As a side discussion in a different thread, it was pointed out by someone that this particular part wasn't typical at all. After investigating a little and thinking about it, I think that it's worthy of a new thread.

This piece is very heavy steel. It's completely integrated with the hogshead. It's cut out and drilled so that it's actually an additional layer between the transmission and the transmission cover. Then it has a stout "L" shaped bar leading up along the engine and bolted in between the water pump and the engine block.

I'm at a point where I think I need to remove the hogshead. I'm going to have to detach the water pump inlet and remove this whole thing just to do that. It's almost as if there was a weakness in the engine / transmission structure and that this piece is using the block to hold up the transmission. I doubt that's actually the case, but what the heck is it?

Note steel plate atop the hogshead:


The horizontal bolt on the upper left in the previous photo attaches it to the ear or whatever it is that goes up to the water pump connection to block.



Last, here's where the water pump goes into the engine. The plate is an additional layer here.

Others know a lot more than I, but I believe the "improved" engine used in '26 and '27 had cast-in side ears to accommodate extra support bolts from the transmission.

This looks like an aftermarket addition for an earlier engine, made to mimic the addition made by the factory.

Judging from the pictures you posted, it looks pretty well designed and made, and probably provided some substantial support to the transmission.

I've always heard that the Model T was by far the most accessorized automobile ever, and this adds one more to the huge catalog of things you could buy and tinker with.

Cool!!

It looks like a very clever attempt to provide the same rigidity of the hogshead to engine area as the late '26 bosses and ears do. Pretty ingenious, I think!

Thank you so much Peter. I had myself worried that this was a jack leg "fix" for what was ultimately a problem. And I realize that I can unbolt the ear going to water pump rather than have to remove it there.

Charlie. The pre 26-27 engines were weak at the point the trans meets the block. In 26-27 there was an addition of two "ears" to the top of the hogs head for two bolts to enter bosses on the back of the engine block. That greatly stiffened up the trans/engine gap at that point. What you have appears to be an accessory item to stiffen a 1925 and earlier block. I collect accessories and have never seen that particular item before. I am not sure if it is a period item or some form of a more modern item, or something shop made by a previous owner. It appears to be well made and designed. How does it attach to the exhaust side of the engine. would a photo of that side be possible. ? Also how are the two bolts on each side of the mag post attached. ? I would be very interested in it if you decide to not use it. I have a 25 speedster that something like that would look good on. Thanks for sharing it with us. have fun and be safe Donnie Brown .....

Well-I'll-be-damned. Only an aviation type craftsman could ever envision and make something like that. Genius.Nothing Jack leg about that.

Donnie - I will get the photos and additional details you asked for.

And Jim - any chance you knew my uncle. Big fan of everything antique and piston driven. At one point he had purchased and restored one of every year of Fordson tractors. I inherited a lot of rolling stock quite suddenly. I've been slowly getting rid of most of them. I don't have the physical or financial resources to keep them all. In the end, the Model T discussed here will be the keeper.

Sadly, he died in his 1946 AT-6 Texan airplane. I doubt that he actually created this device himself, but he was definitely an "aviation type craftsman".

Charlie when I first looked at the pics my impression was exactly what you said. "there's a problem here and this is a quick fix". Agree it's a brace for a weak spot but I've never seen one here before. If it's home made it's a nice job for sure.

Looks like a modern part. Bill Howell has a couple of them, they were made in England. Looks like the same thing.

What does it bolt to on the exhaust manifold side of the block?

Tony - Donnie Brown above asked the same question. I'm going to go over to the car tomorrow (not at my house) and will try to get answers / photos of the rest of the device. I'm also curious about the 2 vertical bolts by the Mag Post (the mag post that dropped into the transmission ...). I'll get all the details.

It's a modern accessory for pre 26 engines to stiffen up the connection from the transmission to the engine block just like on a '26/'27. I've seen it in, I think, Snyder's catalog for a quite high price. Should be a good thing.

The engine was made early October 1924.

This is used to keep weight off the 4th main when using a cast iron warford. I have one on my 23 roadster.

How about all that stuff in the oil screen????

I believe that the fuzz in the oil screen is transmission band residue. I can't say exactly, but not too much driving to get that fuzz buildup. Maybe 30 miles or so? Is it so much because of the "nut behind the wheel", or is this normal?

Looks like a huge waste of time!

There is also a bolt on the side where the manifold is attached to the block. Is it attached somewhere to the block?
Norm

So far we have 6 pro and 1 "huge waste of time".

Sven from Sweden (I think) had one on his car on the "coast to coast" run in 2009 and he broke his crank about halfway if I recall. Who knows (?), but it didn't seem to do him any good.............

I took a much closer look to answer some questions:
The left side as shown above connects to block at water pump connection.
The right side as shown below has a similar connection. The support extends behind the manifold. Bolts to block about 1/2 way up manifold. To what???
The 2 vertical bolts showing on either side of the mag post above don't seem to connect to anything at all. I slid a piece of paper beneath them and nothing's there.

Views from right side of Hogshead towards engine



Odd angle. I think that this is looking from block backwards towards previous photo.


This is looking up from underneath car, behind the carb. You can see the plate bolted to the block behind the manifold.

Pays to spend some time reading the parts catalogs to see what's new;

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/oil-pan-support-kit

This has been around for a few years.

That's exactly the part. Thanks. The only thing I can't figure out is the two bolts adjacent to mag post. I'm not sure they do anything on my car, but am confident they are there for a reason (maybe for universal fitting on other T models). I am sure it doesn't matter and is only a curiosity of mine.