Late Model Commercial Chassis

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2016: Late Model Commercial Chassis
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Murray on Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 05:11 pm:

For 50 years I've wanted a Model T Roadster pickup...well I'm still waiting, but two weeks ago I came home with my first ever Model T - a wood express wagon body on a 1926 non-electric commercial chassis. Since then, I've been having fun driving it to the mailbox every dry day, and reading the archive here to try to figure out what I've got...

It came with a pair of front fenders which are not '26 standard issue, but I gather the 1924 - 1927 commercial chassis all shipped with the same style front fenders? It also came with a brand new in the MACS box pair of '26 fender supports which don't fit...but it appears to have the earlier fender irons already installed, which would be consistent with the fenders I have, although the irons were cut off with a hacksaw just outside of the headlight brackets. I guess some former owner liked the look of the truck fenderless, but eventually I'd like to re-install them.

I was told by the seller that the previous owner had intended to electrify the T, and had a ring gear installed on the flywheel and changed the blank plate for an ammeter...so the original headlight dimmer coil is history if it was mounted behind the ammeter blankoff plate. Also the headlight sockets are still wired in series but must have 6 v lamps in them since they're wired to the 12 v ignition starting battery, which is much too small to give more than a few minutes of headlight operation...I'm still trying to get in there to confirm lamp voltage but the headlight rings are being stubborn. At the moment the T starts easily and runs well on the magneto, and I'm inclined to leave it in its current non-electric state and just work out a scheme to get reliable headlights.

So I'll be hitting the flea markets next season shopping for parts!

One question...I assume even in 1926 the non-electric models had an oil fired taillight? One lens (red) or two (red and clear)?

This T came east from the Sacramento area; if any one has seen it and/or has stories of its previous life I'd love to hear.

Thanks, Jack


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Perry Goble on Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 06:04 pm:

Jack We could tell you what you have a lot faster if could post some pictures . It sounds like you my have 25 to 17 T or it could be a 26/27 TT one ton truck . They had 25 front finders from the factory . We need more information . In this case a picture is worth a thousand words .


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 07:03 pm:

All engines had ring gears on the flywheel from 1919 on, so it's easy to electrify - but no need to until you're so old and fragile you can't crank it anymore :-)

The tail lamp was a kerosene light on all non electrics and from 1924 on it was called Ford O and was turned 90 degrees compared to the usual 1916-23 style - the large lens got clear glass for '24 to give better licence plate illumination while the small glass that formerly was for the plate got a red glass and pointed to the rear.

No good rear light for modern days really, I have also put red bicycle leds in the rear for better visibility to modern traffic.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Sutton on Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 07:25 pm:

Very anxious to see pictures!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 08:09 pm:

Jack,

Congratulations on your new Model T and welcome to the forum and hobby!

From your profile I snagged the photo below. If that is not your T, please let folks know or we will probably run with that guess.



If that is your Model T, you have a car chassis and NOT the Ton Truck chassis. That is based on the much shorter wheel base of the T verses the TT and the much smaller rear axle the T has than the TT has. Note there is a remote chance that some shortened a TT frame, installed a car rear axle and made the vehicle. But it is much more likely that they used a car size chassis to build the truck you have in your profile picture.

The chassis clearly has the late 1926 – 27 wire wheels but those can be place on any T. It also has the coil box mounted on the engine, but that can be done on any T. One of the neat things about a Model T is many of the parts will fit many of the years.

If you look at the thread at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/276839.html it has information on the 1926-27 car size commercial chassis firewall. It was NOT used on the Ton Trucks only on the commercial car chassis. And it used the 1926-27 car hood & fenders.

Note the truck body looks very familiar – there are others very similar to that one. But I just got called for “honey do” help so I will stop here and let others post additional comments.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Murray on Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 08:13 pm:

There's one picture uploaded to my profile page already; I'll try to find time to resize and upload some more tomorrow.

Roger, thanks for the info; I'll set up a standing eBay search for the Ford O. For visibility I've been thinking I need at minimum one of the big orange triangular Slow Moving Vehicle reflectors on the back for road use...this is a rural area and folks here are used to seeing them on mechanized and horsedrawn farm equipment.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 09:04 pm:

Jack
In Canada the oil lights were usually "CLASCO" (Canada lamp and stamping co). Cab less chassis were still available and electric start was a option right till the end of production
I wouldn't bet on side and tail lights being standard on your vehicle new


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Friday, October 21, 2016 - 03:19 am:

Jack, the tail light may be called anything at eBay, here's a picture (from Donnie Brown's posting here: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/411944/470125.html?1408239795 )

f O

Another way to find it would be to place a wanted ad in the classifieds here. Just beware of scammers - if they have a part they didn't google the pic of, they should be able to give photos from several angles.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerome Hoffman, Hays Kansas on Friday, October 21, 2016 - 08:49 pm:

If an early 26 it may have had the 25 fenders on it if it was an honest to God commercial chassis. A picture of the front corner of the frame where the Rad sits down will show what type of fender iron it used.


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