MTFCA Forum

March 2, “in like a lamb”, sunny, 50f, the snowdrift blocking the garage doors finally melted, time for me and my crew to get Lizzie out of hibernation ! Sure glad I did, because today it’s snowing again . . .

Looks like your "Crew" is waiting for YOU to get this party started.

I am about half way through rewinding a generator armature. Soldering has turned into a learning experience. The local motor shops have been a good source for materials, even though they don't work on armatures.
One shop wanted throw me out for thinking I wanted them to do the rewinding. After the owner understood that I was just looking for material, he gladly helped me with advice and supplies.

So far, nothing! However, I will be getting getting our 1911 off the jacks soon and get it back on the road since spring is arriving in Kansas after a long winter.

What my SON did was make two picture frames, one for him and one for me, using the remnants of the original cherry firewall that I replaced when I restored the car three years ago. The firewall was not salvageable, and he even had a hard time getting enough good pieces out of it to make the frames. Here is a picture of one of the frames that he gave me. The notch on the left side is one of the bolt holes that was in the firewall. Another hole can be seen on the right hand side.

He is a fine woodworker and it was nice that he was able to put that old wood to good use. I'll hang it on the wall that also has a clock that I made from the spokes and rim from one of the wheels that needed rebuilding during the restoration.

Finally cut the choke rod and re-drilled the hole for the knob.
Moved the bracket higher up, away from interfering with the hot air tube.
Cut and installed a wire to the carburetor.
Cut the floor boards to make more room for the pedals to travel. (They were sticking.)
Added a ground wire to the turn signal switch.

Finally got a break from other work and decided that the fix for my front end shimmy was to add the steering stabilizer. I also put the step plate on. i wanted to get the holes drilled before I decide that I will finally start doing some needed body repairs. I also installed a fan hub with the sealed bearing .

Scott

I'm glad you have the shimmy fixed, maybe you can drive that or the 27 runabout in the forest this summer? See you soon.

Yeah, I was at my wits end with the shimmy. I’ve been through the front end top to bottom and cannot for the life of me figure it out. This was my last ditch effort to solve it. I’m not a fan of it so much, but it has to be better than what I (we) experienced on the fall tour through St. Charles on the brick streets. The only way I could control it was to come to a complete stop and then start rolling again. The first time it happened was on the St. James overnight tour, that scared me being 100 miles from home. It sent me down the rabbit hole of new parts. I saw several cars struggling with the shimmy last year on the Trails Less Traveled tour in San Diego as well. It was pointed out to me that I will need to keep an eye on it, since it does add a stress point that the steering was not designed for. (Thanks Scott C). I gave it a lot of thought and decided that it was worth the risk. I’ll see how it does at the St Paddy’s day parade next week. I hope to see you there.

BTW if anyone in the STL area is around, we have lots of fun in this parade.

Scott

Went to the MTFCA museum in Richmond, IN and took photos of a T there to help us restore our deck lid install.
It was nice that they opened the truck for us. Apparently the newer improved coupes have extra rain guards at the top of the drip gutters inside, that the early ones do not. Shout out of thanks to the staff for helps.

You asked.
Just when I thought I was out, he pulled me right back in again.

I rebuilt four generators for my cars. I didn't rebuild a fifth or more because I only had a 1919 brush plate and I ran out of parts. I replaced the 1919 insulators on the plate but am inclined to leave it on my shelf as a conversation piece. Generator #1 is already installed. My job before retirement taught me the value of traceability so each rebuild is stamped on the pole screw with a number that's visible when it's installed. I created a spreadsheet that details the bearings, insulators, fields, and whether the armature was professionally checked.

My son told me it would be nice to have a starter generator engine for his use and I found this online. New brush plates are available for purchase outright without me having to surrender the antique one.

I'm on a temporary break because my Craftsman tie rod tool bit shattered while removing a pole screw. It will be interesting to see if I can find a place that will replace it.

not doing anything on the T roadster pkup. , way too cold and windy to do anything outside the heated shop ... am doing connecting rods and ballcaps and restocking my linebore and babbitt bearing tools and getting ready for the Duncan Ok. swapmeet ... looks like weather in Ok. will be very nice , can use a break from the wind ...Gene French

I got my wheels refinished and my engine back together, now it's just the rear end!

Been driving mine alot now that the weather has broken. It has a nonstock muffler with an additionsl separate mini muffler converted with a nonfunctional exhaust whistle clamped onto it.
The tailpipe fell off on a drive. My son heard something fall off of the car. I took a quick look, everything looked like it was there and the car still drove. I just noticed the pipe missing but also noticed that it was doing better on hills without downshifting where I used to have to. Could be that the long tailpipe was restricting the exhaust, it extended out just past the spare.
I've been meaning to remove the whistle section and sort it out. I ordered a piece of pipe to replace the whistle section and it should include enough pipe to make a short tailpipe piece.

Neal, that's a great picture!

ol' Gracie is getting a wake up call.

Assembling all of these painted pieces onto the Enginemocking up the wheels to the chassis. They have there first coat of jet black wood stain. A modern approach to an original look.one more coat and then comes the Epifanes clear gloss varnish.

Bryant

Working on a Ruckstell rebuild. Amazing what is to be found of unexpected parts that need to be replaced when other than being a little noisy, the rear end was running fine. While I'm so glad parts are still available, just like most everything else, these parts sure have gone up in price since the last one I worked on some 5 years ago. Will probably have $1200 in just small parts. But I'm glad to do it because of the miles we put on this particular car. Thanks to the parts suppliers that continue to support the hobby!

in March I don't have one.....

first week of April, I will....

already bought turn signals and headlight bulbs in anticipation....

I blew my budget buying it, so the Ruckstell will be put off for a few months....

I am working hard to complete a mechanical restoration on a very original 1925 Model T that is about to celebrate its 100th birthday. Built new in Geelong ,Victoria, Australia, at the new Ford Australia company's temporary factory, I will take this car back to the city it was built in, for the biggest Ford event in Australia, the All Ford Day. This year the All ford day will feature the Centenary of Ford Australia and their first product, the iconic Model T.

Taking apart the speedster to replace rotten wood. Full frame teardown to repaint. Took apart the diff. after water poured out when I went to top it off. Cowel off for rust repair and frame/suspension work. Valve job on the engine. Need to get it ready for July car show.