MTFCA Forum

I've wanted to drive a Model T to the observatory on top of Mount Diablo in California for decades and I finally did it. I started in Lodi and headed west on Highway 4 to Brentwood where I picked up a friend who was too naive to say no to the invitation. Because of the storms earlier this year, the north route to the top is closed for repairs, so we took surface streets from Concord to Blackhawk and went up on the southern route.

It is a twisty steep road! But it was well maintained and traffic on it was light and the weather was clear but hot. The views were better than I expected and I learned from that spot you can see more counties and real estate than you can from any other state park in the country. On a clearer day we could have seen for close to 200 miles.

Also -
This is an unsolicited endorsement, but those are Kevin Pharis wheels on the car. This was the first trip on them and with new smooth gray Firestones. The tires are SOFT but quiet and Pharis' excellent wheels are straight as a die and I cannot say enough good things about them. The car rides like a baby carriage.

Lightweight wheels that run true and are well-balanced make a huge difference.

How about the ride down? Braking wise? What kind of auxiliary brakes do you have...if any? How about an aux transmission?
And what was the change in elevation?

The reason I ask is because a previous caretaker of the 1915 auto that I am caring for took the car to the terminus of the Mt. Washington (NH) auto road...an elevation gain of 4,618 feet over 7.6 miles (average grade 11.6%. (Top of mountain is 6,288). I'm tempted to repeat that, but am skeptical of a stock drive train with "new" Rocky Mountain Brakes.
It's a nice car...I'd like to pass it on to someone else some day!
Thanks for the info....
Dave

Hi, Dave -
The car is pretty well setup to tour distances. I has Rocky Mtn brakes (old cast iron drum style) on Kevin's wheels, safety hubs, Ruckstell w/4:1 gears, Volvo driveshaft overdrive giving a 2.9:1 ratio in O.D., full pressure oiling on Model A crank, original Bosch front plate distributor on the original '14 block, Winfield SR carburetor and Fronty touring head. The drive up was mostly in direct, but dropped into Ruckstell low quite a few times due to tight, TIGHT turns. Down was easy, mostly in Ruckstell low with little need for added brakes.

I forgot what the elevation sign said at the top, but I don't think it was 4,000'; Mt. Washington is tougher, I bet. All in all, the trip was about 200 miles.

Thanks, Dan

Dan,

Totally awesome view and T --- enjoy life.

Jack

Thanks, Dan

I am really pleased to see this Dan! I hope all is well in your life these days.

JACK!
How are things in Sheboygan?! Do you still have your TT? I think of you and it very often.

Went up in the speedster some time ago. Views were great but the wind was howling, didn’t stay long.


Andy

I have been up there once. I can't remember whether it was in the T or a more modern car because it has been many years ago. I don't remember taking a T tour in that area. The view is spectacular in all directions. The name means Devil Mountain in Spanish. We have been on several tours in the area of Buelton and Solvang on what is called "California Dreamin' tour" and also several around Morro Bay and San Simion. Also several in the area of Santa Rosa and the Golden Gate bridge and several in Yosemite. Also around Gorman and Palmdale along the old Ridge Route (what's left of the road}.Also several to Death Valley And at least one around Reno and Lake Tahoe. Anyway, I don't think it was a T which went up there, but with auxiliary transmission and Rocky Mountain brakes adjusted properly so that the transmission brake and parking brake also work well, it should be no problem taking that road in a T.
Norm

Dan Haynes wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 15, 2023 6:34 pm

JACK!
How are things in Sheboygan?! Do you still have your TT? I think of you and it very often.

Dan,

After receiving the Gold at the MTFCI Tour in Baraboo, Wi in July, Barb and I sold the TT after 23 years. It was a tough decision ---- lots of blood, sweat, tears and $$$$. Looking for a nice '26 or '27 Coupe w/ wire wheels to replace the TT.

Hope you are doing well and enjoying life my friend.

Jack

Dan,
That sounds like a perfect trip for the Mt. Wagon. Is it back together?

Hey, Phil -
First things first, how is that Model K coming??? I can't wait to see that.

The Mountain Wagon is very close, I still have to bolt up the burner and put the smoke bonnet on after test fires & test runs, etc. Then hood, windshield, lights, blah, blah, blah. If I had all the time I thought I would have after I retired, I would be driving it before October 1st. But life gets in the way, you know?

I'm not very enthusiastic about trying that road with the big Stanley; when Don Bourdon restored it, he changed the gearing to 50:70 (1.4:1). As you well know, that makes good overall gearing for flat land and foothills, but Diablo is beyond it for a car that size. The last time I would ever be seen would be on one of those hairpin turns as I sailed over the edge with my brakes on fire. Climbing the hill would work but, again, with that car weight and gearing, the load on the slide valves would be murder. There just isn't a worthwhile return on the risk of damaging the car. Maybe with a little 10 hp or a light, early 20 hp car. The sedan is out of the question going up or down.

The steepest grade I think I ever took was to Dante's View in Death Valley. Switchback uphill. I had a 26 Roadster with the high has tank which was almost full. Sent up in Ruckstell Low and also down in the same gear. I think I was the only T on the tour to go up that road which was suggested by Lee Chase (who did not go up!)
Norm

been up Mt Diablo in a speedster multiple times. I like the view up there, especially on a a clear day.

Tim

I've wanted to go up Mt. Diablo for years. I finally got my chance two two years ago on the Ryan Ramble tour, driving my 1925 factory pickup. Lots of fun with no issues. I have a Ruckstell, made by Eaton, and real Rocky Mountain brakes made by Rocky Mountain Steel Products in Los Angeles.

I don't recall hearing of Mt Diablo until on the Ryan Ramble 2 years ago. I took my speedster up churning along in the real steep part in underdrive on my aux trans until a T in front of me went to low pedal and under in the Ruckstell. He made it fine in that gearing and I did as well but needed to go low pedal on mine as he'd slowed me down. No biggy, I was glad to see he and some other T's climb the hill without any real issues.

I know I did Mt Diablo a couple times on MTFCA Endurance Runs years ago before local development made those roads in the surrounding areas much less rural. If I recall correctly, it was coming down the back side (South?) that a longtime friend made a nearly fatal mistake!
He was only about a minute behind me in a very similar speedster, with a Warford whereas I had a Muncie. I had been in and out of overdrive for a few miles on a mildly winding road when I reached a long downhill. I went straight from overdrive into underdrive (VERY carefully!) to ease down the hill. Talking later, he had stayed in overdrive just a bit longer. When he went to downshift, his road speed was too high, and he couldn't get it into even direct. Stuck in neutral, doing over 70mph, auxiliary brakes weren't the best ones, going down a very steep hill, he was almost helpless. He told me that evening that he estimated he lowered his speed to about 45 mph by pulling the hand brake with all his might! The problem was that at the very bottom of that long steep downhill was a heavily posted 15 mph very sharp right turn! Another close mutual friend was right behind him! CC said that S did three full summersaults before coming to a rest in a farmer's front yard! Surprisingly, neither he nor his brother riding with him were seriously injured.
He had apparently skidded and bounced a ways and was bruised and scraped up all over from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet! The brother had done a different sort of landing, not hurt all over much, but a nasty bump on the head. Checked out at the ER, no fractures or unconsciousness, just a concussion that he recovered from fairly quickly.

Steep winding roads can be great fun in a model T! I hope to do several more yet again. But like that day, be in the right gears by the right time.

Up shifting with a Warford is easy. I never wanted to try downshifting. I removed it, and left the Ruckstell in. Much better.

I’ll throw it out there. I prefer the run up Mount Hamilton. Good road great views and a really cool observatory on top.


Andy