MTFCA Forum

Early this morning noticed that the tack welds on the steel front seat frame lost two bonds on the left side which were put on years ago. So, finally laid four feet of bead around the inside of the thing.

Refinishing the coil box on my '13. First coat of stain !

Lookin good!

I got the 22 ready to go to the Museum this Saturday. It had been setting for a few months. First I checked the oil and the radiator. Then the fuel. It only has 2 gallons so I need to go tomorrow to get some gas. it might not make it back up the hill where I live with such low gas! I oiled the front and rear axles and filled some grease cups and oiled the fan bearing. I also touched up a place where the paint was chipped on the rear fender. I aired up the tires. Tomorrow I plan to wash it up and sweep out the cab. I thought I might need to charge the battery, but the horn still honked, and when I turned the ignition to batt. the coils buzzed. So I hit the starter with the choke out. I don't think it took more than one revolution to start right up. Then I switched to Mag. So I then moved the 26 out in the yard beside the attached garage and backed out the 22. Then pulled the 26 into the place where the 22 had been parked before. I have a big detached garage which will hold 4 cars and use it for my T workshop and parking, so one T is parked in front of the other and has to be moved to get to the other. Anyway, for an old man, that was enough work for one day!
Norm

Maintenance and polishing tonight on 2 Ts in readiness for the 60 mile drive to a 4 day tour tomorrow afternoon. For the first time, my 21 year old son will drive my 1916 T for the 4 days of the tour by himself. My 86 yo Dad will ride with my wife and I in the 26 Fordor sedan. 3 generations of Landys on tour. Cant wait.

Put the old dog up on skates and pushed in to its winter position in the back corner
of the shop. This winter it is my objective to pull the glass and replace with new
and pull the new radiator to fix a leak at the top tank/overflow tube that has been
a problem since day one. Maybe if I get ambitious, I will finish the brake light/turn
signal system I began about 5 years ago ???

Old picture, but not much has changed ....

Burger, I love seeing your work space ! Your TT looks very happy there !

I FINALLY got my TT back together and running. It runs smooth with no leaks! The coils are shot, but the water stays where it is supposed to.
Then it was time to take her back up to the Farm for Winter hibernation. Of course, I had to get the whole fleet together...
Then it was time to put them up. Tanks and radiators drained, covered up.
Plans this winter is for an Overdrive (Warford or R-M 6spd) and a set of High-Speeds for the TT and a Warford for the Depot Hack.

Put my 1915 Runabout away for the Winter.
Ron Patterson

You all have really nice workshops, my crappy little garage is a pain to work in.

I committed sacrilege and welded in two 10mm (3/8) bolts to the chassis. One by the battery to take the negative strap and one by the starter to take a negative to the starter. I am keeping the 6 volt system, so want to make sure I have good connections. I then linked up the horn I rebuilt and it all worked.

Ron Patterson wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 02, 2023 4:24 pm

Put my 1915 Runabout away for the Winter.
Ron Patterson

Ron, I have the same car and am working on it. I've been thinking of softening the springs and it looks like maybe you have done that. How many leafs do you have in the front and in the back?"

Still working on the seat and fitment

I picked up Ralph, my neighbor who had lived here a few months longer than the 50 years we have lived here. We built our houses new, but ours is now the oldest house I have lived in at the time I lived in them! Went down to the local museum about 4 miles each way. They were celebrating the 100 year centenial of the "Old Spanish Trail" which was the origin of what finally became Interstate 8 in our area. This was first a stage stop on the route to Julian, a mining town in the Cuyamacha Mountains. We have an old buggy which I helped restore. It had been used in town and we have some old farm equipment used locally many years ago made to be pulled by horses. We have many other relics of times past.
There were about 50 old cars of many vintages here. A few Model T's and other makes about as old. My 22 was old enough to have been on the route, when it was new. Many of the cars are either later or have faster engines, but a few old original cars.
We saw the daughter of the lady from whom we had bought this property 50 years ago, and other old timers from the area. Drove home. I am tired because my legs are getting old and I was standing over 2 hours. It is about 78 degrees today so we wore T shirts. I wish I had gotten a few pictures, but I am old and don't have a phone with a camera, and didn't take along a camera.
Norm

I drove one of the ‘14 runabouts into Lockhart today for the 2nd annual BBQ Fest. I felt high gear slipping so, upon returning home and after a few football games, I gathered a needle nose, screwdriver and empty tuna fish can for the 6 tranny inspection cover screws and will turn the 3 high speed ‘finger’ screws 180* each tomorrow after church.

I finally got the 1912 engine and transmission sorted out and back in the chassis. There were some issues with the engine so I rechecked everything, and fixed quite a few things. Pan straightened, heli-coil magneto contact in aluminum hogshead, magnet recharge, checked clearances on everything. Double checked clearances on everything. More that I am not even thinking about.

Worked on laying up the model T, which includes lubricating the unnecessary waterpump.

Art Mirtes

My T was complaining it was being pulled by a senior citizen, a 2011 Explorer.

She is happier now since she will now be following a 2023 AWD Maverick.

I called a dealership. They got one in the day before. I drove up and looked at it. The next day it was delivered.
Everyone I know keeps saying they are hard to find, and I got one in one day. I like FORD.

Installed my rebuilt Bendix, and now all is fine.

I posted this photo a few weeks ago of 2 broken valve guides.

Today I was curious and cleaned one guide. Is that JBWeld on the guide? Bo, the engine "builder" strikes again.

Sheesh

Yep. JB weld. Is there no end to damage fools have done to model T motors?
I got a call Saturday. A guy bought a T with no hi gear. The throw out bearing was backwards. The spring was over the front edge.
The clutch had destroyed th400 disks.
Get & read the T1 manual!!!!!!!!!!!

Attached steering column to pitman arm and turned wheels end to end for the first time. Also...

It's alive!
Got the engine on the model T to finally run for seconds after decades of sleep. Found out that it's only hitting on 3 cylinders and has timing issues but will have to wait until radiator is installed to do more. Had to jack the wheels off the ground. Transmission appears to be sticking.

When it is in the mid 70s in November and your wife says she wants to go for a T drive, you drop what you're doing and go! In this case, I stopped taking apart a 1922 T engine, washed up, and away we went.

I removed, cleaned, and reinstalled my sediment bowl. It didn't fight me surprisingly! It's kind of novel to have a shut off at the gas tank.

Moving day for my 22.
Hoping to get it roadworthy by springtime.
Lots to do, and i haven't done much to a T yet. Time to learn!
Moving out of the storage unit not in.

Sun Country Model T Club carried many of the Veteran's Day Parade Grand Marshals in Phoenix Az. It is a great honor
to be charged with carrying such a great bunch of hero's again this year. Craig.

Well, I was unsuccessful in tightening the 3 hi speed finger screws 180* to keep my T from slipping in hi gear. So today, while recovering from a 5 day bout with bronchitis, I turned the 3 finger screws back because the advance caused it to creep forward after cranking. Since the problem still isn’t resolved, I’m taking it to Ross Lilleker tomorrow for resolution…

I built a crate to ship my rims and hubs out for new wheels.
The shelves are a bit too short so I’m glueing extensions up this evening.

Ryan

I would clean and paint those hubs and rims before I sent them out. Maybe that is your plan anyway. Box looks great.

Ryan,
I like it. What will be your shipping method for that box?

Thank you both. I found the plans from a forum post in 2011, from a fellow named Jim Patrick.

I plan to ship via FedEx ground. Not sure about the return. It may be almost as costly to pick them up myself. Atleast that way I can make a road trip out of it.

Ryan

I've had a rough set of fenders for the roadster the whole time I've had it but the turtle deck needs a lot of work so they sat in storage until... One guess how this happened... Anyway, the hood fit still isn't right so I hadn't posted in the October thread.
Then in November- Got my Pops out for a Veterans Day trip to the taco spot. That was one of the best rides of the whole year!
Thread only allows me 5 photos, so stay tuned for part two!
-Chris, in Boulder.

Veterans Day was great! Driving my Dad Around waving at the folks was more fun for him than he anticipated. Of course he corrected me as the abbreviation of "master sergeant" is actually MSGT... Next day was equally lovely. Had a nIce (expensive) visit from another local hero, Jed Nolting in his mobile Christmas wish list... after raiding the on board candy bucket I was off to cruise the town! Found a safe parking spot and tied up the little guy so he didn't wander off looking for apples or drift away with the tide- I entertained a curious passerby with all the standard questions, which I normally enjoy, mind you. But after I had already started the car she had to ask, "does it have a name? Uuughgh. It was already running and I didn't want to explain one way or the other so I said "no, not really." A lie...
Clearly the little car was insulted by my refusing to say it's name because exactly ten feet after waving and pulling away-Blam! broken axle! The sound was awesome! I wish I could spell the word that's half way between "ping" and "clang". It wasn't that loud, but the guy standing on the corner knew for sure something broke!
So taking advantage of the best free neutral you'll ever get, and with the help of yet another local hero, off she went back to the barn. Now for part three...

I have been really inspired by this particular photo, and damned if I was going to put the roadster away before the weather gave out. So I headed to the back fence and found one of the extra rear ends all ready to get off the bench and in the game! Now, this rear end has not been taken apart by me, but functions properly, so at least I'm stuck with the car being "drivable". Certainly not reliable, but I can't really afford space for the car to sit and the Ruckstell rebuild will take a minute so stock drivetrain for a bit of back and forth. I thought I would have withdrawal symptoms or "shifter envy", but the car works really well without the underdrive, go figure!
I did reach for knob at every light, but got home just fine!
Hopefully December will be all I need to get the Ruckstell back together, and the rebuild should make an interesting thread. Stay tuned....-Chris, still driving, in Boulder.

Installed a hot air heater on my Master carburetor.

Stripped and painted a late 27 touring.

First time posting here..
Is ours possibly the earliest Christmas parade anywhere? I guess we should be a little ahead of the rest of the world here in New Zealand.

Great looking T, love the tan top!

Yesterday our “belle” was the backdrop for 24 families for their Christmas pictures. It was the second weekend that we used her! Sold out all of the ‘slots’.

I put new spark plugs in

I've been anxiously waiting to finally say that the top is finished on my 27 Tudor. So here it is. Finished day before yesterday. All new wood and top material. Took a bit of time do do right (hopefully) with some starts and stops, but I'm very happy with it. Shots below of it when purchased (barn find) and top finished: Happy Thanksgiving to all. We have a lot to be thankful for.
John

Your Tudor looks great John! Looks like it's come along quite aways!

I took my windshield out to replace the plate glass with safety glass.

I haven't been able to drive my car since November 11, because I have been spending all of my time reading how ECCT works and how well they perform.

I got my new wood all riveted into the the bows on the ‘26 …Going to sand and seal the wood again ,,and give the irons sanding ,,primer and paint…Going to wait for spring to install the top….
Took her for a little Thanksgiving drive this afternoon …..42 degrees outside ,,,so we didn’t go far …
Thanks guys for helping me figure out the correct tool to rivet the bows…
Carl …..

I made a reaming guide for valve stems. Now to fabricate a clamp for it. I love it when a plan comes together.

Bought a 24 coupe at the end of August. My very first T. Noticed it had a slight misfire....down the rabbit hole I went with help from many people on this amazing resource!
Drained and cleaned the radiator, replaced all wiring on the vehicle, new brass camshaft timing gear, had to fix cross threaded camshaft threads to replace the timing gear nut, replaced the timing cover, fixed a short with the starter button.. Replaced the timer and brush as well!
Parts arriving today, coilbox rebuild kit, exhaust manifold and gaskets....thats my next plan of attack.
Last night, after reading the Vintage Ford Magazine, my fuel line is not properly installed, I also seem to have a lack of fuel to the engine so it has no guts going uphill (slight incline I might add, with a full tank of gas as well). Going to service the fuel system; replace fuel line PROPERLY, and a carb rebuild. Haven't decided yet if I'll send it off or do it myself.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Made some stainless steel brackets for the bottom of the '26 radiator shell. The shell I bought didn't have any.

Bought a 600 Amp meter to test the starter draw. I want to find out once and for all whether the very slow cranking is due to a bad starter or drag in the driveline. You know that I'm hoping for the starter.

John,
Several years ago, I found the slow cranking starter was caused by the oil in the starter. After that was corrected the faulty wire connections and the starter switch internals were cleaned. The battery now cranks the engine very nicely.

Keep mind the ground connections must be cleaned including the frame connection.

A volt meter can be used to find where the battery 6.3 volts is going. A voltage drop can occur at any or all the points along the way to thr starter.

First of all, make sure the starter cables are large enough. Many folks have had trouble because they were using 12 volt cabled instead of the larger 6 volt cables.

Art Mirtes

We took a T and a TT to the local Child Cancer Christmas Party, to give the kids rides around the rugby field.
The good thing about the TT is that it's slow enough to idle around the field in top gear, and the local built cab is wide enough that I could slide sideways and let the kids "drive".

At this point every milestone, has not happened in decades.
This morning got the engine to run on the magneto.
Got it to run on all four.
Got the transmission free from turning the wheels while engine is running.
Got the wheels to run in LO and HI.
Adjusted the timing which was way off.
Found a place to cut glass.
Hooked up both wires to the choke.
Gas tank does not leak.

To Do:
many items

Since my roadster isn’t original, I decided to stop fighting the generator and bought an alternator from Chaffin’s.

Along with my friend Brian, we pulled the engine from my '25 Touring for a rebuild. It's been in there since about 1975. It's been getting very tired. We'll see just how tired very soon, when it comes apart. I've been putting it off for a long time. It's a car that, for sentimental reasons, I hate to touch, (although I do drive it a lot). It's kind of a time capsule to me. My dad bought it in 1940. He drove it to work on his 1st day at Ford, and on his retirement day in 1980. I drove it in his funeral procession in 2010. He used it in his wedding in 1950. I used it in mine in 2017. As I kid, I gauged my growth every Spring by how much more of the hood, and eventually the headlamps, I could see from my front seat spot, next to dad. As an adult, I gauge my "growth" by how much closer my stomach gets to the steering wheel every Spring . Anyway, if I don't pull it now, it's gonna go "BANG" one day and that will be a far worse thing.

I’ve been busy working on some early coils.
It doesn’t leave much time to work on my 27.
Right now I have two sets of Jacobson-Brandow coils and a set of high bridge Kingstons.
Brent
The Coil Doctor