Adding a Starter to a 1915 Touring

[James_Lyons-WV]

I am considering adding a starter to my unrestored 1915 Touring car sometime in the future. The question is; if I decide to install a flywheel with a ring gear, do I have to automatically have to install the cast iron hogs head for clearance? Or, if I don't want to make the conversion right now, will the aluminum hogshead still fit over the ring gear without issue? I may be rebuilding the engine soon so I'd prefer to set it up for the starter now, but keep it original as long as possible - until I can no longer crank it by hand. Thanks in advance.

[John kuehn]

I won’t get into the details of what you would need to do to your current original engine.
Others have considered doing what you thinking about doing but you could keep the current engine as it is and get another engine such a 1919 engine that would already have an electric starter already on it since that was the year Ford introduced an electric starter. The 1919-25 engines should go right into your 15 without much trouble. The later engines are fairly plentiful to find. Rebuild that one and you’re on your way.
When it comes time to sell your car you would have a good running original engine to go with it.
As we get older more than a few Model T owners come to the point that you have. This comes up on the forum fairly often. Good luck with your car!

[Kerry]

To answer your question, yes you can fit the starter flywheel and have no issues using the 15 hogs, you will need to set up the magneto with a notched field coil as well.

[Ed Fuller]

Hey Jim!

Your aluminum hogs head will fit over the later ring gear flywheel without a problem.

I am running the same combination in my grandfather’s late ‘13 Touring. When I had the engine and transmission rebuilt I had them reassemble it with a later flywheel and notched magneto field coil all hidden under the aluminum hogs head.

Ed Fuller

[James_Lyons-WV]

Ed/All,
Thanks for the replies! That was very helpful. I have a spare 15 engine sitting here that I am thinking about rebuilding, while I leave the other in the car. I have the notched coil sitting here as well, along with all the other parts. I know the day is coming where cranking by hand will come to an end. So I am just formulating a plan. Thanks again.

[Wayne Sheldon]

There might be a few holier than thou die-hard purists around that would object to adding a starter? However, most of the hobby understands and does not object to adding starters to earlier model Ts. There are a lot, including me, that feel an original (or close replacement?) engine should continue to be used if practical to do so.
Flywheel, magneto, and hogshead changes are reversible (or even hidden) if a future owner wants that. But the engine itself is the heart of the beast, and once separated, may not be available again. Even if the engine wasn't the actual original having been replaced at some point by a close to correct engine (my early 1915 runabout has a late 1915 built engine)? In the future, finding and getting another earlier engine may become even more difficult. So keeping the earlier engine in the car could benefit you and the car.

Many people have toured heavily in early model Ts with starters added but without a generator. Depending upon battery type and placement, using a common type battery charger is not difficult. Many people have found that they can do two or three days of extensive touring with multiple stops between battery charges. A good magneto with a simple limiting circuit can also be made to charge the battery while driving.

When and if it comes time to sell the car? Having the correct engine can make selling it easier. A lot of potential buyer, a correct engine really matters.

In the meantime, better to see you (or other people) enjoying the cars with a starter than for them to sit in the garage because the arms or back simply cannot pull the crank handle that much anymore.

[Dan Hatch]

James: One thing people tend to overlook is that you have to modify the firewall bracket on the driver side to clear the starter. Look into it before you put engine back in the car. Dan

[speedytinc]

James: One thing people tend to overlook is that you have to modify the firewall bracket on the driver side to clear the starter. Look into it before you put engine back in the car. Dan

I did not have to modify the firewall brackets on a 14 or 15.
You do need to trim the firewall.
Its a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to get the mount bolts & hood latch plate back in with the starter in place.

[RajoRacer]

Amen to that John !!!

[Steve Jelf]

Removing and reinstalling my 1915 engine didn't require any changes to the brackets or the firewall. You simply remove the four front body bolts, loosen the rear two, and set the front of the body up on 2 x 4 blocks.

I never seriously considered installing an electric starter, but my deteriorating physical condition hints that I should at least think about it.