MTFCA Forum

Shoot, I was going to tack-on a small blurb about what I was doing this August but I cannot find the thread.
Is this the first for this August?
Got my '18 runabout home again! Happy this funny little car is home again.
Deer hunting 2019, I put it in storage (time capsule).
The driveway way out is really rough and got to feel the flexibility of the T again when driving in today.
A pic of necessary evils on the fly!
Vroom!
With water, gas, electricity and air it drove me home in fantastic fashion. Tough little bugger.
Another friend was there and really wondered IF I'd make it home! Bah. Cake.
If looking close, a view of my other severe passion on the far side of the red David Dunbar Buick.
Aha! Let's resize. Yesss!

Good to hear Duey ! I have been wondering about those T's having an attitude after you spending your time with big iron. Is Crappy still happy also?

Made an update video on the T speedster I'm getting back on the road. A how-to on lowering a T for free!

https://youtu.be/dkjixLVRv5Q

Good job there, Mike !

Not for me but T work for friends, none the less !

Oop! I guess this IS the August thread? If so, glad to be contributing again.
Dallas, Crappy the 24 and I are still at odds with each other. The 18's attitude is pretty good.
Attitudes: The $$$$$$$ big iron OT shot me in the foot tonight with an internal water leak.
Just because another model T was in the yard. Ouch!

Driving the wheels off it.


This has led to a whole series of interesting on-the-fly maintenance
operations. Last trip out I was plagued by a seeming ignition switch
problem that had me alongside the road fussing and cleaning various
parts. The problem started well out into the desert, and did a cat-and
mouse routine for the second sixty miles. It would be "fixed", and then
return after a couple miles. After much frustration, the short fix clue
was heeded and a nasty old hunk of tin was fashioned around the fuel
line and, BINGO ! ... it wasn't ignition at all. I had a niggling "almost"
vapor lock causing all the grief. But I sure did get in a lot of test and
calibration time in on the coils, the timer cap interior has a fine gloss,
as do all the contacts in the ignition switch ! Nearly home, after about
180 miles, I noticed an odd list to port, and discovered the front spring
set had come all sorts of unruly, so a centering bolt was had, and that
mess put back together. Still can't get the OF to run smooth at high speeds,
so a backup NH set up has been assembled for a possible return to the
stock system. If nothing else, I will have it on the shelf, in the event of
a need to pull the OF off for deeper work.

"Still can't get the OF to run smooth at high speeds" .... Could that be related to the vapor lock issue? Modern "gasoline" is designed for fuel injection systems, where the fuel is always under some pressure. I suspect that it is more prone to vapor lock and boiling over in the carburetor bowl in hot weather than the "summer blend" fuels we were once allowed to buy and use. The entire Model T fuel system is at or very near atmospheric pressure, which would facilitate vapor lock/boilover issues. My Model T runs below the coolant boiling point at all times, but if I stop the engine in hot weather after a drive, I can hear the fuel percolating in the gas tank. It sounds like the engine coolant is about to boil, but it is the gas bubbling in the tank on the firewall side, which can be confirmed by removing the gas cap and looking into the tank. An insulating pad between the gas tank and firewall would probably eliminate this. I use pump gas, usually 90 octane, non-ethanol adulterated. The elevation here is around 1100 ft, and daytime temperatures usually run in the mid 90s to 100+ F. The engine runs about 200 to 210 F as best I can tell. Car is 26-27 type roadster.

Failure to run correctly at higher speed can be the fault of several things: the main jet #8974 has 2 gaskets...one fiber and one lead. The lead gasket is generally a "one time use" affair and often is either lost during disassembly or has insufficient "squish" upon reassembly to properly seal things off. The other thing is that the main jet has a number of very tiny holes which can become clogged...quickly...if the fuel isn't scrupulously clean. Lastly, a mislocated lever on the throttle shaft can alter when the economizer seals off the air flow at higher speeds, or the economizer needle is not seating properly.

I get to play Mr. Mechanic! I think my touring season is done for this year.

Not all T but most are. My shipping table's getting kinda full. The T Heinze units are all waiting for points, which has been the big hold-up preventing them from going out. The units on the left front are rebuilt 1910 Jacobson-Brandow, waiting for the box to be finished up. The single unit on the front right is a new one that I built. The box is a new 1912 Heinze:
Right: Heinze for 1907 Model R. Left: new 1913 Heinze: Splitdorf for 1906 Aerocar:

Pat,
Are you sure the gas is boiling? I have never heard of this. Most T's after being driven on a very hot day, even though they run cool without boiling, will "percolate" for a minute or two after turning off. It could be at the back end of the block and head and sound like it is in the gas tank.
Norm

R.V. You are great.

Great job.
Andre
Belgium

It's the gasoline. I can look in the tank and see it and hear it. When I first noticed it, I assumed it was the engine. It sounds different than a hot engine, and is louder inside the car. I have noticed no performance problems related to it. I doubt if it occured with gasoline available in the late 1920s, except perhaps under extreme conditions. I'm going to wrap a wet microfiber rag around the fuel line tomorrow and see if the car runs any better at highway speed with cool fuel. Bubbles rising in the fuel line could impede full fuel flow. I doubt if it will make a difference, since it runs pretty good now. A piece of fiber board wrapped in aluminum foil between the tank and the firewall would probably keep the tank a good deal cooler while running in hot weather and after shutting down.

Put my luggage rack on..I live in an area where I can buy gas on every corner, but I like the look..

Kelly and I picked up two neighboring Amish families and headed for icecream in The Big Green Truck. A good time for all by the smiles and laughter coming from the back of the truck. We may be starting a trend? A tractor and hay wagon loaded with people pulled in while we were there. I think we out numbered them tho.

I live in an area where I can buy gas on every corner, but I like the look...

Experience has taught me to never leave home without my running board cans. They have saved me an unscheduled long walk more than once.

What did I do today? Installed the third carburetor in about a week on my runabout. Starting was really hard with the NH that was on it so I replaced that with a G. The G was better briefly, then it was back to hard starting. So today I tried a different NH. So far so good. I'm starting with two or three pulls, even with all four wheels on the floor. So far so good. Now the question is what's wrong with those other two carbs. Meanwhile, I'm starting to work on some LED tail lights. The adapted HF trailer lights I was using weren't up to the job. It was a hassle putting them on and taking them off, and one of them broke apart when I was driving on a country road. I believe I can do better.

Took the old girl for a drive visited so people took some for a ride Cruised the parks 3 in all total miles 144 it was a good week end.

On the Delivery truck we purchased from my best friends estate, I have been able to bend the passenger side fender iron to fit and completed mounting the bracket and fender. I tightened and cotter pinned everything on the passengers side from the head light to the firewall bracket. It seems he did not tighten much and cotter pinned even less. Re-mounted the radiator with the correct hardware and filled it with the anti freeze I had removed. Replaced the hood and figured out why it was not fitting properly. Did my best to adjust it but could not get it to fit as well as I would like. The radiator is 1/2" more towards the passenger side. My wife saw this and I am unable to figure out why that is other than the frame may be bent.

Biggest news: I got it started for the first time since we got it. Even as novice as I am, I can tell there is a lot of adjusting that needs to be done. I can't get the spark to advance any more than half of the quadrant. I also can't get the carb. to adjust properly. Not sure if he rebuilt the carb. or not but it's very evident it is running extremely rich. NO mosquitoes at our house for the time being.

Very excited about getting the second truck started and taking it to a show this Sunday.

mtntee20 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 09, 2021 6:42 am

The radiator is 1/2" more towards the passenger side. My wife saw this and I am unable to figure out why that is other than the frame may be bent.

The radiator is OK it's the truck that is 1/2" toward the drivers side!

Made more progress on the Speedster the other day. A firewall needed to be made to fit around the Rajo cylinder head, and the column location changed because of the aftermarket body. The link you the Youtube video is here--->>> https://youtu.be/riVeDVtyeAU

Got the Speedster to Key Largo, in the past month I have driven it on the Pacific and Atlantic. New bands, sealed hogshead, new ignition wires, carb rebuilt, and most important today got the title transferred!Believe it or no i926 was available for the state of FL, of course the "i" is uppercase.

Today I fabricated a hood strap, wired up headlights, and installed a new sediment bowl as the shutoff valve on the old one was leaking.

Shown this before but it begged repeating. Put Kerosene in the lamps and tuned them in tonight.
Tested the electrics also.
This was after dealing with an OT stud/bolt hole coolant leak to be tested.
Had him out for a Toodle. Ran pretty good. Note my STILL removable upholstery.
Dang those parking lamps smell good!
And he gave me a free start.

Was able to get some more body irons made up
From drawings to 3D print a pattern to finished steel irons.

Adjusted the linkage between the High / Low pedal to clutch arm. 1st time since I put the engine in 7 years ago. One thing I learned was to start the pin from the transmission side. (Learned this the hard way....) Was able to just squeek the pin out over the bendix cover by pressing the pedal after loosening the low band a few turns.

Low pedal connection is backwards. L goes to the pedal. See T1 manual for adjustment.

Poured my first Babbitt today. 4th main. Made a mold and melted in Palmer Hot Pot II. Got the carbon a little thick on the mold and preheating flame blew part of it off, but babbitt didn't stick to the core, bare or carboned. Now got to figure how the mount a 6" diameter 4th main to 6" Craftsman backing plate. (Yes I know where to take center off of ) Really do not want to molest this backing plate, it is too nice, so time to do some eBay looking.

A few of us along with other model T club members displayed our cars at the Sandusky County Bicentennial celebration that was postponed a year due to Covid. Nice time, great weather, showed our cars to quite a few interested folks. There were about 12 cars displayed.

I used the 26 pick up to harvest my sweet corn.

Finished blasting my new low head. I got the last one Mark had at Model T Haven.


Rust pit or casting flaw? I don't know, but I decided to get rid of it. A bit of magic tinning potion...

...some heat and body solder. You can't see the flame out in the daylight, but it's there.

Seems I overdid it a bit. I haven't worked with body solder enough to be any good at it.

The air grinder will take care of that.

I had my doubts about solder on cast iron, but this looks like it will stay.

7 years I have owned this TT of mine. Never had a T before. Never drove
someone else's, or was ever around them, except to see them in fields, barns,
or going down the road. So, self-schooling on how they are "supposed to" operate
has proven interesting at times.

Upon delivery, I had a helluva workout trying to get the thing started. The
starter loped over about every ten seconds, as if the battery were dead, and
being clueless, I chose to save my battery charge for the coils and spark, and
give the old Armstrong starter a go. It was a trying time, of many blue words.

Fast forward a month or so, and I am at The Ranch and being told my starter
is toast. I pulled it, and discovered the shaft was bent so bad, that it could barely
turn itself, let alone turn the engine over. So, we straightened it and gave that
a whirl. It was much better. Or so I thought.

Later still, I took it out again and had it gone through. Handed back all pretty
and clean, it worked a little better. Or so I thought.

I have been driving it this summer like never before. Long trips into the desert,
rough one lane dirt roads. The roads T's were built for. My OF carb (last winter's
big project) was performing well, but had niggling problems of smooth operation.
I have gotten well versed in opening the hood and adjusting things. Last trip out,
no amount of adjusting could bring the power up, and I barely limped it home. It
was time to pull the OF and learn more about it at the "bench test" level, before
trying to run it again.

On went a rejected Montana 500 NH (opening too big) that I had rebuilt, and I was
eagerly looking forward to some simple no fuss driving. That was a no-go. The truck
jumped to life, but would not stay running. To a point that much blue words were
used. And then the starter .... remember the starter ? Yeah, ... the starter groaned
to a stop. "Bad ground!" everyone said. So, I gave the cables a look over. The ground
was attached at the gas tank bolt. This seems like a poor idea, so a hole was drilled
in the frame, the contacts made shiny and clean, and the tester said I had excellent
continuity on both sides, from end-to-end. Still no life at the starter, so out it came.
Traded it in for a rebuilt one, and here it is, seven years on, and for the first time in
my T experience, I know what a T starter is supposed to do !

Feeling pretty silly about this. Slow learner, I guess ? A really simple item. A simple
fix, but somehow I had never been exposed to another T with a good working starter,
so I never knew !

Got the NH working today, so now it is back to the workbench to get myself all schooled
up on the science of OF's.

This month, I got my block back from rebabbitting the mains. I then reassembled the engine, reinstalled it in the car, and got the car up and running again. Last month I painted it and put a temporary interior in just so I can enjoy some time behind the wheel. I'm hoping to install a proper interior this winter. The car has been down for so long with a center main knock that I just want to enjoy it for a while.

After a little fiddling with the carb and the coils, I've got it running pretty good!

Today I tore out the ruckstell, sourced and identified the problem. Then I repaired it, reassembled everything put it back in the car and took her for a test run. Everything is working great now except for some hood strap work and other unrelated bits.

What did the issue turn out to be? Hoping to learn something.

Wear on the bronze plate placing the shifter out of position. I was able to weld it up (tig welding bronze) and then machine it back down.

I actually after 3 years took my T out on the road for the first time! Bought the car and because of life circumstances never drove it. Took a weeks stay-cation and decided to get it running and moving. I had to go to YouTube university to learn how to drive it but think I got it figured out for the most part. First time out I went about a mile turned around and came home. I noticed a car following me and turned into my driveway. A very nice gentleman walked up and asked me if I was John. He said he was a local T owner and spotted my car. Another forum member who he is friends with had told him that he seen a post I made on here when I first bought the car and noticed I had the same mailing address, Martin Ohio. He said he had been watching for the car but never seen me. Low and behold 3 years later on my first drive he spots me! We talked about an hour and exchanged numbers. The next day he called me and invited me to go to the Sandusky County Bicentennial posted above. I am still a little nervous about driving the car any distance and had already had a commitment for that day but said I could swing by later in the day to say hello. I did stop by and met the nicest bunch of people I have run into in a long time. I was there a couple hours and learned so much. I exchanged my number with Bill, another forum member, and he has been helping me with a few issues I am having with my car. So I dove my T and met a bunch of great guys that I’m sure I will be seeing a lot of. Was a pretty good week!

John

that is an excellent report. Keep up the good work!

I am working on drawing a set of plans to build sills for my Center Door.

Many thanks to those who have sent measurements and allowed me to photograph and measure their cars

I needed a few supplies for the shop and new plug for my work trailer . Not much time in summer months to work on the T projects. I get my fix using them for every day tasks. A 14 mile round trip to the auto parts store is perfect.

I installed a Corey Walker rebuilt U&J carburetor on my ‘14 runabout. It drove and ran so scary fast I’m thinking of removing the excellent original but restored hickory wheels and replace with powdercoated 21” wires for the Texas T Party. I know that’ll look butt ugly but safer

Draining all the fluids out of the 25 in preparation to pull the motor to repair the worn drive plate. Orders some parts from Chaffin's for my customer's project and me.

Shucks, just another rough day of our "picnic tour", lunch at Russ's place followed by a nice leisurely 23 mile tour out in the boondocks. Very relaxing.

Tim, that looks like more fun than being on a roof all day. Good to see your gang out and about with those T's.

Thanks Dallas! Yuuup, you're right! We generally eat/BS about an hour, then I usually try to design a tour under 2 hours so as to avoid "burnout" if thats even possible to have happen. We try to do this weekly. Weather screws us up occasionally.

Just got home from the New London to New Brighton Antique Car run. Owners of a number of cars were extremely generous is taking me for a ride. I believe there were 41 cars that finished the 120 mile run. I rode in a 1907 Model F 1905 Columbia 1904 Model A

One car was almost T-boned. Not a good place to be, but part of the experience.
Good food and great people.

I purchased my 25 Touring this time last year. It was a 30 year old restoration that has gone largely untouched in that whole time. I started by swapping the stock rear end with a Ruckstell I had already rebuilt. The last year has been mostly just driving it. This month has been a continuation of small projects. I started the month by finishing my July project of relining the transmission bands and replacing the weak pedal return springs. None of the block or hogshead bolts were cotter keyed, so they all got lock washers. While I was doing that I installed the engine splash pans that came with the car. The cork gasket on the engine pan inspection cover was seeping pretty good, so it got a new gasket and a set of bonded sealing washers. While I was in there, I checked the bearings. I was hoping to put a new pair of Firestones on the rear to match the newer ones on the front, but they were back ordered with no definite restocking date, so she got a pair of Ward’s instead. I got the front wheel bearings repacked and replaced the original style inner oil seals as the felt was rock hard and seeping grease pretty bad. My next projects are to go through and double check that all other cotter keys are where they should be, clean the timer and then clean and check the gap on the plugs. After 6 years of owning Ts, I finally decided to register for my first tour. All of these little jobs have been in preparation for the upcoming Ohio Jamboree.

When disassembling a spare front suspension last night I found that the Anco drag link caps were packed with lead. I looks like the lead was pounded in from the inside since the springs and pusher were still loose. I suppose, if you don't have the adjustment screws, you do whatever it takes.

Kelly and I took the TT a couple towns away to a car show at a local repair shop. About 30 cars and hot and humid. Stopped at Kroger and DG on the way home. Had a great drive. The closest to a T were these two.

Friends in California invited me to attend a tour they were putting on in early August. I’ve toured with them before and had a great time so said – Yes, Thank You. Prior years I’ve towed my tour car to the starting point near Sacramento. This time, as I was going by myself, I decided to drive the coast as an extension of the tour. In my case, that is some 1100+ miles each way plus whatever mileage for the tour. I’d thought about making that drive in my speedster several times and this seemed the best opportunity. Breaking the trip into manageable days, I took 4 days down and back as well as three days on the tour. Total mileage when I got home was 2,311. The car ran well but developed a few more oil leaks and exhibited a need for some other minor maintenance. Other than 2 gallons of water, 4 quarts of oil in the engine and 2 in the Aux transmission all went well.

The drive on Highways 101 and 1 are not to be forgotten beautiful beaches from calm to brutal. The Avenue of the Giants through the redwoods deserves to be driven (I did it both ways). Roads were in very good condition and well-marked for the most part. Traffic (other than Astoria to Seaside) was not a problem and speed limits were mostly 55 or lower. If you get the opportunity, driving the Oregon and California coasts makes for a great tour. If/when I do it again, I think I'll take more time for additional sightseeing.

Got a big checklist item marked off the Speedster rebuild. Reworked the exhaust manifold so it would fit past the firewall. Check out the video to see how it came together. https://youtu.be/-4Mi4ez-7Lo

I pulled the engine out of the 26 Roadster and started tearing it down for a rebuild.

Since the rebuild was completed, I have been driving the car pretty much every day. Here was a recent stop, just before I turned down the road with the highly appropriate name.

Today I taught my daughter how to drive my roadster. The look on her face when we were rolling down a backroad was quite priceless, I think I've got her hooked. Jim

Took the speedster out today to see how well she was running. Met the new neighbor up the street. He got a ride. Another neighbor saw us and she got a ride. It is so much fun to give people a ride in a speedster. It really is totally different than riding in a T. Now get set for OCF.

I also just watched Mike Robison's video above. Great video. Should be required watching.

Bought model T #38
Got the title almost done and car be here befor 1st of next month

I feel like I’m really getting the Touring dialed in. I cleaned and lubed the timer and cleaned and checked the gaps on my spark plugs a couple days ago. I opened them up a little to 0.035” from 0.030”. I noticed a big difference in how it runs. I was able to lean the Simmons Super another 1/8 turn and have a bit more power on the hills. It might be my imagination, but it seems like this combo likes a little more advance than the NH did at the same speeds.

Watched "Gracie" accumulate another layer of dust.

After more than a year did my first tour on my preferred route again which is a run of total 35 miles with a short break midway.
Luckily no issues from the resoldered radiator - absolutely no overheating when arriving home after 2 miles of constant uphill driving.
Also the fan keeps where it belongs.

I drove to a local pre-war only cruise in in my hometown of Charlotte, MI. More cars than I thought and thankfully no hot rods, etc.

Speedster update: Hope you're enjoying the series! Got some floorboard risers and engine monitor gauges installed. If you want to add some engine monitor gauges, but can't stomach paying for a vintage gauge set, This might be a solution for you. Thanks for watching
https://youtu.be/dz5kA_uDz5c

Pulled the Fordor into the shop today, and adjusted the valve clearances. I also resealed the intake and exhaust manifolds with new one piece copper rings from the land down undah. FTRS makes a great product. I added a slight chamfer to the manifold ports. That really helped getting the rings to seat into the ports.