MTFCA Forum

Does anyone know if the rear fenders were different on the widetrack model T's? my family has a 1913 widetrack and recently changed the tires on it and the tire is rubbing the rear fender at the outer part on the lower side by the running board. The old tires were slightly different, still 30x3.5, and barely cleared. I'll try to get a picture when I can.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

David

1913 rear fenders are 2” wider to the outside edge.

Would that be 2in wider than the standard 1913 fender? that might explain it if someone put a replacement standard fender on it.

I think I have heard the 1913 wide track fenders have a double bead. Can anyone confirm?

Double bead where? I can check next time in “warehouse “.

Negative on the double bead. Are your tires rubbing on both sides? Photos would certainly be helpful. Can't imagine the tires would be that much larger in diameter.
I have a 14 wide track. There shouldn't be that much difference between them.
Terry

Here are some pictures of the issue. My fender is roughly 10 and 1/8 in wide.

Are both sides that way or just that one? Dan

That appears to be a wide-track fender. Check very carefully whether the rear end (axles) is/are properly centered and square with the chassis. Also check that the body is squared, and the running board brackets. Any and/or all of those things being off even a small amount can result in the rear end and fender not centering between themselves. Many people are bothered by that fact when they look at their unloaded car and see how close the tire is to the fender. Remember, the rear end forward position is fixed by the torque tube, which slopes down from the transmission to the rear end. When heavily loaded or hitting a bump, the rear end is pushed up in relation to the chassis and the torque tube being leveled out a bit shoves the rear end back significantly.
Normal clearance is tight in that spot. If the rear end is slid over a quarter of an inch to the right, and the running board bracket is pulling the running board in to the left another less than half inch? the compounded error is enough to cause the tire and fender to collide. Remember, that rear spring's sagging or poor quality re-arching can also shift the rear end sideways a bit. Another one many people never look at, is if one side the spring perch is frozen in place, it with throw off the axle centering properly.

Your simplest fix may be to carefully bend the rear running board bracket to move the running board out less than a half inch. It doesn't take much, and many if not most original running board brackets over the years got tweaked enough to cause problems. Problems that most restorers do not check for or fix while restoring the cars. Then a simple centering of the top fender bracket to balance and square the fender. But you want to make SURE there isn't a centering issue with the rear end first.

Thank you for the responses. i have a lot to check out and compare. i don't think the tire was rubbing on the driver's side, but i take a look and get pictures of that side. i does not rub unless there are passengers in the rear seat and you hit a bump. more to come....thanks all for the help so far!

Looks like I may have found the issue...with Wayne's help. What is the best way to re-adjust these spring clamps to re-position the spring in the right spot?