1925 Runabout Door Strap and Pillar Questions

[namdc3]

I have one topic that I think has an easy answer and one topic that I'm afraid might not have a straight forward answer.

My car is a 1925 Runabout, engine SN Oct. 9, 1924 from the H.P.

1) When installing a new door strap, how much should the door be allowed to open before the strap gets tight? Straight out from the car?

2) From searching old posts, it seems the equal length hinges were introduced in late model year 1924 but that the metal door pillar was not introduced at the same time and was slightly later. Here's a good thread, although there are many on the subject. http://www.mtfca.com/cgi-bin/discus/sho ... ost=200077 Has anyone established when the metal door pillar was introduced? I gather from the post I linked and other posts that it was after the 1925 model year started but likely before the end of the 1924 calendar year - I'm caught in the middle. Were tourings and runabouts switched at the same time, and did every factory switch at the same time?

Here's the part where I admit that my car has the wooden door pillar, and I'm trying to figure out if it's wrong or just built before the change.

Thanks you, as always.

[Original Smith]

Yeah, it sounds like your car may have been assembled in 1924. I've had two '25s, and they both had the metal rh door pillar. The earliest one was made in March. The new one is a July issue. As far as the strap goes, use a Navy blue or black belt. Old ones are nicer, but I don't want to use my Navy issue one! The new ones are some kind of braided polyester crap, but still look good. Just cut it so the door won't hit the cowl when opened, and allow to wrap around the door and the pillar. The later T's used a retainer and a #12X24? screw.

[namdc3]

Thanks, Larry. So, that sounds like opening more than 90 degrees is correct. I got a black woven strap from one of the vendors. It is 2" wide, and the remnants of the one on it is 1 1/4". I don't think the remnants are probably original, though. From looking at photos of your pickup, the USN belt is closer to the 1 1/4".

Of course, I have no way of knowing what is and isn't original to my car, but it does seem to be pretty transitional. It has the earlier 4-rivet controller quadrant, later 2-rivet patent plate, earlier wooden door pillar, later equal length door hinge, later bead-under-the-apron front fenders, later larger-inner-skirt rear fenders with the built in washers (I think), later 2-screw door striker plate, later wide knurled steering gear cover, earlier 4:1 steering ratio, earlier 16" steering wheel, and later draft deflector on the top pedal board. I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting. I think it all checks out as correct for an early model 1925, though, so far as I know. One exception is that it has an earlier style tail lamp without the license plate bracket, which I plan to change when I find a nice late 24 to 27 one. The spare carrier has the strengthening dimples in the cross bar and the very small hole for the wire; I read somewhere that this hole was later enlarged but I don't know when.

Oh yes, and the windshield glass channel is nickel plated. Your 1925 article in the encyclopedia mentions that, but I don't know if it was specific to 1925 or not. I did think of something else I've found to be incorrect that I know of - it has the tapped front motor mount and apron with a screw below the crank. Near as I can tell from the encyclopedia, that didn't come out until 1926. Based on Jim's post here http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1513043951, it sounds like the apron I have is from a 26-27 TT.

[Original Smith]

Looks like you have it figured out. I have a friend nearby, that has one just like yours. On the frame, when they started using the two rivet quadrant on the frame, you will see some of the earlier ones still have the inner two holes drilled.

[RajoRacer]

Are your firewall uprights wood or pressed steel ?

[namdc3]

The firewall (dash) pillars and top rail between the firewall pillar and door pillar are wood. The firewall is steel.