MTFCA Forum

Are there 2 gaskets under the valve seat?
Sometimes there is an extra one is left in by accident during a "rebuild"

I will stand corrected on this matter.
The ones I have been calling 26-27 rear springs must just be worn out, smashed flat later springs.
Used ones come in all sorts of heights after 100 years of use and abuse.

40 weight oil is too heavy. On a fresh rebuild it needs to be 20 weight. After break in (thousands of miles) 30 can be ok. On a modern oil the first number (before the W) is winter weight and the second number is summer weight. Summer weight matters more than winter because we rarely drive model T's...

No one has mentioned that a Model T can run hot by just using too thick of an oil. I have seen this on several cars before. What grade oil are you using? The cooling system can be cleaned with vinegar if it is filled with mud or scale and crud. Vinegar is cheap and environmentally friendly, until it...

Yes, the 26-27 ones are shorter.
And they have had several different numbers of leaves depending on how heavy the body is.

Let's not forget about the clutch. He says slow to take off and shudders when shifting, it could be the clutch. Easy clutch check: Put the car in high and chock or strap the car down. Key OFF, engage the manual starting crank in the horizontal position. Stand on the crank and nothing should move. Th...

While I have never used this product I have know about it for years. https://www.muggyweld.com/product/super-alloy-1/ It works on Zinc and Pot metal alloys. But I would use a backer plate to keep cracks away in the future. No matter what it is, the chrome platers use a filler product to repair the p...

Check to make sure the vent in the gas cap did not get clogged.

If I understand the symptoms right it sure sounds like a fuel flow issue.
There is a slim possibility of a thermal issue but that does not feel right.
Did it go farther or shorter on the wicked cold trip vs warmer trips?

The square hole in the end fits the old Prest-o-lite acetylene tanks. Used when you did not want to wait and cleanup the carbide generator. https://indyencyclopedia.org/prest-o-lite/ It only fits the smaller sized tanks, the larger ones used a larger valve and key. Back in the day the tanks needed a...

According to previous posts the blocks should be 3/4" x 1 1/2" http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/33961.html http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/24197.html?1170435525 Measuring my early 1926 Touring they are 3/4" x 1 3/8" x about 9". These are factory original 99 year old running board bloc...

Ok, here is some voltage theory. A.C. = Alternating Current it is a voltage source that rises and falls in a cyclical pattern called a sine wave. It can be thought of like a crankshaft rotating and the piston going up and down, plotted over time the piston position is a sine wave pattern. if you use...

That makes me happy, its about helping each other and putting more cars back on the road.
History is best taught with real live physical examples.
Plus they are just fun.

I was going to offer an extra I got in the trade but he needs the style you got.
Mike

Jim, The DC and AC discussion was in reference to post #2 in this topic where it was stated that LED’s run on DC and not AC. Then they went on to discuss using a rectifier with 4 diodes making a bridge rectifier. It is an often repeated mistake about LED’s and AC power. As long as it is within produ...

Good luck finding those, they can be hard to find.
Hopefully someone out there has one for you.

Mike

There were 2 different, not interchangeable, styles of these door latches depending on who made the body. There is the more common style with the notched corner and inserted nuts in the plate. The other style has square corners all around and countersunk holes for all mounting holes. If we knew what...

To clear up some details here, and probably cause confusion. LED bulbs will run on AC power but... They are diodes at heart so will only light on half the cycle. Not that anyone notices this. DC is measured at steady voltage, also known as peak voltage. AC is measured as RMS (equal power to DC) volt...

If you look at the daily production totals / serial numbers in the book "Ford, The Car That Changed The World" by Bruce McCalley commonly called "The Encyclopedia" it has the data, sorta. Once you get past the earliest years (before 1913) the daily production is recorded well. You will have to compa...

It's sad but the fact that the auction is listed specifically as no shipping it will get very few bidders. It is way too far for me or anyone in my area to buy and pickup parts. While there is stuff. I am interested in I can not make the terms of the auction. This is a seller decision but if you wan...

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Yes, all of them were used but...
2 on each side of the hinge used machine screws and square nuts and the rest are wood screws.
One at the top and one at the bottom to make sure the door did not fall off.

Also see
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32131

Is this the event you are asking about? The Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, NE, will host the International Speedsters Trials & Reunion on June 18th-21st, 2025. https://www.museumofamericanspeed.org/speedstersreunion.html Or maybe May 24-25: NWVS Memorial Day Speedster Run (Kenn...

Back in 2009 the forum had this posted accessory. It is an oil pump that uses valve lift to work its plunger. Oil is pumped up to the dash board and into a sight glass for the driver to see. Oil then drains down to the front of the engine by gravity. It's purpose is to keep oil in the front bearings...

The original Ford generators for the 1919 cars had a few different features.
This looks like one.
They had the fields wound and wired differently also.
I cant remember if there are other detail differences or not.
Quite fixable with care and a few more parts.

Mike

While I love LED lights they are not without weakness. I have been using them for probably 15 years now. They are bright, consume very little electricity and last a very long time. The only failures I have had are ones that fell to pieces. When choosing bulbs besides voltage and polarity make sure t...

Make them, I made one to fix a Victor and it was not made like that. It was a solid billet (stud and base one piece) vs yours having a carriage bolt. Buy a nut and carriage bolt. The only piece you really have to make is the mounting plate. That is a formed flat sheet with some holes. They made them...

While I feel you have an adjustment or wear issue I would still adjust the brake pedal a bit. Straighten the curve at the bottom a touch so it clears. Then adjust the top curve to fit the pedal trim slot. Pedals are often found to be bent poorly after 100 years of "experience". Model T brakes are no...

Why does this also matter to people not in California? Many states are following the California rules with more added every year. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington New motor...

Here is an article written back in the day describing the 6 sizes of the 95 cotter pins and where they go.
They are 3 different diameters and available from many places.
I usually get a assortment kit and loose most of them when the case pops open
I would give credit if I knew who originally wrote it.

Ford used cotter pins heavily through 1926. For the 1927 model year cotter pins were being replaced with lock washers. Exact transition dates are nominal just like everything Ford. Critical fasteners stayed with them through the end and beyond. I assume it was a cost cutting measure since a lock was...

Yes it is true that the Coupe and Tudor wood parts do not share any common part numbers for the roof wood. But I believe there is a common style between them. I prefer to look up factory part numbers in my digital copy of The Encyclopedia. 26-27 Tudor Wood Factory Part Numbers Frame (Roof) Assembly ...

Is this what you are looking for?
I found these in the parts pile looking for something else.

Yes, I have had this project for 5 or 6 years now and have searched for how it was done on several occasions over the years. There is a lot of great documentation with dimensions on the 26-27 coupe along with pictures on various forum posts. There are a lot of pictures of the Tudor roof but dimensio...

For those that do not know about the Benson Ford Research Library: It is part of "The Henry Ford" museum in Detroit They have most of the early Ford drawings and documentation, some have been lost to time and a fire many years ago. https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-resour...

Buried in this old 2010 thread about the 1915 Top it shows all the rear windows and their sizes
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1277520007
Good luck with your project

Lucas, So many questions in one thread it is going to get confusing. Connect with other owners locally and a lot of questions will be answered. It does not seem like you are testing the spark correctly and need a better procedure. The pitman arm - https://www.modeltford.com/item/3547.aspx needs to b...

Brent, Thank you for the reply. I am familiar with your shop and hope to visit someday. Most people are surprised how much wood there is in a Model A sedan. Your web site has some good pictures of Model A wood - https://www.model-a-ford.com/ I did not think Benson Ford had any wood drawings, I have ...

Ken, Thank you for the reply. I know that the parts can be bought and both Langs and FordWood sell good quality stuff but it is more simple than that. If I have to rebuild the entire drive-train, fix the body, buy glass, upholstery, and buy wood the project will never get done. The project simply be...

The flat back of the Model T wire wheel is not strong unless it is supported on the outside also. Correct wire wheel hubs fit snugly into the outer portion of the wheel supporting them better. Model A wire wheels have a formed back and are much stronger. Without the proper support they will crack at...

The discussions about wood plans has me thinking.
Does anyone have wood plans for the 26-27 Tudor?
There is not much wood in the body, most of it is in the roof.
Anything out there, contact me?
Thanks

Wow, those that were asking better act on this one.
I wish I could get a set of wood plans for a 26-27 Coupe and 26-27 Tudor.
I was about to order some and sadly Leon died ending that option.

Ez-Pass knows you have a trailer from the scanning software. They will charge more for the trailer. Drive like normal and all is good. There has been a lot of lake effects snow lately so check to see that the path is clear where you travel. Even without that there have been several snow events and t...

As the owner of a '21 centerdoor I will attest to they are not an easy restoration or build. The 1915 centerdoor is a very unusual car, not recommended for a first restoration. My general assessment of the scale of difficulty and cost of restorations. Actual results will vary greatly. Easiest (cheap...

My normal advice to those interested in Model T's or new owners is to hook up with others in the area. While there is a ton of good stuff on the web from forums and videos and more but nothing beats in person hands on diagnostics by someone with experience. There are as many different levels of expe...

Dan,
I am always curious about different ideas and designs. I remember rear hydraulic brakes from years ago that are now gone. Not sure if these are the same ones I remember or not.
I would be interested is seeing the documentation.
Mike

As a beginning point look at the assembly drawings in the technical section, Vowell Art https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/app.php/gallery/album/44 More drawings are available on his personal facebook pages The MTFCA sells a series of repair manuals on how to fix your car. These are the best bargain of in...

Fastenal is a retail and on line seller of fasteners and tools and more.
They will ship larger items on their trucks between locations. It is an option when shipping large items just like Greyhound and others.
Just make sure to spell it correctly when searching.

That is an oil pump driven off the back of the cam.
These are custom so I can not tell you who made the pump and setup.
Mike

Probably a fuel flow issue. Hold a can under the carb drain and let it flow for a while. It should remain a steady flow. I expect it will drop flow to a trickle after a bit. Bad fuel flow can come from many places. I have seen dirt in every part of the system. I have also seen pinched fuel lines and...

So basically every thing looks OK electrically and you completely lose power when a load is applied. It’s the battery. There’s a poor/failed internal connection. Under an extreme load, (cranking) it “opens” . Load test the battery if nothing else shows up connect ion wise. Charlie has it correct, t...

I love the concept enough that for 8 years in a row I hosted teaching events in my garage for members in the area. Covid and other issues shut it down and I hope to get it back going again someday. Giving back and helping others is a big part of being a club member. While Tennessee is probably too f...

It is a driveshaft pinion housing, part number 2583B.
It is junk for a stock setup but might be usable for the modern pinion bearing conversion.
Someone who actually does the machining for the conversion will have to answer that.

If Ford was only in it for the money he would not have cut his prices every time he could. He also paid his workers more than anyone else basically giving money away. No one is without faults, but he did a lot more good than almost anyone. He made and sold what the public wanted and bought. At shows...

We tend to ignore a basic fact of the Model T. For most of the production run Henry had a big problem, he could not build them fast enough. The popularity caused a very rapid rise in sales and the production had to try to keep up. He had such a large market share that today would call it a monopoly ...

I forgot to add: Keep an eye on your fan. There is no faster way to ruin you radiator and your day than having a blade hit the radiator. Bad bushings, broken blades, loose rivets or screws, plus having the hub come apart have ruined many radiators. As usual the devil is in the details and there is a...

While we are on the topic of saving the radiator I have a few reminders: 1) If you run straight water add an anti rust to minimize corrosion. And dont forget to drain in cold weather. 2) Use the cleanest most neutral water you can. 3) Brass radiator cars must use the proper antifreeze. A lot of "mod...

Something that is occasionally occurs and will cause lots of headaches is the wiring connections. These harnesses are hand made and good quality but every once in a while things go wrong. After the melt down it got some new wiring that has also not been proven. Verify that the wire end terminals are...

Thank you for the answers, and so far it looks like 1916-1923 centerdoors did not come with a dome light and some people add them. The 1915 centerdoor was a special body in lots of ways and the parts book is probably right. The part numbers of the dome light assembly and each of the parts are specia...

Calling all CenterDoor owners - Do you have a dome light? My 1921 CenterDoor (Fisher body) came to me mostly finished with a new interior but no dome light. Some insist I am supposed to have one but I do not feel the mounting block in the roof under the headliner and find no evidence of a switch. Lo...

According to the judging guidelines, encyclopedia, and parts books he has the correct fan assembly on his 1919 car. The 1917 to 1920 used an iron hub, riveted blade, straight arm. grease cup style fan. I can not find a diagram for it. It has replacable bushings is serviceable and quite sturdy. The b...

Patina is something I have to comment on. First I have to say, do what makes you happy. As long as you are not destroying the car, go for it. Second, I am known for patina. While I can and have worked on show winning paint jobs they dont excite me. I dont want trophies or to worry about messing it u...

To seal a 3d printed parts they can be sealed using you choice if insulating coatings. Spray clears or brush on and let it soak in. For those that have access to it conformal coatings work great. For better results vacuum or pressure chambers push it deep in the pores. Black paint can be used with e...

While I love 3d printing and have made many prints but in this application I have some concerns. Over the years I have discovered that most 3d printing is porous (leaky). They will fail vacuum leak tests, weap chemicals when plating, and not hold pressure. When installed on a vacuum leak tester it w...

Langs also sells them in Brass as part # 7818S @ 65 cents each
or sreel as part # 7818ST @ 40 cents each
They are the same size for both

After installing many engines and front ends in mostly other peoples cars, they pretty much don't line up without a little help. The weight of the engine and tranny will push the front axle forward due to the built in caster of the front end. The fastest and easiest way to solve the problem is to go...

That original seal is very interesting, How and where is it supposed to be fastened? The glass goes up and down plus in and out during normal operation. Quite different from normal car windows. It is nothing like what is on the other windows of the car. And I can not find a match to what the other w...

Thank you for the information. The replacement window side seals that someone installed is glued to the glass with a soft seal with a tough outer shell so that it does not wear out sliding up and down the wood channels. It is not like any of the normal window felts I have ever seen. Looking at Snyde...

I added another Model T project car to my plate - this time a 1921 Centerdoor. The restoration is quite far along with new paint and interior sitting on a running chassis but the progress stopped and got stuck on the windows. It i has lift strap glass on all 6 side windows. I did not disassemble the...

C3L 10-11 After attending Hershey most years since the mid 70's I now am the landlord of the spaces. Not sure what I will take and have not started to load, maybe next weekend. I have too many parts to fit and not sure what I will take and some things are large and or heavy. If there is interest I c...

Some history of the British Austin company for those that are interested The Austin Motors Ltd was founded in 1905 in Longbridge England. It was founded by Herbert Austin after disagreements while running the Woolsey company over engine design They made large expensive cars in the beginning and had ...

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