MY 1924 coupe and experiences as a new driver/owner

[WillyR]

I’m sending back the odometer/speedometer.

Once it is turned on, I then have to start it tracking mileage. I dont want to have to do that, the app does the same thing.

Odometer and/or trip meter on start up. Is that too much to ask?

Auto start would be awesome, start moving and it turns on. I had that feature on older bike computers. Not sure why that is a lost technology.


Also, when I switched to mag yesterday the car died, I was able to get home on battery, and I started a thread about that.

Located here…

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48221

Two of my oil cans arrived a few minutes ago and the smaller one had a little bit of oil in it and it functions just fine, I filled it with gear oil, and she’s already in service.

The bigger one looks to have had something in it that congealed and will need to be cleaned. The mechanism for the pump appears to be functional and one cleaned, it will function just fine.

Neither appears to have any gaskets and rely on brass fitment to pump.

[WillyR]

since the smaller oil can had clean oil and was working I didn't bother to take it apart, just added oil, and my son lubed the oil cups.

The second one had two ball bearings in the mechanism, one broke free easily and is in good condition.

The second had to be tapped gently and has quite a bit of corrosion, I cleaned it up with a wire wheel on a dremel, and it now functions fine. if I think about it some day I'll get a new ball bearing.

The congealed crud and rust are scraping off just fine. I put a whole mess of nuts and bolts and a mixture of pb blaster, carb cleaner and waste oil in it to swirl around...

When first checking the pump with the mixture, I didn't have the lid on properly and the bottom fell onto the garage floor spilling a metric buttload of the above mixture all over the floor.... prompting me to put off finishing up the oil can until another day....

found a piece of metal was shorting out my magneto pickup, we are diagnosing it's source in the other thread....

[aDave]

Willy,
Let me know if you still want an Aermore whistle...I've sent you several emails, as well as a PM and no reply. If you are no longer interested in one, Please let me know so that I can offer it to others. It's old, brass, and has maybe 100+ years of tarnish on it. I polished a small section to show you....I don't want to spend the time to polish the whole piece....some folks like "au naturel" ... if you want it shiny, maybe a good project for your son to earn his allowance?

[WillyR]

Willy,
Let me know if you still want an Aermore whistle...I've sent you several emails, as well as a PM and no reply. If you are no longer interested in one, Please let me know so that I can offer it to others. It's old, brass, and has maybe 100+ years of tarnish on it. I polished a small section to show you....I don't want to spend the time to polish the whole piece....some folks like "au naturel" ... if you want it shiny, maybe a good project for your son to earn his allowance?
Screenshot 2025-05-20 at 10.38.16 AM.png
Screenshot 2025-05-20 at 10.36.40 AM.png

I got your PM, and replied earlier, I have to pass for now.

[WillyR]

Regarding the pinstriping set. Those sets require skill to use. Might be far less frustrating to get a buegler. A good friend of mine turned me onto them, you've seen his work I'm sure...

https://www.beugler.com

I still haven’t gotten the paints yet but I did find a new/unused beugler striper for really cheap on the ebays.

I’m still going to get a kit with brushes, gut after watching a few videos on the tool, it may work better for what I’m trying to do.


I can get fancy with brushes later.

This tool has three different wheel widths

[WillyR]

I have fixed the oiler scooper thing off cylinder #3 and have her buttoned up and back on the road.

I also learned I need to lube my anco slapper timer every 200 miles or so (it’s been 600?) I have an ancient tube of dow 33 and I looked it up and it’s a hi temp lube so on it went.

A club member said that while the clutch disk piece is unusual, as long as it drives, don’t mess with it.


No other oddities were found in the oil pan.

The scooper was sheared off and the spot welds were still intact.



I haven’t driven her in over a week and I’m taking her to work tomorrow.

[WillyR]

uhggg....

so I have the pinstriping tool on the way but no paint yet.

I'm not the best at being able to match or really care about having the "correct" shade of carmine red...

BUT since I already have a stripe I do want to match it perfectly...

IT looks like if I am mixing a burgundy type red, I use yellow to get the shade..

If I am using a more vibrant red, I just mix it with white...

I'm scared....

I'll be getting a 4 oz can of both red and white one shot paint....

I'm wondering if I should get yellow too just to be safe..... or if I should just trust my skills....

burgundy and yellow..

https://youtu.be/JBIR_S9iYL4?si=qRTWUrkLrWg_tNdY

red and white....

https://youtu.be/rLExgOR69ww?si=9qqR3RUdco87JiON

I keep staring at my stripe trying to determine what I think would be best

I could buy the one shot maroon and yellow, but I think the red and white would be more useful for future possible projects...

[WillyR]

I didn't get to drive her today, I was in a rush and would have needed to stop for gas.

I did, just now order an analog multimeter, and I figure I may keep it in the trunk maybe....

I found a different gps computer that looks like it will automatically track mileage once it is turned on. I read the manual online and it looks like what I want.

If that doesn’t work out I found a wired magnetic one that will work, I just didn’t want to use a wheel sensor.

I also ordered my pinstriping paint... I got a 1/2 pint of "WHITE" and a 1/4 pint of "FIRE RED"...

AND last night, I had never started it by the crank before, and after lubing the slapper timer with dow 33, I choked her one crank, and she fired right up with the next.

She was mildly warm from running her a bit a few hours prior, but after I figured out I don't need to choke the living tar out of her even when using the electric starter.

When cold two quick cranks with choke and electric and she fires right up....

[WillyR]

Did I mention, I love this car…

[WillyR]

By Monday I will have all my pinstriping stuffs in and should have the wheels done possibly that day.

Paint will be mixed and matched prior.

I only needed one 4 dipper pan gasket, but I clicked on a bunch of different gasket sets and a set of hub bolts and other odds and ends and an analog multimeter and a gps odometer/speedometer.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Please, don't use those rear axle shims. If your hubs are bad enough to need them, then fix the hub issue.

[WillyR]

Please, don't use those rear axle shims. If your hubs are bad enough to need them, then fix the hub issue.

There were two sizes available and if I need to build a wheel it will get me by until then and they were cheap.

98.6287% of the stuff I got is to file away for emergencies

[WillyR]

I wasn’t expecting my pinstripe tool until monday, but usps screwed up and delivered it today.

I’m only waiting on my white paint, which arrives tomorrow.

Red paint arrived today.


The new gps odometer lacks a few features of the one that only cost $10 more but it is more useful by a lot. I really only need it to track mileage

[George House]

So, Willy……. When will the Active Lane Change Assist and Stop Start System arrive ?

[WillyR]

So, Willy……. When will the Active Lane Change Assist and Stop Start System arrive ?

Shortly after the LS swap….

[WillyR]

I did much better than I thought I would colour matching…

[WillyR]

Top speed has increased, but braking has decreased with the new wheel pinstripes, but gas milage has improved....

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Top speed has increased, but braking has decreased with the new wheel pinstripes, but gas milage has improved....

That is to be expected.

[WillyR]

Last night I topped off the gas tank, and re-set my new gps bike computer.

The app I was using to track mileage didn't seem to record every time, and was a PITA... hopefully the bike computer works better.


I have a battery box for charging my phone. I didn't see a place where I wanted to tie in a cigarette lighter and mount it so the separate battery box works just fine.

it was down to 43% after two months of use and I charged it last night. the gps speedo is rechargeable and I topped it off last night, it arrived fully charged and didn't look like it had depleted much in the few times I have used it.

I have that flimsy vinyl sun shade, and I need to find a piece of flat aluminum to reinforce it. maybe 4" x 42" and 3/16 thick would do the trick.

I'm not sure If I will split the seam and put it inside, or just on the underside.

I am also going to reshape the brackets so it sits higher, I have to hunch over to see the traffic lights.

[WillyR]

When I had initially gotten the car, I thought that while running the horn lost volume.

I did quickly realize that it is so loud in the cab it just sounds like a significant volume loss....... same with the bermuda bell, while driving around the bell sounds tiny... but it is very audible from the outside....

preliminary check of the bicycle computer show a few 10ths of a mile difference between the phone app, but it is good enough for milage tracking for maintenance and fuel porpoises.

I drove home in the rain yesterday, and took precautions due to wet rocky mountains.

I have a leak at the rear window so I'll need to investigate that, but otherwise a pleasant cool drive home...

I think i'll be oiling and grease cupping tonight....

Saturday is a club breakfast, and Sunday I'll be checking my transmission screen for odd ball metal and kewpie dolls and such.

no other odd sounds since that piece possibly came off a clutch disc...

[WillyR]

I got an aermore whistle for cheap enough, but I need the cutout still and I'm researching using a choke cable to actuate it. I don't think I want a foot pedal...

the speedo/odometer seems to work well enough, I may consider getting an original type of speedo, it seems they are $250+ and would be nice to have.

I don't have to accurately track mileage, I just want a general/consistent idea....

I'm getting used to the leaks, and think I'm attuned to "unusual" leaks....

lubed the chassis and grease cups... this past weekend, I didn't take the trans cover off yet... she's running like a champ...

I did have my first mini boil over last week, just some steam coming out of the overflow tube, and I topped off the coolant to the top of the tubes, it took about a half gallon.

I drove to work with 3 gallons in the tank but I'm certain I need to get gas before I tackle the couple of hills on the way home...

down to 2 gallons and she has no tolerance for hills...


EDIT: I found a neat enough universal push/pull choke cable and I also found a good cutout, so I'll be assembling in the next couple weeks.

[WillyR]

I finally got some consistent data with the gps/odometer.


10.85ish miles per gallon.

[TXGOAT2]

Fill the radiator until the upper tank is about half full. If you are using plain water, fill it to the top. 10 to 11 MPG is rather low for a Model T. You may find it is doing better after a few fill ups. I'd think your car could do more like 15 MPG without trying too hard. The most accurate results will come from filling the gas tank full, then running most of the gas out, then refilling it. Short trips will not yield accurate results in most cases. A T might be expected to get the best MPG running on the open road at 25 to 30 MPH, assuming no headwind. Minimizing drag from any and all sources and using the spark and mixture controls to the best advantage will maximize MPG. My experience with 4.40/4.50 balloon tires indicates that 27 to 28 PSI (cold) gives a good ride and handling and excellent tire mileage. My car is a '26 roadster. A significantly heavier car, or one that is heavily loaded, might call for more pressure... maybe 30 to 32 PSI. Clincher tires are another matter. They require substantially higher pressure.

[WillyR]

Fill the radiator until the upper tank is about half full. If you are using plain water, fill it to the top. 10 to 11 MPG is rather low for a Model T. You may find it is doing better after a few fill ups. I'd think your car could do more like 15 MPG without trying too hard. The most accurate results will come from filling the gas tank full, then running most of the gas out, then refilling it. Short trips will not yield accurate results in most cases. A T might be expected to get the best MPG running on the open road at 25 to 30 MPH, assuming no headwind. Minimizing drag from any and all sources and using the spark and mixture controls to the best advantage will maximize MPG. My experience with 4.40/4.50 balloon tires indicates that 27 to 28 PSI (cold) gives a good ride and handling and excellent tire mileage. My car is a '26 roadster. A significantly heavier car, or one that is heavily loaded, might call for more pressure... maybe 30 to 32 PSI. Clincher tires are another matter. They require substantially higher pressure.

I don't think it had much coolant in it if any, mostly water, I'm adding some. I think I'm at about the bottom 1/3rd of the ford logo. it seems to be where she likes the level.

This is my first fill up with fairly accurate milage count. city driving, hills, lots of winds in all directions, average 40-45 mph, 28-30 psi on the tyres.

the bike computer has a trip meter and I'm not sue how many digits it reads, I pulled into work and it was at 99.9 miles... so that's got me worried it gets to 99.9miles and stops... w shall see it it goes to triple digits and or resets when I go home...

[TXGOAT2]

40-45 MPH in a closed car is pretty fast. Wind resistance goes up very rapidly as speed increases, especially as you get above 30 MPH. Be sure your spark advance linkage is adjusted properly to get full advance and experiment with leaning out the fuel mixture once you are on the road with the engine warmed up. You don't want to get it so lean that the car loses power or backfires, but run otherwise run it as lean as you can. If you have to climb a steep hill, just reach over turn the knob about 1/8 turn toward rich. Use a good 10W30 motor oil. Any misfire will severely tax performance and MPG. Bad wheel alignment will reduce MPG and driving pleasure.

[TXGOAT2]

Also: Stay away from E85 or any ethanol blend gasoline that is over E10.

[WillyR]

40-45 MPH in a closed car is pretty fast. Wind resistance goes up very rapidly as speed increases, especially as you get above 30 MPH. Be sure your spark advance linkage is adjusted properly to get full advance and experiment with leaning out the fuel mixture once you are on the road with the engine warmed up. You don't want to get it so lean that the car loses power or backfires, but run otherwise run it as lean as you can. If you have to climb a steep hill, just reach over turn the knob about 1/8 turn toward rich. Use a good 10W30 motor oil. Any misfire will severely tax performance and MPG. Bad wheel alignment will reduce MPG and driving pleasure.

The advance linkage seems to be spot on. She has a z-head and she'll cruise well over 50mph if I let her, but the brakes won't agree..

I have the mixture adjustment separate from the choke, just under the dash, I can just reach it comfortably, and I think I have it dialed in just about right, no plug fouling and no detonation.

I have a few gallons of Napa's version of rotella.

If the towns roads were up to snuff I could tell if I had bad wheel alignment...

[TXGOAT2]

High speeds will eat a lot of gas, but 10-11 MPG seems low to me. The Z head should help MPG. Traffic permitting, try running a few tens of miles away from traffic and at speeds up to 30-35 MPH. That ought to get your MPG up to 15 MPG or better.

[Steve Jelf]

My experience driving a stock 1915 runabout has been 10 — 15 mpg in city driving, and about 20 mpg on trips.

[WillyR]

My experience driving a stock 1915 runabout has been 10 — 15 mpg in city driving, and about 20 mpg on trips.

IMG_1603 copy.JPG

High speeds will eat a lot of gas, but 10-11 MPG seems low to me. The Z head should help MPG. Traffic permitting, try running a few tens of miles away from traffic and at speeds up to 30-35 MPH. That ought to get your MPG up to 15 MPG or better.

We shall find out on the next few tanks, I think I'll mostly be city driving, with an occasional trip.

trips are hard around here without a ruckstell, but I'm saving up for that...

Love that runabout! I think I'm looking at a pickup next....

[WillyR]

One of my longer semi-regular trips has a 3/4-1 mile hill that I have to take in low band, and an even longer trip I want to make regularly has a 4-5 mile hill I'd not attempt without a ruckstell.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

I have my Speedster on the Speedster Rally in Rockville, IN. I did 85 miles today and put in 4.5 gallons of gas when I was done. Not too bad.

[WillyR]

You cannot believe how frustrated I have been with odometer apps and such…

It was a total fluke that the odometer was at 99.9 miles when I pulled into work.

I was thinking I would have to reset it every 100 miles!

Nope! it worked just fine, and continued past 100 miles. I may reset it at oil changes or some other milestone.

Also the drive home was quite pleasant, it’s getting hot, and when I had my phone in the dash holder yesterday, when I got home the phone said I couldn’t use it until the temperature went down. Today I kept it in my shirt pocket and it was ok.

No boil over on the radiator but she was percolating, only had the one mild steam over.

The round core radiator seems to be just fine.


Ohh… AND more good news…. Video here…

https://youtu.be/BiqfoM8BJCA?feature=shared

[WillyR]

I'm going to be in a 4th of july parade so I ordered a 3x5' 48 star flag, and was pondering getting a metric buttload of those little flag holders, but maybe I'll save that for next year.... I do have to improvise a flag pole, but I think I have enough junk to make one....

my visor for my windshield has the whatever material is in it broken so I'll be picking up a 2" wide piece of 1/8" aluminimum to fit either inside or on the under or over side of the visor to reinforce it.. I'll also attempt to tilt it up a little too as I'm hunching over to see if the light has turned green....

I ordered a cutout valve from texas t, and it may or may not arrive in time to the 4th of july parade.... I can't wait to hear my aermore whistle on the car....

I hate to be limited to just the factory horn, and the bermuda bell for noisemakers.....


anybunny use one of the wolf whistles?

[Tadpole]

Wolf whistles are a lot of fun, takes a 1/8npt hole in your intake manifold. At parade speed a wolf whistle will make more noise than an Aermore as well!

[WillyR]

Wolf whistles are a lot of fun, takes a 1/8npt hole in your intake manifold. At parade speed a wolf whistle will make more noise than an Aermore as well!

Would 4 noisemakers be excessive?




I think not.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

I'll also attempt to tilt it up a little too as I'm hunching over to see if the light has turned green....

Me too! Learn to look at the traffic light reflection in the hood of your car while at a light.

[Tadpole]

Too little noise is unsafe for victims-I mean pedestrians!

[WillyR]

I'll also attempt to tilt it up a little too as I'm hunching over to see if the light has turned green....

Me too! Learn to look at the traffic light reflection in the hood of your car while at a light.

I'm looking at getting one of those prism reflector thingies....

[KirkieP]

There wasn't a visor on my 24 when I purchased it. I like the increased visibility without it and it is safer.

[WillyR]

There wasn't a visor on my 24 when I purchased it. I like the increased visibility without it and it is safer.

20240619_102109.jpg

I have pondered removing it, but I did notice in the rain it does keep the windshield clear....

I think I used my hand crank wiper for one solitary sweep in maybe 3-5 times I was out in the rain...

I was also worried it would look funny without it, but it does look pretty sharp without it....

[WillyR]

There is a rectangular skeletonized steel frame work inside the visor vinyl. it didn't feel like steel trying to feel it while it was on the car... felt more like cardboard...

mine was cracked in the middle front, and was waving at me at highway speeds and on windy days....

At the clubs workday this past Saturday we scrounged around the scrap piles and found a 1/8" x 3/4" piece of steel, cut it to length, split one side of the vinyl sammich, slid it in, and super glued the stitched area back. I was hoping for aluminum, but I think the steel will be better for it's rigidity, but the added weight may severely limit my top speed...

The steel sat just barely ahead of the mounting bolts and I needed longer stove bolts in that spot, but that will hold it in place securely.

I took the opportunity to angle it up a bit more, and it still looks correct, AND I was able to see the traffic lights...

so incredibly happy now, that was bugging the carp out of me....

My exhaust cutout should be here tomorrow, and I should be able to get that installed before the 4th of July parade...

Off to wal-mart tonight to look for decorations for the car... they need to be able to hold up to 55mph....

I did order the wolf whistle just a few minutes ago, and I doubt it will be here prior to the 4th, but I have enough to do....

[WillyR]

yikes! I may have BOTH my exhaust cutout AND my wolf whistle on station in time for the 4th parade!

AND I may actually have time to install both...

I rigged up a lag pole for a 3'x5' 48 star flag at the rear bumper, but I have no been ale to go to walmart for more decorations.....

I am somewhat pressed for time as I work today and tomorrow, but am off thursday.

I will be pressed for time on the morning of the parade.... and will have to drop my car off the day before... and may have to decorate hurriedly in the staging area so I'll limit my decorations...

[Allan]

Buy your petrol at a BP servo in Imperial gallons and you will get an immediate improvement of 20% in your miles per gallon consumption.

Allan from down under

[WillyR]

Parade on the 4th went well, I was in a rush to get everything installed, but got it done.

The cutout I got leaks so badly at idle the aermore whistle is audible at idle. not happy...

when the vacuum tubing for the wolf whistle heats up it collapses, so I either need to switch to a copper tube or make a wire coil to hold the tubing shape.

I may have some wire that will suffice...

I put in a call about the exhaust cutout, and I also need to fabricate a bracket for the return spring, as I used paracord for a temporary bracket.

I think I would almost like the foot pedal over the pull cable, but we shall see after I get it dialed in...

[TXGOAT2]

Proper vacuum tubing should not collapse. You may need to take the cutout apart and see if you can get the parts to fit together better.

[WillyR]

Proper vacuum tubing should not collapse. You may need to take the cutout apart and see if you can get the parts to fit together better.

Ohh it's not proper vacuum tubing by any means, it's some cruddy clear stuff, not sure what it is actually made for.... maybe refrigerator water lines?

I will need to cut the exhaust cutout apart as it is welded together, I can do it, but I shouldn't have to...

[WillyR]

I had some 3/8” fuel line on the shelf and it works fine so far without collapsing.

I didn’t have vacuum tubing big enough.

I’ll mess with the exhaust cutout later this week.

Cleaned out the transmission cover screen.

Adjusted the carb, I think, I must have bumped the holy hell out of it when I removed the intake because I had it over a full turn lean, I’ll know more next time I drive her. Probably tomorrow.

[WillyR]

uugh, haven't driven her since the 4th...

there is a club breakfast tomorrow, so I'll see if I have the carb tuned properly on the way there...

maybe I'll have time to take her for a spin tonight....

I'm going to fiddle with the exhaust cutout springs tonight regardless....

I am sure I have too many on it now.....

I may use a ratcheting/locking lever and not use springs at all, I'm looking for a suitable one...

[TXGOAT2]

If the cut out springs get very hot, they will probably get weak. You can adjust the carb while driving down the road. Somewhere around 1 turn off the seat is usually OK. I start my car at about 1 1/8 turns off the seat, and it runs good when warmed up at about 7/8 to 3/4 turn off the seat. Most adjustment linkages have slack in them, so that needs to be allowed for.

[WillyR]

If the cut out springs get very hot, they will probably get weak. You can adjust the carb while driving down the road. Somewhere around 1 turn off the seat is usually OK. I start my car at about 1 1/8 turns off the seat, and it runs good when warmed up at about 7/8 to 3/4 turn off the seat. Most adjustment linkages have slack in them, so that needs to be allowed for.

I'm not sure what happened to the carb, but somehow it got more than two turns out... (I had only removed the intake manifold) I don't remember fiddling with it, it was probably gremlins...

I still need to make a suitable bracket for the cutout springs, and maybe try some different ones. I bought a pack of random ones at the homely depot, and they are just barely useable....

[Mark Nunn]

My Fulton cutout had been brazed to an exhaust pipe at some time in its life. (What a mess that was to clean up.) Getting a good seal has always been an issue with these.

[WillyR]

Whistle is much more useable now.

I had put some rtv on the flap and where it sits and let it dry while open, and it leaks less…

I also bought a slew of springs at the ace herdware and repositioned the cable AND the new springs so they are more inline with the flap.

There is still a little leak but I can live with it.

[WillyR]

I need to try a stronger spring on the cutout, I have the cable tuned up and lubed up but I still have a audible whistle while driving.

The choke cable could stand to be harder to pull, we shall see.

I was at 3 gallons when I left this morning, and I sputter going home up hill at 2 gallons...

I left my wallet at home...


I have fancy thing on my phone that lets me pay for stufts and I was able to set up my card on it... we shall see if that works for getting gas on the way home.....

[WillyR]

The new fangled phone thing worked so I could get gas.

It was a hot day today, and when I got home she was percolating but not over heating.

When she cools down I’ll try different cutout springs.

A guy at the gas station pulled around while his family was in the car and went all ga ga over the car with his 7 ish year old girl in tow.

They looked over the car really well, and I treated them to all 4 of my noisemakers as I was leaving.

That was an enjoyable interaction.

[TXGOAT2]

"Afterboil" may indicate late timing for operating conditions.

[Moxie26]

" After boil ", as you refer, is result of the fan not pulling air through the radiator and over the engine while the engine is running.....normal.

[TXGOAT2]

Albuquerque's altitude may also be a factor.