MTFCA Forum

Allan

As far as I know, model T front springs are 1.5" wide, rears 2.0" If a 1.75" wide spring fits in your frame cross member, there has been some serious work done, and the spring will be wider than the perch.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I can only wish Blockley tyres all the success in the world for trying to produce a quality item. Betco in Australia, and Insa in Chile both had a go in the 1980's, only to be bought out and then disappear. That's one way to eliminate competition! Kudos to Blockley for having a go. Interesting that ...

Allan

Import duties dependent on country of origin? Who'd have thunk it? As the currently available 30" junk clinchers come from Viet Nam, I would have thought tyres bought from England would be imported at at least the same rate, if not a more favourable rate. I like the suggestion that Lucas, as an impo...

Allan

In 55 years of T driving and restoring of a dozen or so cars, I too have never balanced a wheel. Then again, I rarely drive over 40 mph and have never driven on today's junk tyres, so the need has not arisen.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Will, two points on your speedo. That type of bracket is used to mount the speedo in a metal dash panel. The unit is mounted from behind, with the bezel protruding through the panel and the 3 mounting ears behind the panel. It does not require a separate mounting bracket. It appears to have tumblers...

Allan

With our Canadian sourced cars, most came with forged L shackles, two pieces exactly the same. The question then becomes is the one nut at the front of the car at the spring eye or the perch?

Allan from down under.

Allan

They are also offering heavyweight butyl rubber tubes. I'm guessing adding those to an order for tyres would not add much, if anything, to shipping costs. I would be asking more about the expected tyre life, both in mileage and time. While the asking price may be twice that of the usual substandard ...

Allan

Joe, there must be something in what you say. The four dip an was introduced in 1925. It wasn't long before the hogshead grew ears and the block received for a pair of bosses for bolts. The same was carried over into the production of the A model. Just how many times does one ever adjust the no. 4 r...

Allan

Daniel, just hit it with a hammer and te pieces will fall out without damaging the brasswork.

Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, I presume the blow-up caused the transmission drums to be difficult to lift off the shaft. Using a puller on the reverse drum as you show is not something I would recommend, unless conditions demanded it. Any real pressure applied is likely to damage the drum. I would suggest that it be spun ...

Allan

Each column is individually assembled, so the rivet holes in the column, the quadrant and box line up only on the original set of components. When substituting other parts, I found it easier to fill the holes and start again. I threaded the holes in the box and filled those with threaded brass rod. ...

Allan

My favourite tool is an hydraulic/grease filled puller.Their power is greater than a screw type, and it is applied in smaller, smoother increments. I have never found a gear which will not immediately succumb to its persuasion.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Peter Kable's photo clearly shows the almost straight arm on the throttle plate shaft. Imagine a RHD arm is set at the position with the linkage hole at 12 o'clock and the idle adjust pinch slot at 6 o'clock, on a LHD carb the linkage hole will be at around 2.30. It is the arm that is moved, the idl...

Allan

I can understand mould being a problem in Portland. It is so dry here dampness is a problem we would love to have. For the slats under a fixed roof, I always use western red cedar laths, with spaces between them. The timber is unaffected by moisture and the material can dry from both sides. On my 19...

Allan

Interesting Mark. I have used 14 ounce cotton/polyester canvas on half a dozen or more Ts, 3 over timber slats and polyester filling and the rest as open car tops. My roadster buckboard hit the road in 1987 and it has never been treated with anything. Likewise, the fixed top on my 1995 restoration o...

Allan

Martynn, Luke, I have never seen a carburetor linkage like the one in Luke's photo. All those with which I am familiar arc around behind the inlet manifold to connect to the carburetor. This means a different throttle plate lever is needed on RHD cars, where the linking hole on the end, the throttle...

Allan

Or you could use canvas. Most of our colonial built bodies, regardless of make, were fitted with canvas tops. Today's canvas is even better due to a % of synthetic fibre added to increase strength and decrease any shrinkage. It is ideal in fixed tops like a depot hack. A light colour called sand is ...

Allan

As far as I know, ALL the high radiator shells have sides which are flared outwards at the rear to follow the lines of the hood panels. The flare did not differ on the later 26-7 brass nickel plated shells. Flared sides are a good way to tell a high shell from the earlier low shell which had sides s...

Allan

When returning Henrietta to active service, I checked the diff oil level to determine if it needed topping up because there was so much build up of greasy, dirty muck at each end of the axles that the cast iron brake shoes were clogged. There was no oil to dip! Rather, the pumpkin was filled with gr...

Allan

Mark, you are not quite right about felt being washed and pounded up hair to make a mat. Hair fibres will not felt. WOOL fibres will. Wool fibres have tiny rings of scales around them. When they are washed, agitated/'pounded', the fibres rubbing together become enmeshed and bind to each other. Think...

Allan

Steve, I can see why solder was used. I believe you are working with reproduction top bows. Originals with which I am familiar all have steel castings for the bracketry, rather than the brass your photos show. Consequently, brazing would be the way to go, but not with your brass components. Silver s...

Allan

Regardless of any problems with fitting the metal to the frame, it is essential that a centreline for the body is established. That becomes the reference for all the side timbers/angles to be set. The only set vertical timbers are the two which follow the firewall. The others all need to refer to th...

Allan

In my opinion, the Fun Projects adjustable pinion bearing kit, standard Hyatt bearings and sleeves on the inner ends of the axles and a set of safety hubs/floating bearings on the outer end is the best combination. The adjustable pinion bearing set-up allows the optimum setting of the crown wheel an...

Allan

Northeast is not a brand I have ever seen associated with Ford. Dodge certainly used Northeast electrical components, so that might be a good starting point.

Allan from down under.

Allan

....not to mention the different throttle plate levers for RHD cars, as this one is.
The one on my 1912 Haigh's Chocolate van works flawlessly, except for an occasional leak when I turn the car off. Stan rebuilt a second one for me, but it's too pretty to fit!

Allan from down under.

Allan

Ray, I have had a few hard chromed and ground back to 1.000" That way there's not so much heat involved, and the ground journal is smooth and hard.

Allan from down under.

Allan

The one Burger posted is most likely a casting, like those used on old engines, gravesites etc. Most dealer plates are photo etched and do ot have such relief. Here in Australia the Shell company sponsored these plates for the dealers if they were interested. The rub-off for Shell was the recommende...

Allan

It depends on any wear on the driveshaft journal to a large degree. If the shaft is worn .010" then the bush needs to be undersized, and a fixed reamer will not be of much use. To use a driveshaft with such wear will also mean the square end needs to be machined back to allow an undersized bush to s...

Allan

Steve, If I was to tackle the task I would wirebuff/sandblast/handscrape all the paint off the original forged ends to see how the tubes were attached. Then the old tubes can be ground off back to the parent metal of the forgings. Check the fit of your replacement tubes at this stage. Most likely th...

Allan

In my limited experience, shipping overseas is best handled at the import end of the deal. Shipping costs, storage, customs duties etc are more likely to be known there and all costs are calculated in the currency of the country of import.For the same reason, arrangements made in the country of impo...

Allan

The easiest way to differentiate between a high and low shell is to check the sides. On a low shell the sides are square to the front. On a high shell, they are glared outwards to follow the line of the hood panels. Holes or squares for the lacing for not come into it, for Canadian production too. A...

Allan

Michael, in use,the brake drum and output shaft are one unit. I index them as I assemble them before balanci g them. If you check the run out on the assembled pair of components, you may find you can improve the situation by trying up the interfaces. With easy access to an excellent machine shop, I ...

Allan

Tom, I am not sure modern well based tyres actually took over from straight sided tyres. The tyres did not change. Rather the rim technology changed. For example , Ford used straight sided tyres on split rims in 1926. When the wire wheels were developed with their well based, the same tyres were fit...

Allan

The 1913 is the part number used by Stewart. I believe the cast iron swivels are correct for 1912 only, but of course will work for all.
I could be wrong again.
Allan from down under.

Allan

Originals sold in a cardboard box, 5 to a set. I bought three new old stock boxes at a swap meet years ago, leaving a dozen or more sets still in the original merchandising stand. The bruises from kicking myself have finally disappeared.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Great work Don. Do you see any areas where the joints can be glued? Or, will it all be able move with the twisting of the T frame. I have glued door frames to make them rigid, but lave the rest to flex if they need to.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Danny, your brass steering box and quadrant look to be really nice. The riveted case looks to be tight, the quadrant is tidy and the riveting in the steel tube looks tight. With all this looking so good, I would not disturb any of it. Rather, I would cut your later metal tube and weld it to the remi...

Allan

As far as I recall, the only deviation from the standard wiring when fitting my True fire was the addition of an earth wire. All that should be needed is to remove this. Otherwise, changing the rotor button and electronic timer for a standard roller/brush type timer is all that is needed. Allan from...

Allan

I still have a 13 tooth pinion, as new, If it is of interest to anyone.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, do you mean the clamp-on style as seen in the last photo?
These are relatively common in Australia, as the various body makers supplied them as their cars were delivered. My Holden bodied car built for Tarrants in Melbourne has them made of solid nickel.

Allan from down under.

Allan

James, if it is a fluted lens, one big gob is all that is needed, to stop it rotating on the rim. The rope seal/gasket and the spring will hold it in place when fitted. I'd let it set lying flat on the bench first before fitting it to the lamp.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

Allan

Bruce, you may be the 49,000,000 th victim of a particular syndrome called paint-before-fit. The remedy is simple. Fit-before-paint is the antidote.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Andre, the one on y 1912 chocolate van is the same as yours, right down to the cam type lid latches. It is a really nice original which I refinished when I restored the car in the early 90's. Unfortunately, I lost the lid with its original matching number and paper instruction label on an interstate...

Allan

Ken, I don't think that will work on a 26-7 deck lid. The skin is a 3 dimensional pressing. It cannot be slid back and forth over the inner like a flat skin can. It curves upwards at the front and down at the back. If the skin is spot welded, Kevin's removal method still applies. The spot welds can ...

Allan

Paula and Gator's Christmas card arrived just today. I first met Gator on tours in Australia and well remember chewing the fat while cruising on the River Murray on a paddle steamer. He is a top notch fellow. At Chickasha in 2010 he insisted I accept a set of Bosch platinum spark plugs to use in ada...

Allan

Joe, Kevin is on the money. When checking the fit of the new skin, I would crimp the edge of the skin at the corners with a pair of pliers first so you can check the curvature/fit of the skin and inner panel. If you are not satisfied with the fit, corrections should be made before the lip on the ski...

Allan

On the Canadian sourced cars we have in Australia, the forged spider was the rule for all production. So we have wheels in all sizes with Fordite rims. The lines around the perimeter of the rims seem to indicate mould marks, as though the rims were created using a split mould. These show up as the m...

Allan

Steve, do you mean things like, "needs restored" and " It fit well." You can't expect them to get it right when those speaking the language choose to butcher it.
Allan, ex grade school teacher, from down under.

Allan

Mark, I think your find is a later version of the straigbt through NH. These had the name plate over the vent rather tban the screw in vent. Nice find.
Allan from down under.

Allan

Most likely used on a horse drawn vehicle, but I have seen them put to good use on a speedster. Matched pairs like these are harder to find.
Allan from down under.

Allan

A common comment on today's cars is, ''They all look the same'. Even back then, car makers were reluctant to go out on a limb in styling. Think of the Chrysler Airflow. About the only differences in John's post and the Stutz is the shape of the visor, the hood vents and the shape/mounting height of ...

Allan

What is Perry going to do with his moter-in-law underground? Are they contemplating mining opals? At least it would get them out of the heat. We are in the fourth day of a 5 day 110 degree hot spell.
Allan from down under.

Allan

George, even if it is not absolutely "correct" for your car, a wooden frame under the seat cushion is common on most Australian bodied cars, so it is period correct. Looking at your 'before' photo, the tank seems higher than the seat base, so it most likely did have a wooden base to the seat assembl...

Allan

Mark, does that mean that your LHD cars become RHD when you stand in front of them? I think not.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Mark, it may help if you specify a RIGHT fender.

Allan from down under, where a right fender is on the right side.

Allan

Hank, what makes you think I am not already on the naughty list? You get used to it after a while.

Allan

Allan

I would replace the rivets one at a time. Drill one out, fit one in.That will keep the hub and drum in line when fitting them together. I note the cracks in the JM photo. I have found a number of such cracks over the years. If the rest of the drum is sound, I have re-used them. There is every chance...

Allan

Gary, how much clearance do you have between the roof of your car and the trailer roof? From the photo, I would be concerned about the car bouncing on its suspension over road undulations and coming into contact with the trailer roof. It could be tied down by the frame to limit travel, but your phot...

Allan

Well, the answer is embarrassingly simple. Yesterday I drove my chocolate van doing a Christmas promotional out -and -about appearance for the company. I had exactly the same metallic grinding noise from the right hand side as I was hearing in Henrietta!!!!! It went away when I put my new right hear...

Allan

The pinion bearing and housing are standard Ford items. You are missing the output shaft, driven gear and the selector dog.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Joe, that's the point. The left side is the left side when facing forward, regardless of where the driver sits, regardless of the country of origin.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Left is the correct description. Passenger or drivers side is confusing when one considers there are LHD and RHD cars. The left side is correct regardless, unless you are one of the
" view from the front" crew who believe a LHD car then becomes RHD.
Allan from down under.

Allan

The key is to use a cross piece of hardwood which just fits up to the frame without hitting the splash panels. I use a 3 x 2" Jarrah beam. This allows you to move the stands much further back and wider apart, altogether a much safer situation. Then there is no need to remove the radius rods. Hope th...

Allan

We really need to ask the tyre producers how much extra it would cost to make a tyre with rubber compounds which don't crack up in the sun and will last more than 3000 miles. The carcases seem to give no problems. It's Just the pre-chewed licorice they use to cover them. That's what happens when a m...

Allan

Mike, there are no good tyre deals because there are no good tyres, just inferior products. However there may be good deals on tyres, even though the tyres are sub stsndard.

Allan from down under, where Olympic used to make good tyres.

Allan

One of the tasks undertaken to return Henrietta to service was the fitting of new rear axle seals and lined brake shoes. There was so much grease and gritty stuff clogging up the works that one side was almost filled. There was evidence that the right hand side shoes and springs had been scraping, e...

Allan

If you buy a new one from the vendors, check the attachment to the tube. A little rework on the tube often means the funnel needs some re-bronze work to ensure firm attachment.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Hank, that is how I make mine, holes drilled and tapped just for that purpose, as I mentioned in an earlier post. If for some reason they are pressed in, it may take a press to get them out again .That will require some tricky bits to engage on the inner end of the spiggot and to support the backing...

Allan

Mark's observations are in sync with mine. If I can post such observations before potential purchasers enter the fray, I do so to help. Once a buyer has entered the fray, such observations may queer a sale, and I am hesitant to chime in. How do others feel about these matters? I work from a base tha...

Allan

Speaking of signs, I saw one at a plant nursery last week. "If a man says he will fix it, he will, without a reminder every 6 months."

Allan from down under.

Allan

Roger, if you don't score one locally, I have a few.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Are the iron man's legs and nose a modified front wishbone?
Allan from down under.

Allan

These photos show how mine work. 20191208_173714.jpg The wire clip carrying the bulb holder simply fits into the groove around the light and the wire is threaded through the vent at the top. 20191208_173714.jpg Here the clip is removed to show details. These are tail/stop lights using a two pole soc...

Allan

Or, rather than cutting costs, is it to shorten the life span of tyres to sell more? With today's virtual monopoly on production of tyres for a model T, cost cutting is meaningless when there is no competition in the market place. But if they can sell more of an inferior product, that will do nicely...

Allan

I made my own. I bent up a circle of Hi tensile fencing wire to clip into the rim of the lamp, leaving a leg into the centre of the lamp. To this leg I soldered a tail light globe holder from an 80's Japanese. Later models have plastic holders, so they are no good. The wiring is fed in through the v...

Allan

Ralph, if the aim is to create a passable early pan out of a later one, there are other things to consider. later pans have the rolled edge all round the pan rail, the pressing shape at the wishbone ball mount is different, the pan arms are different, as is the casting at the rear. If we know your a...

Allan

Making the whole exercise more difficult is the strength of the reproduction springs offered. I have found them way too strong to comfortably compress at times. I use springs selected from a parts house offering. These are also much easier on aluminium hoods on early cars.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I believe that tool was designed to pull tubless tyre valve stems into the rim. It sure works well for that. It is also handy when installing truck tyres and the various stem configurations used on those. I have never had the occasion to use it on a T, but then I have never mounted tyres on wooden f...

Allan

Phillip, how then do you remove the tape before the hub engages on the taper?

Allan from down under.

Allan

Keith, are you saying that the two beads and the valve stem are wider than the distance between the edges of the rim? If fitting one side of a clincher tyre first, then trying to stuff the tube in and get the valve stem down the hole, I can see why some resort to notching the bead. As you pull the u...

Allan

Eric, the difference is in the terminology. A floating hub takes the weight off the axles and transfers it to the axle housing, like it does in trucks. A "safety" hub is a floating hub with a retainer of some sort to stop the wheel coming off the spiggot. When fitting "safety" hubs, how is the inner...

Allan

When I made these I found considerable variiation in the diameter and the machined finish in the axle housings. Consequently, the clearance between the spiggot and the housing means a press fit is not readily achievable, or necessary. I do not install them with solicone as a seal because it can make...

Allan

Here's what I mean. Old tyre with wide beads. No notch needed. 20191204_123403.jpg You can use a clamp on both sides of the stem if you like, but one will do. 20191204_123403.jpg Tbere is no flap in this assembly, rather a rim liner cut from a discarded 13" inner tube. Both beads are levered on toge...

Allan

I cannot believe that there is still a need to cut a notch in the narrow beads on tyres available today. I have never mounted a 3" tyre, but even with old, wide footed 30 x 3.5" tyres there is no need for the notch, if you fit BOTH sides of the tyre at the same time. With the tube inflated just enou...

Allan

John, just be aware that if you need to replace the latch pieces, be sure to offset them as in the last few photos. The pin needs to be wholly on one side of the split. If you have the pin centred over the split, which seems intuitive, you will not be able to split the rim and mount tyres. I have a ...

Allan

John, I bought a tub of model T nuts and bolts at a collector's clearing sale, just to get the Stromberg choke control that was in the tub. That tub goes with me to swap meets and all contents are 10 cents a piece. Numerous buyers ferret through it looking for their needs. I keep it topped up whenev...

Allan

Donnie, as far as I know, the only bolts without split pin holes are those which go into blind holes and do not use a nut, eg. the two lower bolts on the universal joint ball go into a thread in the pan, so no pin holes. The two top ones have nuts and pin holes. So, all pan bolts continued to have p...

Allan

Nice work again Martynn. I am not at all familiar with that style of sediment bulb, so these observations may not apply. The standard drain petcock has a tapered thread to fit it wherever it is needed. Hence the washer you show is redundant. It would be needed if the tap had a parallel thread and a ...

Allan

Matt, that looks like a shackle pin to me. The knorled section may screw off to be filled with grease. The wingnut would be wound out to accept the grease in the cup, and wound in somewhat to force grease into the shackle. A more complicated way of doing the same thing as a Ford greaser as used on t...

Allan

I bought a few of those electric tail lamp bodies at Chickasha in 2010, including two Brown made ones. Mated with a RHD version, and fitted with two pin sockets, they make a matched pair of left and right stop tail /lights. I have one left in stock, so I guess I can restore one more car! Allan from ...

Allan

Mark, I have never seen a Ford script tail light lens like that. Most of or Canadian sourced lenses were much darker in colour then that you show. They are characterised by a 1/2" round flat spot in the centre of the lens on the outside. There are many replacements available in the lighter red you s...

Allan

The front and centre caps are different! I must go and check my stocks. I had never realised that.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I have always laid one piece of natural coloured burlap/hessian over the timbers first. To reduce the imprint of the timbers a THIN sheet of padding is next. I use dacron sheeting because it hods together and is not effected if it gets wet. That comes from a shop stocking quilting supplies. it comes...

Allan

Kevin, I would start again with your fuel system. There is no need for an electric fuel pump in a T, so that can go. It would seem that your car is fitted with a modern carburetor from a small engine. That should go too. If there is any fuel filter, that will restrict flow as well, and it should go ...

Allan

If you don't send it back, how can the vendor ever know that it was not a serviceable part? They need to know so that the suppliers can rectify the problem. It is not the end user's responsibility to ensure the product is fit for use by re-working it. That said, if you are unsure of it's status, ask...

Allan

Steve, if Hagerty will pay postage to Australia and back, we have the most excellent brass light restorer here in South Australia. His work is world renowned, but not exorbitantly priced to reflect this. He did all the lights on my 1912 van, and just recently repaired a hinge on one side light, free...

Allan

Dave, this is my 13 tooth pinion gear. It is barely polished and still shows machining marks on both sides of the teeth. Chaffin's 1916 catalog price was $175. I can let this one go for $150, including postage to your door. If you don't want it, others may chime in. Allan from down under. 20191123_0...

Allan

Ed, your year frame may need revising. My 1915 tourer had pressed steel brackets which used two holes to mount to the firewall and still used the two holes on the top of the frame rail like the three hole forged brackets used earlier. Mine was a Canadian sourced car, so this may not apply to US prod...

Allan

Steve, the best solution is to have a pro do the work. New flares would be most satisfactory. If you want to have a go first, you may be able to save some cash. I would use a press to get things back in shape before working on any dents. The damaged section of the flare needs to be supported from be...

Allan

Dave, if that chip is the worst of the ring gear, I would not be too quick to discard it. If you need a 13 tooth pinion, I have a nice one I removed from my speedster before I sold it. Maybe 5000km only. I kept the 39 tooth ring gear and used it with a 12 tooth pinion in my roadster. Let me know if ...

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