MTFCA Forum

Allan

The lower right bag are Kelsey loose lugs with the flanged nuts. Check out the current prices for new items in Lang's catalog, and grab these quickly.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I love the speedster. It almost looks new. Perhaps it was ordered in chassis only form, to have a custom commercial body built. Maybe he financed the fuel tank and bucket seats by flogging off the fender set. A really neat effort.

Allan from down under.

Allan

The easy way to be sure you get what is needed is to remove what you have and have it duplicated, if not by yourself, by any local woodworking shop. It is not a particularly difficult project, and that way you know it will fit as the original does. The only snag may be machining timber to the old th...

Allan

They look like Kevlar bands to me. I like to adjust them just enough so they work well. That way, maximum clearance is maintained between the band and drum when they are not in use, and there is no drag. The distance from floorboard measure may have had some relevance when the cars were new, but wit...

Allan

Mark, my 1915 tourer had tack rails both sides if the panel in the front and rear seats. I can see no reason why the roadsters would be any different. they are certainly needed, to add stiffness to the panels. They need to be bent to conform with the panels. Cutting the curved corners from solid pla...

Allan

That's a beauty Mark. That little dent will easily work out. Not often you see them that good.

Allan from down under.

Allan

The posts don't look like T items.
Allan from down under.

Allan

If you are looking for a difference to identify which is which, check out the combustion chambers. A low, [earlier] head will have pronounced rim around the spark plug hole, whereas the later high head appears as though they just drilled a hole and tapped it with thread. Hope this helps. Allan from ...

Allan

Ryan, strength and rigidity it is, especially needed with a dropped axle. I found a period set-up for my speedster. It ran the standard top mount wishbone. The lower one was crafted from a second one. The front ends were cut off and the tubes simply flattened and drilled to fit the perch threads bel...

Allan

Scott, you two windows in the rear curtain appear somewhat low. If the holes Larry mentioned are in the top windscreen, an inside accessory mirror may not line up for a tall driver. An accessory mirror would at least fill the holes.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Scott, an external mirror would be an accessory, so the field is wide open. I would look for ant mirror head with a ball adjustment at the back. This could be attached near the top of the windscreen pillar on the LH side. It could be fitted with a fabricated bracket and arm. attached by the windscre...

Allan

Larry, I reckon this one is as it was originally made. It has been made up from a TT frame, some 1915 parts, probably repop fenders and a whole heap of later than 1960's appliances in the workhouse. Nothing wrong with that, but it is hardly a ruined original.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, does that puller slide onto the axle via the small end near the kingpin and then engage on the rather narrow lip around the boss through which the perch is installed? Seems to me it would work well if the perch was not rusted tight, but would struggle if a heavy load was needed to shift the p...

Allan

All that shiny aluminium, stainless steel and plastic plumbing may mean it is a modern creation which could meet present day standards for food preparation, allowing it to be used commercially.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Luke, if you are on the mainland, Brian McConachie in Dunedin knows what he is doing with coils.

Allan from down under.

Allan

To preserve the appearance of the grain in the timber, I do not use fillers. The bare timber is coated with a full coat of Penetrol which is a sealer/paint thinner/brushing extender. This soaks right into the grain without hiding it. Then I use a 'wash' of 50% black gloss enamel, 50% mineral turpent...

Allan

This one falls between the early 3 long bolt type with bolt on steel mounts and later cast end ones where the frame mounting is solid, unlike the open triangle in this one. My guess is 13-16. Others may be able to pinpoint it closer.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Chris. I have what you want. Just the tie rod end, the handbrake pawl and the steering bracket would not make a big parcel for postage. let me know if you have no luck locally.
Allan from down under.

Allan

Because the spring shackle loop is offset to the thread, I can't see how a puller can work. A PUSHER would more likely be of use, working from the under side. There the load can be applied directly to the threaded end of the perch without any offset.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Craig, if the sums work out, there is a need for the same process on later wishbones also. The market is wider than just the over axle type.
Allan from down under.

Allan

Susanne, I do prefer tyres to describe that which fits around a wheel. Tires is what happens when a man, or woman, does some heavy work. Blockley products are made for an English company, and as such they are tyres.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I can understand old car owners trying to bypass the complicated floats/levers/actions in a worn out and leak prone vacuum tank on cars which ran them. The pump can often be hidden inside the vacuum tank so nobody knows it's there. What I don't understand is why anybody believes gravity is ever goin...

Allan

Craig, if you thread the ball onto the stem, an ideal pin to hold the ball in place would be a scotch screw. The thread in the ball will hold it in place, the scotch screw will stop it coming loose, and the whole procedure can be repeated at a later date if necessary. No welding/heat to be accounted...

Allan

Craig's photo shows the early Y forging which has the tubes coming almost to the ball. Later over-the-axle style wishbones had the forged Y like tose used on the under axle wishbones. I have never been able to ascertain when this change was made.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Dan, the new manifolds vary a bit as well. The thickness of the one piece copper glands allows them to be tweaked to accommodate these differences too.

Allan from down under.

Allan

The first christian name of the last registered owner of my barn find 25 buckboard was Henrietta, so the name was obvious from the start. However, that owner had 3 christian names, the third of which was Florence. I have since learned that she was universally known as Flo. Darned if I am going to ca...

Allan

Frank, I think the ball needs to be 1.25" diameter. That style would work, but I would drill the hole clear through and thread it all the way. Then the ball can be welded at the outer end to make it captive. Nice to know such things are generally available.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I use a different approach when saving early pitman arms. They are finer forgings than the repros available from the vendors. I do not cut the old ball off. Rather, it is ground and filed to make a 1/2" round stub which is then threaded. The stub is still larger than the neck at the back of the ball...

Allan

Jeorg, the part you show is not a typical example of nut/bolt sizes. 7/16" is the thread size but the brass hex on the grease fitting is smaller than the usual nut used on a 7/16" bolt. It is a thin walled pressing. As such, it should not be used as a locknut on your fan shaft.

Allan from down under.

Allan

The binding shown is not what I know as hidem binding. The clue is in the name. Hidem binding has two rows of stitching either side of two raised ridges which carry a round plastic bead. These beads are lifted at installation, tacks driven between them, and then the relaxed beads hide the tacks. The...

Allan

John, I'd add a third question. How do you tell? With our Mediterranean climate, It's never cold enough to give even a hint of a problem, and a good radiator will take care of even the hottest of days.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Fellows, some food for thought. With a 5" drop at the front, the spindle height will be that far above its usual position. Any shock to the front end will have a far greater rotating force on the front axle than was ever the case on the standard configuration. While an under axle wishbone is usually...

Allan

Dennis, there is nothing in the shade tree mechanic's handbook banning cutting a bit of brass shin stock to shape and sandwiching it between the copper and insert material at the back end of the gasket. If you check the back of the block and the head, you may find the need for a little packing to co...

Allan

Might it work to take kinks out of external brake bands, especially after re-lining. If the flattened end is inserted between the drum and the lining, lettered side to the drum, and the bent stem worked to rotate the curved side, it would lever any kinks out of the bands.

Allan from down under.

Allan

If using modern valves, keepers and collets, the scissor type lifters are a PITA. They cause the springs to cant sideways, angling the keeper and making it very difficult to place the collets. I have found a couple of different brands of old time lifters whose double jointed actions allow the forks ...

Allan

There are negatives to them, which is most likely why the majority have gone missing over the years. If you want to remove a carburetor bowl to check feed blockages at the needle and seat, the RH one needs to come off. On our RHD cars, that same one has to come off to get the generator off the car, ...

Allan

1.5" movement at the wheel rim is not worth chasing. If the car steers well as is, just drive it.

Allan from down under.

Allan

The manifold rings in the Ford bags are supplied by Fuel Tank and Radiator Service in Queensland, Australia. The bag is misleading, stating 'Made in USA', unless you believe they are made in USA, shipped to Australia for distribution by FTRS, and then repackaged in USA. Do you guys have laws against...

Allan

Rich, I am not alone in having that extra oval hole on a Reeder aluminium head welded up and the head resurfaced after it had warped and blown a head gasket. There being no corresponding passage in the block means the extra hole in the head is superfluous and in fact can cause problems. Allan from d...

Allan

I have never seen a riveted on bracket on any Canadian sourced cars. As most Canadian sourced cars came with electrical equipment as soon as it was available, I presume the bolt on switch was fitted right from the start If it is important that this info is incorporated in the judging guidelines, jus...

Allan

I have had one crash only, way back in the late 60's when returning from a long weekend interstate rally. Some young band members had driven overnight from Adelaide some 16 hours to Sydney to play in a gig Saturday night. Then they drove to Melbourne Sunday for another gig Sunday night. J On Monday ...

Allan

The situation is similar to that found with manual gearboxes. The selection forks make contact with the selectors when making changes, but float otherwise. If drivers drive with their hand on the change lever, there is a load on the selector fork and they will wear. The load does not need to be grea...

Allan

The A model equivalent has a round shaft which also goes clear through the handle. I found one like that with a Ford script on the shaft. I didn't know that when i bought it, as it had been used as a paint stirer. I still use modern plastic handled drivers with steel clear through the handle. These ...

Allan

I was aware of this detail because I have replicated a few of the screwdrivers using blades from old wooden handled items. In my purchases I inadvertently purchased one blade like the one shown and didn't notice the difference until I stored it with others. My nephew has one of his workmen tun up th...

Allan

I also prefer Timesert/Keyserts. They come in a range of outside diameters which means you can make repairs to oversized holes also. Each may be more expensive than a helicoil, but I can buy them individually, and they have standard threads on the outside, so I don't have to buy an installaton kit. ...

Allan

David, all looks OK as far as correct parts go. Your 1 1/2" looks more like 1/2" and a sagging frame will do that. If your radiator shell is a nickel plated brass shell, it is imperative that the poor fit be corrected. The steel shell hood will wear through a brass shell if it is allowed to rub on i...

Allan

Peter's mounting idea is great. When I mount number plates on panelwork, I always put a short length of rubber fuel hose on the bolts so the plate stands off the panel, allowing dust/water to pass through. On a T, I am reluctant to ever drill holes in a Ford running board, so I first mount a wooden ...

Allan

That's the way to go Danny! It will also give you a guide to the way things were put together in those days. The challenge can be making a new piece to match an old one when you need a pair. Using second hand rusty material gives you a good start.

Allan from down under.

Allan

If the hood overlaps the shell, and is away from the cowl at the back, the radiator is too high. If the side of the hood is about the right height at the back, I would be checking the radiator height. A simple check is to take a look at the top outlet. A tall radiator has a conical outlet to the pip...

Allan

Robert, some. myself included, have the poles on the flywheel surface ground so that the variation you are finding is eliminated. Not entirely necessary but it does make setting the clearances easier. I'd say you have it about right.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Unless I am mistaken, there is a fault in the reproduction shown. The flat point on it has been formed by dumping the blade with the square section on the flat so that the point is parallel with the faces on the square blade. I understand that on the originals, the flat tip is formed by dumping the ...

Allan

Out of interest, on the bracket with the single mounting bolt to the frame, do US cars have a pressed bridging piece between the two bent ends to stop the tank being pinched as the brackets are tightened.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Larry, you hit the nail on the head when you said, "if they wanted to". The same goes for the quality of the tyres and tubes they foist upon us. The one good thing from that is they have created a situation which has led to Blockley tyres seeking to fill the vacuum with something of merchantable qua...

Allan

Frank, I am with you right down to 'ADD FILES'. When I hit that I get absolutely no response. Dead end. Nothing. Zilch. Previously I could go to the file on the phone, select file, upload and continue on. Now all that happens is this deadlock. Transferring photos from the phone to my laptop only add...

Allan

I am working on an unrestored 1922 buckboard for a customer at the moment. My task is to get the body timberwork into sound condition so the doors can be shut, the windscreen properly fitted and rigid and the rest of it sound enough to leave alone. This will include leaving the seat cushion as is. T...

Allan

Here's a challenge for you Steve. Take a series of screen shots to show me how to post photos from my new android phone. Other than that, a word picture from someone might help.
Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, there are the usual two threads. The small end is the universal valve cap size. The rest of the thread is the same all the way to the flange on the end. The third size you are seeing is the thread on the ferrule that takes the dust cover. I have no idea why the three washers are there. the br...

Allan

Mario, I have yet to master posting photos from my new phone. I have posted some of the procedure previously, but have no idea just when, and have never used the search function. Perhaps someone can re-post them for you.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Warwick, I remember one run I did when your dad was running a sedan. I warned him not to let Bernie McKegan pass him on the run. Naturally, he wanted to know why. The spare on dad's sedan was on a Chev rim, complete with the valve stem hole in the wrong place. Bernie's spare would fit. Allan from do...

Allan

Frank, the manual transmissions on Mini's had a dry clutch. The 4 speed autos used the common sump. It was not a good idea, as the contaminated oils led to transmission failures, and the factory recommended drastically reduced oil change intervals to help alleviate this. Toyota tried to change histo...

Allan

Dan, I have the separate nut and screw-on dust cap on the spare rim/tyre on Henrietta. The nut has nothing to tighten against on a bare stem,and when the dust cap won't let go on the nut, I do have to wind the whole lot off to check the tyre pressure, and on a spare that means even longer trip. That...

Allan

Steve, you must have been posting when I was weighing. The difference I found was just 4g. Then I weighed two bridge washers. One with the pressed in sealing ridge was 10g. A second one having a separate brass sealing ring affixed was 14g, so there goes the difference. Even if the two heavier compon...

Allan

Steve, my cure depends on the year of the car. On an alloy cover where the inboard end of the shaft is open, I fit a thin walled bronze bushing into the hogshead, leaving approx 1/2" hanging outside the cover. Into this protrusion I fit a cup type freeze plug to close the end of the bush to close it...

Allan

Chris, there are mixed vintages there as far as I know. As James pointed out, the small open end wrench is like the one supplied wit A models. The tyre lever is not like any T model lever with which I am familiar. The open end band adjusting wrench, T1917, is the later more common style. That said, ...

Allan

The shape of the grooves which go to the pillar would suggest they fit an oval shaped solid piece rather than a Ford style post. That said, they could easily be modified to fit a T.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I have just come home from a 3 day tour run by our T club, and have to report some firsts for me, and a few notes of caution. A very nice 14 T tourer had a flat tyre just as we pulled up for a catered lunch stop. In all my years of model T motoring I have never fixed a flat tyre on the roadside on a...

Allan

Arthur, what you have is most likely a battery box. Battery boxes need to be taller than toolboxes. Tool boxes are usually longer in proportion to their height. Yours would work as a toolbox on a roadster, but its height would most likely interfere with being able to open a door on other than a US b...

Allan

Joerg, when the shaft is tightened and the fan will not turn, it means the bushing faces need to be machined down a little. The shaft is designed so that the step is to thread hard up against the arm. I effect, the arm is a nut. By backing off the shaft you have undone the 'nut' somewhat, and you ar...

Allan

.02" is quite a bend, even without any twist. I would have like to have seen that shaft in the press when taking that much of a bend out, and having it remain straight. I am glad you had it tested afterwards. If you have concerns with .005" end float, the thrust face on the rear main cap can be buil...

Allan

Steve, do you mean the pedal shafts on the transmission cover/hogshead?

Allan from down under.

Allan

I use black RTV sealant on the felt over the hump at the rear of the block. I lay it on some cardboard and work a good amount of sealant into the felt. Then i turn it over and do the same on the other side. I end up with a felt reinforced silicone gasket. There is no need to trim the felt. When inst...

Allan

Helicoils need some way to lock them in place. In an open hole like that, and on the bottom hole on the front axle which takes the spindle bolt, there is nothing to stop the helicoil from winding through. A Keysert is a better idea for this operation. It has locking tabs to hold it in place, and bei...

Allan

That job may even be easier. If the valve spring is removed the valve can be pushed up out of the way. A Dremel cut-off disc could be used to make a screwdriver slot in the remainder of the broken bolt. A sacrificial small screwdriver could be bent at right angles to hold the broken bolt and the tap...

Allan

Mark is most likely on the mark. Because the valve stem hole on a Chev rim is close to the nearest lug to it, that lug has to be slotted to allow the valve stem to be lowered into the felloe, the lug also lowering over the wheel bolt at the same time. On a Ford rim, the valve stem hole is further aw...

Allan

Re fitting Ford hubs into Chev wheels, I recently did this on what I thought was a 23" Chev wheel. However, the hub I removed from the wheel was assembled differently to a Ford wheel. The outside flange was part of the hub casting and the inside was the removable plate, exactly the reverse of the Fo...

Allan

Thanks Dick. I could remember details other than Steve's name and his business details. I missed getting my annual supply of hub bolts this year due to the cancellation of the Bendigo swapmeet. The bolts are also of excellent quality.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, that is the next best way to storing them, and clearly easier than fitting them into and mounting a tyre. I could not believe how well two red rubber Goodyear tubes came out of some old, mounted tyres. Keeping them out of the light also helps. My spares are stored in the cellar, which never v...

Allan

Ralph, that is an excellent recommendation, but it is likely to give a false sense of security. The tubes available today are junk quality. A folded tube under a back seat, exposed to summer heat and that from the muffler, will quite quickly crack at the folds, rendering it not suitable for use. It ...

Allan

Like everything, the law was framed to protect idiots. Once any part of you is outside the glass line on a modern, there is a risk that such could be ripped off by an errant passing vehicle. It also keeps kids safe. On old cars, an arm outside is still probably within the line of the vehicle running...

Allan

From an earlier post, 'Vintage rims Australia' it is. Check out the website as shown in a previous post.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Terry, we buy stuff from wherever we can get it. The annoying part is the posters on this forum who will not ship to Australia. I can only put that down to being way too busy to fill in a customs form to go with the parcel. The rims were being made in Queensland and were of excellent quality. The in...

Allan

I'm with Frank. Turn the key off. Then, retarding the spark becomes part of starting, and that is where it matters most.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, you are evil! These ex grade school teacher eyes are offended by poor spelling. That someone as erudite as you should deliberately mis-spell a word is most irresponsible.I was hoping no-one would notice. You have set a very poor example.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I guess we are lucky then, to have a local manufacturer.

Allan from own under.

Allan

There is one in the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, just 30 odd miles from me. I knew I' seen one somewhere!

Allan from down under.

Allan

I have replaced two front U joint ball housings on two piece torque tubes and one on a later tube. I have never seen one where that casting was threaded onto the torque tube. Nor have I seen evidence of any brazing the ball onto the tube. To me it makes sense that this was not done, just as it was n...

Allan

I got the Bennett part right, but it is Newton Bennett. If you giggle it, there are photos of some cars on different sites.

Allan from down under.

Allan

The Thompson Bennett cars had radiators of similar shape. I have no pictures of same for reference.

Allan from down under.

Allan

If we have any part of us protruding from the car, the law can impose a fine. The only exception is when giving a recognised hand signal. I gather that is not the case there.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Scott, you should be safe with any 23" fixed lug BE rim other than a Hayes rim. The Hayes rims have a 'foot' on the lug which goes over the outer edge of the felloe.To fit a Hayes rim your felloes need a relief to allow that foot to go over the outer edge.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

Allan

I have seen two different hitches which clamped around the torque tube in front of the diff centre. That way the load is not trying to bend the diff housings. Makes sense in some ways, but pulling from the spring U bolts makes better sense to me. However, I wonder whether the spare wheel position mi...

Allan

Ryan, both the battery and magneto connections are soldered to the strip in the bottom of the coilbox. From there the wires follow a groove in the underside of the base timber/plastic. These grooves meet with corresponding groves on the inside of the back panel, and the wire follows that groove to t...

Allan

Jim, by all means encourage them!! Hopefully someone will read this and get in touch or point you to a local T club. Meanwhile, I presume you are talking about the pack of clutch discs inside the rear drum on the transmission. They can be well stuck together with old engine oil, and occasionally rus...

Allan

Wise move Robert. Just replace a section at the bottom of the rod with anew piece. Grind each end to a blunt point so the weld can penetrate, and file back into round. The job is even more satisfactory if you drill and pin the control arm and fit it first.

Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, I would caution against using a vice to close down the end of a T1917 wrench. They will break, unless heat is used. They are lightweight on that end because all they have to do is shift the spring loaded nut against the band. They get spread when misused on other nuts requiring some effort to...

Allan

You fellows need to convert to RHD. Plenty of heat coming through the pedal slots in the floor!

Allan from down under.

Allan

Scott, I can only see the 21" tyres which suit the 26-7 Ts on their website. I understand USA made tyres are available in those sizes, so you dodge the dodgy quality offerings on currently available 30" BE tyres.

Allan from own under.

Allan

Darin, I was there with my 1920 red roadster buckboard. It was a relatively new restoration at that time. Since then it has done many long interstate drives, which on the last, resulted in a broken crankshaft.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Demountable or not? I have both, but postage may be a killer.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Roger, the 1989 tour in Wangaratta was the third National tour in Australia. The number plate was issued to entrants in the fourth tour in 1992 which was in Griffith, NSW. The national tours are held every 3 years, and are hosted by different states in rotation. The 2019 tour to Maryborough in Queen...

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