MTFCA Forum

Noah Stutzman can also make wooden steering wheel rims. Years ago he told me if I bring him the metal spider, he can go from there. It’s also fairly easy to make your own by cutting 16 pieces of wood and gluing them with overlapping joints. I made it round by using a router bit and a turntable on my...

I was able to salvage my four dip pan that came to me with bolted on repair ears. I had a rusted out three dip pan that had the correct three rivet ears and I used a frame checked for square to align everything before tack welding them in place so I could remove the bolts and rivet and braze. While ...

Allan,

Yes, I regard Ryobi as a budget line tool as do many others. I have found them to be durable and as I am a DIY, I have never had an issue with durability. I do own Milwaukee, Makita, and Porter Cable for some of my work where I think it is necessary.

I bought the Ryobi 18 volt version and used it on my clinchers at my garage. It has a display with auto shut off when filled.

My kid got one from me for his 40th birthday as a result.

Thank You Coil Doctor Brent Mize!

Brent sent me a message and a photo advising me he had the parts I needed. I don't have to make any more of my cobbled ones. Thanks Brent!

Richard,

My best answer is that there isn’t an easy way. I use a son or grandson for my trunk work. As far as a running board mount, I prefer the original location with a maintenance free AGM battery.

From Snyder’s on line catalog….

I need twelve of the 1926-27 rear curtain fasteners for the open car top irons. The current offerings (RH) fit if you don’t try to sandwich the side curtains in between. The Model A Roadster has snaps (LH) that fasten to the windshield with smaller holes. The Model A open cars also use the same side...

I would not take a stone to the steel. Instead I would adjust the height with the aluminum spool.

A old guy I knew used to hit the steel plates with a rawhide hammer to seat the magnets. T would not use his method as the magnets have been known to crack.

Cal Stewart recorded this as if he was informing friends about his new car. It’s interspersed with his laughs. Several artists after Cal Stewart recorded the story but I believe the original is the best.

I access the recording via archive.org.

Consider adding Cal Stewart’s 1919 Columbia recording of “Uncle Josh buys an automobile.”

After taking a closer look at your photos it appears you need more wood besides the top wood. The boards next to your gas tank aren’t in the photo. I don’t see the belt wood or the package tray behind the seat either. There are two verticals either side of the back window that support your top wood....

I suggest Google: “ Coupe headliner installed before top” . It will get you links to previous discussions.

No photos today. The carnage I created today is not fit for this Forum. I'm working on my '26 Touring. I have concluded my carcass no longer easily bends in ways it has to go. So, I removed the front seatback that requires a few dents from bushel baskets to be removed. Six nuts and bolts and six riv...

I am of the opinion that tires stored properly will last longer than ten years. I have 19” Garfield tires on my ‘31 Ford. I purchased them from JC Whitney in the eighties and they’re still running well. The Garfields have nylon plies versus the older tires that had cotton. I inspect my tires often a...

A 10mm bolt with its major diameter of 0.3937” might have a wire diameter that is close to 3/8”. It might be a good candidate for your rivet.

Watching this was much better than the recent fast food AI commercial touting the “worst time of the year” that has since been removed. I enjoyed it and hope the dog remained safely behind the dash after he jumped down. This technology can only help swap meet attendance. I am increasingly doubtful o...

This modification looks nice but it also scares me. The B-pillar with the strikers is also supporting the seat back This pillar is bolted to a wooden sill with 4 or 6 wood screws through an iron bracket on each side. With two people in the front seat, I’m guessing the rear doors will be hard to open...

I rebuilt the starter off my car. This one got away from my previous rebuild projects and had to be replaced at a show. Starter.jpg This one received the new design one piece field assembly along with a new brush plate and brushes. I stamped one of the pole screws so I or my son can identify it some...

You’re welcome to let Mr. Waltham know that I live nearby him and am willing to pick up this delicate item for you in person and will pay him upon delivery.

I am of the opinion that the supplier making the side curtain fasteners used on the bodies of 1927-31 open Fords could make the correct fasteners for our 1926-7 top irons with a minor modification. What if the tops of Model A windshield fasteners were grafted to the bottom of the side curtain fasten...

I was curious and looked up Jackson’s auto history. Through 1954, Jackson hosted 24 or 25 auto makers including Buick. When an auto maker would stop production, machinists stayed employed by making parts such as your spark plugs.

Jackson’s final auto offering? The Kaiser Darrin.

Dennis, you’re wrong about the 30%. My wife didn’t call me, my son was at work, so I did get to work in silence.

I did throw a new switch into my parts washer as I shoved it in a new corner. That wasn’t planned.

I needed to use my press to remove the pole screws from the starter that went bad at the Old Car Festival. I spent several hours putting stuff away and sweeping the floor so I could use my press for ten minutes. I felt like I accomplished something and the shop is a bit cleaner.

I didn’t put a skeleton filled T on the lawn this year. I figured I would use some cues from the Wednesday Addams series that’s popular now. Instead of a ‘38 Pontiac, I used my ‘41 Ford. “Wednesday” is in the back seat with a wig and a doll on her lap. Thing is perched on the front seat. I used fift...

Yes, I bought a new 6 volt battery this year. I bit the bullet and purchased another Optima for $237 with no core charge. They last longer. The oldest Optima AGM I have is twelve years old and my son brought it to me at the Old Car Festival this year to jump start my Model A that had the ignition le...

I rely on outside search engines to help me find automotive answers. Currently Bing and Google look into this forum and update their searches.

Would limiting access to paid members prevent these updates?

I’m guessing the original poster opted for the percent symbol because the superscript “o” doesn’t lend itself to a lot of keyboards.

You also asked about trimming the top. Look at Lang’s 9297C. The original gutters were steel with a thin piece covering the nails. This is a reasonable facsimile. The front and back of the top are trimmed with hide em welt.

The Coupe is interesting in that it evolved between 24-25. My first Coupe had wood framed doors and an aluminum or zinc belt rail that was nailed from B-pillar to B-pillar. Later, Ford made the belt rail easier to install by making it two pieces with an outer beauty cover that snapped on. My current...

I never found anything as far as a reproduction brace when I was doing my Runabout. If you’re looking for something close, consider A-163-ABR for the Model A.

Is this it?

Thanks Jerry. I was misinformed.

I touched the current windmill after it was donated. They were rebushing the fan shaft in the A&S Machine shop across the road and had part of it in a vise.

Greenfield Village Stover

IMG_0424.png The item in the center of this photo is not a communication tower. It is the Stover windmill that was original to the Ford property. The Stover is unique in that the directing vane is next to the fan blade and not behind it. Ford Bryan donated the current Stover windmill that is at the...

I am not picking on Marty Newnee. He is a hero to my grandchildren because they think his fire engine is really cool.

I confess I didn’t see you. When I pulled up, the Forestry T and one other was there. They drove off around 3:30. I think Marty was busy giving fire truck rides around that time.

Dave, Were you wearing a brown shop coat while in the bleachers? We were parked behind you.

In spite of a few things gone wrong, I had a great time. The first time I tried to take my ‘26 Runabout out of the trailer it wouldn’t start. I apparently installed a bad starter. My son and Bob Barrett Jr. (Cubby) convinced me to change it on the field this morning. I dropped one of the 12-24 cover...

Mommy!………It’s Over!
[attachment=0]IMG_8825.jpeg[/attachment

I brought a carload of non forum people with me to the meet up.

I thought all four dip pans had the provision to accommodate the wide brake drum.

If you have a four dip pan, you have the correct pan.

In regards to Ed’s comment about wooden Fordors, the first steel bodied Fordor was offered in 1931. So Model A has its share of wood issues too.

What is the condition of your plywood firewall? I would also check the two bolts that are visible above the hood. I would also check the three step bolts (large head carriage bolts) that secure the right side of the firewall to the iron brackets bolted to the top of the frame. If any of these bolts ...

I will also add that my Son dawdled this year and missed the cut for the OCF. He and his missus will be babysitting this car, this year at the Old Car Fest. Inspections of my upholstery and questionable paint will be tolerated. It’s fitting that he sit with it since he’s the one who dragged this car...

Allan, without removing the welt, I will assure you I did do the horizontal cut back per the instructions. I too looked at the photo and feel it’s the angle making it look that way.

Eric,

Sorry I mixed up the manufacturer. The rest of my advice is still sound.

I recently installed a top on my ‘26 Runabout. I started with Cartouche and finished with Classtique. The windbreak you show straddles the top of the windshield frame and the Vee is supposed to line up with the windshield wiper hole in the metal frame. There is no snap on the outside corners; your s...

Must do: The meet and greet mixer on Friday night. The gas light parade. Parking is simple. There are two routes to get there from Greenfield Village. The M-39 service drive from Village Road takes you to the east of Fairlane Center. Do a U-turn on the Hubbard Drive bridge and make a right turn into...

Is it 1/4”-18 UNS by any chance?

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/04840195

They are door strikers. They are mounted on the B-pillars for the door latches.

The area with four screw holes above the striker is for a dovetail.

Herman Hollerith, the guy who saved the census, made his punch cards the same size as US currency so the wallets of the time could be used to carry the census cards.

So, the IBM cards I used to keypunch for WATFIV programming were the same size as the dollar bills for your old cash register.

Welcome to the hobby Kevin. You have a good start there plus it’s a memory of your grandfather. You’re in good company and you can get a lot of free advice out of the rest of us.

Jim,
In the shower, we have had success with plastic food wrap. My wife the nurse said it worked on patients and it will work on me. It did.

(Edited by my wife) “ Use a few layers of wrap and it’s easier ask a helper to apply it”.

Between my wife and I, we have undergone five knee replacements. One for me; four for her. Initially my wife had the minimally invasive metal wear surfaces with the plastic bearing surface installed in both knees. After a couple of falls, the metal to bone adhesive failed and there was a noticeable ...

Mr. Squires made a side trip from Saginaw to my Mom’s place in the northeast side of the lower peninsula in order to pick up my car. He brought my behemoth’65 Lincoln home for me. Upon his arrival, he made sure my son and I were able to get it inside before a very bad thunderstorm hit. I have nothin...

Our local museum operates the gas lights on the cars during the Christmas holiday. They use MC tanks with welding regulators inside a running board tool box. The lights are not illuminated brightly enough for highway driving and it’s more to provide a steady glow. The tanks are inclined on wedge blo...

I’m still trying to figure out my headlight on the right side. My grandson has it here. The single drain hole is on the bottom and is aligned with the mounting bracket. The rim rivets line up with the bracket so the lens is aligned wrong for 1926. IMG_7964.jpeg I’m fortunate to have sons. I removed ...

I’m using Snyder’s TR80 valve stem in my 26 wire wheels. I too have been told A&L is the manufacturer. I have not researched if it is correct for 26-27; I use it because it fits.

Happy birthday Darel. Well done Sir!

I thought they were the same as well. They were not on the car when my son and I brought it home years ago.

https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 1374928927

I did buy a bunch of paper tags and I will be labeling parts for the benefit of the kids and grandkids that will clean up after me someday. They will know right from left.

I discovered I have two nicely painted left hand headlights for my early ‘26. I also discovered the
right hand headlight bucket hiding unpainted elsewhere in my shop.

If the thread is 1/4”-27, then they’re identical to the lampshade finials I remember as a kid.

Wow! That was fast.

Well done Jerry!

Allan,
Your misspelled is misspelt.

They attach to the two insulated brush holders.

Thanks for the kind words Jerry. I tried that several years ago while my wife was away helping our daughter with newborns.

She was less than surprised and delighted when she walked in through the garage.

It’s payback time. In exchange for my wife taking care of me during hip surgery, I am helping her through her eight to twelve week surgical recovery. I am also in charge of laundry and cooking gourmet meals. Since my hands are so clean, I dug out some of Mike’s upholstery kits and am keeping busy pu...

My ‘26 Runabout has a wooden cover. I thought the pickup uses a rectangular steel version like this:

https://www.modeltford.com/item/PBED4.aspx

I noticed something else while looking over your photos. I can’t tell if it’s there on your cowl. If not, consider adding two more holes to where your windshield stanchions are bolted. This allows any dirt or water that accumulates in the pocket to drain out. A better idea that Ford implemented late...

I dug around and found this in my photo collection. This is my car five years ago; I hope it helps.

The green body is later. It has the ‘27 style upholstery channel for the hip panel Some of these bodies have a horizontal steel strap from the seat panel to the latch pillar. I added one to mine because I think it was added by Ford to prevent damage to the hip panel upholstery. The front edge of you...

I don’t have photos. On my ‘26 roadster, there were a couple of holes on the latch pillar that were smaller to accept flathead wood screws. I secured the wood blocks there. The screws are eventually covered by the hip panel.

The Ruckstell uses the same Ford axle shafts.

I glanced at the Lincoln Forum last night and saw bad news. Apparently they experienced a similar attack on March 11 and their server provider shut down their site. They now have a splash page explaining the outage and they’re in the process of backing up the forum to preserve the information. I see...

134 East Jefferson is now the entrance of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

If this situation keeps up, I will be forced to abandon this Forum and go back to working on my cars.

If the doors are original to the car, the side curtain post grommets will be stamped into the door skin. In ‘26, they were separate zinc pieces. Also the the latch in the door is not square and has a raised portion to grab the curtain post. Look at a ‘28 model A latch, it has same configuration. The...

1921?

The vendors parts catalogs offer 8 piece block sets with usage through 1920.

Like this? It turned out to be a geometry exercise and I took a couple of cuts before I realized how much the teeth had to be reduced in regards to the pitch diameter.

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You asked. Just when I thought I was out, he pulled me right back in again. I rebuilt four generators for my cars. I didn't rebuild a fifth or more because I only had a 1919 brush plate and I ran out of parts. I replaced the 1919 insulators on the plate but am inclined to leave it on my shelf as a c...

I still have my doubts about the black plastic tack strips. A few years ago, I installed mine with #10 screws and nuts. The car sat inside for a couple years cycling between 45 and 95 degrees F. Before I had a chance to upholster the seat, I discovered the plastic had cracked. I did not take good ph...

Is it possible the case bottom is reverse thread to counteract the rim winding force?

Meet my Generator Rebuild #1 Test Stand.jpg Per Ron Patterson's suggestion, I used a diode cutout while making my initial adjustments. Diode Cutout.jpg I also found out the large end of the wrench fits my early brush plate third brush nut. With the brush plate adjusted and third brush retarded, I am...

I have been working on my early brush plate during the dark days of the Forum. My goal was to preserve it for the next caretaker instead of modifying it to fit the later parts. I was able to clean the Glyptal of the plate and fitted new insulators. The later design insulator is similar but needed so...

To Jeff:

As one who just purchased generator fields, I am happy to hear you’re going to offer our hobby a better product. Thanks for making these parts.

I worked on my starters in January. I used this tubing on the leads. Cost was $5.85

I had to curl the blades on the terminals slightly to slide it onto the wire and straighten them after heating.

I totally misunderstood the subject line.

: 14A15253-96F7-4F08-AE95-23C5B91A1ED6.jpeg (17.95 KiB) Viewed 2003 times

I’m not giving up hope. My son in lost his dad when he was fifteen. Now at 39 he lives a block away from me and asks for help and borrows tools. He never asks me to help after I show him how to do something once. This last week he informed me that I will be teaching him and his kids how to start and...

Ron, if it’s early Ford, I will make the insulator fit the metal and not cut up the steel.

I'm rebuilding the generators on my family's cars. I found this in #3 today 3-1.jpg 3-2.jpg The unusual sliding brush caught my attention. Its adjusting bolt is also the spring anchor. When I tried to install a new insulator, I found the plate is also different. I assume I can enlarge the slot and d...

I did not use washers on my rear fender brackets. Everything bolted up fine.

Ron, Thanks for the detailed explanations. I now realize the A-generator is a much simpler task. I suspect now that some of my armatures may have problems. So after I tackle that issue, I will probably build a copy of your Allen tester. I also see I need to make sure I have a good old mechanical cut...

Thanks Ron. I waited until it was a good day to get to my workshop and look at my other generators. What I found is one large brush is always near a specific screw hole. I also know there are three wrong ways to install the brush plate. I am guessing that Ford dealing with sub-assemblers with questi...

The eBay mirror with its 11.8” focal length is essentially a shaving mirror. I don’t think it would work well in a headlight.

I’m not sure those are bolts. There’s a cord draped across the stamped door that could have its end hanging under the car.

A question about the null point: Last month I rebuilt several starters for my son and me. This month is generators. One of the generators I shelved had bad third brush insulation which ultimately grounded both ends of the field windings. I took a photo of the brush plate as a reference. After replac...

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