I need some help so I can restore my 1926 Model T Touring. A quick background I inherited this car from my grandfather and want to restore it so it will run. My grandfather had it working before he died but it has been sitting for the past 8 years. Whats my first steps to get my Model T to start so I am able to drive it and eventually fully restore it. Any input is helpful.

Thank you for your time.

Best thing you can do is find some old guy who likes T's and knows something about them, ask him for help, believe most of what he says but not everything and ask a lot of questions here.

If you could tell us what condition the car is in it would really help to know where to start offering suggestions for getting it to run and drive.

There are a couple big clubs in California close to where you live so it shouldn't be too hard to find somebody who can give you a hand. Frank Harris is in Long Beach, lots of guys around San Diego.

As Stan says, there are several T guys in the San Diego area. I would hope that at least one of them will see this and contact you.

Michael,

We have a lot of guys from the MTFCSD in North County, I'm sure there are more than a few in Oceanside or the beach towns. Go to the club website & join.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=mtfcsd

First thing is buy a couple of bars of "Lava" you'll need it. If the car was running 8 years ago it shouldn't take much. You'll no doubt need a new battery & obviously gas, change the oil (I use 10-30 multi vis, but that's a preference) the plug is under the flywheel, pretty much like a modern car, there are 2 petcocks on the passenger side, above the plug, open the top one, make sure it's clear by running a pipe cleaner or wire through it to make sure it's clear fill with about 4 quarts of oil, when the petcock begins to flow, close it. Retard the spark (lever left of the steering wheel) by pushing it all the way up, the other lever is the throttle pull it down about 4 notches. Pull the hand lever all the way back to set the emergency brake & chock the wheels (it's been sitting for a while so the clutch plates may be stuck & it will creep) put the ignition switch on Batt & step on the starter button, while cranking pull out the choke for a few seconds & release, you may need to do this a few times, it's on the right side of the dash & see what happens, if it starts pull down on the spark, this controls engine speed, then the throttle, controls car speed, until you get a good idle.

Do not attempt to drive it until someone's given you a few lessons.

Literature to buy, "The Ford Service Manual" & an instruction book. these are available for any of the vendors, Mac's, Snyder's, Langs et al, they all have web sites.

If I forgot something someone will chirp in.

Alex

A couple of more things, pull the plugs, you may need some penetrating oil, they should be gaped around .30, leave them out turn the switch to Bat & hand crank, you should get 4 distinct buzzes from the coils, if you do, replace the plugs. Now you can hit the starter. If the coils don't buzz they may need rebuilding or replaced.

Alex

But... before you put the plugs back in, turn the ignition off, put the keys in your pocket (just to be safe), cover a spark plug hole with your thumb, and have a friend hand crank the engine. Repeat with the other three spark plug holes. This will tell if you have compression in all four cylinders. I did this helping a friend last week, and it turned up a stuck exhaust valve.

I keep thinking of things. before you check the compression & the plugs are out put some oil into the cylinders & hand crank they're probably dry in which case there will be little or no compression.

I didn't see these items in the posts so I will add them. Check the water level in the radiator. It should be up to about the middle of the top tank. I good reference is the Ford emblem. If you fill it too full you will lose some water after it warms up. It will find it's own level which is about half way up the top tank.

Also be sure you have a good battery.

You should jack up the rear wheels and put on jack stands so that when you get it started it won't start moving if the clutch is stuck. After you get it running, work all the pedals and it should unstick. It can't go in low and high at the same time, so if you pull the parking brake lever halfway back to the neutral position and then push down the low pedal, it will unstick the clutch. If it doesn't unstick, it will kill the engine. If you get the wheels turning the brake lever should stop them. Be sure to put in neutral just before the wheels stop.

If you haven't driven a Model T before, please get some instruction from a local member before you try to drive it.

Yes there are many members in north county, and I invite you to join us in the next general meeting at the San Diego Automotive Museum at Balboa Park, San Diego. The meeting is Wednsday Sept. 9 at 6:30 PM. Plan on having dinner.
Norm

Michael,

Make sure you jack up the rear as close as you can get to the backing plates, if you lift from the differential you could bend the axle.

Also, if your Grandfather didn't have Prestone or another coolant in the radiator you'll probably need to flush every thing out, once the engine's warmed up I use a quart of distilled vinegar & let it run awhile, disconnect the hoses & flush the radiator & block with a garden house, then let it drain out. Refill with 50/50 Prestone & distilled water (as you know the water here isn't fit to drink let alone use in a car). As Norm said fill maybe an inch or so above the core, the coolant will expand, if it boils over don't worry, too much coolant, a good operating temperature is just a few degrees below boiling. If you don't have one purchase a MotoMeter.

Alex

Michael,
I suggest that you spend some time getting to know your model T with someone that knows/owns a model T before you start taking things apart. Your Grandfather may have repaired what ever major item(s) that needed fixing and the car may not require much to get it running.
It's great if you are able to drive the car some and become more attached before getting involved in to a big restoration project.
There are many of us model T owners living in the San Diego area that could possibly provide the necessary guidance. If you are located in the San Diego area, Send me an e-mail and I will try and hook you up with a local model T owner near you that can provide some help.

Stan, some 'old guy'? Ouch!<grin> Dave

I used to consider people my age as "old", but now I think of them as young and those at least 10 years older than I am as "Old" As I get older, the 10 years continues to advance. "Old" is a state of mind.
Norm