MTFCA Forum

Am I the first?
I mentioned I had bought 2 buckets of bolts at our Swap Meet. One was full of rusty ones that looked hopeless. I remembered a jug of muriatic acid I had on hand. After diluting some 50-50 with water the bolts were tossed in for 3 hours or so. Use precautions such as rubber gloves, eye protection and a well ventilated area. It would be good to read up on the dangers before using it.
Then I drained off the acid and rinsed the bolts in water. Next I put them in a container of water and baking soda to neutralize any remaining acid. Scuffing with a wire brush makes them look shiny again. These can rust quickly when they are this clean. Keeping them dry or a light coating of oil or paint might be good. Idaho is dry enough I will put them in a drawer until I need them. They come out of the soda with a black look to them. The steel cleans up easily and brass even better. I adapted a square headed bolt, a 3/8-1/2 adapter and a socket to spin bolts in the drill press. Scotch-brite pads are good for cleaning these. Screwing screws into some wood allows me to brush residue off of them. The rust has eaten away at the threads so the nuts fit the bolts a bit looser but will still hold with medium torque unless they have rusted way too much.
While I have many more important things I should be doing, this was how I chose to spend yesterday and today. Saving original bolts seemed worthwhile.
Rich

I love those nice, tall heads on the old bolts.

Today I replaced the old slipping ratchet on my 1915 with a better one.

Yesterday I actually got to drive it! First time behind the wheel of a Model T, I didn't stall too many times, even made it into high gear!

I'm bringing this machine home in a few weeks. Dad picked it up last fall and it runs well, but needs some sprucing up.

Great looking coupe Rod. Love the brown with black belt line.

I've been making a lot of progress on our frame up 1911 touring restoration. All the body work is finished should be priming and painting the body parts soon. The past couple of days have been spent priming and painting lots and lots of chassis pieces. At least all are one color!

I also need to spend some time getting the restoration blog caught up with the actual level of progress.

Wow! I put the top down and loaded it onto the trailer today, to get an early start to Coronado for the parade. Last year we had several thousand viewers. It starts near the bridge and goes all the way down Orange ave to the Hotel Del Coronado.(some like it hot!). The Marines and Navy bands are marching along and many other local groups. A very great parade. Very patriotic.
Norm

After taking it to breakfast, Kelly and I drove a few miles to a buddy's house and went for a 3 hr pontoon ride around the 5 lake chain. We havnt done that in years. Liz is sharing a room with John. I bet my next T is green?

I spent the afternoon polishing.

Patina is fine for an unrestored original, but for a car that presents as a seven-year-old used car I say shine it up.

We pulled the crankcase off of our new green motor to investigate the Klunk Klunk noises we heard while hand cranking. Buried in the sludge were a handful of greasy bees. I was expecting a broken a rod or cap or ? My daughter was expecting more loose nuts. What I found was the “Perfection” timing gear was worn and the slip was causing the clunk four times per revolution. I smothered the gears in grease and the clunk was silenced until the grease worked itself out of the gear teeth. I’ld like to get the cam nut off and save the gear but I’m finding the nut doesn’t want to budge.
Since I don’t have a gear on the shelf I think I’ll button the green motor back up and mothball it for a month or so.

If you don't have the Ford wrench for the task or the proper socket available from the vendors, usually a couple good whacks on one of the flats with a good sized drift pin will pop it loose.

I found the Ford wrench almost useless, as the severe crank in the handle results in an off-set pull and the wrench cranks off the nut. I solved this by making a sleeve to go over the cam snout, covered the end with a heavy washer and used the cam nut to hold the wrench, sleeve and washer in place. No cranking off then and the wrench can do its job.
Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.

On a tour of Door Co., WI, over Memorial Day weekend, I had occassion to use my side curtains for the first time. While the curtains I purchased kept us warm, the window pane were small, so visibility looking out was limited. So I made new curtains with a picture window.

While the Singer was out, I decided to make a Tool Roll and a Tool Bag.

A lot of polishing!!

And more polishing!!

Now that is beautiful.

I so admire those who keep the brass polished. It looks so great. Stay with it as long as you can and then just enjoy the patina.
"Both is Good"
Rich

Kingston key to the coilbox, painted and sandedment]

More polishing. Just about finished!

Allan, while everyone's pictures are pretty, you advice regarding removing the timing gear nut is the true "gem". That is a great and insightful tip which I am ashamed I never thought of.

Thank You!!

I've not had much trouble using the original Ford wrench BUT the socket available makes the task effortless !

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/8e72 ... &cat=41910

About 12 years ago, the youngest son offered to help me do a band change in the 15. It was fun, test ride went great, but…later discovered that you could follow our route by the stream of oil leak that followed us! Car was already on Dollie’s and in its cozy corner…the regularT driver at the time was the 19 Hack. “We’ll get to it someday”…then the son moved out of state! He and his bro cooked up getting the 15 to Florida in April. These pics are his maiden voyage after making the T work his day job!

39 y/o, finally got bit by the bug hard!

Went for a drive and out to breakfast with the local Model T club.

Got coils rebuilt from the coil doctor

After almost 4 years, I got my 27 depot hack started. Added fuel, a little coolant, pulled the plugs, oiled the cylinders and cranked it over a bit, checked the coils, replaced two, put the plugs back, turned the gas on, and it started pretty easily. Now to dig it out of the stuff surrounding it, check it over, air up the tires and install the license plate.

Data plate painted and sanded. u

I didn't like the way the Speedster gas and spark control levers were working. Previously they didn't stay put where I adjusted them so I had done some bending of the steel quadrant. Now there was a tight spot on the gas and a loose spot on the spark. I found pinching the quadrant at the right spot with vise-grips against a bar corrected the tight spot. A piece of leather saved marring the paint. Also, the rod ends were too close to the steering wheel rim so I bent them a bit. The nickel that Rich Bingham had put on these items in 1960s was still very nice and shiny. Some grease staining was not willing to came off easily though. I know the fix for the spark rod with the inner tube wrapped in wire looks like a poor backyard repair from the olden days. Thankyou very much.
It works for now and isn't that critical. I plan a better fix at a later date.
I think a bit stronger springs are needed as I had shimmed one with a nut at one point.
Rich

New owner of 1916 Touring. Separated the chassis from body and removed rusted and dented fenders and running boards. Next week take body for bead blasting and then start patch panels. This is going to be a fun project. Davin Smith of Smith and Jones has been a real asset.
Thanks,
Campbell Tellman
Beaufort, NC

A small contribution: I have been working on a new to us (10 year old) 18' car hauler trailer we bought for Betty and Friends. It has spent it's life on a farm and it shows. The list of project completed:
1. Removed the aluminum fenders as they need broken welds re-welded or more likely we will replace them with steel fenders
2. Replaced the rear axle as it was bent, out of alignment, and wearing the tires badly. Noting the front axle had been replaced for the same reason showing where the tire rubbed the inside of the fender.
3. Replaced all the bearings, cups, and seals in the hubs.
4. Adjusted the brakes and did a brake check finding one axle braking was very weak.
5. Replaced the entire brake package on the rear axle.
6. Put three applications of Boiled Linseed oil/Mineral Spirits (50/50) mix on the wood bed.
7. Replaced the trailer breakaway brake system.
8. Replaced the safety chains with longer chains.
9. Acquired a new VIN sticker as the old was is deteriorating.
10. Filed the tongue jack mount so the tongue jack fit properly.
11. Replaced the 7 pin umbilical plug.
12. Ordered a complete set of new springs, and suspension hardware to be installed this week weather permitting.
13. I still need to figure out the best way and place to mount a winch and a storage box.

This all has been an enjoyable endeavor. A warning: Beware of old FARM trailers. Overloading is a way of life for most of them.

Thanks for reading,
Terry & Sharon

I was cleaning my brass. I tried Flitz spray tarnish remover, and wow it made it look instantly polished again. I was done with the headlights and radiator in minutes compared to hours before. The stuff really works well on previously polished brass, spray on and rinse off. Made from organic salts with no ammonia like other products.

From what I understand, ammonia based brass cleaners crack the brass.

From product description:

Instantly removes heavy tarnish without rubbing. Use indoors or out. Natural Organic salts formula. Safer than traditional acid-based cleaners. Just spray & rinse. Product will continue to work on the surface until rinsed. You MUST rinse the surface with water after application and neutralize the formula to prevent and encroachment on the surface itself. After the surface is cleaned you must follow up with a polish or wax to keep it from quickly re-tarnishing.

Instantly removes:

Heavy tarnish
Rust & corrosion
Calcium deposits & stains
Heavy oxidation
Water spots & stains
Safe on:

brass & copper
glass
aluminum
painted surfaces
fiberglass
stucco
brick
porcelain

I finished putting primer on the last model t that I am restoring

Just purchased the product from Amazon. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Pretty much done with the brass on my 1910 (except for installing the generator), but will try it next time.

The TT arrived this month and immediately got to work on the radiator and cooling system. Also, solved the mystery of how the battery is supposed to be supported. Poking around and cleaning.
Naturally, ordering parts! A great way to spend mornings during the summer.

Teaching my model t magic since Fred Mac Murray isn't answering my request for Flubber. Frame was filthy and in need of basic TLC Body was in the way so I made it levitate ladies and gentlemen you do not see any chains or cables holding up this 25 body.

Mounted my "America First" ornament on a spare cap for the upcoming shows. Thank you Tim "dropacent" Morsher, you keep this hobby fun

We drove the speedster first thing both yesterday and today. What a great start to the day? A lot of heat was coming from the gap between the floorboards and the dash (firewall). I know what the original heat shields for each specific year look like but I made this one to fit the area I have with my floorboards as they are. I put a cut off switch in it under the coil box where it is not as conspicuous as it might be else where. I don't have switches on most of the other cars as they really aren't usually needed but this one is having some problems. This is a switch box I made for my C-cab 30 years ago. Now it is a source for switches and knurled nuts. It was a nice, deep cherry red at the time but faded from the sun. I tried to make it look period correct but for the toggle switches. Then I put my rebuilt Holley G in place of the NH. This little adjustable wrench works nicely on the carburetor bolts. The Holley has a longer choke arm so I had to make a new, longer pull rod. Putting a hole and cotter pin in them has worked well for me. The throttle arm is thicker and the throttle rod end is too short for a cotter pin. I will find or make one that works.

Well I see now why the floorboards had such a gap. This was in the grass where the '14 was parked for 3 years. The glue did not hold. Wiring up the new switch was a little difficult between obstacles and the #8 screws. My dexterity wasn't so good today. I try to use old cloth covered wire to resemble something that might have been done years ago. The garage stays about 85° but got up to 91° this afternoon so I gave up early. My thinking seems to be worse than usual. Looking at the forum in the basement is much cooler and pleasant.
Rich

Driving with the Oak Spokes in Cheyenne's CFD parade. Today was the first parade, 3 more to go!

https://youtu.be/s93lkykLEcs

Frontier Days is always a great time!

I think my most memorable was taking the Denver Post Steam Train from Denver to Cheyenne, spending the day at the rodeo and returning to Denver. Quite an event, though you don't get to take in all days of the Rodeo, of course.

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 23, 2022 7:49 pm

Frontier Days is always a great time!

I think my most memorable was taking the Denver Post Steam Train from Denver to Cheyenne, spending the day at the rodeo and returning to Denver. Quite an event, though you don't get to take in all days of the Rodeo, of course.

Yes! The engine making the Denver to Cheyenne trip this year is the Big Boy! Tickets were almost $1,000 each for standard passenger, so I had to pass on that.

I put in your Full Flow Float Valve a couple weeks ago and my carb is running great!

Glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know!

As I recall, we were pulled by UP 844...not quite the monster that is Big Boy, but nothing to sneeze at, either.

We give rides at the County Fair to help promote the local Historical Society, there is a homestead house and a one room school house on the fairgrounds property. Always a fun time.

Straightened out the running board support braces. the underside looked as if someone decided that would be a strong point to jack up the car!

Been doing this.....
1. Rebuilt bendix.
2. Repaired oil leak at starter.
3.Up graded brake lights.
4. Replaced spark control lever to timer.
5. Up graded/customized door handles.

"Gracie" and I have enjoyed many miles together. At last, she needs nothing and we're enjoying life.

Making progress with our custom engine for the '27 Camping Car.

Used head studs since we have a flat firewall. These grab ALL the available threads in the block, and use a fine thread nut.


True high compression pistons built for the Pruss head.


A set of balanced, riveted triple gears converted to needle bearings by Dan McEachern.


A couple new drums and gears from Dave Nolting.

Took the 23 out to break some rules to get a haircut and took 2 of my grandkids with me.
1st rule broken, I drive a 99yr old car.
2nd kids in car without being strapped in.
3rd let kids sit outside in the car with the windows down and no AC running on a summer afternoon.
And the last rule broken was failing to know the frozen custard stand was closed on Tuesdays, so I failed to come through as a grandfather but I managed to make it up at the diner later with milkshakes with dinner and we got to to go for a good ride before dinner!

Drove Scarlotte O'Hair to Fredericksburg VA Cars & Coffee. 150 miles round trip between Richmond & Fredericksburg using Historic Route 1. It is still cool to travel a road that I have been on 100's of times in a modern vehicle at the slower speed of a T.

Wife out of town so left predawn top down, Lights & safety flashers on, at 5:15am, made 2 short stops, first was gas and then for a biscuit and arrived at Classic Car Center of Fxbg at 7:30am. Think we were the oldest vehicle there and from people's reaction could have won a furthest distance traveled trophy.

What was really cool was meeting another fellow MTFCA Virginia Member, "Mopar_Man" aka Robert G of "Getting Rattles Back On The Road" fame and his wife, promoting the Model T life, and hopefully positively contributing and encouraging the continuation of a culture that can be, needs to be, has to be, diverse people coming together to enjoy something we all have in common, a seat, wheels, an energy source, and motion!

This month I started with a parade on July 4 at Coronado. Yesterday I was in the Pine Valley Days 51st anniversary parade. See attachment. This afternoon I plan to drive it to our Museum open house starting at 2:00 PM. It is still running after 100 years.
Norm

Took the T downtown for a family night with some classic cars. Had some big trouble with low speed (think the band is shot). Anyway, I had some protection to keep evil aliens away. Fun at the time of the photo, before leaving the show and not being able to get up my driveway
John

Dad and I drove our Ts to the AACA Library and Research Center's 'Car-mania' show. It was the first time they held this 'Cars and Coffee' style show at their new building. The show field was the same as Fall Hershey and was filled with over 300 cars this day. We had a blast and were pleased to be the oldest vehicles there. Lots of good conversations were had with people who were curious about the Ts and were surprised we didn't trailer them! Ha.

Installed the engine in the ‘12 project, still more to button up and begin body plans, slow going….but isn’t hobby fun supposed to be?

Actually got the thing home! Hired a truck over the weekend and we hauled it up from my Dad's place. It runs, but I'm cleaning it up and redoing some wiring before I scare the neighbors with all the racket and my novice driving skills.

Pictures, Rod. Pictures!

RVA23T wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 31, 2022 9:59 am

Drove Scarlotte O'Hair to Fredericksburg VA Cars & Coffee. 150 miles round trip between Richmond & Fredericksburg using Historic Route 1. It is still cool to travel a road that I have been on 100's of times in a modern vehicle at the slower speed of a T.

Wife out of town so left predawn top down, Lights & safety flashers on, at 5:15am, made 2 short stops, first was gas and then for a biscuit and arrived at Classic Car Center of Fxbg at 7:30am. Think we were the oldest vehicle there and from people's reaction could have won a furthest distance traveled trophy.

What was really cool was meeting another fellow MTFCA Virginia Member, "Mopar_Man" aka Robert G of "Getting Rattles Back On The Road" fame and his wife, promoting the Model T life, and hopefully positively contributing and encouraging the continuation of a culture that can be, needs to be, has to be, diverse people coming together to enjoy something we all have in common, a seat, wheels, an energy source, and motion!

Richard,
Sorry I just saw this. Fun meeting you and yes I loved you T and the fact that you drove it all the way from Richmond!! I hope to soon be driving mine just as much.