MTFCA Forum

Model T's are amazing cars. Those who have been around awhile know this. I have a '13 touring that I have had since I was 18. It has well over 55,000 miles on it. But I'm posting this more for the new people to the hobby. My car is almost the way it was built. Yes, the engine has been out a few times, and I've replaced all the valves, but it still has the pistons I put in it as a young guy in his 20's. I'm saying this because you don't have to make a lot of modifications to have a good running car. I went out this afternoon, after having had to do a few things to the car. I decided to take it for a drive. It hasn't been started since the HCCA Harvest Tour last September. I primed it, and gave the crank one pull, and it started. Model T's don't seem to care how long they sit, they always do this. I like to tour. I have a Ruckstell, and real Rocky Mountain brakes. That's it.

Hi Larry, That's an encouraging report for all of us but especially for the newer T guys who don't know how dependable T's can be.
Thanks for posting it.

Keith

I couldn't agree with Larry any more. Last week my youngest daughter asked me for a "rattle trap car" ride. The closest car to the door was my completely stock 26 Touring. After sitting 6 months, including the coldest winter in 100 years, all I had to do was check air and fluids. Like Larry, I did prime it but in 2 turns of the starter it was running. We had a great ride and Amelia was delighted.

Amazing indeed. I admit that i probably take better care of my T then the previous owners of my car did back in the day. That being said, all i do during the driving season is to make sure all the fluids/tire pressures/and general maintenance lubing is done, then i just drive. When i first bought my T a few years back, i invited my best friend to check out my new purchase to get his initial impression, after some snickering, he told me that i had lost my mind buying this dainty carriage after all the hot-rods we had owned over the years. After i explained to him that this car was designed before there were any modern roads, i took him for a ride in a field behind my property complete with mud, ruts, and berms. He never used the word "dainty" again. Now, it seems he might be in the market for a TT. ...Go figure.

Needed to move cars around in their garage spots today. Turned on the gas, charged the battery on the 15 Touring a little. After moving the 25 RPU, went back to the 15 and turned it over 2 full revolutions with choke. Back to the switch and as soon as I turned it to battery, it free started! Surprised me so much that I almost forggot to advance the spark. This one has not been started for close to 6 months.

I am suspicious. I think youze guys are biased !

Burger, biased,...Naw, Touched in the head, probably.

JP_noonan wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 06, 2019 12:21 am

When i first bought my T a few years back, i invited my best friend to check out my new purchase to get his initial impression, after some snickering, he told me that i had lost my mind buying this dainty carriage after all the hot-rods we had owned over the years.

I'm in the same boat. I've owned some nasty hotrods over the years...even a couple that ran close to 10's in the quarter. Then I buy this spindly little carriage and several of my hotrod friends initially questioned my sanity.

But guess what they're all obsessed with when they come over? Yep...the Model T. They just can't get enough of it, and they all want to drive the foolish carriage as soon as I get it going. The guy who pesters me about it the most has a gorgeous '71 F100 with a supercharged V8 that makes almost 600 horsepower.

Don, everyone here knows 600 HP is about 580 HP more than what is needed. Henry was correct in thinking the T was all the car anyone would ever need.

My old gal just turned 92 (The T, not my wife). The only part of the engine that has obviously been off is the head. I know this, because I'm the guy that pulled it to inspect the cooling system when I first bought the car. The engine looked great inside, and all I did was clean the head, paint it, and replace two head bolts that looked a little groady. The car runs great.

REHelgeson wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 06, 2019 8:00 am

Don, everyone here knows 600 HP is about 580 HP more than what is needed. Henry was correct in thinking the T was all the car anyone would ever need.

My cars have been apart and back together again. I have 3 of them. All run on magneto and coils, with Ford cast iron heads. One has a scat crank but is standard stroke. I have had a few problems with transmissions but find the usual problem is the low cam and notch are worn out. This causes me to adjust the band too tight in order to get the band tight with the pedal above the floorboard causing the band to drag and either prematurely wear out the band lining or crack the drum. Once I found out what was causing this problem, I fixed it and no more transmission problems.
I have been attending Model T tours for over 25 years and only had to put a T on the trouble trailer once. I was able to fix a loose wire in the ignition system at the next stop on the tour and took the T off the trailer and finished the tour.
Now I know this sounds like bragging, but it is true.
My experience with tours is that the cars which have the most trouble and break down most frequently are usually modified. They either have non stock ignition systems, alternators, or speed equipment. The most famous is the man who had a Rajo head and both three speed transmission and ruckstell rear end. Several times he sheared off something in the rear axle and had to be trailered home. Once he had the governor in his car which broke down on a long bridge.

Anyway, what I am trying to say, is that a stock T is a bit slow, but very dependable. A modified T is iffy.
Norm