MTFCA Forum

I opened the garage door so it could get some fresh air.

Finishing up on installing new transmission drums, and installing a skat crank

Going to get the T out of the trailer and get it ready for Florida. My outdoor shop is going to be in the 40’s today. Have a great day, Clyde

Today’s project.
New nuts for the starter

Finished up my total rebuild of the front suspension, all bushings replaced and new spindles. Also included disassembly of the spring and painting it with slip-kote. Took the car out for a spin (26deg.F.) and it drove very nice. I really noticed the difference.

Today, I assembled the rear axle for my 26 coupe.

February 2nd and it’s sunny and 76 degrees in Tulsa! Seemed like an opportune time for the inaugural test drive of my 1924 TT chassis. I had started the engine half a dozen times or so letting it run 20 or 30 minutes over the past several weeks - even got it to start hand cranking it off the magneto! All I needed to do was dial in the toe-in and connect the drag link. Sooo, off I went for a couple of laps around The Model T Garage storage property. The truck will eventually have a C-Cab body and an express pickup bed. It also has a TT KC Warford auxiliary transmission and a Prus head. For this first drive I left the Warford in underdrive and found the chassis quite peppy when I eased the Ford transmission into high pedal. You can see from the photo I’ll need to install the battery hold down clamps. I’ll also need to adjust the clutch as the clevis went over top dead center as I was driving back into the garage! Got it stopped in time, however.

Rich C.

Buttoned everything back up so I can run her to a friends funeral this weekend.

Today, I put the rebuilt rear axle back under my 26 coupe.

I stopped for gas

Working since New year on the total rebuild of a 1914 rear axle. Installed also disk brakes on it.
On tuesday the axle will go back under the car.

Andre
Belgium

Built up a pair of McEachern safety hubs in preparation for the disc brake conversion on our mountain camping car.

I sent the motor out for a rebuild
I am installing new tires and painting the wheels

Started putting the Speedster back together. Rebuilt engine and Ruckstell with 3:1 gears.

I started work on a hood blanket to go with the winter front I made last month. Dan Killecut was kind enough to send me some pictures of his to use as inspiration. I taped up and cut out some sheets of newspaper to make a pattern, then used the pattern to cut some black woven blanket material from Walmart to fit over the hood top and sides. Next I cut the black vinyl outer covering to match the blanket material, plus 3/4 inch seam allowance all around.

I finished the fabrication of the hood blanket for Betsy today, here are some pics:

Started putting my rebuilt engine back in my 14 and putting it together. While it was out someone decided to help me and placed many of the nuts and bolts in a can. The rest just flew the coop. Hopefully I will be done by Friday in spite of cold weather.

Ok so I missed by one day. With lots of help from friends, the radiator got installed today, along with 5 gallons of fresh gas. It was too tight for we to crank start, but it was close. Coasted it 20' and and it was running. After the first start, I could light it off with a pull of the crank. A very good day indeed.

Today, I finished up the rear axle install on my 26 coupe and drove it for the first time in 3 years!!

RE-installed the intake/exhaust manifolds and timer on the 25. The exhaust manifold was off after I borrowed it for the the 21 when I took the Chevrolet over head off. Need to install a coil box, exhaust pipe & muffler then barrow the battery and coils out of the 21, add gas and water and see if it still runs. Still need to get wheels sorted out. It's a bugger when you have to share parts between two cars!

In a couple weeks it might get up to 40, so I will have to go for a run. Roads are dry right now and not much salt on them. 4-6 inches of white stuff coming tomorrow.

I'm currently at a stopping point on my 15 runabout restoration until I get my engine and rear axle back, so now was a good time to rebuild my spare coils. In the fall of 2018, our 21 touring had a coil go bad. At the time Erik Larson had a rebuilt set of coils for sale that wasn't too much more than just getting my coils rebuilt, so I bought them and put the other aside. Erik uses the ECCT to tune the coils, and could tell the the 21 ran better than it did even before one of the coils died.

Well, this year my in-laws were very generous at Christmas so I decided to get an ECCT tuner to keep my current coils in shape and try to get at least one of the removed coils in top shape as a spare. My spare coils consisted of one old Ford and three 1961 era KW's, and initial testing showed that the Ford capacitor was dead, and the other three had low readings. The MTFCA electrical booklet and the modelt-tips.com videos on coil rebuilding were helpful. What wasn't totally clear to me at the time was how different internally the Ford and KW's were. The Ford coils seem more robust and a little easier to solder the new capacitor in than for the KW's. I realized the hard way that the KW capacitor wires aren't in quite the same location as the Ford's, and accidentally broke the fine KW wires coming from the secondary winding area of the coil. Fortunately I was able to get them repaired. Later I found a posting showing a CAT scan of a KW and where the wires and capacitor were internally. I wish I'd found that earlier!

After replacing the capacitors I checked their capacitance readings, along with checking the resistance between the side poles on the box. Fortunately I did that before re-tarring, as one of the capacitors needed re-soldering to get a correct reading. I re-melted the chipped out tar and sealed up the insides. I decided not to test my lovely wife's patience and didn't use the stove top, but instead used a propane torch and a portion of a can to melt the tar. I think next time I'd use an old serving spoon to hold the tar chips while heating.

I found that the ECCT tuner was pretty easy to use and to get all four in good running condition. One defied tuning, so I replaced the points and it easily came back into specs.

For me, I probably get as much enjoyment out of restoring, maintaining and learning how to maintain T's as I do driving them, so learning how to rebuild the coils was fun. For what it's worth, we are getting a bargain from the various people who service coils for hire. They do a lot for the price!

Neal

I bought my first one Friday !
Canadian ‘23 center door
Spent the rest of the weekend fussing over her, and taking little drives up and down the street to learn how to drive her.
Researching adjustments and then performing them, is next

Congrats Cory!
Now post a pic of your find.

I'm still working on my T body. This is taking allot of time seeing how everything has to be custom made, tweaked, and adjusted to fit. I was hoping to be done by now but it's looking like it will be summer before it's done.

My '26 Coupe's pre-made brown carpet got a hole under my left heel.
I found carpet of a much better colour and had it edged by an upholsterer after I cut it to shape.
Floor, side panels and seat plinth.

Replaced the third rotten tire on my 15.
One more to go. Put the first coat of sealer on the last wheel.

First coat

NealW wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 09, 2020 2:56 pm

For what it's worth, we are getting a bargain from the various people who service coils for hire. They do a lot for the price!

Neal

Yes we do. I've purchased a total of 6 outright from one of the coil rebuilders and have been very happy with them. I think I'll purchase two more then start learning to do the maintenance on them myself. That way I can always keep a couple fresh spares in the toolbox and have two that are being worked on.

I bought an ECCT for this reason. Time to start using it more than I am.

CudaMan wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 05, 2020 1:51 pm

I finished the fabrication of the hood blanket for Betsy today, here are some pics:

That's nice work Mark. The T looks really snug in its custom coat.

Cory

congratulations on your purchase and welcome!

I'd advise you to make haste slowly on those adjustments. Most things on a T are obvious to a mechanically inclinded person, but some are not. Find a mentor in the area and bounce your ideas off of them for awhile and in the meantime buy T-1 book from any supplier. That is pretty much the T bible for working on these things. After that purchase and use, you'll find specific jobs which may require more information or detail, and there are dedicated manuals for most of those things, too.

Fired up the old 25 TT and hauled some salt blocks in to the sheep.

I averted a disaster!/

Snow load?

Too many T parts hanging, maybe ???

Mounted new Firestones on my new Pharis Buffalo wire wheels for the '19 Centerdoor !!!

Polished seal aerie on axles. Ready for Ruckstl to be reassembled.

Good idea to polish the seal section of the axles, Dean.

I wonder if there is such a thing as an inexpensive crack inspection kit (florescent penetrant) to check used axles for cracks before installation.

Fixed this! And put new head bolts in.

I’m replacing rear shackles and bushings. This isn’t a good sign. The only spare perches in my stash aren’t for improved cars. I put new bushings in and they seem to be ok but I’ll be on the lookout for better perches in the future.

While the mule engine rebuild is stalled waiting on custom pistons, we've been working on the chassis.

Took apart the front springs and found serious wear in the front springs. The leaf springs will be replaced with a reproduction. The pivot point in the Hassler frame has worn, so it will be drilled out and bushed. Bronze bushings are going in all the other pivot points. The tie rod will get new bolts and bushings, but the spindle is surprisingly tight. Took off the speedometer parts and will replace the stand with a new nut.


Rebuilding a set of late hubs to convert to wire wheels. New bearings and seals, clean up the threads. New dust caps.


Stuck the refreshed wire wheels and tires on the car.

Looking good Jason.

Riveted the driveshaft to the brakedrum for my 1921 Pick-up (with 1926/27 gear) and made it run square. Heating the rivets. Hammering the rivet.... Checking for trueness - we used a "clock" to measure - then the drum was slightly turned and grinded to remove a little grove. Then the heads of the rivets were turned down to a smooth surface

Located a decent front fender, knocked out a couple of dents and installed it in 20 degree weather. A warm spell.

A little closer. Timer,wish bone,radiator,light bar coils, picked up grease for the U jôint.

On the home stretch of the cosmetic portion of the restoration.

Drying new paint

Hubs cleaned & painted in the drying boooth

Installed wire wheels

Dean that is looking like my house!

Got it back from the shop getting new interior, upholstery, roof and visor. A fantastic job.

Pictures?

Still have the Ruckstell out of mine, but I did push the starter button the other day...
She spun right over.

Seems like it’s Ruckstell rebuild month!

Test drive & top on

Shop looks great Dean. Liking the camper, too.

Today, I pulled the radiator out of my 26 Coupe to replace the wood blocks underneath of the hood shelfs and the hood latches. In order to prevent the hood from coming unlatched.

I’m on the reassembly side of rebuilding my rear end and torque tube. This logo is engraved on the end of my new axles. I’m not thrilled with that and was concerned that this would cause premature wear on the fiber spacer. I spent some quality time with a buffing wheel to smooth out the surface.
I need to thin down two fiber washers to fit my differential. Sanding, measuring. Sanding, measuring etc. I had to stop sanding after about an hour because I was running out of fingernails. My washers are down to about .049” each and I’m still not done yet. I’ll let my fingernails grow a few days before continuing. Those are tough washers. Maybe I should not have been worried about the abrasive logos after all.

Side curtain done one to go.

Dean

I was hoping to do the same type of side curtain for my touring. Can you tell us what thickness of material you used and where you purchased it? Thank you.

David I use fabric from the local sewing center. Works for me . Second side done

Dave, that curtain is alright! Maybe show us how you did that and what materials were used.

Dean,

It comes in about 12 different gauges. Do you know which one you used? The piping is all the same.
Looks great by the way.

I do not know . It is .017 thick.

Started on the rear fenders

After selling my C Cab 2 years ago, I restored another one. Yesterday I changed the oil and greased/oiled everywhere in preparation for 2 parades - the 175th anniversary of New Braunfels and the Battle of Flowers in San Antonio. While under the truck I was surprised to see there’s no “belly strap” on this T. I think I have one restored and hanging up in the Conservatory. Today’s project

I replaced my leaking head gasket with a new one. I hope I used enough copper coat.


With the engine out of the car I'd just pick up the head and set it on. But with it in the car, I decided to go easy on my back.


A pair of studs will line up the head as it goes on.


Down she goes.


Ratcheting down the bolts before applying the torque wrench.


Why is the first picture repeated sideways at the bottom? I have no clue. I can't get rid of it.

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 26, 2020 9:36 am

I replaced my leaking head gasket with a new one. I hope I used enough copper coat.

Steve, can you share the details of your head lifting hooks? I have an "L" shaped lifter from my uncle's stash that uses the lower portion of a two-piece sparkplug to thread into a hole. Did you do something similar or did you use pipe nipples?

Here you go, Mark.

A pair of half inch pipe plugs drilled for 5/16" hooks. Put them in with a 5/8" wrench, turn the hooks toward the center of the head, and lock the nuts to keep them turned that way.

...or just use the bottom part of a 1/2” pipe thread spark plugs. Go to most hardware stores and buy 2 threaded eye hooks. I use just 1 unit to pull an entire engine but 2 will keep the head level.

Built fold out framework 45BF-AEC3-5C8C22A962A4.jpeg[/attachment]

Trying to put the car back together again. My body and all the fenders, running boards act have been restored and painted disassembled. I'm having a devil o a time getting everything to align enough to get it back together. Yesterday I got the rear fender on and tried to get the running board on couldn't do it, so attached the fender to the splash shield and payed the running board to get the holes in the fender to match up, then I looked the fender buckled about an inch on the edge about an inch. After I get everything on if I can my neighbor (the guy that restored the body and fenders will come and see what he can do to get everything back. He's a excellent body man he a top know restorer of MOPAR Mucle Cars know worldwide. He has shipped cars to Europe, S. Aferica and Australa. He know what he's doing.

Put a top and headliner in this one.

Picked up my rebuilt engine and rear axle from Mike Bender today. Also fitted the new rubber floor mat, finishing off the body restoration. Spring has arrived in Kansas, so time to start putting all the restored pieces together of my 15 runabout back together!

I replaced the wood blocks under the hood shelfs, the hood latches and installed the new Brassworks radiator in my 26 coupe.

One step closer to getting my Ruckstell together.
Went to Kevin’s shop today and picked up a pinion spool assembly. And the weather is hopefully getting warmer.
A couple shots of the Prus establishment, not much he’s not able to do here !

On the last day of the month I pulled the head and manifolds, preparing to improve the valves and (I hope) cure my low compression.

leap day ! Went for a little putt Longest one yet - 3.2 miles round trip , and then ordered more parts. Lots of work coming in March. Hope to have her pretty well roadworthy by the end of March