Drove in the Floyd Christmas Parade

Drove in the Floyd Christmas Parade

Way to go Lester.
Rich

Nothing like a couple of smiling queens riding along !!

I tried the starter on mine yesterday, temps were in the 30s.
It's stored with the gas off, I just was curious how well it turned over...slightly slower than when warmer, but I know she would start. Didn't try the hand crank !

Replaced a leaking plug on the 23 touring. I'll let it cure overnight, then find out if it holds water.

How many freeze plugs have you replaced? Seems like hundreds.

So anyway...

This fender got bent so bad you couldn't turn the wheel. I'd like to think I'd got it an improved state. Even if people think a skim of bondo (which you'll probably be able to see when it's painted) makes it a 'bondo buggy' and 'junk'

Eight. Three on the 1915 and three on the 1923, then one more on each engine when one leaked.

As the newest custodian of the family 1914 Touring, I brought it home yesterday!

(I'm the 4th generation care taker.)

Oh, and I ordered a cotter pin kit from Langs. Custodian #3 didn't really like them. But I'll get them installed in the spring, when the weather allows.

Congratulations Gregory. Have a ball with it.
Rich

I tried to repair a starter motor.











Andre
Belgium

That's a nicer job of the starter motor than i have done on mine. Very nice.



Mot of you can guess what this might be intended for use as.

Added some accessories. Boyco cans, a tool box and a place to mount the spare tire

Last Saturday I had to change the u-joint on my coupelet after I found it too be worn out. Guess I missed it when I rebuilt the drive line. Have a Dec 21st appointment with the DMV for title and plates so that give me a few days to tidy all the loose ends up.

I'd love to take it to the 2018 Holiday Excursion tour!

Today is supposed to be the only sunny day this week in Hillsboro, so I took Betsy for a drive. A lady in a red SUV followed me home and took some pictures of the car (for her husband) before I pulled it into the garage.

My S10 had it's head gasket go south( don't know for sure yet), I had to move the cars around so I could drive the 21 to work. Wind chill in the 20's today, but dry. Glad it was only 3 1/2 miles each way, burr. Oh no problem starting with 30W oil in it. Of course having the Warford helped that some. LOL

I gave Gracie a good cleaning, changed the oil, lubed her, put hunks of Irish Spring soap (regular scent) in places where mice like to nest, parked her in the garage with the cover on and told her I'd see her in the spring.

Since I am waiting on the "speedster project" engine block to come back from the machine shop. I had a little time to spare, so I decided to finish some of the "new addition, 1914 speedster" engine swap details. (I stole the 14s incorrect 1919 engine to use as a donor engine for "speedster project #1")

I removed all the model A manifolds and carb that were on the 14 speedster when I got it. I just did not like the looks of the A parts. So I found a "Cyclone Vaporizer" combination manifold in my parts stash, to replace them with. I also finished up the install of the Bosch front plate distributor that I removed form the 1919 engine, and brought back to the 1914. I also rebuilt the fan assembly. I feel like I need to get the 14 back together, since I borrowed its engine for the greater good of Speedster project #1. . Im supposed to get the block back tomorrow, so it will be back to the "speedster project #1"

A couple of pictures of how it looked when I brought it home last month so I am cheating a little as I worked on it in November.







I am getting close to starting the engine.
I dropped the pan to check the lower end and discovered a model A crankshaft.



I removed the radiator and flushed it.
cleaned the new day timer.
removed a frozen up water pump and
replaced radiator and filled the system with vinegar. let it set overnight and drained it.
refilled with distilled water for the engine test.
I pulled the left rear wheel this morning and hope to clean up the oil mess and replace the outer seal. My rear end is a Ruckstell with the tag missing so I am not sure of the rear end vintage. Do I have to worry about the dreaded Babbitt thrust washer with the Ruckstell?

Not a Model A crank - '26 - '27 crank.

Finished moving my babbitting equipment time to try out the improvements.

Kinda OT; not a T piece but it's Ford. Here's a new Heinze coil I built for a Model R in Portugal.

Finally got tired of the chronic exhaust leak from a warped manifold on my Centerdoor so I bit the bullet and replaced it with a nice straight reproduction. Piece of cake! I will never waste time trying to make a warped exhaust manifold work again!

Val

I have repeated your last sentence to folks many times in the past. True, isn't it?

Last weekend it was a raining weekend, no weather to take T out.
Rebuild a Coil ring to keep me occupied.



Andre
Belgium

A few weeks ago there was a post that told us to make sure we checked the antifreeze in our cars as winter approached. I was a bit busy but made a mental note to check the Model A and Model T.

When I finally had time I couldn't find the antifreeze checker so I ordered one from Amazon while watching a bottle of water in the garage for signs of freezing.

Finally the checker came and I went to the garage to check the cars. The water levels were below the plate in both radiators and the tube was useless so I had to drain some out of the petcocks.

I can tell you that I almost froze my fingers but to my relief both cars were good to -34 F.

WHEW!

Andre

very nice!

Been out of action due to an injury. Today I got around to doing a hole repair.

BEFORE



AFTER

Started work on my intake/exhaust. Once I got the measurements and some steel I started drilling the holes. Yes, I drilled all the holes with my benchtop drill press it can be done. I lined it up on the block and it will fit near perfect.

Chad, are you gonna leave them sticking straight up like that ?


I let Don look at how my curtains are fastened today and found some fasteners for him.

No, I have another set of bends that bring them horizontal and tie into the exhaust. All that will be welded together. Then the exhaust will be joined together.



By bringing the exhaust up it gives the moc impression of an overhead.

I took the motor to an inspection station for confirmation of the serial number matching the original 1926 Indiana title I have had this title for 30 years. Then to the Missouri License bureau.

I got to keep the original title, paid my penalty of $200 and should be receiving my Missouri title in a few days. I am not very close to having it inspected and tagged, but this was a major hurdle for me. I haven't been able to do much on it this. Past year, but things are looking up health wise. Allen, SW, Missouri

Not enough. Not enough by a fraction.

My 1923 touring hasn't run since the unfortunate incident a year ago. I made a new left front wheel for it, but it sat waiting for a new fender for several months, and is still waiting for a top. For all that time I've been driving the 1915 runabout. But next month the runabout's engine will be coming out to get a new crankshaft, and Ill be driving the 1923 while the 1915 is down. So today I put some gas in the tank and started it up. With less than a mile on the new engine it's mighty stiff. Even with a fully charged battery the starter struggles to turn it over. Tomorrow I'll wash the dust off and take it for a drive.

Turned the gas on, started er up, shut gas off and ran till she stalled. All is good...

While not mine, my buddies Mark and Phil Eyre are busy getting their '11 Torpedo together.

Too many thing to list but I did get this cool box of parts from Chaffins on Sat. This will keep me busy for the next month...



And almost destroyed this radiator by pressure testing it after all the holes were plugged. The thing was leaking in 5 spots. Brass certainly reacts differently under pressure than aluminum does... thankfully what expands can be beaten back into submission.

A bicycle inner tube hooked to the inlet and outlet works good for pressure testing, you only need a couple of lbs.

Sure hope you can still buy fun projects bearings for the driveshaft. Might need some one day.

Hello Steve Jelf, will you be doing the engine work on the runabout or jobbing it out? Glad to see the touring in much better shape than the last post I had seen.

It will go to Mike Bender. He may let me help if I'm nice.

I took the touring for a Monday afternoon trip to town. It was a round trip of 11.3 miles, and I went reeeeeal slow and kept a tight grip on the wheel all the way because the steering felt so squirrely. This morning I checked the alignment, and instead of the proper 3/16" to 1/4" of toe-in I found 9/16" of toe-out! No wonder the car felt like it wanted to veer one way or the other. I have no idea how it got like that.

A crownwheel to replace the one that is kinda worn.
The bearing cage I center punched & peened a few years back is still tight. But that is the grey stuff on it?
That was a very nice axle. But it has a groove in it cut by a fallen steel part of a thrust washer. Too bad... one spare I have is fine except for 30 thou' wear on the outer end. Might have to see a machinist to turn it for me.

And I have no idea what is up with that thrust washer.

My typical weekend consists of visiting my favorite area businesses, which also happen to be owned by my friends, but if it’s nice (enough) outside, I drive the T instead.

This results in lots of great exposure for my friends and many conversations with locals and tourists, where I end up plugging the Piquette Museum. Oh and lots and lots of smiles and photos.

This weekend was somewhat unique as I recently broke 2 toes on my right foot.


Visiting Detroit’s best menswear store for 2018, George Gregory, in Corktown on Michigan Ave.



Getting some coffee at Bikes & Coffee, in Woodbridge, off Trumbull.



Historic Home Tour in the Boston Edison Neighborhood.



A new authentic Japanese restaurant just opened in my neighborhood. The visiting chef from Japan was thrilled to see a Model T.



Artsy picture a friend took for me.



It’s easier to drive the T with the boot than you would think. Certainly easier than driving my Tahoe.

Drove the 4-for to church Sunday, the Wife wanted to learn to dive the T. Gave her driving lessons Monday and Tuesday. If my blood pressure medicine holds out will try again today. They made her president of our club so I thought she learn to drive. She has rode with me for many miles but had never driven the T.

Will put a picture of our 1926 for-door when I figure out how.This 76 year old grandpa needs to get one of the 8 year old grandkids to show me how.

It is fun seeing these projects. I'm going to miss the pretty smile at the top come January.
Rich

Clyde, I always say have a kid teach you how. If they just show you (zip through it) that may not be enough.

Amen. A salesman was trying to show Joy how something worked in an electronics store the other day. Some kid walked by and made it work for them.

The guys who "restored" my 1923 touring pretty much used the right parts, but they blew it with the fasteners. I've been replacing Phillips screws and other glaringly wrong hardware, but I hadn't noticed these. They're my next replacement project.


Yes, it needs a wash too.


Fortunately an uncle who died in 1960 left a box of old time nuts and bolts that sometimes comes in handy for situations like this. The head has no marks.

Steve, I cant tell you how many modern bolts I have put in the lathe and modified for my project. I love it when I find originals in a box of otherwise junk.

The only thing that I have done with my T in December occurred yesterday - I haven't driven it in about six weeks and was feeling guilty, so I gave myself a little Christmas present and took it for a ride. I have commented here before that the roads in SW Florida are not great for old, slow cars. They are flat, straight, and posted for 45 or 50 MPH (which means that modern vehicle folks drive at 50-65 MPH). There was virtually no traffic yesterday afternoon!
Note to self: Take the T for a longer drive next Christmas.

This morning I finished replacing the outer bearing seals and sleeves in the rear axle on my 15. Almost time for a test drive.
Its on stands so I took a stationary trip in high gear and didn't hear any strange noise.

The day after Christmas was good for one rebuild carburetor.

Andre
Belgium

Took my 1925 factory roadster pickup on it a first drive around town

Finished speedometer, and installed all new kingpins,bushings,tie-rod pins & bushings, and oilers on our '13 touring

Ordered a fan belt!

Had some new pillars made for my 22 Center Door project.

Replaced flimsy repro starter switch and mounting plate with a rebuilt original switch and mounting plate. The original switch is much more robust. Used parts from two original switches to build one good one.

I am in the process of changing the engine in my 13. It has had a 1918 in it, likely since around 1918. It was time to correct that as the '18 engine is shot and seemed to be burning more oil than gasoline. Here is the car as of today.

New work benches in the shop!! my local Sears store went under and sold everything.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/iuisd1kngcn5lt6/AACoXs5BPBnELuXFdQ2m58YXa

Jeff


(Message edited by Jazzmonger on December 28, 2018)

Steve a light facing of those bolts in the grinder will remove the lettering, I have done this to many bolts on my build. (For those who don't have a supply of old fashioned bolts )

Darren - I love the Ohio slogan on the plate: "Yours To Disco"!

Installed the fitting for the new oiling system on my crankcase this morning.

Last week I assembled the block to the freshly straightened crankcase, only to have the gaskets "squish out" on both sides. Unbolted the block, removed it and found several crankcase holes dished upward from past repair jobs (yes, I should have checked).

Clamped a piece of 3/4" bar stock under two holes at a time and used my small acetylene torch to heat and pound down each hole. Checked with a straight edge and found no problems.

Also made a tool on the lathe for inserting the modern camshaft seal, consisting of a piece of aluminum bar stock. It slides over the threaded portion of the camshaft end and is .004" larger that the portion the seal rides on. I tried it before starting any assembly and the seal slides right on.

Block to crankcase starts again tomorrow.

With the weather being sunny and around 65 degrees , it was a day to go for a ride in the 26 pickup. All most got a free start and she was ready to go after sitting for a while. Grand day for T riding.

Beautiful day today, 45 degrees, mostly sunny, and windy. Went to recycling and the bank in the T. Came home, walked/jogged 1.3 miles of hills. Took the T to get a couple of pizza slices, which I brought home and washed down with a Bass Ale. Since the three basic food groups are beer, pizza and ice cream, I took the T to Baskin-Robbins and hit the trifecta. Then I came home and took a nap. Tomorrow I'll take the T to Cars and Croissants; it's basically a Cars and Coffee, but in this upscale neighborhood the base line car is a Porsche and it goes up from there. But folks are always glad when I bring one of my more humble toys.

Last Model T job of the year 2018.
only the flywheel and the magnets are reused, all the rest is new.

Happy New Year

Andre Belgium