Henry's Chariot

[Nathan Pederson]

MTFCA Forum,

A few years ago, I put together Henry's Chariot to use up leftover parts,
and except for the body, it is all Model T. Things did get rearranged a bit.
Mechanically, the insides are all rebuilt, and it goes down the road well.
It has been fun to take it to car and threshing shows.

I have been finding good information on this site for years. Thanks Forum!

Nathan Pederson
Langhei, Minnesota

[Mark Gregush]

Cool! Like the upside down intake.

[Playswithbrass]

The earliest know slingshot dragster.l do like it!

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

I love your downdraft arrangement! I've always wanted to do that and use a vaporizer type exhaust manifold with an exhaust port in place of the vaporizer plate. Cool!!!

[Rich Eagle]

That is truly delightful. I've never seen anything like that. You may have started a fad.

[Dallas Landers]

I would like to see more of that chariot!

[Ed Fuller]

Love it!

Reminds me of an old front engine dragster.

[Angmar]

Ok, I too would like to see more photos. I want one. Drag bar???

[John E. Guitar]

That’s very cool. It reminds me of this:

https://youtu.be/ddQVuhd7xLI

[Nathan Pederson]

Friends, thank you kindly for all the replies.

Here is a pic showing the "interior" of Henry's Chariot.
(The car is not yet equipped with wheelie bars and a parachute. )

I liked those motorcycle chariots. Crazy!

Nate

[Thorlick]

Don’t forget the blades afixed to the rear hubs like they had in the Ben Hur film!

TH

[Mark Gregush]

What would be fun would be to mount a big cutout of a farm animal to the front, chicken goat pig horse cow or?

[Norman Kling]

How does the steering work? The steering column ends in the middle of the chassis. Also does the vehicle steer with so light weight on the front end. Would the car skid forward then the wheels are turned? This has to be one of the strangest T modifications I have seen.
Norm

[critterpainter]

Looks like a candidate for steering brakes on the rear wheels

[Nathan Pederson]

I am appreciating all the ideas.

Re: Chariot Steering
Norm, the ball arm is removed from the end of the steering column
and a u-joint is fastened to the end of the column. A 3 foot long 3/4 inch shaft then
connects the u-joint to the front of the car, goes through an additional frame bracket, and
connects to the ball arm. From there, the drag link, tie rod, and spindles are basically stock.
So it really steers just like a Model T but with a u-joint and extension.

There is enough weight forward so there is no skidding while turning.
This picture shows the front end better:

[Mark Nunn]

Where did you get, or how did you make the front wheels?

[Ed Baudoux]

I have to know. Will it do a wheelie?

[Nathan Pederson]

Re: Chariot front wheels:

Mark, I liked the looks of Goodyear 22 x 2.5 racing tires for the fronts, and built wheels so I could use them.

To build a wheel required cutting a section out of a 30x3 inch rim, bending the rim around a form, and welding
the ends back together. Wood felloes were laminated in a form and old Model T spokes were cut down and used.
The wood was then pressed into the rims.

The rims also have modifications that allow the non clincher Goodyear tires to be mounted on a clincher rim.
Long story short, 1/3 of the inside rim edge is removeable, and is held in place by bolts, which are accessed by
squeezing the beads together with a clamp. The wheels were a challenge to build, but are solid and hold air.

Lastly, Rustoleum brown textured paint makes the wheels look ancient.

Nate

[Nathan Pederson]

Re: Chariot will it do a wheelie?

Ed, I wish it could, unfortunately no.

Maybe with more horsepower and a lot more weight added behind the rear axel???

[Erik Barrett]

Reminds me of this.

[Duey_C]

Ben Hur, move over!
Huh. The Langhei Aces are the 4-H club right? Long Highland.

[Kevin Pharis]

Luvin it!!!

[Nathan Pederson]

Reminds me of this.

Erik, I looked in the 2016 Forum archives for more pictures of the original "Wild Cherry" car.
There is also a picture of the "Wild Cherry" car you worked on.
Those are quite the Model T machines!!

Makes me want to find an overhead engine for the chariot...
Nate

[Nathan Pederson]

Duey, Re: "Ben Hur, Move Over!" =

Yes, Pope County 4-H in 1974, Nate had a Model T rustbucket for a 4-H project that year.
Your Norske translation skills are excellent.
Also remember years ago when there were auctions just about every summer
weekend, and where they would be selling Model T parts.
Good Days.

Nate

[Duey_C]

I do remember that Nate... Good times. Have some items down in the woods to prove that. Even for broke guys! Sshhh.
You're 20 minutes south of me or less but I do live under a rock...
Coolest ever! Thanks Nate!
We'll get together sometime and share stories and I can perhaps drool over your Chariot...
1974? Holy XXXX! I was only... I got the IH truck from Julian in Star town then. I was 13...Never mind.

[Nathan Pederson]

Thanks to all for their comments!

Yeah Duey, we'll do that and looking forward to the stories!

Here's a pic showing the chariot hauler (it's a non Ford, oops)
loaded up and ready to go to the race. The box of dynamite is
just there for any co-pilots to sit on.

[Dallas Landers]

Nathan, the more I see the better I like it! Thanks for sharing it with us. More photos would be alright with me.

[Nathan Pederson]

Dallas, I liked your 8 in 1 truck restoration (excellent work!) and it's always
interesting to see your travels out and about in the T.

Will try to take a few pictures of chariot details.

Nate

[Dallas Landers]

Super. I bet the drive shaft is pretty short? Those front wheels were not a simple task but really look right on it. How did the body come about?

[Duey_C]

Love the Chevrolet 3/4 Ton! Used a heavy 1/2 like that with the same paint scheme for quite awhile. Some GMC parts mixed in. Oop, is that a GMC?
And a saddle tank... I'm about the only one that will type some of those words out here. I dare.
Some friends and myself followed a Staricka Tour close to here and the Rescue truck was an old Ford Wrecker like that truck.
Cool.
Super neat. The dynamite box only adds to the cool.

[Nathan Pederson]

More pictures as requested:

Driveshaft is 14".

Because of the short driveshaft/long radius rod arrangement,
the rear axle has to be bolted directly to the frame with irons and u-bolts.
This prevents stresses on the oil pan/crankshaft.
It also wants to make you want to drive on smooth roads.

Body is 1/16" steel. The front curves were shaped on a roller.
To make the top edge, two flat pieces of 1/4" steel were
cut out into an S shape, bent to fit the corners, and welded
together in the middle.

[Nathan Pederson]

Rear brake drum speedometer drive

Updraft carb
Briggs and Stratton horn

Steering extension is connected to column with U-joint

"Ben"

Forum Friends,
Have A Model T Great Day!
Nate Pederson

[Dallas Landers]

Thaks Nate, I was wondering how the speedo worked and steering. Not a simple project. Nice rig for sure.

[Nathan Pederson]

The comments were all appreciated. Thanks.

Henry's Chariot is named in honor of Henry Ford, although I am not sure if he
would have considered it to be such an 'honor'. Figuring things out and putting
things together took time, but it wasn't work at all, it was fun. I am sure people
on here can relate. The original plan was to drive while standing up and with hand
controls. I decided to go with a spring seat and use the pedals. I have sometimes
thought about trying to make it pretty in gold paint, still might do that.
It runs well and drives and handles just like a stock Model T. Of course, an
overhead valve T engine in there would be interesting, maybe someday...