MTFCA Forum

Just ordered the L brackets and rests to have ready when the top is done. It seems something is missing and can't be found in the catalogs.
Any help is appreciated.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO ... pkddar2uLw

Ummm which 22 are you talking about...an early 22 with the 2 man top or the later 22 with the 1 man top? And what are these "L" brackets for? My car is an early 22 with a 2 man top and doesn't have an "L" bracket for the top anywhere.

If you are referring to a 2 man tops rear saddle irons, they're not "L" shaped as in previous years, they are straight irons that thread into the side of the bodies quarter panel, right above where the rear fender iron screws in. If you're referring to the front iron that holds the front bow, that's not an "L" either, and looks like this.
They're long and attach at the bottom to the seat box and at the top mount to the inside front arm rest rail.

If you're talking about a 1 man top, there is not "L" bracket of those at all...anywhere... the rear top pivot is the same as on the early 22, it mounts to the inside of the door post (under the panel) and the inside of the rear armrest tack rail.

VowellArt wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 25, 2019 5:39 am

Ummm which 22 are you talking about...an early 22 with the 2 man top or the later 22 with the 1 man top? And what are these "L" brackets for? My car is an early 22 with a 2 man top and doesn't have an "L" bracket for the top anywhere.

This seems to be an early 22 with a 2 man top. Is there a way of getting a photo where the rear saddle mount goes into the body? I have a feeling the brackets I've accumulated so far might not be correct!
Thanks!

How about some photos of what you are working with, car and irons. Ford started using the pressed steel pillar the rear door mounts to and fender and top iron brace in 1921. What you have in your body may dictated what parts you will need to install the rear mount. If the pillars are all wood, the body would be earlier then 22 and would require different parts.
Here are some irons I have collected. The top left pair would be front seat 2 man top. The top row middle single and pair on right; one man top runabout or touring rear mount. The bottom two are runabout, I just happen to have them in the same box. The 21 back rear mount for the two man top would have looked a little like the pair on top row left, only would have had a shank with threaded end. The 21 back iron that held the "L" iron for the top rest would have had a socket to receive the "L" iron, it too would have a long leg coming down as I recall, but do not have a sample. Rear irons for the "L" bracket;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-T-T ... SwRJNc02tx
Ok here is a gray area, seems to me the rear top mount, two man top, used this mount later then 1916;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1914-1916-Mode ... 7203!US!-1
If the ebay ad ones are correct in their date then you would need a pair of ones like the middle one shown in the top photo.

Mark Gregush wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 25, 2019 11:32 am

How about some photos of what you are working with, car and irons. Ford started using the pressed steel pillar the rear door mounts to and fender and top iron brace in 1921. What you have in your body may dictated what parts you will need to install the rear pivot mount. If the pillars are all wood, the body would be earlier then 22 and would require different parts.

I tried to post a photo and a link to a photo, but I'm on mobile and it must not have worked: (
I've test fit the top bows and they seem to work at the pivot points. There is a hole in the quarter panel and a large threaded nut in the hole. I'm starting to wonder if this is a 23 saddle point and a 22 2 man top?

You are holding the wrong part in your hand for your car. If you look at the runabout irons in my top photo you will see studs coming out. They screwed into the brace thru the hole. The top rest on the "L" bracket would be wrong too as the mounting hole looks too big.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/3314CX.aspx
https://www.modeltford.com/item/3858BEA.aspx
Do you have the body irons at the front seat?

Mark Gregush wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 25, 2019 12:31 pm

You are holding the wrong part in your hand for your car. If you look at the runabout irons in my top photo you will see studs coming out. They screwed into the brace thru the hole. The top rest on the "L" bracket would be wrong too as the mounting hole looks too big.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/3314CX.aspx
https://www.modeltford.com/item/3858BEA.aspx
Do you have the body irons at the front seat?

That's a ton of help. Thanks!
Yes there are body irons at the front seat.
Here are a couple photos related to the top;

Not sure why regardless of the phones orientation the photos post sideways

That hole back there is where the top saddle iron screws into. It is just a straight piece of steel bar with threads on one end and there is a structural "S" piece inside that it screws into I used a pipe wrench to really tighten it, because it does work loose (remember the body flexes) if you don't.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/3858B.aspx This is the item you need, even though they say they're for 23-27 (because the 23's body was made in 22 and the early 23's were low cowl just like the 22's). Your top saddles will work fine, just put them on these and you're good to go, those other saddle arms are for 21 and earlier.

The holes in the top rest have two different size holes, 5/8 and 1/2 inch. The stud that screws into the hole has a 1/2" shank. In a pinch you could use the ones you have now but they look to be 5/8" and would not fit as nice on the shank.

You might want to go to your local hardware store and see if you can get a couple of rubber grommets for that hole, it helps keep the dirt out (bugs, dirt and dust can destroy your upholstery from the inside...also it is a good place to run extra wiring for the accessory tail lights you can hang off that bar) and also helps to make the quarter panel a bit more solid sounding (unless you put jute on the inside of the body they sound a bit tinny...on mine I did all the panels, so when you close the door, it sounds solid (like you just closed the door on a Packard).

I got the dual filament bulbs because they're my brake/turn signals.

The hanger bracket.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/3660TL.aspx

And the light, I used two Right Side tail lights because I didn't need the clear lens on the side of the light, since there was no license plate there.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/6593TL-R.aspx

I covered the wires with 3/8's asphalt loom and used friction tape (which is what they used before the plastic electrical tape) on the ends, Harbor Freight sells Friction Tape.

Thanks for the info and photos! You folks are the BEST!
Great set up for your lamps also...