MTFCA Forum

2nighthawks

Oops! Wrong side of the big blue lake! Thanks David.

2nighthawks

Steve - I was about to suggest that you might contact "Ron the Coilman" direct rather than wait to see if he "chimes in" here on the forum, because I'm thinking that he might not be too active on the forum right now as he's probably been pretty busy lately, not only because he just moved to Wisconsi...

2nighthawks

Just to add a bit to the good advice Steve provided concerning spare gasoline and specifically, about running board gas cans, if you might decide to purchase a set of the 3-can running board set offered by the major Model T parts suppliers, unless things have changed recently, if those "re-pop" cans...

2nighthawks

I have a 2019 Langs catalog,.....it that the one you guys are talking about, or is there a newer one?

2nighthawks

John Warren - Looks like a fun tour! Beautiful pictures,...thanx for posting. We all needed a bit of sunshine and it's very welcome even if just in pictures. Question - Just wondering what one has to do to be the "coolest driver?" Original Smith - Sorry you had problems. What went wrong with your ze...

2nighthawks

Nickolas - Lots of good advice on this thread you started and I would add just a bit more. Norm Kling mentioned having a club roster along with you, and Norm and others have mentioned that many folks from both Model T and Model A clubs would be willing to help if needed. In that vain, I would add ju...

2nighthawks

Rich J. - Because I have only had experience with stock Ford factory Model T and Model A mechanical brakes, this is pretty much conjecture on my part, but to add to what SurfCityGene told you, I would also think that you would do well to stick with wire wheels rather that wood wheels. I'm sure that ...

2nighthawks

Jonah - One more thing I should have said in my post just above: I wonder how many other old guys besides me have read something here on the forum, and would be willing to admit that they have often had to say to themselves,...."well I'll be darned! I didn't know that!" I know I have, and I personal...

2nighthawks

Jonah - For what it's worth, you did "NOT" ask a "stupid question"! As you can see, a lot of "sage wisdom" has been written here by several very knowledgable people! I betting that many who have read this thread besides you, have have gained some very valuable and "GOOD TO KNOW" information here due...

2nighthawks

.....but not "likely", right?

2nighthawks

.....oops! My first mention of the company name in my post above was incorrect. It's "etrailer.com". Sorry....dang "autocorrect" just did it again! Automatically omitted the "e" from etrailer.com!

2nighthawks

A suggestion to add a bit to what "Dellpound" just posted, I think an online company by the name of "trailer.com" would be a good place to make a wise selection of high quality tie-downs. They might cost you $40 or $50 each, but high quality for sure! I purchased a set of four ratcheting wheel baske...

2nighthawks

FWIW,....whenever towing any type car hauler trailer, I think it's very advisable to have a set of modern nylon ratchet straps with you, especially if it's a one-time/first-time car hauling job. The reason I mention "a set" of ratchet straps is because you can almost always pick up a blister pack se...

2nighthawks

Somewhere, a long time ago, I seem to remember reading a list of all of (or, maybe at least a lot of...) the many "improvements" that caused the '26 and '27's to be nicknamed "the new improved Ford". Maybe the additional machining done on the flywheels was one of those "improvements". (???)

2nighthawks

To add to what bnchief said, we all know that when doing any work that involves electrical wiring or anything electrical, it's always a good safety measure to "disconnect the battery", and a master safety switch is much quicker and more convenient than disconnecting a battery cable.

2nighthawks

Stan - I have an Interstate enclosed trailer that I am very happy with, but I have to admit that in the couple years I've had it, I probably only have a thousand or so miles on it. So I can't really tell you much about the trailer except that I am very happy with it so far. What I can tell you about...

2nighthawks

Bill Dizer - .....they would only be on the intakes, because there's only vacuum at work on the intakes, but no vacuum on the exhaust valve, and besides,.....the exhaust valve stems would be too hot for those little felt seals and just bake them to a crisp! ......harold

2nighthawks

Oops! As usual for me, I used "too many words" with my post above about my "cheapo" intake valve guide seals! Forget what I said about my little seal device spring "adding" a bit to valve spring pressure! In thinking more about it, those little added valve guide seal springs would actually work slig...

2nighthawks

Joe Bell- Les Schubert is exactly right. I don't know if there's any connection or not, but many years ago, I explained on the old forum, a method I used to make cheap but effective intake valve guide seals out of cheap standard hardware items, easy to make & install on my good running but worn & lo...

2nighthawks

Stan - Not to "clutter up" this interesting discussion on timers, but as an "aside", noticed something else interesting (to me at least) the address on the box of that timer,...2320 Michigan Ave in Chicago. That location is three blocks south on Michigan Ave of Chicago Technical College, where I got...

2nighthawks

Gonenorth - Yup! Chile,.....don't know why I said Argentina (???) If I'd just said "South America" that probably would have been better as I at least wouldn't have been "wrong", ....

Thanx for the correction, ....harold

2nighthawks

Just thought of something else that might be worth considering, and maybe someone else has had experience with the tires I'm about to mention: About 10 years ago, I bought a very nice, driver grade, '27 Model T depot hack from the family of the late Pete Cosner (R.I.P.) of the Long Beach CA Model T ...

2nighthawks

I have a set of Sears Allstate 4:50 x 21"s (Nylon whitewalls) on my '29 Briggs Model A Town Sedan which I drive regularly around town, and I never even give any thought to the "flat spot" thing at all, because if they do in fact develop "flat spots", I certainly never feel them. It might be noted th...

2nighthawks

Thoughts of McDonald Pass brings back lots of memories Stan,.....used to be a "big deal" to take out-of-state visitors up to Frontier Town for dinner, but I'm sure Frontier Town is long gone, huh? I'll bet there's at least one heck of a neat home up there still though if nothing else! What a firepla...

2nighthawks

I guess maybe due to COVID, I've had just a bit too much time, sitting around "contemplating" things, some of which really don't really matter. (....altho' it does sometimes lead to confusion.) However, in this regard, I can't help but notice that not only on the forum, but even in well known and re...

2nighthawks

Stan - Glad you had a good birthday,...keep on havn' 'em! Someone (...think it was Steve Jelf) said that when you get old enough, "everything someone says reminds you of something", and, a month now into my 80th year, I guess Im "old enough"! Well, you did it to me Stan, and your speaking of McDonal...

2nighthawks

Well,....HAPPY BIRTHDAY Stan, whenever it is! Yeah,....think that "cleaning up the shop" thing over very carefully! For sure,....it'll slow you down two different ways! First, the time it take to do the "cleaning up" will slow you down, and second,....you'll spend the next year or two wasting time b...

2nighthawks

Sorry to add to this already much too long of a thread to answer a simple question, but I would like to mention a handy tip to make close maneuvering easier, safer, and to add some "peace of mind". Centering the hand brake lever to "lock-in neutral" prior to intricate maneuvers like parallel parking...

2nighthawks

Ray S. - This is get'n complicated, and it's kinda' hard to visualize, but if you think about it, on that 4th upward pull of the crank, you would have exhausted the first one that "intook" a fuel charge, and another one that "intook" a fuel charge, would have been compressed and then "de-compressed"...

2nighthawks

....to put it another way,....one upward pull on the crank, or, one stroke, equates to one intake stroke in one cylinder,....the second upward pull on the crank, (second stroke) equates to second intake stroke on a second cylinder,.....AND THAT IS ENOUGH CHOKE! Any more will flood the engine!

2nighthawks

Dan Treace - You described my method exactly, except for one thing: I would not have used the word,..."revolutions". In describing my method, I'd say, only choke on two strokes (not revolutions). To me, a "stroke" is one upward pull on the hand crank,....that is, one upward pull on the crank, from a...

2nighthawks

Steve - YUP! Not only did I take a typing class in high school in 1958, but I think as far as education, that's the only thing I ever insisted on with my four boys. I made them all take typing, because I was pretty sure that what was originally called "the standard keyboard" was going to "survive" i...

2nighthawks

Sorry about posting the above for a second time,.....I was interrupted from the forum by a "CRASH" in the kitchen, which turned out do be a dropped bottle of salad dressing, and which of course required my "assistance" in clean-up operations, and when I got back to this, I thought I had not posted i...

2nighthawks

Yesterday 12/12, Ignacio Valdes started a post entitled "Drilling Steel?". Ignacio eventually solved his problem of difficulty in drilling steel, apparently by purchase of what was obviously a very high quality set of "Milwaukee" drill bits. Within that same post, Stan Howe posted what i consider so...

2nighthawks

Yesterday 12/12, Ignacio Valdes started a post entitled "Drilling Steel?". Ignacio eventually solved his problem of difficulty in drilling steel, apparently by purchase of what was obviously a very high quality set of "Milwaukee" drill bits. Within that same post, Stan Howe posted what i consider so...

2nighthawks

Robert:
Oops! Brain fog! I knew that the "T" that you and your daughter were (and are) working on was a touring, but I guess I had just been reading several speedster posts on the internet and here on the forum,...sorry,.....harold

2nighthawks

Robert G. - Thanks for the reply,....I think that more modern valve spring compressor that Steve Jelf showed (....that he paid $2 for) is actually designed for doing valve work on modern overhead valves with the head(s) off of the engine just might work well,....and I gotta' admit,....I never really...

2nighthawks

Robert G. - First of all, thanks so much for documenting all of your (and daughters) work with write-up and great photos! Have been following, and as such, been wondering if you ever obtained what you might consider a suitable valve spring compressor, as you apparently did not care for the one you'd...

2nighthawks

I guess I really should stay out of this discussion, but, here goes..... :roll: I'm definitely "not the brightest bulb in the marquis", and now into my 80th year, which doesn't help either, but I have to say, even I have learned a lot from this forum by regular participation in it for many years, an...

2nighthawks

Larry,....in my opinion, that would have happened long ago, except for liability issues nowadays in this super litigious society we live in,....in other words,....there's a reason for all those lawyer jokes! Sad but true,...

.....harold

2nighthawks

Mike,....A few years ago, I bought a pretty good sized roll of some sort of aluminum wire at a yard sale for five bucks! One of the best "fivers" I've ever spent,....use it quite often for all kinds of stuff! And Mark,...not tryn' to be a "wise-guy", but I guess I carry a hammer so that I don't have...

2nighthawks

.....notice how every one of those Model T's are parked at a weird angle, taking up all of what could have been 3 parking spaces, just to avoid the possibility of "door dings! Such nerve !!! .....right?

2nighthawks

Seems like it's very seldom that anybody talks about the fact that Ford went to the distributor/single coil ignition system in the new 1928 Model A (as did most of the rest of the automobile industry) and nobody ever looked back for 40 or 50 years until electronic ignition systems took over. And I w...

2nighthawks

Hmmm,.....in thinking about this, maybe someone who has the time, skills, and access contacts to look at original Ford drawings (original design drawings as well as "change" drawings) to see if that little hole, and other hood shelf minor details might appear,...??? Might be that if these parts were...

2nighthawks

John - The "notch" shown in Richs' most recent two photos is the type of "notch" I had in mind in my 6:59 post of 11/26 above. That makes more sense to me for water "drainage" than a hole centered vertically as shown in the original post. Mention has been made in this thread that possibly several di...

2nighthawks

I have to agree with Rich Eagle. I don't quite buy the drain hole for water thing, because, first of all, those hood shelves are not exactly a "water-tight" fit to the surface they rest on to begin with, plus, if the intention was for a "water drain hole", it seems like a more effective opening woul...

2nighthawks

.....oops,...."TYPO! Meant to say that you'll enjoy the Model A! (....not sure if it's "fat fingers" or "lame brain",....but probably a combination of both!

2nighthawks

Neil - I have to "echo" what Dennis just said! I have a '29 Model A Briggs Town Sedan, plus several Model T's, and love them all! It seems that there are quite a few "old Ford folks" that own both Model T's and Model A's, but then there seem to be quite a few Model T guys that absolutely HATE Model ...

2nighthawks

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all U.S. Marines,....from me,... H.R. Schwendeman, USMCR 1963 to 1969.

Today is the 245th birthday of the United States Marine Corps,....."SEMPER FI"

2nighthawks

Ron - If you have long-standing ties with that part of Michigan, you are no doubt aware of this, but there is a website called "The Leland Report", originally started long ago by Keith Burnham and one of his sons, who is now gradually becoming more and involved with the running of The Leland Report ...

2nighthawks

Jim - What you say is very true,...the fact that parades can be very hard on bands. However, if you are careful in your driving, it is possible to minimize the extra wear on the low band. While parades are usually a lot of "stop-and-go" slow speed driving, you can wait until there quite a gap ahead ...

2nighthawks

.....and, if he had indeed made such a "misteak", he'd have been sure to catch it on the first "poofread"!

2nighthawks

Steve - A couple very minor suggestions that you might consider adding to your excellent "flat tire" tips (unless already included but missed by me) and understand that you won't "hurt my feelings" if you don't use them: :D Rather than the little plastic "cheapie" valve stem caps that most tire stor...

2nighthawks

Hey,...those pioneers used to grease those wagon wheel hubs with animal fat, and they made it all the way from Independence, Missouri to Oregon!!!

2nighthawks

Hmmm,.....I think I'm sorry I ever brought this up! Mark thinks the marine grease he tried may have "separated" and became thinner, and Dan tried what he called "white marine grease" and said that in two years or so, it became hard and "caked". Well, I can honestly say that I didn't just try the mar...

2nighthawks

Mark - Thank you for the post,....very surprising and I'm thinking that some more research is in order. I know that for many years, a lot of very heavy boats have been hauled long distances on two and even three axle trailers, but never heard of boat trailer wheel bearings failing because of the typ...

2nighthawks

Norman Kling - The grease requirements you mentioned are basically the reasons for which I buy grease from marine or boating supply stores. Marine supply stores sell grease that is designed for use on boat trailer wheel bearings, and I just figure that whatever "waterproof" qualities are present in ...

2nighthawks

One other thing that convinces me of how much gasoline can evaporate just because of the daily inhale/exhale of the gas tank thru' the vent hole because of temperature change, is something you reminded me of Norm: Besides the Model T I talked about above, that's inside the garage about a hundred mil...

2nighthawks

John C. - I agree, draining the tank is always the best idea, but you kinda' missed one of the points that I was trying to make,....is that once in awhile, you just sorta' get "caught", because the last time you drove the car, you didn't realize that THAT was gonna' be the last time for the year, be...

2nighthawks

For what it's worth, I have solved a problem that I have experienced several times during a lifetime of Model T and Model A ownership. Not sure how many others have had similar "experiences", but I have had several instances whereby partial tankfuls of gasoline have COMPLETELY evaporated when a car ...

2nighthawks

Only thing I can find online that pertains to fan operated governor for Model T Ford engine is excellent video of Bud Merz (deceased-R.I.P.) and his son Robert Merz excellent videos showing operation of fan operated governor on the Merz Model T powered "buzz saw". however, can find nothing showing i...

2nighthawks

Just personal opinion here, but I buy grease cartridges for my grease guns at a marine store. It's especially made for boat trailer wheel bearings, and I just figure that if it's good for boat trailer wheel bearings that are submersed regularly in water during launching (especially salt water) I wou...

2nighthawks

Been kind of expecting to see David Dewey "chime in" here as he is very knowledgeable about steam, and I believe he has a steam engine about this size,....???

2nighthawks

Dallas - Yeah, that sailor's got a lot invested in "accessories" on that runabout, but what he REALLY needed was a new set of tires to replace those "baldies"! Lets see,....windshield visor, spotlight, dogbone & motometer, rear spare tire carrier, parking lights on rear fenders, demountables on fanc...

2nighthawks

I bought a 28' enclosed vee-nose Interstate trailer from "Trailers Plus" two years ago. The particular model I bought is called an All Sport, which is a combination toy hauler and auto hauler. Not your typical "toy hauler" as it is built heavy duty to enable hauling full size automobiles, which many...

2nighthawks

.....well, I guess that shows how "computer illiterate" I am, because when I typed the company name and address in, after posting, the blue "click -on" link appeared! Now I know how THAT works!

2nighthawks

Jim - I'm gonna' start by saying this most of what I'm about to write is conjecture on my part, but here's what I perceive as the problem: Not sure how much your car and of course the chrome lug nuts are exposed to "the elements", but I'm betting that this is what's going on: I believe that there ar...

2nighthawks

Allan - When you visualize what happens at the carburetor end (or "fork" end) of the rod, in a full 360 degree rotation of the fork ends of the rod inserted in the two little holes in the horizontal piece at the top of the carburetor adjustment, at one setting, the one fork "tine" end of the fork is...

2nighthawks

I just today, received my Vol. 49, No. 29 issue of "Old Cars" Fall Hershey Issue, which contains a 3-page article with photos, entitled "Model T Heaven", and subtitled "Antique Auto Ranch offers original Tin Lizzie parts & more". A very interesting and well written article about Antique Auto Ranch o...

2nighthawks

This is all "personal opinion" so take it for what it's worth. My first Model T (stock engine) had a water pump on it when I bought the car in 1978. I took the water pump off and noticed no difference in the running or cooling of the engine. Just an occasional "gurgle" from the radiator after shutti...

2nighthawks

Sorry about the "double post"! Computer very slow to post and fooled me,....didt'n think it posted the first time!

2nighthawks

Very interesting thread and some great pictures of some very nice work. Just wondering Chad,...the one photo of the front end that shows other than Model A king pins. Is that a Model A front end with later Ford front end brakes, spindles, king pins, etc, etc? Just wondering,.....harold

2nighthawks

Very interesting thread and some great pictures of some very nice work. Just wondering Chad,...the one photo of the front end that shows other than Model A king pins. Is that a Model A front end with later Ford front end brakes, spindles, king pins, etc, etc? Just wondering,.....harold

2nighthawks

Might be that your crankshaft endplay has been "marginal" for some time, and then all of a sudden conditions caused it to be a bit more than "marginal",.....???

2nighthawks

AdminJeff/MTFCA - Not sure who to, and exactly where to, present this suggestion, so for now, I will just post here: I personally think that Irish club member John O'Neill has done such a wonderful job on this color-coded cut-away Model T power plant, that I can't help thinking that someone from MTF...

2nighthawks

Take particular note of exactly how many turns from fully closed to normal running setting of your carburetor adjustment is, and memorize the setting, or, especially if you have more than one "T", maybe even write it down! It's not uncommon to have difficulty in getting your "T" engine started after...

2nighthawks

Pretty quick thinkn' I'd say! .....'specially fer' an ol' guy! Seriously, I'd say it's very admirable to make an incident like that an excellent object lesson and "wake-up call"for all of us as to how quick and innocently something like that can happen! And I'd also say that a lot of good can come o...

2nighthawks

Steve Jelf - You've posted a number of very good "introductory" items that I think are a "must read" for those folks that are new on the forum, and especially those that are just coming into the Model T hobby. I think that along with viewing some of your past posts, any newcomer should also be encou...

2nighthawks

I think I read fairly recently that Fastenal has discontinued that service,.....???

2nighthawks

Just imagine the abuse the bands in those "T's must take at Yosemite by numerous "inexperienced" Model T drivers of all kinds,....wonder what type of planetary transmission band material they find most successful,....Kevlar, wood or Scandinavia??? I'm guessing wood,.....???

2nighthawks

Perhaps due to the need for brake band adjustment, the brake band began to drag when he placed the lever in the neutral position,........???

2nighthawks

Thanks Jim,....didn't even think to try that!

2nighthawks

....really weird! Acted like it didn't "post" on the first try, so tried again, and with no initial indication, it obviously posted the first time, and then the second time as well! Sorry,.....harold

2nighthawks

Just today received my current issue of Old Cars Weekly, and altho' I'm sure that this auto auction is already well known about by the "car guys" in the South Central USA, but just in case, I thought I'd mention that the magazine contains a full-page ad about "The Wilcox Collection", no reserve Smit...

2nighthawks

Just today received my current issue of Old Cars Weekly, and altho' I'm sure that this auto auction is already well known about by the "car guys" in the South Central USA, but just in case, I thought I'd mention that the magazine contains a full-page ad about "The Wilcox Collection", no reserve Smit...

2nighthawks

No Mark,....It's probably me that might have "offended" someone! I appreciate that you have shared with everyone what happened to you. After re-reading all of this, I realize that I could have "worded" my post a lot better. I just meant that so many ways of "the proper way of cranking" (some right &...

2nighthawks

......Stephan Heatherly,......sorry I mis-spelled your name, and again, please don't be offended, I realize your good intentions and I hope our "discussion" here will serve to prevent some injury and also maybe make some folks a bit less afraid of hand-cranking,......harold

2nighthawks

I feel like I can speak with a bit of "authority" on this subject, because I have been "hand-cranking" old Fords for over 60 years (....Model A in high school in the '50's) with never a problem! And it occurred to me that,....yeah dummy,....just start bragging about it, and guess what might happen t...

2nighthawks

One is Brassworks and the other is Berg. According to what I've read on the forum, it's kind of a "toss-up" which to go with, but for what it's worth, I think Brassworks is the older company, but I think both build an excellent product,.....harold

2nighthawks

Corvette Guy - What your "local" radiator guy doesn't realize is that two companies manufacture excellent replacement Model T radiators, and they're BOTH in the good ol' U.S.A.!

2nighthawks

Sorry Steve & Allen,....simultaneous typing! And by the way Steve,...."hi", and a very good point you make,.....harold

2nighthawks

Allen - A few comments,....for what they may be worth :roll: I like the looks of that one too! Looks to me like just what you're looking for: It's a truck (pickup) which is what you said you want. It's one of what used to be called,...."the new improved" Model T, and as you'll learn,....while it's s...

2nighthawks

Allen - To add a bit to what Dan and the guys have explained about the Ruckstell 2-speed rear end, it is one of the very few, in fact, perhaps the ONLY accessory that Henry Ford ever approved of! He may not have come right out and said it outloud, but he saw to it that Ruckstell parts are even liste...

2nighthawks

Allen - Welcome to the forum and the Model T "community"! You are definitely off to a good start. As an experienced amateur mechanic, you definitely have the right idea, because "generally speaking", Model T's are easy to work on, but definitely different. As an example, removal of a Model T starter...

2nighthawks

.......ooops! Just noticed that the valve spring retainer is "hexagonal",....NOT octagonal! Oh well,....not all that important I guess. The main thing is,....they are normally perfectly round!

2nighthawks

To add to what Stephen just said, Royce Peterson, who left this forum and started another excellent forum several years ago, called,..... I believe,..."Fix Auto",....??? Not sure about that. But anyway, several years ago, Royce posted on THIS forum, an excellent post that talked about the fact that ...

2nighthawks

Daniel - Actually, a stock Model T is more like 4 to 1 compression. An accessory "high compression" head that's sometimes advertised to afford 6 to 1 is not really quite 6 to 1 compression,.....FWIW,.....harold

2nighthawks

I'm wondering if those very "unique" and unusual valve train components might be found in one or more of the several Model T era "after-market" accessory and parts catalogs? Like Western Auto Stores accessory catalogs for example. Never seen anything like what's shown in the photos,....especially th...

2nighthawks

John C. - I agree with what you said about the "top mounted gearbox", and this may be a poor analogy (....altho' the tractor guys will love it....) but the planetary gear reduction at the top end of the steering column reminds me of the seemingly "backwards" design of a lot of farm tractors. I alway...

2nighthawks

John Codman - Please forgive the slight "thread drift" here, but this has become a very interesting thread, and you and Bill D. have come pretty close to a couple "pet peeves" of mine. First of all, I use strictly non-ethanol gasoline in my Model A and four Model T's, because there are several quali...

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