MTFCA Forum

Issues with the point set is probably the commonest source of trouble with coil units aside from proper adjustment. Points can be filed to remove minor pitting and corrosion, but the actual contacts consist of a steel base with a platinum overlay. If the platinum is worn or filed away to as to expos...

I'd limit test gaps to 1/4" to avoid possible coil secondary damage. The shape of electrodes can affect the voltage required to initiate a spark across an air gap, so if you make your own test gap, shaping the electrodes similar to those on an HCCT would be advisable. The ultimate test of a spark pl...

Amazing... !!

Are Hispano Suizas allowed to be near mobile homes?

Time well invested!

Nasty timer.... Clean it up, then try using Marvel Mystery Oil. Apply oil frequently as Ford recommended. One member suggested drilling a small hole in the lower part of the timer to allow oil and grunge to escape. That sounds like a good idea to me, since it would prevent an accumulation of gummy w...

I'd get it. Like farmland, forest, "raw land", and open pasture, old car stuff "in the wild" is rapidly being destroyed by expanding urbanization.... and massive "environmental" projects.

That fan would probably move more air at idle speed than a stock one would. It would probably move less air at higher engine speeds, since one blade would interfere with the next at higher RPM,which might reduce power demand. It would be interesting to see any promotional material on the design.

The water may be condensate. The engine may be OK, especially if there is any oil on top of the water. If the transmission isn't a mass of rust, the engine probably isn't either.

Pic # 1.... odd front axle.... British?

The car should handle safely when backing up at SLOW speeds. Too much caster, worn parts, oversize tires, improper tire inflation, bent or loose parts, or incorrect toe-in could make the steering less stable going forward or backward. Most cars are less stable backing up due to the fact that steerin...

The existing crack may have prevented much new damage. I'd re-do the repair, and fill it with water with a tea spoon of dish detergent in it, and run it a few miles, let it cool down, then make a few more runs. If no leak appears, fill it with 50/50 green antifreeze and clean water and drive on. Ant...

One possibility is that the weaker coil units have high voltage shorts in the secondary windings. That might not show up on an ohm- meter test, but when actual high voltage is developed during coil unit operation, the short circuit would become evident in the lower output. It's best to limit the gap...

It looks a lot better today!!

One ans a half sheets of 3/4 plywood would do for a sled to pull it out. A utility tractor would pull it over grass, weeds, or light brush. I'd go get it. Lap about 18" of the half sheet over the full sheet of plywood, and use 16 carriage bolts and washers, in 2 rows of 8, to bolt the sheets togethe...

Great news.... and that's a beautiful 'bird!

# 3 is worthy of a Rich Eagle painting.

Rot has a way of spreading, especially when it is ignored.

My experience is similar to Dan's, with the engine running about 180F in mild weather and at lower speeds, and around 200F in very hot weather or at higher speeds, such as 40 MPH+, or on a sustained climb, or with a steady tailwind. If you are using 50/50 green antifreeze, the system may run a littl...

I'd borrow or rent a tractor with a loader, maybe 50 HP or larger, and then remove only the trees and brush needed to get the tractor in and the chassis clear. Use chains or straps to lift the frame assembly and then drive the tractor to your trailer and set the whole thing on the trailer. One of th...

Always a good idea, and check the lug nuts if you have wire wheels, especially if there is new paint on the wheel or hub, or with new lug nuts.

Ts had no designed top speed. Ford literature claimed the T had "All the power you will ever need", and "Speed to 45 MPH, if you want it." Road conditions and common sense limited speeds to 35 MPH or less, often far less, during the balance of the T era.

The T cooling system is adequate for speeds up to around 50 MPH at temperatures over 100F. The engine will run hotter, but the coolant will not boil. A very long climb or a strong tailwind might cause problems. Higher elevations will lower the boiling point of water, and could lead to issues in moun...

Why not? It's as relevant as it ever was, and as important, whether a person is among a tour group or not.

Why is that important?

I'd avoid extreme conditions in a tour situation. More cars mean more chances for trouble. Everyone thinks they are an expert on handling Model Ts, but not everyone is. The "improved" cars have better brakes than the earlier ones, including larger, lined emergency brakes, but they weigh substantiall...

If the car is not boiling over, it is not running too hot. In warm weather a Model T will usually run from 180F to 200F. At speeds over about 27 MPH, full spark advance is needed. It is important the the spark lever linkage be adjusted correctly so that the timer is actually responding to the lever ...

When I was a kid, we had 2 gas yard lights, which were large, train station type units that could accommodate 5 or 6 mantles. My dad would put 2 or 3 mantles in them. They still gave a very bright light and they made a pleasant sound, too. They ran on free "residue" gas, which was a dry natural gas ...

Gas lighting was familiar to a lot of people even as late as 1915. Outside of towns and cities, many people had no contact with electric lighting. Pre-generator/starter Fords and later ones not so equipped did not have very good electric lighting.

Them durned bubs'll blow out and leave you in the dark! When they blow out ain't no way you can git 'em lit again!!

Starter cable support?

Ford realized sooner than most that the future of the automobile depended on a practical, reliable vehicle adapted to economical, efficient mass production so as to be both useful and affordable for great numbers of people, not just the wealthy and limited "carriage trade". Packard realized this aro...

As a matter of fact, they do work.

I took a Ford wire wheel with tire to a local shop where I have bought several sets of tires to see if they would mount my new tires. Wouldn't touch them. Period.

"....interestingly, the actual ANGLE of the displacement (force) relative to the actual heavy spot, lags the actual heavy spot by some angle or degrees, increasing in lag up to critical speed at which point the physical displacement (oscillation) lags the heavy spot by exactly 180 degrees (!) This c...

That's the most comprehensive explanation I've yet seen.

Small rubber balls, about BB size or under, found inside a tire may come from rubber dust/particles created when buffing a tire puncture prior to applying glue and a patch. I've seen shop operators ignore the rubber dust, and some swipe at it with a dirty shop rag, and some blow it out with an air g...

Never heard of it. There could be a connection with Floyd Bennett, an early auto mechanic and later a famed aviation pioneer.

Marvel Mystery Oil is an excellent product with several uses in crankcases and fuel systems. Balancing beads are NOT MADE OF RUBBER. As soon as a wheel begins to revolve, the beads are distributed around the ID of the tire, and balancing effects take place at about 20+ MPH. Water in tires typically ...

My experience with semi-liquid tire sealants in tube-type tires is generally poor. I've found it useful in ATV-type tubeless tires, although it seems to lose effectiveness in about a year. I've used it with good results in LT tubeless tires that are worn to 30% of the tread or less. These tires ofte...

I'll check the old tube info when I get them out, probably after the 1st.

One advantage of a lightweight tire is that the car will ride and accelerate better with the lighter tires as opposed to heavier ones. The Lucas 4.40/4.50 tires are about 30" OD, and the Firestones are about 30.8 OD and slightly wider and probably a little heavier. Both are 4-ply rated polyester cord.

I got well over 15,000 miles of service out of a set of Lucas tires. Vietnam made. They had nearly full tread when I got the car in 2021. I got 2 extra, older casings with good tread when I got the car. These are now on the rear axle and have about 70% tread left. I wore two of the Lucas tires down ...

Firsestones.... about $300. each Lucas.... about $130. each.

Lucas offers a VERY good 4.40 /4.50 X 21 tire at a VERY good price.

One source does not recommend balance beads for typical modern passenger car tires, citing the irregular inside surface of such tires. That ought not be a problem with any tube type tire.

Did you use the correct amount for the application? Did your tires have any moisture or tire sealant in them?

Personally, I'd run them at 28 PSI, cold. I'd keep a close eye on them for any sign of trouble. I ran a set of Lester 7.00 X16 tires from 1982 on a Packard for over 13,000 miles on dirt and pavement with no issues except 1 flat. I expected the coarse crushed rock roads here to quickly destroy them, ...

My car had near-new tires on it with balance beads when I got it, and I've worn two of them to the cord and worn most of the tread off two others. I limit road speeds to about 45 MPH.

NWS predicts 86 F on Christmas Day, with 90 F for the day after. Snow? Unlikely, to say the least.

My car has balancing beads and they seem to perform very well on good roads or on bad ones at speeds up to 50 MPH. I have a '27 roadster on Ford wire wheels with 4.40/4.50/21 Lucas tires. I have not run this car without balance beads, but I can say it performs very well with them. If you have access...

My '26-27 roadster had a 3 bolt carrier.

That is the forged steel axle. The piece in the picture that connects the top of the spring to the frame crossmember and holds the crank is for a later model car.

You may find that the holes through the axle are worn oversize and out of round. The nuts can be ground or filed back to get them off.

The tank truck with 3 compartments probably carried gasoline, kerosene, and motor oil, with gasoline in the largest compartment.

When pea-bulbs attack!

Henry Ford had a goal of reducing waste to an absolute minimum. He abhorred waste, whether of time, material or talent.

Here is a link to a very large, interesting and diverse website:
www.UtterPower.com
High tech, low tech, and lots more.

I think is best to have the plug located in the vicinity of the exhaust valve, which allows the advancing flame front to move toward the cooler part of the combustion chamber, preventing detonation of the "end gas". The pressure rise in the combustion chamber is fairly uniform regardless of the loca...

That's been my general procedure. The 1927 Ford owner's manual describes a different procedure that sounds easier, but I don't think it's do-able with the tires sold today. Apparently, the early balloon tires made for Ford drop center rims fit more loosely on the rim diameter, allowing for easy manu...

That's a great price. I don't think I'd get such treatment here. In times past, yes. Today, not likely.

A cooler plug might help control pinging.

That's contrary to the owner's manual, but that's the way I've always dealt with tube type tires, so I'll take your advice. I suspect that tires made today are a little different from the 1920's balloon tires. The manual emphasizes centering the casing and tube on the wheel once they're in place. Th...

Is removing and replacing 4.40/4.50 X 21 tires on Ford wire wheels easiest to do according to the Ford owner's manual? I have Olympic-style 4 ply polyester tires that need replaced. They are about as stiff as brand new Firestone tires. I can't get them to drop into the rim gutter enough to get any k...

It's probably emanations from the penumbra of the approaching Alien Mothership.

Garmin makes an excellent device that sticks to a smooth surface with a suction cup. It has a plug and cord for external 12 volt power. It provides maps, navigation, speedometer, odometer, elevation, clock, Compass, 2 trip odometers, and more. It has a 3X5 screen with a dark mode for night time use....

The thing with the claws on it may be belt lacing, or it could be some kind of tire casing repair. I'm guessing belt lacing.

A car needs to start and run dependably. Breakdowns and won'tstarts out on the road are no fun. Safety, including good braking, steering, brakes, tires, wheels, and all related parts, has priority over cosmetics, cushions and accessory doo-dads.

Solid tempered glass is not suited for windshields. It is very difficult to break, making it more hazardous to occupants' heads that may strike it in a collision. If solid tempered glass does break, it instantly shatters into pea sized fragments with no ability to prevent an occupant from being ejec...

Laminated glass is required for windshields in many jurisdictions. Solid tempered glass has been used for rear windows since about 1946. Many vehicles have used solid tempered glass in side and vent windows since around 1970. Laminated glass for side windows is making a comeback as "acoustic glass"....

No big deal.

Note: I am not the OP of this thread.

At the right price..... for a parade/driver car, it would be a good deal. An expert would need to assess how much of what is there is "correct" and if the car could be brought back to original configuration on some practical basis. At the right price, and assuming it is mechanically sound, I'd buy i...

Looks like a "driver" Torpedo with potential to be "corrected", if the price is right. I wonder what's under the paint....

The one you want at a price you like is best.

What do you want to do with the car?

Flooding may be related to float level or to issues with the float, needle and seat. Beyond that, fuel systems seem to create debris out of thin air, and dirt in the fuel is always a suspect when excess fuel issues arise. Did Holley continue to make the Model S after Ford moved on? Ford required hug...

I have no experience specifically with the Model S, but a low float level could contribute to hard starting. It may be that the Model S requires opening the main jet adjustment more than the later models do to get a rich enough starting mixture. A choke that does not fully close can cause starting i...

We've all heard of "Florida Man".... Behold: "Florida Snowman"!

Do you know if these will also prevent silver reflector tarnish?

A lot of what looks like heavy rust on the undercarriage appears to actually be several layers of flaking paint.

I'm pretty sure that is wear from that big washer walking around the crankshaft.

It would be very difficult to get a good repair using JB Weld on that. I don't know if the washers are supposed to be there.

Ford may have used true babbit for thrust washers at some point. But they used the "pot metal" too. "Babbit" is a family of alloys. Pot metal, likewise. Pot metal is generally less malleable than true babbit.

Getting a better pulley and pin would help. The damaged crank stub is a problem. There are 2 piece crank pulleys available. It might be possible to use one of them with a slotted sleeve and an oversize pin to make a repair that would last a while.

AI material ought to be labeled as such. On the big black center door, does that hood belong with that radiator? Also, look carefully at the pavement in the foreground near the car.... the word (?) (?) Wilson can be faintly seen. It looks like 2 initials and the word "Wilson".

The "pot metal" differs from true babbit metal. It will decay over time on the shelf or in service. True babbit will not.

I have a lot of old babbit from old oil field engines and various poured bearings on wooden oil rigs. It does not deteriorate over time, even when exposed to weather or salted earth for decades. The "pot Metal", on the other hand, is a different material. It's more brittle, and it often decays over ...

My phone is NOT ringing.....

I read somewhere that a Model T has about 5,000 parts.

Are Model Ts allowed at Pebble Beach?

I'd think any non-factory accessory would cost points, if as-built "originality" was the judging criteria.

The gentleman with the speedster pictured in the Up Up & Away thread was an early adopter of Flubber. He managed the control issues by adding a vertical stabilizer/rudder and stub wings. His innovative, pedal-operated propeller limited forward speed when airborne, but with a good tailwind and a tigh...

Is that a Packard running board?

I'd guess a lot of pickup beds were put on roadsters already sold.

Too much caster could make the car more unstable backing up.

Do some reading on nitrogen in tires. There are advantages. No Miracles. What would be the weight difference between helium at a given pressure and (dry) air at a given pressure? A few ounces?

The brass cars seem to have a much higher shine than the later ones.

Replacing the early engine with a later generator/starter engine/transmission that is balanced has advantages if the car is driven often. A well-balanced powerplant will reduce structural stress from vibration on the rest of the car. I'd want the early engine to stay with the car.

My car starts easier on battery if it has sat overnight. For the rest of the day, it starts as easily on magneto. I'm not sure why since for most of the summer the car is already half warmed up from the ambient heat.

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