MTFCA Forum

Hello
Think I bought a Johnny Cash model T roadster 22, 23,24, 25,26!!
The engine is a 22 according to the serial number
It is a high cowl, 28” width
And high hood
Turtleback 23 ?
The tub shows would be suicide doors, but it does show where hinges would be mounted on the driver side ?
What’s puzzling me is the cowl vent and the riser above the cowl and the windshield stanchions which are welded on good grief !
There are no holes in the cowl where the windshield stanchions would be bolted on ? Where someone put on these extension ??
The oil line going from the engine to the transmission, goes into the transmission cover and not above the magnet ?
Thank for any help obviously it’s a put together T. Just trying to figure out my best move if I need to replace the cowl or the tub to make everything match.

you will do yourself and everyone else a favor is you first state what your intentions/plans are for this car. This will yield the best and most practical advice for you. There's no doubt that you can make it run and have a lot of fun with it, but as you already know, it is a collection of parts from many years and not all of them are FORD, so there is not a real firm basis for planning any refurbishment or restoration.

In any event, have fun with the car and welcome to the affliction.

That is a good question, what it will eventually be is part of the reason I’m asking what year the Cowl might be compared to the rest of it. will never be entered in a show or a fine point judging just something to ride around with friends already have a Model A Wood panel delivery that I literally started with only the cowl and hood and fenders I do you want to keep this one as a roadster?

appropriately titled: DEFINING THE MODEL T FORD

https://www.mtfca.com/encyclopedia/

take some time and search details of bodies by year - you may start to unravel some clues

I'll get you started: 1924 Model year saw BOTH the introduction the high hood, and the appearance of cowl vents in closed cars (notice the word BOTH in the sentence above, as vents were on 1923 Fordors, but they were low cowl/hood cars)

A couple pics of my last project so the canvas is wide open if there is too much of a difference there is between the cowl and the tub that I wouldn’t be able to mate them up and look decent but i do want to keep it as a roadster

The cowl looks like it’s off a TT closed cab truck, ‘26-‘27.

Consider posting better photos that aren't close-ups so we can see the car in its entirety.

The turtle deck looks like it is probably a 1914 through 1922 standard runabout trunk. However, the lid on it appears to home made, and although it probably could be fixed up and made to look pretty good? It is not in very good condition and something else for the back of it might be better.
As said, more and better pictures would help. I can't tell if it an actual runabout body or something else. The driver's door looks like something someone made? Canadian built Ts those days did have a driver's side door in them, unlike the USA built cars.

That accessory oiler looks like it would actually work! Nice.
Neat mess! Put-togethers are a crap load of fun! You could name it Frank N Stein!
Someone else had fun piecing it together. I like it. Do exactly as you wish.

Frank Einstein.

Looks more like a Model A setup

Well...thats a fine example of a car built with leftovers (not critical, one of mine is and its really a lot of fun)

I'll go with high cowl high hood - real 23 concept or later. Add a pic of the firewall to see if it is revision H or L and it might 'help' with narrowing down what the cowl actually is...

I know of no upper cowl being stamped, but I don't know TT's...and would have to look up what Ford did with chassis only sales once he decided to supply commercial bodies (circa 23 according to a Fordex I have)

The windshield stanchions were added as a hope and a prayer...

The chassis running gear all is 25 or before...the front fenders could help as bead out and exposed at splash apron match up or bead in has associated dates of possibilities...

I suspect that the front cowl / firewall are from something different than the actual tub...easy enough to check, the match up would have been done under the door sills...that could also cause the door issues you imply...

I'm fairly sure that roadster 'trunk' is pre 22...strong chance earlier, but I don't see the original handle 'holes'

That outside oil kit was the way the Western Auto version aftermarket went. Looks like a copy, but same principle.

These things all work out..eventually, have fun...

Keep it all coming, this place loves to graze on features and years...lol

Thanks for all the replies still digging into the clues and will get everyone more photos

I will start with the good news, the engine block has the Ford scrip. Ford changed the block castings to drop the scrip during 1923 so the block with a 1922 engine number matches if you have a one piece valve cover, the two piece valve cover was last used in 1921. The next thing I see is that the turtle deck is not Ford, it looks like the turtle deck is off a 1915-22 Dodge to me. The cowl is from a cut off 1925-27 Ford TT closed cab truck, that flat vertical panel above the cowl is a dead giveaway. The back of the seating area I can’t tell much about from the picture but it could be from 1915-22 Model T roadster, if it was from a 1923-25 T roadster I would expect to see the higher up bead that matches the later T 1923-25 deck. The Dodge deck could be hiding lower 1915-22 back panel or the back panel could be home made. One more thing, the windshield looks to be a modified version of that same Dodge roadster that gave up the deck. I would assume that because it has the cut off TT cab that the radiator and hood are from a 1924-25 T car, which the 1924-27 TT truck also used. In general you have a Model T chassis that could be built into a non-Ford body delivery to match your 1929 Model A.

Sorry for the double post, I hate posting to this darn system with my I phone.

FWIW - two piece valve cover lasted well into 1922 for certain, and some sources put them into 1923

viewtopic.php?t=37161&p=287196

If you look close, I think that the seat tub may actually be a back seat from a touring car. The rear door post looks like where the rear door hing on a touring would mount.

Have fun with the investigations.

Drive Safe

Jeff

You are correct Jeff, the side panels, at least, are from the back half of a 1921-25 touring, you can see the hole for the top bracket in the picture if you look closer than I first did. Scott, yes two piece valve covers were cast into around March 1922. I am not so sure about 1923, but with 1923 being the highest production year Ford could have had pull blocks from replacement stock supplies.

Appears to be a "home-made" oiler.

I really enjoy Ford Model Ts "as found" They are more interesting than a perfect "restored one". Often these Ts were put together "on a dime" back in the 1940-50s. There were lots of parts lying around. Here in Minnesota I remember those scrap yards that were full of 1915-30 cars and parts.I remember a farm near Danube, Mn that was full of good Model T parts. I would load up a trailer and the farmer woudld say, Two dollars is just fine". Another one was east of Spicer Mn and was full of parts from early 1900s up to 20s. The owner, Oscar Palm, would give me a good deal,for I paid for what I took, He told me how others would load up with stuff and drive off (Some were "good" club members') This Model T should be put in good running shape and used as found. Please, MORE PHOT!.