MTFCA Forum

We're these an after market product? If so what weakens to make an owner need one?

Popular accessory for T’s without a metal dash panel factory column clamp. First T’s with those were built about April 1923.

Earlier ones had only 2 point connection for the long steering column, at the frame and at the firewall. Was about sufficient for many owners but some wished for more stable column. Wood firewall was good but the change to thinner metal firewall caused Ford to add the dash panel support too.

Original wood dash with a solid maple core was pretty stout ; replacement plywood can get "mushy" in time especially if the driver likes to grab the wheel to lever himself into the seat. The additional bracket makes the column rigid. Good idea !

I bought a repo for my 21 Touring with the wood firewall. It does make the steering column more stable for sure. The later models had the column secured directly to the metal dash.
The one I have is a Apco reproduction that does the job. I recommend it and it won’t hurt a thing. Overtime these were needed back in the T era when folks would really use their cars.

Several of the braces were avail early on, the APCO most famous. Could be had in the curved style for the metal dash, and early straight, usually without the horn tube notch for the flat wood firewalls.



My '23 cutoff came with this farmer made brace, forged in fire with split and added bracket under to wrap to steering column. Ingenious endeavor

I have 2 "T's" with wooden firewalls that I have towed many miles on a single axel unsprung trailer. I can see the steering wheel in my rear view mirror. The wheel really moves around. I think when you are driving these cars your hand or hands on the wheel really dampens this motion. Both cars now the supports, they are effective.

The more I drive My 21 Touring after installing the Apco brace I can imagine back in the day the column would get looser after a fairly short time. I installed a new wood firewall when I restored the car and the column was pretty rigid but after I installed the Apco brace it just seemed better with the extra support.