MTFCA Forum

May I start May? I installed Scott Congers full flow float valve today on the RPU. Much better acceleration and pulls a hill much better. Thanks Scott ! I will be ordering another fot the TT.

Speaking of the TT, it developed a leak in the valve of the sediment bulb. I never throw anything out if I think it could be used. I found one that had usable parts. The brass valve shut off was really nice with very little wear in this one. Cleaned up and lapped it with tooth paste. No more leak.

" The Big Green Truck" woke from its winter sleep today.

Cleaning up my top irons, getting ready to steam some white oak and fit new corners

Nice, Danny ! I'd like to follow your top project. Meanwhile, I replaced the bow socket that was ruined in last fall's windstorm and set the bows in place, some tweaking necessary to align them. I have a Classtique top kit waiting to be installed but I've been waiting for warmer weather.

Just pulled the engine of my 25/26 Fordor...at least one of these critters broke and now no low gear. Rivet from the driven gear. May be more..we'll find out once everything's opened up!
Fun never ends!

Thats a bummer Tim. At least you will have some T time.

Saturday we went on the first tour of the year to the Art Preserve ..... ...... where we got to see the rare AC butterfly in its last life cycle stage of rusting.
Don't you just love nature!

Tim Wrenn and I were going to hold a double requiem, but I canceled it this morning. After I reamed the valve guides to .030 oversize and reassembled the engine, the car wouldn't start. After a lot of choking I saw no signs of gasoline running out of the carburetor. Gas was going to the carb. I freed the stuck needle valve and it immediately started. Hold off on the euthanasia.
Art Mirtes

Gave Ed Iskendarian, the “Camfather” a ride in Uncle Buck on May 1st. What a way to start the month...

I had no Idea that Ed "Isky" was still with us.

Ed turns 100 years old in July. His memory and depth of knowledge is incredible - whether talking about his mentor Ed Winfield, building his first cam grinder, or piecing together his F-head V8 T roadster for the dry lakes.

I would have him autograph the windshield and never wash it

Rich Bingham wrote: ↑

Sun May 02, 2021 12:54 pm

Nice, Danny ! I'd like to follow your top project. Meanwhile, I replaced the bow socket that was ruined in last fall's windstorm and set the bows in place, some tweaking necessary to align them. I have a Classtique top kit waiting to be installed but I've been waiting for warmer weather.

Rich
Sent you a pm

Took the '18 chassis I started up last week for a test ride yesterday. Wheeeee!. Went about 6 miles, ran out of gas twice, had only a lawnmower gas tank. Have a timer and a driveline issue but easy fixes. Body goes on in a few weeks.

I removed the stock carb hot air pipe and installed my summer air filter setup.

CudaMan wrote: ↑

Tue May 04, 2021 4:45 pm

I removed the stock carb hot air pipe and installed my summer air filter setup.

Hi Mark,

Is that summer air filter setup make a difference than regular set-up Hot air pipe stamped steel ? As I know but I,m not an expert, the purpose of the Hot air pipe stamped steel is to preheat the air. But I do not have enough experience if that really improved car performance as well preheating the air?

George Danek wrote: ↑

Tue May 04, 2021 3:51 pm

Took the '18 chassis I started up last week for a test ride yesterday. Wheeeee!. Went about 6 miles, ran out of gas twice, had only a lawnmower gas tank. Have a timer and a driveline issue but easy fixes. Body goes on in a few weeks.

image0 (1) - Copy.jpeg

Look pretty cool George. Congrats!

I've only had one weekend in May so far, so all I did was pull the T out of the barn and turn in around in preparation to pulling the rear. I figure I'll lift it by putting a 2x4 across the frame rails, pulling the rear floorboard (touring car) and lifting it with a come along through back seat floorboard area. That way I can just roll the rear out from under it and set it back down on stands.

Nothing wrong with the rear end per se. It's a new-to-me unrestored and 'well used' car, so I figured I'll take the rear apart and check the thrust washers and general condition before I drive it too far from home.

I pulled the engine last month and both the transmission supports were broken. It's had a rough life

Regarding the hot air pipe - IMO, the car seems to pull the hills better in the warm weather with the pipe removed and replaced with my air filter. I do notice condensation on the carburetor body on humid days, but so far no icing (knock on wood).

My air filter is a vintage Clinton lawn tractor filter that I found on Ebay. I made the adapter cone for it from brass sheet. Search Google for "air filter mtfca" and all sorts of old threads will come up.

Quickm007 wrote: ↑

Wed May 05, 2021 1:51 pm

George Danek wrote: ↑

Tue May 04, 2021 3:51 pm

Took the '18 chassis I started up last week for a test ride yesterday. Wheeeee!. Went about 6 miles, ran out of gas twice, had only a lawnmower gas tank. Have a timer and a driveline issue but easy fixes. Body goes on in a few weeks.

image0 (1) - Copy.jpeg

Look pretty cool George. Congrats!

Thanks. When I get the Body on and some sheet metal on, I will do a follow up to the thread I wrote in 2017 when I bought this T. Yes it is the correct restored chassis to "Clara" my 1918 Coupelet.

Pulled the rear end out of the 1915, hoping to fix a leak. Should have it back in tomorrow.

Tried putting some 2X4's away in the garage rafters I'd found under a boat I sold... slipped off the radius rod on my son's Model A drag rail and cut my heel pretty good on the T rear axle next to it. That's about all the T-ing I've done for awhile.

Hopefully, we can start putting Mildred (his Model T) together this summer.

I like the cradle Steve made for his jack to lift the rear axel!!! The oldest grandson had our's out once but i see i have a stuck float?? Bud.

I make my first test drive with this brand new restored 1911 Touring beauty. Did only 4 miles but I want to check if everything work well. Made little band adjustment and also brake too. Everything went better than expected.

Started on the 98 year differed maintenance list.

https://youtu.be/6T_OTmNP7cY

https://youtu.be/l92hWAnsTpU

Testing and tuning Tin Tillie our 1919 touring car. Clayton and I are prepping mine and his roadster for the National tour in Spokane in July.lClayton helped rebuild the motor over the winter months, it sure is nice to have her back on the road after being broke for two years.

Sorry for the bad shifting of the Warford getting used to having it nice and tight. Not sloppy like it was.

With axle repairs finished, it's time to refit my spindles.

Got the new Lesters on the split rims and set the new Brass Works radiator between the rails.

Going back to the hot air pipe discussion - in an airplane, you can pull a lever to direct hot air into the carburetor to melt "carb ice." When hot air is directed into the carb the engine loses around 100-150 rpm.... less power.

I took all four grandkids for a ride tonight. It was the youngest one's 1st ride ! The oldest boy is studying all the controls for his 1st drive. The oldest girl is 9 and is going with me in the morning to cars and coffee at the Auburn, Chord, Deusenberg museum. A nice 30+ mile drive one way.

Regarding the carburetor hot air device, I doubt if it's much needed with today's gasoline. If you drive your T in cold weather, it would probably be useful for quicker warmup and might allow a slightly leaner mixture on cruise. If you operate in temperatures near and just above freezing in an area with high humidity, carbuertor icing might be a problem. The hot air device would reduce or eliminate it. If it's easy to take off, I'd take it off in warm weather and put it back on in late Fall.

Steve I didn't think a model T ever leaked.

Dallas, looking at your door, have your racing opposition started getting rough?!! Reminds me of the old joke: What goes clip clop, clip clop, clip clop, bang bang, clip clop, clip clop, clip clop? An Amish drive by shooting!

Painted 1927 coupe frame.

My grandaughter and I went to the ACD museum in Auburn IN. Yesterday for cars and coffee. She was a trooper, as it was pretty cold on the hour long drive over. I think she enjoyed it as she was taking photos of cars to show little brothers and sister. Inside the museum I told her to pick a car so I could take her photo. She has good taste. The RPU was a hit because the only other T had a sbc under the hood. The drive was great with lots of back roads.

Finally the rain has stopped long enough and everything dried out so I could get Lizzy out and change her oil and greased her bearings and oil the spindles and tie rods. I also had a hit your forehead with your palm moment, I tried to start her but she wouldn't start up, gas turn the gas on then she started. I must be getting old.

Dallas, that museum is great. Did you visit the one next door? Lots to see there too.

Mark, I have been to both but one at a time for the grandaughter. Grampa has to be sneaky getting gas and oil in the veins. All the grandkids have groun up wirh the T's so they think they are the best. Our son grew up in the back of our 41 chevy. She had a great time and was falling asleep on the way home. Now I have to plan one on one with the others. SNEAKY!

Fixed the misalignment rim/felloe problem with the LR wheel, tightened up the brake band and put a few, probably 6-8 more miles on it. We tried to take our little dog for his first ride in it but he wouldn't do it. He prefers the Model A coupe or my '55 Studebaker truck.

We tried to take our little dog for his first ride in it but he wouldn't do it.

Shorty was a reluctant rider at first. Now whenever a T starts up she's right there, ready to go.


One of today's T jobs was installing the head with a new East Shore MT-100 gasket. The instructions say don't use any sealant. We'll see how that works.

Painted the wire wheels on my 26 Touring. From a dull Gray to Straw.

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 12:00 am

We tried to take our little dog for his first ride in it but he wouldn't do it.

IMG_4545.JPG
Shorty was a reluctant rider at first. Now whenever a T starts up she's right there, ready to go.



IMG_6059 copy.JPG
One of today's T jobs was installing the head with a new East Shore MT-100 gasket. The instructions say don't use any sealant. We'll see how that works.

Look you will have a fantastic engine! And your dog will appreciated it for sure.

Lining rear brakes - first attempt ever and it worked pretty well.
1. drilling the holes in the brake shoes 4 mm wide as I only got those rivets here in Germany (original holes were some 3,7 mm)
2. fasten cut linings (bought by the meter) and drill holes 4 mm
3. drilling the space for the rivet heads (some 2 - 3 mm into the linings)
4. riveting (without special tools)

Gonna condense my activity report a bit
Last Thursday I started what I hope to be many many "picnic tours" like we did last year thanks to Covid. They were so fun and simple we want to continue the trend regardless of any pandemic. Two days prior, I got the trans. fixed from the Fordor. Yesterday, I put the engine back in it. Tomorrow I'll finish hooking up all the crap. Too nice of a day today so I'll be out in one of the other Ts.

Well I started the “discovery” part of rebuilding a Model T by removing the wood pickup bed, all 4 fenders (who puts 1.5” long bolts to hold fenders on??? - so hard to get off once they are rusty!!), removed the top and radiator and began figuring out which parts I need to replace. I’m about 50/50 on being able to remove bolts versus having to drill them out. (Fenders primarily)

Pictures attached below of what it looked like when I purchased it, and what it looks like today.

Next up is removal of the fuel tank (steering column is already out) and if I’m able the removal of the body from my 1926 roadster so I can figure out how much sheet metal I need to replace. (Anyone have a ballpark figure fir what a stripped down roadster body might weigh?)

At least the engine spins freely and I appear to have 90% (or more) of the parts.

Met some great people in the hobby who have been most kind offering suggestions and advice.

Jennifer
Aka ModelTGal

Big shoutout to Jim, Dan and Richard for their help!!

while at my brother's garage yesterday and after he broke the cork float in the Holley G, might as well mount the body to the frame. At least I didn't have to buy lunch for five guys. The two post lift worked great.

Had a front wheel bearing die. New parts on the way.

Finally finding the motivation to finish off my magneto ring after multiple hiccups along the way since beginning in December. Checking clearances from the poles

A bunch of things. My "new to me" 27 roadster sat for years before i bought it. Last weekend i:
- Converted the car back to negative ground (model A guys.... ammiright?)
- Removed the head and replaced leaking head gasket, removed carbon
- changed all lubricants
- serviced the drive line
- serviced the chassis
- removed radiator, flushed all the junk out
- serviced the timer
- rebuilt all 4 coils, set on ECCT
- adjusted bands
- Adjusted parking brakes
- repacked front wheel bearings
- installed a TON of missing cotter pins.
- Rebuilt the vaporizer. Previous owner "rebuilt it" but not well
- removed rust form fuel tank (Rust 911 is great stuff for gas tank rust, dont need to remove the tank even)
- cleaned out fuel line / settling bowl


Started on this work friday night and saturday took it into down for a dinner date.

I rebuilt everything on my front axle and spindles. I replaced and reamed bushings, replaced bolts and nuts and aligned everything except one perch. That perch wouldn’t budge no matter what. I will wait until next winter and work on that some more. With everything painted and back on the car, I was hoping for an evening drive last night. But, one tie rod bolt would not tighten sufficiently. I removed it for about the hundredth time (both spindle arms were bent and it took hours of tweaking to get them aligned) and there was a thin wire wrapped around the threads. I assume that was put there to tighten worn threads in the yoke. That’s just one more frustrating thing to fix.

I had to do some cleanup from my trees. If you have to work, you may as well enjoy it.

Well pulled the roadster out of the trailer then my wife let Sport the T model dog out and he ran straight for the T and laid down in front of the hand crank waiting to be asked if he wanted to go for a ride.

Spent a day fitting a period set of " Winka" indicators. I bought them on Ebay and then spent many hours sourcing cables and a dual control lever. The indicators were already fitted with clamps to suit the windscreen posts. I replaced the original filament bulbs with double sided flashing leds, unfortunately, the T's coils interfere with the flashing. I have now replaced the leds with standard filament bulbs and a separate flasher unit. The coils still interfere with the flasher. Oh well, back to the drawing board!

Hey Paul, nice truck !
The problem you have with the flasher happens because you use a modern electronic flasher unit, try to get your hands on an old fashioned bi-metal flasher and all troubles will be over, the electronic flashers are too sensitive to the "Wild Currents" flung into the Ether by your flywheel magnets.
Good luck, Leo

Thanks Leo, I will try and source a bi-metal flasher

Working on the Centerdoor floor.

If you need a 6 volt flasher, I think Volkswagen used them up into the 1960s. I put a Volkswagen AM-FM radio in a 1950 Ford F-3 truck, 6 volt positve ground. Worked perfectly. Ford used 6 volt systems in USA market cars thru 1955.

My best friend, Mike Zepp, passed away. I am saving his legacy to share with all. My wife and I purchased two of his trucks.
These two were his favorite. Plans are to complete the delivery and show it as he would have. The can crusher truck is currently on display at the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, CO.

I am finding something odd: I thought I would be much happier owning these trucks. I will do my best with them.

Terry & Sharon,

My condolences on the loss of your friend but every time you drive or see one of the trucks you bought he will be there with you. Memories of good times and goods friends can be shared with all who see them now.

Denny

Thank You Denny.

Those are my hopes and goals. Time will tell if I can nurse them to fruition.

Terry

I got my first T (a 27 Tudor barn find) in October and saw inside the gas tank. The bottom was covered in tar. I had tried using Laquer thinner to get the stuff to flow but it didn't do too much. I finally took the cowl tank out (without having to remove the steering column) and on Thursday poured in some Acetone. I had read that some have used muriatic acid to clean it out. Anyway, within 5 minutes the sludge was dissolving! I had worried that cleaning job would be a huge hassle to clean it out, but to my surprise, the acetone did the trick. Lots of dirt was inside and a piece of wood (could be the measuring stick), but it's almost clean down to bare metal. I still will use a tank sealer kit just to make sure there are no pin holes; but so far, there are no leaks. So happy!
John

Terry, I purchased our '25 coupe from my best buddy's estate sale in 2009. We were friends for 53 years, I never fail to get a big smile on my face when we drive it, or even just looking at it. I miss him terribly, but we sure made thousands and thousands of wonderful memories. Dave

Got back from vacation, and finally got a day to play with the T. Got it out for a stretch, after it's long winter nap. I gave it it's usual 6 choked hand cranks, flipped the key to battery, and got a free start! After the normal grub through, took it out for a shirt shakedown, which reminded me of my short list when I put it away... Adjust the new wood bands, now that they've had some fun time!

Good deal, Dallas... Nice to see your buggy out! And, with grandkids no less! Sure wish I could load up all mine in the back! Only drawback of a one seater, is limited passengers!

Dennis your truck looks fantastic the way you have it. I seen it in the other post. Hope to see and visit with you at OCF this fall if not before.

Brought this baby back to life. The tab for springs were broken off and the ring the springs hook to was also missing. Now to install and hook up the cutout peddle.

Thank you Dallas posting this, first time I heard about that muffler tool. Still learning in that hobby.

Mario , I thought some may enjoy seeing it. I have been running it for a while. It has a sound all its own. I had the cutout wired shut because it was missing parts. The cool factor is worth it to me.

Waiting on my bed and windshield glass. A lot of little things left to do, but it should be drivable

I was able to get the vinyl top on, turn signals and brake/tail lights on, and go to a car show Saturday.

I also put about 20 miles driving around town Saturday/Sunday/Monday.

The interior is next!

I decided to acquaint my new companion with model t touring. I purchased a 1914 T roadster from South Carolina. Had Bill's Transportation deliver it to my home on the west coast. Got it running after 5 yrs of storage. Decided to make some modifications, (Starter, Ruxtle Speedometer) Then I decided to have Bill Bender our local model t parts and expert model t mechanic) do the work due to time constraints for the tour in Spokane.

So engine out, rebush and rebuild the transmission including a new Watt's clutch I had, adjusted the rods and mains, grind the valves adjustable lifters, a 280 cam, new timing gears, and a different radiator.

A few other things will be done before Spokane and it will be ready for trouble free touring. This was very hard work for me, opening my wallet a number of times but worth it. Can't wait for the national tour, a new car and my new companion to be introduced to model t touring and the nice folks that go with it.

frontyboy

Dallas...

That is definitely a cool muffler! I've not seen one like that! I hope there is an OCF to go to this year!!

Currently, my high speed is out... Only low. Long story, but looks like I have another engine pull in my future to sort out the clutch. So, so far... It hasn't been my daily driver this year!!