MTFCA Forum

I'd want to put a late roadster/touring windshield on that, and add a second windshield at the front seat back with a removable soft top stretching from the remnant hard top to the second windshield. That would make a nice Town Car.

Looks sharp!

Ford built them out of parts, too!

Grounding the generator will bring output to zero, but using a resistive load to dump power would not. (?)

I have 50 CP headlight bulbs, and if I turn them on, it pulls the ammeter down to zero at road speeds. It peaks at about 10 amps with them off and drops to about 4 amps with the battery charged at road speeds. I'm not clear on whether the generator output is zero when the ammeter indicates zero, or ...

A T generator can be modified to work with an old style voltage regulator. But those are becoming scarce and expensive. A solid state regulator can be expected to extend battery and bulb life. As late as 1936, Packard cars used a 3 brush generator and cutout. Seasonal adjustment of the 3rd brush was...

I wonder if your 6V generator and battery troubles weren't related. (?)

"Coasting" in "neutral" will do no harm, AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. There's no point to it though, unless you want to go very fast down a very steep hill.... which is a very bad idea. The Model T does not have a ball bearing throw out bearing... just a little fork-like thing. I don't think it...

You couldn't pay me to cut up a real Power Wagon. I might go as far as putting a Cummins engine in one, but I wouldn't molest a good original even to do that. I think the Dodge flathead sixes will interchange across a wide range of years. There are truck versions with more displacement and torque th...

No magic in 12 volts.

I never had the privilege of meeting Rich Eagle, but I'm certain that he was one of a very rare and fine kind.

Ford built Model Ts out of mass produced parts. Parts were produced, mostly in-house, without any regard for which particular car they would become part of. The number of original factory assemblies remaining in the world today must be very small. The largest number of original factory assembled uni...

I think you could make one from a long bolt of the correct diameter. Determine the correct diameter and length, then get a couple of long bolts in that diameter. Grind or file the bolt heads to a dome shape, then cut the shank to length. Tractor Supply usually has a good selection of bolts, includin...

If it's near you, 800. is probably reasonable.

A Ruxtel with 3:1 ring & pinion makes for a fast T, and you also get a granny low and a useful intermediate gear.
With a 3:1 ring and pinion:
(1) Ford Lo + Ruxtel Low
(2) Ford Low +Ruxtel Direct
(3) Ford High + Ruxtel Low
(4) Ford High + Ruxtel Direct (3:1 final)

Increasing car weight and lower engine power, combined with increasing traffic congestion, made the 2 speed less adequate as time went on.

I'd try a solvent, like B-12 Chemtool or lacquer thinner.

I seem to remember reading of some alternator problems that may be heat/vibration related. That could be related to the T's gear drive and direct mount to the engine, rather than a bracket mount and belt drive. Or it could be related to improper gear lash. If I was worried about short circuits, I'd ...

If the wheels are sound and the tires usable, I'd figure 500.00. If it has a good oil pan, so much the better. I doubt if most people could put a similar wagon together for that money, and this one appears to be a "real deal". I wonder what it weighs empty... maybe 700 # ?

Ford still used a number of small forged items on the '28-'29 Model A, but they are largely absent from the '30-'31 A. Ford was a pioneer in heavier pressed steel automotive items, such as the innovative crankcase on the Model T.

A stock or near stock T is short on horsepower for speeds over about 45 MPH. To get good results with any transmission setup, you need an engine in good condition that is in good tune and good balance that is capable of delivering its full power.

I'd want a KC Warford for flatland Florida for speed and versatility, and I'd definitely want one in Pennsylvania for speed, hill climbing, and enhanced braking. Pennsylvania is mostly hilly, but it offers some of the most beautiful rural roads in the USA. For reference, a stock Model T with tires o...

The Optimas are clean, lightweight, and long-lasting. They probably don't have the reserve capacity of a big wet cell battery, but they can give a short burst of high current, which makes them an excellent starting battery. I believe that any type battery used in a Model T could be expected to last ...

Balloon tires, shock absorbers, and 5:1 steering gears make an open T very stable at 50 MPH. It's important to have round wheels that run true and that are in balance.

The KC Warford provides readily accessible intermediate gears. That's a good thing for hill climbing, traffic, and improved downhill engine braking and transmission brake action. Putting the Warford in low when backing down a hill in reverse will give much improved engine braking.

"It will go 45 but it only has brakes for 32 as Allan from Down Under says..."

Allan is being generous. A stock T, especially the pre-1925 cars, has brakes for 15 MPH and tires for 5 MPH. Closed cars, even less. (32 MPH is about 50 feet per second!)

My car runs at 1800 RPM at about 44 MPH with 4.40/4.50 X 21 tires on Ford wire wheels. It will go a good deal faster than that, but I limit it to 48 MPH. It seems happiest at 42 MPH.

The stock transmission has no issues with running 40 to 50 MPH. No gears are in operation when it is in "High". A Model T roadster or touring with an engine in good condition and in good balance with aluminum pistons and 10W30 oil can run easily at speeds up to about 45 MPH for extended periods. A K...

Stock or near stock Model T engines don't need high octane fuel. Using it will cause no harm and give no benefit. Ethanol-free gasoline may cause slightly higher exhaust temperatures due to its slightly higher BTU content, but I doubt there would be any practical effect other than slightly more powe...

The spark advance linkage needs to work as it should for the lever position to have any meaning. Too much spark advance for the engine's speed and load can cause problems. Late timing will definitely raise exhaust temperature. Over advanced timing is also detrimental. Leaks or cracks around the exha...

You can get an idea of what driving with the early Warfords is like if you have access to a circa 1950 Ford pickup or truck with a 4 speed transmission. Straight cut gear teeth and no synchromesh.

The early units had spur gears with no synchros. It's possible to shift without grinding gears if the throttle and gearshift are handled properly. It's also possible for the vehicle get rolling so fast downhill in neutral that you may not have enough engine RPM to get back into gear, leaving you wit...

My choice would be a KC Warford. Driveshaft mods must be done correctly with any Warford-type auxiliary. If I added one, I'd get spare driveshaft parts and send them to the KC people to modify.

Batteries seem to benefit from "exercise". Sitting for longer periods of time while partially discharged seems to be very hard on them, and sitting around deeply discharged is ruinous. The Li and LiFe types may be more resistant to sitting idle and to self-discharge than wet lead-acid types. AGMs se...

Gonna have a PARTY!

People used to use reverse for a brake. I'd avoid that except in an emergency.

Insulating the exhaust pipe will allow the muffler to run hotter, which can be advantageous. It is unlikely to overheat since the gases expand rapidly upon entering the muffler, which reduces the heat concentration very rapidly. A hotter muffler may flow better, and it will stay drier and probably c...

No harm will come from wrapping the exhaust pipe back to the muffler. Some advantages may accrue. It is said that keeping the exhaust or header pipes hotter improves flow. Regardless of that, keeping fuel lines and tanks cooler has clear advantages, especially with the stuff they call gasoline these...

Curly floorboards?

It used to be that 1 year warranty batteries were low-price "replacement" units favored by tote the note used car dealers. That may not be true anymore, since batteries generally last longer these days and keeping costs down to attract buyers is common. Warranties are not free... they are insurance,...

If the engine starts when the starter switch is released, it's probably because the system voltage goes back up. Voltage drop when cranking is normal. Exactly how much is acceptable, I don't know, but I think it can exceed 1 to 1.5 volts in a 6 volt system. Anything that makes the engine harder to c...

My T has a Red Top in it that is over 11 years old. Still starts. The car has a stock generator and cutout.

Mark, your problem could be excess current draw from the stater, or it could be a cable/ground issue. Or it could be the battery. In my opinion, a new battery is no older than 6 months. Fresher is better. The battery needs to be the correct size for the application, or a size or two larger, if space...

Do check dates on new batteries. They aren't all new! How long a battery lasts depends on a great many variables. A battery that is of adequate size for the job it is intended to do will last longer than an undersized battery. A well-regulated charging system will extend battery life by avoiding ove...

You can file points IF there is still tungsten left on the little button. It's not all tungsten. If you file off all the tungsten, the points won't run long without sticking or burning. Older sets may have a thicker tungsten "biscuit" than newer production. An old junkyard guy told me that older poi...

It might be possible to put tungsten points from common later model point sets on the T parts. They'd need to be similar in size and weight. The tungsten (or platinum?) is bonded to a small steel slug, and the steel is attached to the brass or spring steel part. Old points can be filed, up to a point.

Properly adjusted coils and proper capacitors in good condition will extend point life.

"I wish we could just replace the cap and leave the rod..."

Looks like someone already tried that. The rod bearings will not hold up if they are not fit correctly on a shaft that is in good condition.

That rod looks to me like all the babbitt is gone from much of the bearing surface, leaving exposed steel. I'd expect to find that rod journal to be out of round. At the very least, the rod needs to be re babbitted and re-fit, IF the rod journal is in good condition. The rest of the rods are probabl...

In agree with Allan.

"Coke costs almost half of what it did back then !"..... To the extent that there is any real reduction in the real cost of a "serving" of Coke today vs 90 years ago, a substantial portion of that reduction is likely due to use of lightweight, higher volume, "disposable" containers and the eliminati...

But... the oil barons! O! O my!!!

Does the reverse pedal feel normal when you push on it? Maybe the adjustment has backed off. Easy to check. I was driving down the road a while back and a floorboard shifted and interfered with the left pedal just before I turned into my driveway. I thought something bad had happened in the transmis...

I think it will charge a 12 volt battery or a 6 volt. The bulb voltage is not as important as how much current it will pass, with 12 volt bulbs having about twice the internal resistance as 6 volt bulbs of the same wattage or candlepower. You might need more engine RPM to charge a 12 volt battery, b...

Thank you, Ron.

I bought a lot of gas at 16.9 to 19.9 cents a gallon into the early 1970s. 28.9 cents a gallon was high price full serve! When adjusting for inflation, be sure to adjust the gas tax and EPA regulatory costs, too. Tax at the pump is not all the taxes priced into retail gasoline, either. Then there's ...

Subsidy corn syrup makes it difficult to tell what Coke costs.

Due their size and other characteristics, TTs appeal to a smaller market than Ts. Beyond that, condition, body type, location, and modifications will determine how appealing it is and to how many. Some people just don't have room for one, and many others have to live with traffic density that is not...

I have had no issues with the floorboard scorching. I use the spark advance and carburetor adjustments as needed for best performance, which minimizes exhaust temperature. Using heat wrap on the exhaust pipe from 3" back of the manifold to aft of the fuel line is a good idea. Prevents fires and redu...

To sum up, they are safe, inexpensive, and they work well within their limits.

If the resistance is normal the inductance value is likely normal also. Somewhere, there is a table of the magneto AC frequency at various engine speeds. The "buzz" frequency can vary from one coil to another when they are correctly adjusted.

I think the diode will always prevent battery current from reaching the magneto, unless it short circuits. The bulbs would prevent full battery current from reaching the magneto, which might prevent demagnetization. (?) I suppose a cutout or second diode could be inserted in the circuit for extra pr...

Half wave rectifier with(?) 2 12 volt bulbs in parallel to serve as a thermo-resitive regulator. The4 device allows limited battery charging from the Ford magneto. The magneto can deliver up to about 30 volts alternating current, depending on the engine speed, which is not suitable for charging a ba...

Error deleted.

Could be a battery charger.

I believe that this site is as good as it can be, all things considered. Buyers and sellers had best practice due diligence, just as in any venue.

Keeps nasty 'possums and invasive raccoons away from your trashcans....

Buyer beware. If you want a buyer's agent, hire one.

I think there are published auction results available. There seems to a a lot of interest in gold and real estate these days. That will pass, again, and people with money to spend, or deep credit, who are a numerous lot, will be looking for other things to purchase. (If the Mandamis among us can be ...

Second pic from last is a drill rig.

I prefer the early models to the later ones. I think they look great in maroon, which I'd choose over red. If I could be so lucky as to own an early fastback, I'd want it in the dark blue.

If it is not bent, it is probably OK. You can check it by putting a light oil in the bearing and taking the belt off, then twirl the fan and watch where it stops. Do it several times. It should stop in a different place each time. (Mark one blade for reference) If one particular blade stops at the b...

Cosmetics are expensive. That's true of any car. Sheet metal work, too.

A lot of that thing could be rebuilt with flat sheet metal. A little rough sheet metal looks just fine under flat olive drab.

They're gone here. Just after a major remodel, too. The wall clock near the checkouts has vanished, too.

Fans with cracks or loose rivets are an extreme health hazard. They can be hard on hoods and radiators, too. A fan that is bent or out of balance can be very hard on the bearing, besides wasting power.

The fan hub might leak less with 20W or 30W motor oil in it. Mine is a late type with the eccentric adjustment and it does not leak. The fan belt does not to be extremely tight. The Ford Service Book gives good information on how and when to do the various service jobs.

As a kid, I'd see a good many of those coolers out on the highway. My brother and I called them "baby air conditioners" because our parents once told us if we didn't settle down we'd have to ride in one of them. Somehow, we got the idea that people carried babies in them. Dad had a dark blue 1949 Fo...

Heat in the third member could be a problem if you drove the truck fast for long distances. Modern, lighter bodied lubricants would probably reduce heat buildup. But the speed limiting factor with a TT on level ground is the final drive ratio of around 7:1. The stock T engine runs best under 1800 RP...

Some of those panicked people had plenty of income... and probably drove less than 500 miles in a year. Ever see a family of four stuffed into a Vega? But that 4 door, paid for '68 Olds 88 four door just had to go!!!

Shorpy.com has a lot of antique car and truck pics in high definition including crash scenes. Early cars did not hold up well in serious crashes. A driver's education textbook called "Youth At the Wheel" came out around 1934. I came across a copy in the "library" when I was in the 4th grade. Hair-ra...

It's good that you are online, Steve. Old Age ain't for sissies, as Arthur Godfrey used to say.

A KC Warford + the Ruxtell will give you all the speed(s) you'd want in a TT, and a gear for most any situation.

I like the C-cabs with an express bed.

You are correct on all counts, Maineiac.

Pretty sad situation. I guess the carts will go next, or will it be canned goods? Kitchen ware? Sporting goods? We need to lock up thieves and predators, not merchandise and equipment!

At the local Wal Mart, the little square sticks at the checkout counter to divide one customer's stuff from another's seem to be gone. Are we, the Public, now considered to be too unstable to have access to such things?

"Rubber cement" ought to work. (The stuff sometimes used in offices, not the yellow stuff)

I think those guys wound up in Hollister a few years later....

Thanks for the pictures and the related information.

Ingenious!

Buy, drive, and enjoy.

Some time ago, during one of the contrived gas price run-ups, you could buy a fine late model Cadillac or full size pickup truck dirt cheap.... while people rushed to dispose of their "gas hogs" and flocked to buy grim little econoboxes at prices well over list. The steep price crash on the bigger v...

Did you enjoy owning the vehicle, Larry? Others may have different experiences, but darn near everything I buy fails to provide a net monetary return. There are hobbies, and there are businesses. A very few people manage to successfully combine the two. To the best of my knowledge, automobiles are a...

I have a 1993 Dodge 4X4 pickup. It's about a #3. I'm amazed by the number and variety of people who comment on it. But the earlier cars attract more attention. Americans love cars, just as they have for 125 years. Look at the amazing variety of new and late model vehicles that are available today, m...

Cash has been depreciating for a very long time. As for interest, many banks and creditors are not at all shy about charging interest, but it's rare to see them to pay any meaningful interest.

These days, unfortunately, pictures do lie.

I have a T and a 1930s Packard. They both create a stir every time I take them out on the road. If a conversation takes place, which it often does, I make it a point to mention that Model Ts in good running order can still be bought at reasonable prices most any day of the week, and that most parts ...

I hope it all finds a good home.

You'll need an Interdimensional Interrociter to access his location.

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