New to me 1912 Torpedo
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Topic author - Posts: 48
- Joined: Wed May 08, 2019 11:31 pm
- First Name: Stephen
- Last Name: Bowers
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Roadster; 1926 Speedster; 1912 Torpedo
- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
New to me 1912 Torpedo
Hey all,
I just bought my third T. And the first one that wasn't a serious project. I've always wanted a brass era car and saw this torpedo come up and just couldn't pass on it. Its amazing how these things tend to multiply when left alone in the pole barn. Or that's my story to my wife. The seller didn't have a history on it, but it seems well sorted and is a very nice driver. Mostly it seems to be suffering from a bit of "sit there-itus" I have a feeling that it didn't run very much in the past few years. Well, getting that sorted out now. It runs very well, high compression head, intake, Stromberg OF, KC Warford, and a Bosch high tension magneto. Somone put an electric start on it which is a nice to have, but it started just fine on crank.
Only issues are a bad rear axle seal, the carb is leaking after shutdown and floods the car if you even look at the choke, even on a cold start. But once it starts it runs amazing. I'm going to mess with the carb to see what I can do. I have a feeling the varnished up gas has gunked it up a bit. Also the tires are very cracked so those are getting changed this week. Going to replace the axle seal at that time.
Even with the sketchy tires I couldn't resist putting about 50 miles on it this Sunday. Its a tossup between this and my Rajo powered speedster which is more fun! I wish I knew who built the engine, they did a fantastic job.
Also going to add a led break light strip. I haven't decided about the headlights yet. I might put leds in them just for extra visibility during the day, but I have also been considering getting the acetylene generator working. Everything is there, just need to drill the valve out and run the hoses. Haven't decided if that's something I want to mess with or not yet.
Anyway cheers to whoever put this car together. its a very nice driver.
EDIT: The only other planned mod I have is removing the water pump. It is one of the older style and is already leaking a bit.
I just bought my third T. And the first one that wasn't a serious project. I've always wanted a brass era car and saw this torpedo come up and just couldn't pass on it. Its amazing how these things tend to multiply when left alone in the pole barn. Or that's my story to my wife. The seller didn't have a history on it, but it seems well sorted and is a very nice driver. Mostly it seems to be suffering from a bit of "sit there-itus" I have a feeling that it didn't run very much in the past few years. Well, getting that sorted out now. It runs very well, high compression head, intake, Stromberg OF, KC Warford, and a Bosch high tension magneto. Somone put an electric start on it which is a nice to have, but it started just fine on crank.
Only issues are a bad rear axle seal, the carb is leaking after shutdown and floods the car if you even look at the choke, even on a cold start. But once it starts it runs amazing. I'm going to mess with the carb to see what I can do. I have a feeling the varnished up gas has gunked it up a bit. Also the tires are very cracked so those are getting changed this week. Going to replace the axle seal at that time.
Even with the sketchy tires I couldn't resist putting about 50 miles on it this Sunday. Its a tossup between this and my Rajo powered speedster which is more fun! I wish I knew who built the engine, they did a fantastic job.
Also going to add a led break light strip. I haven't decided about the headlights yet. I might put leds in them just for extra visibility during the day, but I have also been considering getting the acetylene generator working. Everything is there, just need to drill the valve out and run the hoses. Haven't decided if that's something I want to mess with or not yet.
Anyway cheers to whoever put this car together. its a very nice driver.
EDIT: The only other planned mod I have is removing the water pump. It is one of the older style and is already leaking a bit.
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- Posts: 1855
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:57 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Tannehill
- Location: Hot Coffee, MS
Re: New to me 1912 Torpedo
Nice! Has a significant 1911 torpedo look.
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- Posts: 424
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 11:21 am
- First Name: Brent
- Last Name: Terry
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 Tourabout, 1914 Runabout, 1915 Touring, 1916 Speedster, 1925 Speedster, 1926 Hack
- Location: Eastern Tennessee
- Board Member Since: 1999
- Contact:
Re: New to me 1912 Torpedo
Stephen, I think you will have a blast with this. Based on our texts, I think you did well. Has your Dad seen it yet??
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Topic author - Posts: 48
- Joined: Wed May 08, 2019 11:31 pm
- First Name: Stephen
- Last Name: Bowers
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Roadster; 1926 Speedster; 1912 Torpedo
- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Re: New to me 1912 Torpedo
Yup, we went for a ride yesterday. He really loves it, its more his taste than my other Ts. But as you know he's a Model A guy, too used to fancy pants stuff like wheel breaksBRENT in 10-uh-C wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2024 12:53 pmStephen, I think you will have a blast with this. Based on our texts, I think you did well. Has your Dad seen it yet??

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- Posts: 1631
- Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2019 2:29 pm
- First Name: Ed
- Last Name: Martin
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1909 Touring
- Location: Idaho
Re: New to me 1912 Torpedo
Nice Stromberg OF carb, and Bosch magneto drive. Good stuff. Nice T.
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- Posts: 420
- Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2021 7:45 pm
- First Name: Miles
- Last Name: Bowen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Express Wagon, 1924 Touring
- Location: Brighton, MI
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: New to me 1912 Torpedo
Will we see it in Cadillac in a couple of weeks?
Miles
1924 Touring “Bonnie”
1925 Express Wagon “Clyde”
1924 Touring “Bonnie”
1925 Express Wagon “Clyde”
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- Posts: 2246
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: New to me 1912 Torpedo
From what I can see, that car is a beauty. Someone in the past put a lot of effort into it. A 1912 Torpedo is my dream T. Congrats!
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
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Topic author - Posts: 48
- Joined: Wed May 08, 2019 11:31 pm
- First Name: Stephen
- Last Name: Bowers
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Roadster; 1926 Speedster; 1912 Torpedo
- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Re: New to me 1912 Torpedo
Absolutely, after rebuilding two of them I can appreciate all the work someone did to get this car as nice as it is. Engine runs amazing, zero play in the steering and the chassis is set up perfect. I'd buy that person a beer and a steak dinner.