each part and hope the threads will stay part specific with little thread drift. All of the following threads will include the same subject line with each part description changed. That way it will make searching easy for each discussion. Any comments agreeing or dis-agreeing are welcomed. I think a study of all the parts is long over due. The 26 27 models are very mis-understood and believed by many to be all alike.

early backing plate, flat plate small rivets

early backing

Later style backing plate, embossed plate and oil drain at bottom, has large rivet type heads

late backing

Early style drain plug with hex head plug.

early plug

Later style plug with square drive plug

late plug

Early style brake cam with washer

early brake cam

Later style brake cam with no washer

later brake cam.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 07:13 pm:

I chose the axle housing as my first parts thread. Mostly because I think it is an easy one to do. But up to a few weeks ago I would have bet good money that the backing plates and drain plugs were the only changes to the "Improved" axle housings. Then when I started researching my early non starter, I stumbled upon the brake cams with the washers. After some discussion on another thread it is pretty well agreed that the washers are correct. It appears so far to be that the cams with washers are associated only with the early backing plate. But I have a early backing plate style with the later cam. So there may be some overlap. My hopes are to find "dates of change" for these parts. If not we will just leave it as "early or "late". Then I will move on to the next parts thread. Any comments are appreciated as to the parts being studied or about the format I am trying to achieve with this study. Thanks :-) :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By arnie johansen on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 07:59 pm:

Donnie:

By small rivets in the backing plate, I assume you mean the four rivets near the outer edge of the backing plate. This is just to clarify this point.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Menzies on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 08:19 pm:

You may have to consider different manufactures as I don't think there was only one maker different manufactures may have some different components. I think the "drain" plug referred to is a grease filler plug. I don't think any of the differential housings had a "drain" plug. They were filled once with grease at the factory and that was it, no provision for draining. Dave


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 08:22 pm:

Arnie, Yes it is the four small rivet heads near the outer edge. They are in the same place as the four large heads on the later backing plate. It appears that the small rivets were a weak point in early construction and changed to the larger flat heads later on.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 08:25 pm:

David, you are correct, the correct term should have been "filler plug", thanks for pointing that out....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 08:39 pm:

You have taken on a very large and nearly impossible project! Maybe there are forum members who know the history of their cars and whether anything has been changed since manufacture.

Unfortunately, for your study, most cars have had multiple repairs over the years and it is not unusual to swap rear axles. This is especially true when someone wants to convert to Ruckstell.

It is almost certain that the original owners no longer own their cars, so next best would be cars which have been handed down in families and all the records of repairs have been kept, or cars which have been abandoned for over 50 years. Even the engine serial numbers might not be the same as were installed at the factory, so it would be hard to date the changes.

Good luck
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 09:01 pm:

Norman I do not think we can say what month or week a part was changed, But by discussion, study of the "dates of changes that we do have, as well as the fossil evidence of existing cars. we can get a good idea of if a part, is at least,early, mid, or late. If nothing else is gained we may show how many changes there are to the Improved Models. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the differences of the Improved models, Then I started researching the very early changes and the non starter Improved Model issue. I could write a book about the non starter changes. You are right about it being a large project. But I think it is possible. I think three threads will cover the entire rear axle assembly, then Ill move on to the front axle. I think in a year or so it can be done. Jay has the accessory of the day thing covered so this is my attempt to try and serve the hobby and have something to do in the evening ..:-) :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Thursday, August 28, 2014 - 08:50 pm:

If there is no disagreement on the parts shown above and their order of issue being early or later. Ill move on to the next part. I do not know of anymore changes to the rear axle housing. With no dates of changes yet, "early" or "late" may be the best we can do for now.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Thursday, August 28, 2014 - 09:58 pm:

btt


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Friday, August 29, 2014 - 02:48 pm:

Here are three different styles of backing plates. There may be more.

Style 1. Riveted brake clips. Approx. .060" thick metal. No drain.

Style 2. Formed clips. No clip covers. Has Drain stamped into backing plate. (near the period of the identifying number). Metal approx. .060" thick.

Style 3. Formed clips. Has clip covers. Has drain. Metal is approx .100" thick.

1

2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Friday, August 29, 2014 - 03:27 pm:

Tom

Nice photos.

According to Bruce's CD, he states 'a least 4 types of backing plates were used' in 1926-1927, with the riveted brackets for the brake shoe being 1926. My Nov. 1925 Improved runabout had the rivet style backing plate, no oil drain, plate was smooth.

As for fact finding, one could go to the Benson Ford and lookup the change orders on Factory #'s T-148 and T-149. Those are the numbers for the backing plates on the Improved Car, R and L. The part number is 2560 for the R and 2561 for the L.

This one might the '4th" type as Bruce stated, took this pic at Chickasha, its smooth plate, but with the non-rivet, just formed brackets cut and bent for the brake shoe, no oil groove or "c" shape embossing on the plate. Perhaps this version was after the first early on with the riveted brackets.





Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Friday, August 29, 2014 - 04:04 pm:

Yes Dan, that appears to be type "1.5". Probable .060" thick. If I can build up enough energy I might thumb through my pile looking for other styles.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Friday, August 29, 2014 - 04:32 pm:

Tom and Dan, Thanks for the new photos and info. So If I read this right you just added a "die stamped clip with no drain and no cover and has flat plate" (Dans photo) and a "die stamped clip, with drain, and no cover" (Toms #2 photo) making a total of 4 backing plates. Little by little piece by piece.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Friday, August 29, 2014 - 07:25 pm:

By the way. The style 1. and 2. in my pictures both have hex head plugs. The style 2. has a two-nut radius rod on it, for whatever that means.

All three have the factory rivet heads (on the backing plate rivets) to the outside. I have seen them both ways, I think.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By arnie johansen on Friday, August 29, 2014 - 07:54 pm:

Tom & Dan:

Thanks for taking the time and effort to post the photos of additional backing plates. It is only through the effort of people like you, that the real history of the parts of the improved cars will be documented. Bruce did a fine job, but these pictures help show the difference, and perhaps Donnie's efforts will better document the many differences in the improved open cars. I have been impressed by the response the forum has gotten with regards to this topic, and I hope it continues with other different items in the future.

Thanks again,

Arnie


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Stroud on Saturday, August 30, 2014 - 02:09 am:

Arnie, I feel the same way. There is no such thing as too much information. As I have said for many years, the more we learn, the less we know! Dave


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration