MTFCA Forum

The inexpensive Ford models in the 1920's were sold without demountable wheels and starter and generators. How many of these exist today? An example is on the back cover of the current Model T Times. It has 30X3 non demountable wheels in front, and 30X3 1/2 non demountable wheels in the back. If you look closely through the rear spokes, I think I...

I put this on the ot forum, but then I remembered it has a Model T in it too.

It will fit the interest of most of us here.

It is my understanding that up until 1910 or early 1911, Ford would use the engine serial number as the car number that was stamped onto the firewall patent plate, and by 1911 or so it got to be too much of a pain to keep that coordinated, so the numbers no longer matched.

Does anyone know whether the car number stamped on to the patent plate had...

Thanks, Gary

Save the date. The Mother Lode Model T Club, Auburn, California will be holding their 51st annual swap meet. Sunday, May 31, 2026. Great meet to find those hard to get parts.

While cleaning out my father’s estate, I realized the sheer number of photos that he had, a lifetimes worth.
Some had notations on the back, most didn’t though. I found it troubling to toss some of them, but I had no idea who the people were in them. I sure he did though.
Photos are good for 2-3 generations before they become just some picture...

For the past 60 years, six antique car clubs in Portland, Oregon have held the Always in April Portland Swap Meet. I am pleased to announce that we will have it again April 10, 11 & 12, 2026!

However, with online classifieds, T-bay, and various internet sales, our proceeds are currently only about 20% of what they were ten years ago. The swap...

What pins are used for a 1914 turtle deck lid hinge? Is it a clevis or just a roll pin?

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My old friend turns 90 today. Happy birthday Glen.

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I came across this photograph of the “auto park at Lake Spenard” and thought I would share. This location is now part of Anchorage and about a quarter mile from my house. The lake was developed by Joe Spenard as a recreation area for Anchorage. This gave the name to the Spenard neighborhood. Among his other businesses, Spenard ran the City Express...

I have an improved car outside door handle with a broken, rusted spring behind the escutcheon plate. Taking it apart to replace the broken spring was easy, I just had to grind/file the crimped shoulders behind the spring retainer to remove the retainers and the broken spring from the square shaft. Putting it together is easy until it comes to...

How in the Sam Hill are you supposed to separate new best rod shim packs between layers? 20-30 years ago I used to be able to do it easily with a box cutter blade or even a pen knife blade. But these newer shims must be held together with a space age adhesive that would hold a rocket ship glued together sent to the sun! I have tried various blades...

What is the difference between the Optima red top and a Gel cell battery.

I need to exchange 4 wooden spokes for a rim with wooden spokes. The spokes are longer and a bit narrower than the regular ones. The 5/8 tenon ist longer 0,9 inch) than regular ones. Where could I get one, I could not find them at Langs or Snyders.
Thankfully for your help
Bernd

Was the gas tank cover in 1918 stamped metal part? Any body have one available or at least a picture of one in their car. Mine has a piece of plywood, not correct.

Yanked out the handbrake lever today.
Having restored a '25 decades ago, now that I'm cleaning up a '14 I'm constantly amazed at all the engineering differences I'm finding between the two. Some things you see improvements, while other things changed became cheaper quality (obvious cost/time cutting, but as such also not as strong). I know this is...

Ok, here comes the can of worms…. I am going to put new linings on the bands for my 26 speedster and it sounds like I will be getting into the bands on my 22 as well. I have full sets of Kevlar and good cotton bands for both. I like the longevity of the Kevlar, but I also like the lowered risk of transmission damage from the cotton. Anyone running...

I found this device in my 1909 Roadster and I do not know how it works. Mag cable comes from magnetoposg.
Could someone please explain?
Regards
Bernd

Are there any opinions on how long a 6 Volt Group 1 Battery should live, if it is seldom used, but left in the vehicle, or which battery is the best??

On the back cover of the current Model T Times, is probably the rarest 1925 Ford in existence. I most likely was sold new as a non starter model. If you look through the L R spokes, it appears there is a battery. I have only seen one example of a 1925 non starter car in 60 years in this hobby. Note the wheels are non demountable, with 30 X 3's in...

Today I spoke to the manufacturer of Model T Ford ignition coil point sets and supplies them to Model T parts vendors.
As reported in mid-September the supplier of the four basic coil point stampings is still having problems sourcing the raw brass and steel to make these parts. At this time, there is no delivery date for the material needed.
The...

Heat shield between exhaust and floorboard?

What is anyone using?
I have plenty of scrap stainless I'm thinking about using.

What are the road rules for Model T's and other vintage cars in the state of Pennsylvania? May be moving there someday and Id like to know what I have to look forward to.

I did a major reorganization of the shop today that involved moving the 22 to a different bay of the garage. I was able to back it out of the garage but when I tried to back it up the very low slope of my driveway reverse was slipping. It has Kevlar bands in it so I am not sure what is going on. Reverse has always been a bit loud in this car so...

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I just picked up some Model T parts and there were 4 23 inch rims but they have 5 lugs. One of the rims has a Buffalo Cord Dunlop 31X4 smooth tire on it. Are these for Model T rims? All the Model t wheels i have are 4 lug

How do I get ahold of the guy that makes new transmission brake drums? I want to buy one for my speedster project

thx

frontyboy

Friends,… I’ve researched to the best of my limited ability to find Accession ‘scriptures’ on the I Net - to no avail. Specifically I/we should be interested in production changes during the Model T era. How difficult must it be to computerize this ? Or has it already been done ?

Good Afternoon1
I am working on a '16 touring car. Frame off. I cannot find info on the reassembly. When I lifted the body off of the frame I found 1/4 inch rubber pads at the bolt sites. My main question is do the splash shields mount between the body and frame without the rubber pads?
Are the rubber pads on top of the frame or between the body...

IMG_9657.jpeg I’m planning to run make a shim unless I hear different.

Picked up a project, pulled pan to give it all the once over and clean out the junk that made it into the block over the years.

Found the from con rod cap had a loose bolt. One one side, about 1/2 turn from snuggling up, I could wiggle it back and forth. Pulled the cap and...

These came as a pair with a load of Model T parts. Look to be valve chamber covers? Anyone know what they fit? Thank you

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Is anyone still making, (-or does anyone sell) the flat brass Firewall Trim like was used on the edge of 1914 Firewalls??

TIA

So, there are a few rim manufacturers out there that will roll new lock ring rims, but only 1 of them makes the actual lock rings. They are a custom hot rolled steel profile that gets rolled to mate up to each rim diameter. 2 profiles are traditionally available, “heavy” for the larger cars, and “light” for our more nimble autos.

As my luck...

The driver lost control of his car on a grade and plunged 50 feet to the creek below, June 29, 1921. He died three days later from injuries sustained in the accident.

From years back.., keeping my word to assist in the parts that do not exist. Installing a Vega Steering Box, High angle wedge for the column drop, and custom billet aluminum windshield stanchions. Posting this to show others how to do it. The key in making these, you must use a variable speed metal capable band saw at half speed, canning wax as a...

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The visual impact of a Brass-Era automobile is so striking, it can overshadow the other senses, which is kind of a shame because the way these cars sound is also wonderfully unique, and everyone who works with them just loves the low-revving grumble of a long-stroke engine and the kisskisskisskiss idle of an L or...

Hello all.

As I was not feeling confident with keeping my distributor (see here: I am now on my way back to the roots. I was able to get a 26/27 coilbox on ebay with four coils in it.
I disassembled all the rusty points and made some measurements (LCR-meter, L-measuring frequency was 1kHz).
Hoping to find out that the windings are okay.
But I am...

Been a rough few years and I took a hiatus for some time but I’m doing okay and will be around again.
Some of you may remember me as the wiring harness guy, sold them all thanks to you guys and thanks. Helped with my mom’s care but sadly she passed in 2021.
This June, health issues finally took my wife.
My brother in law passed shortly afterwards...

Hi,
I bought a spare tire for my Roadster. One spoke looks bad, 3 others do not look good.
Therefore I want to remove these 4 spokes, to see, if I could fix them with glue.
Could you please give a hint how I could remove the first spoke without destroying it.
I think if the first spoke is removed, to remove the others should not be a challenge....

Looking for an old form that had how to get in the ballpark of the value of a ModeT. I thought Steve Jelf put it together. It had various levels from a show car to a pile of parts and several add this and deduct this values in the descriptions. Anyone have a copy?

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….precise placement of brass Murphy fasteners on a 1914 firewall. I have sheet And cast Murphy fasteners. Presume the latter.. Many thanks

I am getting to the point (at incredibly long last) where I am actually going to be assembling the rolling chassis for my 26 speedster. A while back I fitted all the parts for the rear axle, but there were some things still to do to the drop brackets that had to be completed before I could assemble everything. I will be posting some more details...

I recently purchased a Dixie model axle rebuild stand made by Service Station Equipment Company (SSECO). It is missing the foldable extension that supports the torque tube and holds the tool tray. Does anyone have one of this style that they'd be willing to take a bunch of detailed photos and measurements of? I can get close with the advertising...

Does anyone have CAD files of the T engine and its associated parts? I am interested in making a 3D printed replica (not life size, much smaller); mainly for educational purposes. I like the idea of being able to have a little plastic engine that functions a little bit for demonstration purposes.

Looking for some photos of period signage that would have been used on any type of delivery vehicles 1900-15. Horse drawn wagons are fine as well. Looking for some ideas and styles to get a layout for my delivery car project.

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A BIG thank you to all the Veterans. Today and every day.

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I recently acquired a beautiful 1910 Holley 5 ball and getting ready to try it out. Many thanks to Kim for offering it to me. I'm interested in hearing from others who have run these carbs. How do they perform? How are they primed before starting? Any tips, suggestions, etc. appreciated.
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I have a lazy, drooping outside door handle on a 27 coupe. Is there a way to rebuild the door opening/locking mechanism by replacing a spring, or do I need to replace the whole assembly? If my assembly can be repaired, how difficult a job is it?

OK. I have a silly question.

I have a '27 touring that I am putting new glass and rims on.
They also need the rope seal replaced. One side was missing the other side just peeled off.
What was used to keep the seal in place? Where they built facing up so they really didn't need any stick'em?
Any ideas would be great.

Thank you

Steve B.

Good evening! I rebuilt my '13 engine this past spring and had cause to pull it again to fix a couple of things (one of my own mess-ups and one from another guy). The main bearing caps caught my eye as two seem narrower than they should be. Plus, there are a couple of gaps that concern me. Someone else who rebuilds Model T engines did the...

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Hi….Is anyone rebuilding brass carburetors?

A guy is selling a wipe on patina in a can for about $160 per quart.
It is suposed to bring back the shine, protect the rusty surface, and remaining finish from further damage.

Is this stuff really worth it?
Linseed oil?

Gee, am I glad that I bought my Stromberg OF-1 carburetor, just a year or two ago when they were reasonable. Current listings for them on EBAY and elsewhere, make me think sellers are planning on retiring on their sale income.

If anyone had Les' email or if you see this Les, please email me about Patterson gears.

Yesterday I was pouring about a dozen 4th mains to bore out. I came across about 3 that had no oil hole in them. Were these early ones before Ford found out they needed the oil hole?
Think I have seen one more that I remember.
Inquiring minds want to know. Dan

I have a 25 roadster and am looking for a pickup box. (25 preferable) Most of the ones I see are pretty rough. I really don’t have any idea how much they are worth. I just looked at one but it needs a ton of work. Any advice on value, condition, etc would be much appreciated. Thanks, Ray

What's the best headgasket steel or copper?

What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs? I picked a set of eight up, still in the box and they are in very nice shape. They look a lot like a straight side Champion x. They are marked 1/2 inch for fords. From what little research I've done, I can't find much about them. Other than the fact that they're antiques spark plugs, which is kind of a...

I have just finished assembling 3 mufflers to take to next weekend's Bendigo Swap meet.
The ends are metal spinning. The brackets and deflectors are laser cut duplicates of originals.
The centre pipe is standard T exhaust pipe, but the first two inches is expanded so the original pipe will slide into it. This creates a shoulder, up to which the...

Hi all,
I've been driving my 25 Touring a bit and have to pretty much hold the wheel tightly all the time. I looked under the engine and noticed that one of the radius rod arms has a very slight bend in it. Possibly from a long ago accident I assume. Would that have a lot to do with the car's tracking problem? Also is there a way to straighten the...

Building a 1914 speedster with a brass vee radiator and a dropped front axle. How many leaves can you remove from the front spring and still be safe? The bottom spring leave has been dearched some not sure how much..

For the rear spring how many leaves can be removed safely to lower the frame without Zeeing or cutting the frame. I'm using a 13/14...

Well I finally got to installing my new copper head gasket and my new (to me) head...and of course one of the head bolts stripped in the block.

I had cleaned out all the holes and ran a tap through them to clean up the threads beforehand. I also checked that the new bolts were not too long for the holes. Many of the holes had already been...

I’m missing a few of the inserts for these top snaps that go into the rear top bow on my touring. Any idea on what these are called and where to get replacements?

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Anyone ever seen a radiator like this or have a clue on who may have manufactured it?

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Hi everyone, Is he still on the forum?…….I am missing the ultra thin hexnut on my steering wheel tilt accessory….Thanks

Hello fellow Ford Model T lovers!

Seamus Hnat here...After nearly 10 years servicing and restoring some of the worlds finest cars at Stahls Auto Collection, I am excited to announce that I'm now opening up my home shop for full-time service to everyone in the hobby and those that we hope to attract to this wonderful hobby too! Instead of working...

Here is a sign I saw at a swap meet this weekend. I know it is a reproduction. Anyone know a source? Could not get a price, guy was not at booth.
Found what seems to be an original on line, but not sure. No price on it either. Thanks for any help. Dan
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This might be helpful.

More fun with our burnt up and abandoned model t.

I just picked up 1 and 2/3 set of Scandinavia Bands. I took them out of the box and looked at them. They have Scandinavia written on the band material, and are 23 & 1/2 inches long. I am wondering, if these are original Scandinavia bands. If so, how do I tell?
They are stiff but pliable, could I potentially use them yet?
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Hi I recently found a smith form a truck but it seems to have been made for a larger car than a model T. Does anyone have info on them. Did they make different models for other brands of cars. All I can find is the ones for model Ts.

What is the best timer? Snyders lists roller timers, New Day timers & Anderson timers.
I am interested in best performance & dependability. I am a new owner of a 1917 touring car.
Thanks

My '27 Coupe has the horn switch on the side of the column with a metal bracket that wraps around the column. There are two tabs on the internal portion of the switch and one of those tabs that holds the internal portion of the switch and secures the entire mechanism has broken, making the switch loose. I've looked for a replacement for the...

I am in the process of throwing some stuff together to make a Beverly Hillbillies type of truck.

Question: What kind of blocks are used between the front cab mounts and the frame? Not the mounts to the firewall, but the ones right behind them under the floorboards. Also, were there any blocks on the rear of the cab, or was the cab just bolted...

i have a question that i need answered i bought a what the seller said was a 1915 t but 2 people have said that because it has this bolt on the side of the body just behind the front door it’s a 1916 is this true or did both 15 & 16 have this?

My 26 coupe is missing some of the wood body blocks and I wondered if anyone had the measurements for these that they could share.

... For his informative new article in the September- October Vintage Ford magazine for his technical know-how write-up for the Heinze coil 2.0- Fixing performance problems with a points upgrade. ... Just received my copy in today's mail.

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I am getting ready to line the bands for my 26 speedster. I have a number of bands to choose from and am cleaning them up to select the best. I have two of the wider brake bands, both with removable ends. Both look ok to me. I have done a little work with a brass hammer to get rid of some high spots around the rivet holes and they both look pretty...

Took the Model T out for a spin last weekend and found myself on some pretty good hills — the kind that make you lean forward in the seat like it’ll help (and maybe it does… just a little!).

Here is the video:

There’s something genuinely satisfying about feeling the gears do their thing, hearing that steady putt-putt from the engine, and...

On a Cheby . . .
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Howdy folks, New member here getting my feet wet with a 1917 Model T project. Still learning the ropes and trying to sort out what’s correct for that year, especially the wheel and small brake drum setup. Mine looks like a bit of a mix and match, so I’d sure appreciate any pointers or photos of what the proper setup should be.