Does the 27 radiator apron have an attached thimble behind the crank hole?
Mine is missing the thimble, but its an original apron.
It has the mounting screw dimple below the crank hole.
The repops have the thimble, but mine has no evidence of the thimble ever being there.
Thank you for your help!
Brent
My '27 had no thimble behind the crank hole. It also had the mounting screw dimple and hole in the apron, but there was no evidence that a screw had ever been installed in it. One of the mounting ears had broken off so I bought a replacement apron from Lang's which is now in place. the replacement looks fine, but at some point I'll repair and reinstall the original apron.
Not answering your question Brent, but my '26 has a thimble or ferrule for the choke wire in the nickel plated trim strip. First time I've seen that. Reproduction choke wires do not fit through it.
I've not noticed an attached thimble in the crank hole in the loose shields that I've come across. Randy Glowicky could check his very late '27 roadster. A very original car.
Tim,
I haven't seen the ferrule on that piece either?
Could you send me Randy's info in a pm?
Thanks!
Brent
Brent, I was going to ask the same thing. My original radiator apron doesn't have any sign of a thimble ever having been there. It's ears are broken off.
I bought the "top of the line" apron with the thimble from Lang's. It doesn't have the attaching screw hole, I'll have to drill it.
Haven't installed it yet. I just don't know what the thimble is there for...?
There is a "thimble" behind the apron. The starting crank spring bottoms out in the thimble. The spring keeps the crank from vibrating backwards. The screw should thread into the front motor mount.
Brent, Not knowing the true year of my roadster (frame numbers say 27, engine numbers say 26 and the title says something other than model T probably a state assigned number.) At any rate I can see nothing that would be thought of as a thimble just sort of a raised lip around the hole. This sounds like another project for Donnie Brown. Jim
Thanks guys,
I guess my thimble must have disappeared or fallen off over the last 87 years. :-)
I will most likely combine the old and new into one correct piece.
I appreciate your help!
Im not able to check my files at this time, as Im away from home, so I can not do any research at this time. I do remember that my very early 1926 (pre Dec,1925)rust bucket touring has the thimble, and my very late 1927, that is a fairly unmolested original ( outside repaint and upholstery only) made during last 2 months of production does not have the thimble. I have never seen a thimble on the choke wire, but now that is another thing to look into
Donnie,
My 27 is very late as well. It is 15,000,526. I would very much like to know what you find. Thanks for you help. Right now the car is totally apart and ready to go to paint.
The thimble seats against the front bearing and spring clip assy. It was spot welded to the apron at the factory, and the crank spring does seat inside of it. What I'm not sure of is the type of screw that goes into the hole beneath it. I always thought it was an oval head slotted screw. Dan Treace would know the answer to that question.