MTFCA Forum

This is what my coupelet looks like now. It is getting a starter installed.
The engine block has had some repairs to it. On the side near the rear some welding has been done.
Freeze cracks have been repaired.
Both of these repairs were made about 40 years ago and they have not leaked or caused any problems. I guess they are good to go. The crank and pistons were pulled to check them out. The crank is good, the bearings look very nice and have shims, there is no ring ridge and everything inside the engine looked good. The old coil ring looked like it was rebuilt before it was put in the car 40 years ago. The magnets on the flywheel are very strong. The car started easily on the magneto and ran very well on it.
We are even putting new freeze plugs in as I do not want to deal with that later. The engine should give me many years of excellent service.
The tranny is also getting some attention. A new clutch spring was installed along with a new 4th main bearing ball cap and new triple gear pins and bushings.
While everything is apart a correct 1916 steering column will replace the 1914 style steering column and the magneto horn will be installed. It should be very close to a correct 1916 Model T except for the 1915 style top and the brass trim on the lights, which would be easy to fix. However, I like the looks of the brass trim so it will stay that way.

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

The trouble with 40-year-old pistons was and is, that oil holes weren't drilled to lube the wrist pin back then, common to seize. An easy fix now to pull them and drill.

Hi Keith:
Many thanks if you could please post more views of the body. Good friend is restoring a 16, and would be grateful for especially views of this top.
Rehards,
Scott

Keith
Your picture of the welded up area on the inside of the block looks very familiar! I have a 1919 Runabout that had a cracked block just like yours but in-line with no.3 rod instead of no.4 rod like yours.
My block suffered a thrown rod probably like yours sometime in the past. I used a brass hammer to tap the cracked area flat and used a nickel welding rod to weld it back in place.
No problems over many years. I’ve wondered what it sounded like years ago when it happened. Good luck with your T!

It has a Cleveland Hardware crankshaft.

Scott, the top on my car is not correct for a 1916. It was done in the 1915 style. Here are a few pictures of other 1916 coupelets done correctly.

Many thanks Keith.
Regards, Scott

Scott, talk to Russ FurstnowinFlagstaff. He has every year coupolet in his barn and he is extremely knowledgeable. Also Gator in Alabama, I think.

Keith, I think that 16 coupolet is the one I was very anxious to buy a year back. Fell in love with the car and wanted it desperately. The fact that it did not have a starter and the freeze crack on the block and the hole in the side of the block kept me back. I brought it up to the owner but he just refused to address the situation. He told me it runs just fine and don’t worry about it.
Congratulations on a beautiful car, with the motor gone through and a starter installed, it should bring you a lot of pleasure. The midnite blue body and the black fenders and white tires it would have matched my 12 towncar side by side as brothers.
If I am mixing up your beautiful car with a nother one, sorry.
Frank

Frank, that is my car. The repairs to the block were done about 40 years ago and have caused no problems. The car ran fine. When crossing the Narrows Bridge, which is a 6 lane bridge, I pushed the car a little. I was told later I was doing 50 MPH. It would have gone faster with no problem but I thought I was going fast enough.
With a starter on it I can now continue to drive it.