Building a 1924 roadster pickup

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1925 Touring
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Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by 1925 Touring » Sun Jun 29, 2025 2:10 pm

EDIT: TO BE CLEAR, THIS CAR IS NOT GETTING CHOPPED UP, THE TOURING BODY WILL BE SAVED AND A COREECT ROADSTER BODY INSTALLED.

The adventure begins!
I am going to try and document my progress here on the forum of working on converting our 1924 touring into a roadster pickup. My uncle bought this car a few years ago with the intention of it being my first T. When we got it home, we did have it running once. We found that it was mixing oil and antifreeze, when we drained the radiator it was tan and milky. That pretty much marked the end of working on the car, other than having the radiator fixed and painted. It was pushed into the corner of the garage and there it sat. Later, as my graduation gift from high school, I acquired my 1922 touring. That has kept me busy for the betrer part of 2 years, and I've done a lot of work to it, with the current project of rebuilding a good engine for it. Fast forward to early this spring, and I get the bright idea of converting the old 1924 into a pickup. I've wanted a T pickup, and after doing a lot of work on my 22 touring, I've gotten pretty comfortable working on Model T's. I've been gathering parts and pieces this spring and summer, so far with a roadster body and soon to be wood kit being the major items. I've gone through most of our T parts both mine, and my late grandpa's, and found a lot of miscellaneous parts that I would like to put to use. About 3 weeks ago, I dug the car out of the corner of the garage and out into the open. Since then, it's been gnawing on me to get it running. I got a few other smaller projects going too, and with a few of them done, I decided to try and get the car running this week. It's been too hot and humid to paint the set of wheels for our '25, and I'm waiting on a few small things to complete that, so I started working on the 'basket case' as it has become known in the family.
With this thread, I hope to document and share the journey of converting our 1924 touring into a pickup. I don't see too many of this type of thing on the forum - going from start to finish with a project of this size, and I've enjoyed following the few projects that others have shared and hope to do the same with this. My goal with this car is to make it a driver. I dont plan on making it a showpiece, but something I can drive, and take places without worrying about a gravel road or a few scratches.

EDIT: TO BE CLEAR, THIS CAR IS NOT GETTING CHOPPED UP, THE TOURING BODY WILL BE SAVED AND A COREECT ROADSTER BODY INSTALLED.
20250626_200511.jpg
Last edited by 1925 Touring on Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:00 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.

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1925 Touring
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by 1925 Touring » Sun Jun 29, 2025 2:18 pm

The first thing I had to do was pull it out of the back corner of the garage where we had put it after we bought it. I was able to jack the 20 centerdoor up and put it on dollies and get it out of the way. I was able to put the touring in gear and use the crank to pull itself out of the corner and eventually into the open. (All the tires were flat).
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Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.

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1925 Touring
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by 1925 Touring » Sun Jun 29, 2025 2:47 pm

I started working on getting the car ready to run this week after work when it wasn't too hot. I found a lot of the headbolts loose, so I tightened them up and filled the radiator with water and left the drain plug out of the pan. I rebuilt a coilbox quick because we had stole it off to replace the one that went bad on the 25. I replaced one of the tires with an old spare I have, and aired up the rest. One has a chunk out of it and you can see the cord, so that needs to go too. This saturday, I went through the fuel system. I took the carb apart and sediment bulb and cleaned everything. The gas tank was full of old gas and dirt. I poured vinegar in and flushed it out the best I could. After that, I was happy to see my fluid level in the radiator had not moved much so I'm hoping that I don't have a cracked block or anything. The front wheel bearings were very bad. They both fell apart when I removed them. I replaced those and with a new battery and some gas, I primed it, and it started! It ran great! I am very happy how easily it started. I let it run a bit and drove it a few inches. The handbrake, I found needs to be replaced. The car was idling, I was in the car when the lever released and it put itself into high gear. Luckily it didn't go far but the gear and pawl needs replacement. I was able to drive the car around the block and up and down the road a little. I'm very happy how responsive it is.
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20250628_110849.jpg
20250628_170517.jpg
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Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.


Original Smith
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by Original Smith » Sun Jun 29, 2025 2:49 pm

Don't do it! It's fine the way it is. Find a top for it somewhere.

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1925 Touring
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by 1925 Touring » Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:04 pm

I was able to drive the car a little, the rear end makes some noise, and the steering is loose, otherwise it went well.
Except for one small problem.
This is the second time now a headlight lens has fallen out and broke onto the road! :cry:
Unfortunately this lens isn't just a ford H lens, but a neat aftermarket one.
I've since removed the other lens, but if anyone has one of these lenses, I'd be very interested!
It says 'top - lecalite junior - 8 1/8 inches - pat. 12-12-16, 5-1-17.'

Again, I'd be interested if someone has one of these.
20250628_203504.jpg
20250628_203512.jpg
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.

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Topic author
1925 Touring
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by 1925 Touring » Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:06 pm

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WcwEuu ... p=drivesdk

Hopefully the link works.
As of this posting, this is what I've accomplished so far. :D

More to come...
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.


Dan Hatch
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by Dan Hatch » Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:24 pm

I have mixed emotions.
On one hand I hate to see a nice touring cut up to be a cut off touring.
Then the other side is makes my stuff worth more.
If it was me I would find a real Roadster Pickup and not make another CUT OFF TOURING.
But it is your car do what you want.


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:35 pm

I really wish you would reconsider cutting up a nice, solid touring car. There are a lot of cut-off Touring cars out there, with all due respect to those who own one, they never look exactly right. If you want a Roadster pick-up, then buy or trade this car for one.

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1925 Touring
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by 1925 Touring » Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:52 pm

To be clear, I AM NOT CUTTING UP A TOURING CAR.
I have a roadster body already for it, and will be removing and saving the existing body.
I have the same feelings. I do not want to cut up the body. It is a nice body and will be saved!
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.


Dan Hatch
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by Dan Hatch » Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm

Well to quote the Wizard: “That is a horse of a different color “.
Glad you are not cutting up another Touring.
Last edited by Dan Hatch on Sun Jun 29, 2025 10:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by Henry K. Lee » Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:39 pm

Don't let others tell you what you can do or not do to your car! You own it, make it fit your needs! Welcome to America, the land of the free!


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:56 pm

1925 Touring wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:52 pm
To be clear, I AM NOT CUTTING UP A TOURING CAR.
I have a roadster body already for it, and will be removing and saving the existing body.
I have the same feelings. I do not want to cut up the body. It is a nice body and will be saved!
Austin,

Thanks so much for clarifying! :)

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babychadwick
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by babychadwick » Mon Jun 30, 2025 9:32 am

1925 Touring wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:04 pm
I was able to drive the car a little, the rear end makes some noise, and the steering is loose, otherwise it went well.
Except for one small problem.
This is the second time now a headlight lens has fallen out and broke onto the road! :cry:
Unfortunately this lens isn't just a ford H lens, but a neat aftermarket one.
I've since removed the other lens, but if anyone has one of these lenses, I'd be very interested!
It says 'top - lecalite junior - 8 1/8 inches - pat. 12-12-16, 5-1-17.'

Again, I'd be interested if someone has one of these.

20250628_203504.jpg


20250628_203512.jpg
Looks like an aftermarket lens in an earlier gas housing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/387331847402?_ ... R6KsspD4ZQ
"Those who fail to plan, plan to fail"

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1925 Touring
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by 1925 Touring » Tue Jul 01, 2025 10:13 am

babychadwick wrote:
Mon Jun 30, 2025 9:32 am
1925 Touring wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 3:04 pm
I was able to drive the car a little, the rear end makes some noise, and the steering is loose, otherwise it went well.
Except for one small problem.
This is the second time now a headlight lens has fallen out and broke onto the road! :cry:
Unfortunately this lens isn't just a ford H lens, but a neat aftermarket one.
I've since removed the other lens, but if anyone has one of these lenses, I'd be very interested!
It says 'top - lecalite junior - 8 1/8 inches - pat. 12-12-16, 5-1-17.'

Again, I'd be interested if someone has one of these.

20250628_203504.jpg


20250628_203512.jpg
Looks like an aftermarket lens in an earlier gas housing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/387331847402?_ ... R6KsspD4ZQ
Thank you for the lead!
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.

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Charlie B in N.J.
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Re: Building a 1924 roadster pickup

Post by Charlie B in N.J. » Tue Jul 01, 2025 10:41 am

I don't know if it's been mentioned before Austin but retorquing that head would be a good idea if it's not leaking anything. Can't figure why the head bolts were loose. Maybe a torque wrench broke or a gasket replacement job got interrupted but retorque it.
Forget everything you thought you knew.

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