MTFCA Forum

This is a stain made by using one part Windsor & Newton artist oil color and 20 parts mineral spirits. I am just finishing my 1914 firewall and used it on my 1911 seven years ago and it still looks great. It took three coats of stain to get the color I wanted followed by three coats of spar varnish....

I noticed that the treads stay whiter than the sidewalls which turn yellow so I took a red scotchpad to the sidewalls and it made quite a difference.

I have been using the word "rebuilt", the owner clarified that and told me he was not told it was rebuilt but restored and gone thru. All in all it looks like a nice car. Art

Would you use X’d rods or non X’d rods? Art

I want to verify that these are two piece valves. They have the two holes on top. Art

I dug into this deeper this morning removing the other three rod caps. The babbit looks good but none of the rods have shims and there are file marks on the caps. I might plastigage them but I am leaning towards four new rods. I think someone has just filed them to fit. This “rebuilt” engine also ha...

That rod babbit looks similar to what I posted two days ago about a number two rod babbit failure. Art

Thanks for the answers. I don't know who restored this vehicle and I asked the owner if he thought he could get any help from the person he bought it from and he did not think he could. I will continue to disassemble and check everything. My main concern now is to try to determine the cause and clea...

You can clean off the babbitt and polish the journal, then carefully check it for roundness, taper, and size. The replacement rod can be fitted for size, if the journal is an off-size, but the the journal must be round and straight. There are a number of reasons why the bearing could have failed. H...

I looked at a 26 sedan today that a new owner had questions about a knocking noise. This car is a recent purchase of a "full restoration" that had a knocking engine after less than three miles of driving. The number two rod babbit is beat out and I am wondering about cleaning up the crankshaft rod j...

Every WTB post I make is answered by a scammer. First thing I do is look at their posts and join date. It is usually a recent join date and only a very few posts. I report them to the Admin. Art

I don't have an answer to your question but I just priced a recore on a short Model T radiator at two local shops and the prices were 800.00 and 850.00. If you pay that for a recore and 300.00 for the A radiator you might as well buy a new Brassworks Model T radiator. By the way, shipping on a T rad...

George House wrote: ↑
Sat Aug 16, 2025 9:04 pm
Don’t forget - like I did - to cherry stain the firewall (

I got that!

I have been dry fitting the fenders and running boards. I also started on the upholstery. Art

These are the rear fenders that came with my 14 Runabout project. Is the tab bent out to bolt to the running board apron correct? It appears to be just cut from the fender and bent out. Thanks, Art

How tall is a low radiator shell? I am looking for a low radiator shell. Art

Still looking for a low radiator shell

Looking to buy a low radiator shell for a 1919. Thanks, Art

Very nice Tom.

The price of a recore in my area is too high to justify, nine hundred dollars, I am going to buy a new one. Please disregard this want to buy ad. Thanks to Denny and Alan for trying to help. Art

Looking for a low radiator for a 1919 with a 17" tall core. Needing recore or repair is ok. I could just use the upper tank. Thanks, Art

I am wanting to recore a low radiator for a 1919 and the bottom outlet is rusted to the point there is nothing left for the hose to attach to. The top tank is good, the core is bad. I have a high radiator with a good bottom tank and outlet so I will have the low radiator recored and use the bottom t...

Are the bottom tanks the same?

Are the upper and lower tanks the same on a low and a high radiator? Can a high radiator be recored as a low radiator? Thanks, Art

I will take it. Send PM with PayPal info and I will do the same with shipping info. Thanks, Art

Philip O, PM sent

I have bought several items from them but I do it on Ebay and never had any problems. Their Ebay name is 09-40 Ford Sheet Metal.

Gary, I just saw you question and checked the valve. It is stuck, I will try to free it up and post the result. Thanks, Art

Want to buy 2 cowl lamps for a 19 Touring. Prefer rusty finish to match the car. Art

Henry has helped me in the past with good informaton and parts that were not available from the vendors, light sockets, etc. Let’s be positive. These repairs enable me to spend on parts that I probably would have postponed, and for people to see how the cars looked when they were not brand new. Anot...

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑
Wed Jun 18, 2025 9:06 am
Most cars do not provide cash income to their owners.

Especially a Model T or even worse a Model A. I have both.

No disrespect to anyone but this is a perfect example of why the hobby is dying. The vendors have the parts and have gone to great expenses to make them for the masses, when you say.., "The owner just wants to get it running" means I am being cheap and do not want to do it correctly so my heirs can...

The Owner just wants it to run again. I will suggest new valves and inspect the rod babbit and pistons for stuck rings.

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑
Mon Jun 16, 2025 11:26 am
Art

stop it

there is no hole there

I did stop, just made a scratch and thought it wasn't right. Thanks

Concerning that clogged water passage I started to see if I could break it loose and started to drill a small hole thru it but stopped when what I was drilling appeared hard and shiny. Would corrosion be that hard and have shiny metal shavings? It almost looks like a weld. I did get the valves unstu...

Rings are probably stuck. I'd keep soaking everything for a few more days, then rock the car back a forth in high gear to loosen the engine. Move it a little in each direction, and soak another day or two. Tap on the stuck valves with a screwdriver handle and keep soaking. Avoid forcing anything. T...

This was brought to me today to get running. The ninety year old owner said it was running when he shut it off. He shut it off in 1983. The engine is free but It has three stuck exhaust valves. I am soaking the valves and tops of pistons with KROIL. I will also try some 50/50 acetone and Automatic t...

Reno, pm sent with pictures

Moxie, Which one, the one with the bolt hole or the other one? Reno wants the one without the bolt hole. Art

Vaporizer manifolds and carb 200.00 plus shipping. Art

Reno, Which one, the one with the bolt hole or the other one? Art

Thanks Russ. Art

What year are these speedometer gears for? One has number 2 on it and the other number 3. Art

Aeromoter whistle, cutout and pedal. 225.00 If you want the complete exhaust with whistle and pedal 275.00 but not sure how to ship it. Art

EDITED, two different styles and the eccentric picture added. Is one of these what you need? I also have the eccentric if you need it. 75.00 for outlet and 35 for eccentric if that seems fair. Art

Still looking

back to top- WTB 14 Runabout right front top bow iron or socket.

Brent, I am working on a 14 front top iron that I have dug the rotted wood out of and was considering a shaped wood piece surrounded by autobody strucual adhesive. What are your thoughts on that?

How is this "button" top iron separator removed from a top bow socket? Thanks, Art

Thank you Kim, The pictures are what I needed. Art

How are the top saddle straps installed in a 1911 Touring? Any pictures? Thanks, Art

Still Needing

This may be a dumb question but what payment is accepted at these swap meets? I realize cash is king but nowadays it not best to carry a lot of cash while traveling. Art

The numbers stamped on the block look nothing like data plate numbers. Here are a couple original data plate pictures from posts on this forum. The new tag is the tag RV Anderson stamped for my 11. Art

NY John T wrote: ↑
Fri Feb 28, 2025 8:01 am
Dataplates4U can, I believe, do it for you. They did mine for my WW2 jeeps.

They do not list Model T data plates and the style of the numbers they show on other Ford Data plates is not close to the correct style.

No answers to the question of someone stamping a data plate so does anyone know where the correct style number stamps are available for the body data plate?

Who can stamp the correct style numbers on a repro 14 body data plate? RV did my 11 Touring for historical purpose only, not for vehicle identification, and I looking for someone to do the same for my 14 Runabout. Art

I have this, is it what you are looking for? I may also have a foot pedal. Message me, Art

I would prefer original but repro's would work.

FOUND Want to buy firewall to frame brackets for a 14 Runabout. Thanks, Art

Here are some pictures of the painted body using the DB904 color. Art

This is one of the running board splash shields that came with my 1914 Runabout project. It does not look like the one in the Rootlieb catalog. Is this the correct one for my car? I realize I need to repair the small section cut out of the top front edge. Thanks, Art

Here is a picture of the painted turtle deck. Art

More pictures

1913 Touring older restoration. Very complete original parts ,runs and drives good, runs good on mag. Located in mid Illinois. 13000.00

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑
Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:39 am
No but Amazon has pages of them. Just ordered two sets.

I got a set from Amazon but they are loose at the plug in connections and will not keep contact. I tried smashing to widen them but they are just too small.

Russ, That is what I needed, thank you. I was curious about how far they stuck out from the body. Art

Dan, Would you have a set of leads for the 260? Art

Can someone post a picture of a finished tack rail where the seat upholstery and top are attached on a 14 Runabout? I am having both sides inner and outer made by Jonathon Anderson but I want to see the underside beneath where the top attaches. My 14 body needs some repairs in that area so I want to...

Thanks George, Here are pictures of the "before". Art

Keith, Yes on the black primer as the car will be dark blue. I can't decide between your DB332 OR Russ's DB904. I want it to look like this picture. I think it may be closer to the DB904? Art

The bodywork on my 14 Runabout is almost finished and shoulld be ready to paint in the next couple of weeks. The body had a nasty patch on the back coverering a big rust hole and several subpar patches along the bottom under the door and on the driver side.

Model A tires can be mounted without tools, I just did six using plastic trash bags to make the tire slide over the wheel. You are correct. However in my case, the tires are maybe 30 years old and the I couldn't get the tires warmed up, so they were a bit stiff. I did use the garbage bag method whi...

Model A tires can be mounted without tools, I just did six using plastic trash bags to make the tire slide over the wheel. Model T tires would need the tire irons and would be much more difficult to mount without scratching the paint or powdercoat. I have used duct tape on the irons and still left m...

What black paint finish should be on the 1914 lamps, horns and other painted brass items? I mean glossy, semi, satin etc. Thanks, Art

I agree that the numbers were not all straight, at least in the early years. The freshly painted block is mine and the other one is for sale on Marketplace. Arthttps://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file.php? ... &id=202923

Russ, There is a B on the seat riser. George, I am glad you noticed the tail light bracket holes. I do not have a bracket and I think the holes should be horizontal like yours. Art

Here is the latest picture of the 14 Runabout body after removing the paint. Art

George, Thats a great idea on the wood and I might be able to get that way. Can I let you know when I know? Art

Thank you for all the responses. I can see the nail holes indicating where the turtledeck floor was nailed to the wood side frames under the turtledeck. I think the biggest challenge is going to be repairing the back of the body where the patch is. I assume the rear should curve into the turtledeck ...

Should the turtledeck have a wood floor?

I figured as much. Can someone share a picture of what it should look like? Thanks for the info. Art

This is a 1914 Runabout body. It is s Beaudette body dated 10/14. Is this transition from the rear of the body correct? It looks like a patch. Art

This 22 Touring was picked up today by the owner after some maintenance work was completed. I restored this car two years ago and it needed a broken front spring replaced.

Corey, I am glad you found the latch to fit the used interior panel you bought from me. I ended up making paper patterns of my right side panel with the latch/handle location and the drivers side panel for Mike at Classtique who made panels that will fit my 14 perfectly. They are being shipped to me...

Are you going to rebuild the 15?

What would these three holes in the front side of the seat base on my 14 been used for?

This is the latch that Corey needs, it is on the 14 that the interior came out of. Art

It should definitely be bolted together before paint just to line up everything and then taken back apart for painting and finale assembly. I am always amazed that the same parts that came off of a car are so difficult to get to align back up and go back together. From the description this car is va...

Is Bobs antique auto parts in loves Park IL still open?

The wood is original and the upholstery did look like it may have been replaced, the seat backrest was made in three pieces, overlapping in the curved sections, as much as I would like it to be blue I will probably paint it black just to be correct. I just find it hard to believe an old repaint woul...

Brent, the car has been repainted and I have looked everywhere for black but dont see any. Art

I am restoirng my 14 Runabout and everywhere I look I can only find traces of dark blue paint on the body. There is no indication of it ever being black except the fenders and running boards and aprons. This is an October 14 built car. Is it possible that this car was originally dark blue? I have lo...

SOLD...This is the interior I am taking out of my 1914 Runabout. I do not have a seat bottom. Included is the backrest cover, door, hinge strap, kick panels in good useable condition for someone not wanting a restored look. I don't think this is the original interior from 1914. 175.00 plus shipping....

Back to the top

Want to buy a front top bow socket for a 1914 Runabout. I need the passenger side if there is a difference. Thanks, Art

That is a nice car and the reserve has been met. Wouldn't a serial number of 591xxx be well in the 1914 model year? Art

John, I will take them both. PM sent. Thanks, Art

I'll take em. Art

Just about every WTB ad I place on any site generates scam responses. Usually they start with " Contact so and so at blah blah auto parts he has what you want". Then they provide pictures that when I do a Google search on are from other sellers on the internet. It just happened last week when I post...

Search found 421 matches