MTFCA Forum

I like Edison 14s, but they are hard to find. Edison 13s will also work but are even harder to find and have dual ground electrodes if you prefer that feature.

I bought the Snyder's oversize mat and trimmed it to fit my 1925 touring body. It had more than enough extra material.

I think I may have figured out why the fan looks like it is on backwards. Looking at the EMF 30 website specifications page, it says that the EMF 30's magneto and water pump are gear driven off the crankshaft and that the fan is belt driven off the water pump. If the Flanders 20 is the same, then th...

Hopefully less wear. I have also noticed slightly more power on climbs (seat of the pants, no hard data) due to the cooler intake charge.

I personally would not extend the oil change interval just because I was running a filter.

Prior to 1925, the bodies had more wood up front in the door frame and kick panel area. Here is a view of my 1925 touring body showing the metal structure that replaced the earlier wood.

I have not encountered icing (yet), but I definitely get condensation on the intake manifold when I run the filter.

Thanks for the kind words. I wired the money to Dragone Motors on Friday, I'm assuming that they'll let me know next week when the car will ship. I've been studying up on the dual ignition system for the car. It should have a Splitdorf low tension magneto with points and a separate, tubular coil. Th...

Great job Steve! I recently removed my air filter and re-installed the stock heat pipe for winter driving, but I'll be putting the air filter back on come spring. I found a vintage Clinton lawn mower filter on Ebay, painted it black, and made an adapter cone out of brass to attach it to the carb inl...

The hook goes over a manifold clamp and acts as a fulcrum for you to pry the bottom of the valve spring upwards.

1925 tops have a single rear window versus the dual window of 1923 and 1924.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1215021312

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1239027671

Last batch of pics.

Thanks for the tip, I will check it when the car arrives. The car runs, but I plan to go over it thoroughly before I start it the first time. Here is a link to their website. I don't see the high wheeler listed in their current offerings, maybe they're just storing it for the owner. You could contac...

More pics of the Flanders 20.

Well, I went and did it - I bought the Flanders 20 that was advertised in the HCCA classifieds, see the attached pics. The Flanders 20 was built by EMF as a direct competitor to the Model T Ford, but Ford just lowered his prices to maintain his market dominance. The original cars came with a terribl...

IMO the swivel top carb setup is correct, Ford was phasing in improved car features by mid model year 1925.

Whatever you do, don't use any of those foam packing peanuts. They will get shredded and ground up into little pieces and will get into all of the ports and water passages.

Remember, there is nothing more permanent than a temporary fix that works!

I changed the coolant in the T today. It came to me with a 50/50 mix of GM Dexcool and water, so that's what I put back in. I should have done it sooner, checking my records the old stuff had been in there since 2013. How time flies!

Found elsewhere on the forum:

Those are great looking Splidorf plugs, Steve!

I run Edison 14s in my car, they burn hot and run great. I haven't had to touch them since I installed them in 2014.

Great pics, thanks for sharing them!

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CH ... 96&bih=657

Maybe these could be modified to work? I can't tell from the picture if it's slotted or Phillips.

https://www.accuratehardwarestore.com/p ... ck-of-100/

Just in case some crazy person wants to attempt fabricating a batch of Schrader 777 size stems, page 4 of this document has the dimensions. One issue I see is that they can't just be turned on a lathe, they require two sizes of external threads plus one size of internal threads to accept the valve c...

https://www.fastenersclearinghouse.com/ ... t7=b18.6.3;

A former forum member's take on changing a non-demountable tire on the car.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1325091009

Or the high gear shaft (circled)? Slowing a leak there could be a challenge, but if it's just one more day maybe just wrap the exposed end of the shaft with a lot of felt or a rag wrapped with duct tape. If nothing else, it will filter the oil that leaks out. If it's the transmission output shaft, I...

If I had some 888 stems, I would certainly use them, especially when everybody else is passing up 888 stems to find 777 stems. :) I shudder to think how many original stems were just thrown away with their used-up tubes over the years. I wonder if new tubes back then came with bridge washers and nut...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAti8qIGRIg

I have no connection to the ad or seller, just posting the link here in case someone is just starting out trying to accumulate a kit of Ford T tools.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-T-Ford-S ... Sw4T1fnHTs

I emailed Stephen at vintagerimsaus.com for a picture of his current 30 x 3.5 inch, 4 lug rim offering and he sent me the attached picture. The lugs are of the later configuration with the tapered profile and no "foot" extending back from the lug. He can supply rims either in bare steel or zinc plat...

Hello Mike, did someone else beat me to the wrench? I sent you an email and have not received a reply, either in my inbox or my spam folder.

Allan, if you have one of your local source rims, can you post some pictures here, especially of the lugs? Thanks!

The cracked spokes and wood that you can chip out with a fingernail tells me that your spokes have reached the end of their useful life, IMO. It looks like you have Hayes felloes. Be aware that Hayes felloes take a slightly longer spoke: https://www.modeltford.com/item/2800HS-HY.aspx If you decide t...

Allan, is your local manufacturer Standweld? They are the clincher rim supplier for Universal Tire and Coker Tire.

I'm interested, email sent.

Good article!

IMO, if battery technology continues to improve, those cordless tire pumps show real promise.

I saw that Chaffin's shows new rims in their 2020 catalog, so I contacted them. They said they're sold out and have given up trying to get a new shipment from American Vintage Rims. They said they did finally get an answer back to their calls and got a familiar story - the owner of the business has ...

If you don't get a reply here, try contacting Mark at Model T Haven, he might have some.

https://vintagecarsandparts.com/

I found a floor grate with a flapper door that I liked on eBay, so I installed it on the passenger side floor board and used some of the wrapped aluminum manifold heat tubing available at most auto parts stores. I slit the tubing part way and wrapped it around a section of exhaust pipe to send the h...

Usually, with the valve installed on the car, the handle pointing towards the engine is OFF and the handle pointing towards the fuel line is ON. There is another way to verify it for sure: Is it installed on the car? If yes, put a bucket under the carb and open the drain valve at the bottom of the c...

I see the name of the proprietor of American Vintage Rims is Mark McLaren, I sent him an email expressing interest in a set of his 30 x 3.5 inch 4 lug rims. No response yet, I hope Mark is OK. I see that the proprietor of McLaren Manufacturing (wire wheels) is John McLaren. On the chance that they m...

https://www.google.com/search?q=heaters ... e&ie=UTF-8

I have an original 1915 edition of the book "Ford Methods and the Ford Shops" and can't recall seeing a section talking about the usage of wood crates or scraps. It may be in there somewhere, but unfortunately the book doesn't have an index to make it easy to find. I read the body section of the boo...

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1233059301

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1314939430

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1525440703

memberlist.php?first_char=a#memberlist

By the way, the bag that the vendors sell to store the side curtains when they aren't being used isn't correct either. Here is an older thread about the configuration of the current vendor roll versus an original Ford curtain roll: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/822076/865043.html?1526061917 L...

I was asked offline about top boots for open cars. Using Google to search for old threads on the subject, I came up with these: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/599638/606536.html?1455820509 http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/411944/427453.html?1394207633 http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5...

To answer one of your questions, I am very happy with my custom side curtains from Classstique. If I had known better at the time, I would have mounted my side mirror higher on the windshield post like most folks do and as seen in period pictures. It's too late now, my driver side curtain has a notc...

Great videos! Thanks for sharing them, Darel.

Impressive! He has more talent and patience than I do.

I don't know if it's true for 1923 and up, but the front lower corner on the front side curtains on earlier cars with oil lamps had loops that went around the lamps instead of the hooks. Here is another earlier thread that shows how I fastened my side curtains. I had them custom made by Classtique t...

Larry and others have shared detailed photos of their OEM Ford side curtains before:

https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=2907

viewtopic.php?t=9772

Darel, when I try to view the videos it says that they are private. Please reset the access permission on them to "public", thanks!

Be aware that the hooks on the windshield posts are different sizes, the upper ones are long and curved, the lower ones are shorter and straighter. The vendors carry the short one, but the long ones are harder to find. Short hook: https://www.modeltford.com/item/7831B.aspx Picture of the long hook:

One way to do a video is to post it to Youtube with access set to "public", then paste a link to it in your post, like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlbuvDeURug

Here's a diagram from elsewhere on the forum. You will need Adobe Acrobat to open the files once they have downloaded onto your computer. The diagrams don't show a common sense fastener in the middle of the interface between the front & rear curtains, but you might want to add one, like this picture...

"Best" wiring diagram for a later starter equipped car, showing where to put the fuse:

If you mean a metal running board tool box, I'm pretty sure they were all period aftermarket, not supplied by Ford. Regarding the tools, check the link below for the tools section of the MTFCA Encyclopedia, or get a copy of "Model T Ford - the Car That Changed the World" and look near the back at th...

I was going to post a like to Steve Jelf's old thread, but I see that someone already has.

I pulled Betsy's winter front and hood blanket out of storage and installed them on the car today. A little early, but the winter front flap exposes the entire radiator opening when it's rolled up, so theoretically it could stay on year round. The camera flash makes the vinyl look gray, but it is bl...

41,495,239 - Are you sure you don't have an extra digit inserted? The highest engine number called out in Bruce's book is 15,176,888.

Jonah, unless you have money to burn on tools, I would sure take up John Iaccino on his offer to do your spindles and steering arms for free if you send them to him.

The reamer that the vendors sell is a line reamer, it ensures that the two bushings are reamed exactly parallel to each other so that the spindle bolt has a tight fit yet can turn easily. If you remove one old bushing at a time you can use the remaining old bushing to align the reamer for the first ...

Those are rebound straps, they limit the amount of rebound from the springs over bumps. Reduces the "ejection seat" effect. They were a period accessory. I made mine from the beefiest leather belts that I could find at Walmart. They go over the frame. I have them on the front and rear, they actually...

If you only plan to drive locally and you can take all of your local hills in high, then the need for a Ruckstell is minimal --- except for those times when you're climbing a hill in high and someone in front of you slows down to turn and kills all of your momentum. Then you can either creep up the ...

Check out his website, he has lots of old cars besides Fords. At times, he's offered antique Cadillacs, EMFs, and others. Right now he has an incomplete Brush project for sale. He also is a collector of old Edison and other phonographs.

Neat pic! Love the one-man top retrofit with straps and the rear side curtains, I often drive mine with only the rear side curtains installed.

https://vintagecarsandparts.com/

There are some on line wood plans here:

http://www.cimorelli.com/mtdl/woodplans/default.htm

I looked it up in Bruce's book, it is the same as a 5Z-210, flywheel cap screw wrench.

There are some wood plans online here:

http://www.cimorelli.com/mtdl/woodplans/default.htm

Of the 2003 Z/28 Camaros built, 4165 remain.

I was changing the oil on my daily driver once and forgot to re-install the drain plug. 5 quarts of new oil went right through the engine onto the floor.

Not period looking, but check out lightinsight.com. They offer a flat plastic fresnel lens that sticks to the inside of your windshield using only water.

https://lightinsight.com/install/

Ralph, I'll take them. Sending you a PM with my info.

Excellent! Looks like the whole family is excited.

Contact his widow, last I heard she was planning on continuing to offer the plans.

viewtopic.php?t=8472

Yes, it is a Schrader 888 stem (same diameter and thread as a 777, but a bit shorter). A 777 rim nut and dust cover will fit and it will look identical to a 777 until the dust cover is removed. I have no connection to the ad or the seller: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Model-T-Ford-Brass-era-Tir...

Metal firewalls weren't OEM until 1923, so all 1921s would have come with wood firewalls.

If you don't care about originality, I suppose a 1923 low metal firewall might fit.

https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8472

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjmVdUmKuBg

If there was a registry, I wouldn't put my data in it because my info is in too many databases as it is.

Are you saying that the car dies with more than 1/2 turn open, or the needle is physically stopped from turning more than 1/2 turn open? If it's the latter, there is a slotted packing nut that the needle passes through. Try loosening the nut to allow for easier/more turning of the needle. Don't go t...

The MTFCI Judging Guidelines, 7th edition shows a "Straw" wire wheel color that is Ditzler 526. That's the closest thing to a yellow in the table. This web page shows cross references for that color code, it shows the Dupont equivalent to be 43353. http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?di...

Interesting! I posted a link to the ad on the Steam Automobile Club of America forum.

Chaffin's Garage shows them in their 2020 catalog, part number 3416D, page 101. You might want to give them a call.

https://www.chaffinsgarage.com/

Here are photos of my Craftsman extractor. I hardly ever use it, I usually use the needle nose pliers first.

For removal, I straighten out the ends as much as possible, insert one jaw of a pair of needle nose pliers into the loop, close the jaws to clamp onto the loop, and pry or if necessary hammer on the pliers.

Beautiful!

And please wear eye protection when you blow out the holes, because the crud will come shooting out right into your eyes and face! :) If I wanted to run the longest bolts I could get away with for maximum thread engagement in the block while keeping them from being too long for good clamping of the ...

If you decide to buy new axle shafts from Chaffin's, ask them if they have a good set of side gears that they can press onto the new shafts for you before they ship them to you. Saves you the hassle of pressing them on yourself.

Yes, your T will run on 100LL. Your exhaust will smell different and you may have to run more spark advance due to the lower burn rate. Your spark plugs will foul faster and your exhaust system will corrode eventually due to lead deposits. Think back to spark plug and exhaust system life on cars fro...

Jacking one side at a time out near the wheel is fine, or you can make a cradle like some shown in this older thread:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1500086106

Did you notice the "Ford Faithful" oiling system transmission cover? I wonder if he has the rest of the system (I sent him a link to the kit on Lang's site).

Scott, thanks for the call and the update. Glad to hear that you got your starting issues resolved. Now that you are talking about getting a larger 12V lead/acid battery, hooking up your one wire 12V alternator, and adding wiring to your TT, here are some diagrams that may be of help. Starter equipp...

https://bobsantiqueautoparts.com/produc ... y/general/

Chaffin's is also an excellent source.

https://www.chaffinsgarage.com/

Yes, looks like a "doll it up and flip it" kind of job. He did mention "getting it running" as part of the plan in the first video. The new owner will have to undo a lot to do the job right. That said, what is there will be better preserved under the layers of rust convertor and clear coat and the c...

I was browsing Youtube and stumbled upon this, part 1 of a series. I haven't finished watching the whole series yet. The use of the pressure washer on the interior and electrics gave me the chills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v929yjF2jrw

Great project! I know you'll do a great job.

Based on your previous projects, this one will likely progress at warp speed!

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