Early T approximate measurement request

[John Heaman]

Can someone please tell me the approximate height of an early T touring (1912 in my case) from where the rubber hits the road to the top of the top when it is up. Thanks!

[TRDxB2]

Do you mean your 1912 Canadian Model T Touring?
Interesting reading about top bows http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1370744938

[John Heaman]

Do you mean your 1912 Canadian Model T Touring?

I would like an approximate overall height of an early T touring. I doubt there is a big height difference in a US vs a Canadian one. I don't have my Canadian '12 in my possession to measure it at the present time. It is going to be shipped to my home in Florida and I was wondering if it'll clear a garage door with the top up. I also don't have a measurement on my garage door either at this time but it's what would be considered a standard height garage door from circa 1996.

[John Heaman]

I also have the sliding screens on the garage and lose some height there.

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[John Heaman]

The 'X' measurement I have tried to show on the picture is what I'm looking for. It's sometimes bad to assume, but a 1911 touring probably has about the same height!? Again, I'm only looking for an approximation. Thanks, John

[Russ T Fender]

Just got over to my storage space and measured the height on my late, slab side '12. It is 7' 2" at the highest point.

[John Heaman]

Just got over to my storage space and measured the height on my late, slab side '12. It is 7' 2" at the highest point.

Thanks a million for that! Very much appreciated. In the meantime I'll get my neighbor to measure my garage door height. When the car is delivered the top will be down but if it will fit through the door with it up I will get the transport driver to help me put it up. Again thank you so much for that measurement!

[Hap_Tucker]

John,

Murphy's law says you will find that the opening is likely to be a 7 foot garage door (that is what our 1990's house has). But checking the internet at: https://a1garage.com/garage-doors-come-standard-sizes/ they say the current standards available are 7 feet or 8 feet in height. And as you pointed out your screen doors look like they will also take up 1-2 inches of that opening space.

For the two man tops, if you get the driver to help you move the bows forward and attach them to the front seat irons. And have him/her help you move the front bow to the upper connection on the front seat top iron -- you can then put the top up or down with just one person easier (less hard?) than having to move the bows and reattach them with only one person.

For any of the tops -- there could easily be some variation. The USA had several top manufacturers that supplied Ford and the tops were fitted to the car so the top fabric was adjusted for any minor variations in the top irons and top bows.

If it turns out you only need a 1/2 inch or even an inch -- add weight to the car (heavy neighbors). Or you could also consider using some of the cargo ratchet tie downs to compress the springs to give you that extra bit of clearance (rags can protect the painted axles and springs).

Be careful -- my Dad had a young teenage son (no names mentioned...) who one time forgot our garage opening was about an inch too low to drive under with the top up on our 1918 touring. Dad was not happy with me....But the car looks faster with the top down....

Also if you put the top up once inside the garage -- if you have an automatic garage door opener be sure the top clears the "J" shaped connector that often hangs down several inches lower than the electric unit.

Worse case this could be justification for a workshop addition with an 8 foot door. And if you trailer the T -- you may want to consider a tall enough door to allow you to put the trailer in the workshop with the car and top still up so you could unload it at a later time.

Many of us would love to have your problem....my disassembled project fits easily through the garage door even in the back of the pickup bed.

Caution: if you are fair skinned and haven't lived in the sunny parts of the USA etc. -- I visited southern Florida one summer and in less than 15 minutes I got sunburned in the middle of the day. Hey, there was no internet to say stay out of the sun from 10 to 3PM. Sun screen or long sleeve shirts and a hat can be your friend if you don't tan easily.

And depending on where you move to in Florida, Tampa often had a thunderstorm most summer days between 4 to 4:30. But the rest of the day was usually beautiful.

God Bless,

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[John Heaman]

First and foremost I really appreciate this forum and the people in it. God bless you all.

My neighbor informed me I have a 7'-0" high garage door, actually less with the screen sliders. The measurement of 7'-2" that Val gave me indicates that the top will have to be in the down position. I do not have land enough to put an addition on the house so I'll work with what I have.

Hap, I do respect the sun and will dress appropriately. Does a cowboy hat look out of place in a Model T? I promise to be parked in the garage before the 4:00 PM rain hits, lol. The home is in Beverly Hills (swimming pools, no movie stars), Florida which is 80 miles due north of Tampa.

Because of my diminutive stature I have to start the car with two hands, I have no choice. I always treat the car like it's going to bite me when starting it, and pull my hands away quickly whether it starts or not. I had a set of later, plain pedals modified and rubber pedal pads glued to them so I am able to sit on the seat now with no pillows at my back or under me. I kept the 1912 pedals so it could be put back to original someday.

[Russ T Fender]

In the home we had before moving to Florida I had a 7' garage door but if I pushed the door further up and blocked it in place I could get the '12 in the garage with the top up. Your screens may preclude that but you might try doing that and measuring the opening. I would also caution you to measure your car with the top up to confirm the height before driving in with the top up even if you think you have the clearance as the height can vary depending on how the top was installed. Yours might be slightly lower or it could be higher, unfortunately it ain't a precise science.

[John Heaman]

All great suggestions! When the car arrives I will put it in the garage top down. Then I'll put the top up and do measurements like you suggest. It would be great if the clearance is there but I will proceed cautionary. Thanks again for the advice!

[Hap_Tucker]

John,

Hopefully the top of the T will be low enough that you can safely drive the car through the current opening. But if not, depending on how long you plan to live in the new home and how often you have to raise and lower the top -- you may want to consider having the door opening made a little higher and a new door installed.

From the photo and expanding it on my screen next to a ruler -- it looks like there is room to make the opening taller. You should get the right kind of person (structural engineer, reputable builder, etc.) to evaluate how it could be done and the cost estimates. That probably won't increase the value of the home -- but it could make it more enjoyable for you. And if the cost is reasonable -- great. And if it is not in the budget, then having some new "shorter top irons, top bows and top" fitted might solve the problem?

And one other safety thought for you new home. If it comes with a gas or propane fired water heater located in the garage -- that can be a potential safety issue. While your T may not routinely leak gasoline, our T did not routinely leak either. But one day some trash got to the carburetor and the needle valve did not seat fully. And it leaked. The good news it was outside with no flames nearby. But if it happens in your garage and you have a gas or propane fired water heater. That could be a problem. The modern gas & propane fired water heaters come with a Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistance device. But it is not guaranteed to prevent an explosion of gasoline vapors but it does reduce the risk of it happening. The gas heater is also installed above the floor as gasoline vapor is heavier than air and that too helps. When we purchased our current house, we choose to replace the propane fired water heater that was in the garage when we bought the house with an electric water heater.

Cowboy hats? Not a problem. I'm 60% sure that Kim Dobbins posted this photo of an early 2-lever 1908 Model T. Note the man behind the wheel appears to have a cowboy hat. I suspect the real driver is sitting in the passenger seat with a more typical driver's hat from that time period. And I would guess the man behind the steering wheel is his dad. A nice thing about T's is that most folks are just happy to see them -- and they are not concerned about what type of hat the folks are wearing.

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Good luck with your new home. You will also like that Florida has lots of level roads.

God Bless,

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[Colin Mavins]

Hello John As my car is at the farm waiting for spring I can not measure it but a 7 foot door is more like 6-10 because it does not open all the way . I have always had an 8 foot door because I was told by my dad it wont fit in a 7 foot door. I think it will but the clearence you will have is almost zero. cheers Colin

[John Heaman]

A friend of mine with a beautifully restored 1910 Model T said he puts the top down at the start of the touring season in Canada and doesn't put it up again until late fall when he stores it. I may do that Hap if the clearance isn't there or if I don't have anyone to help me with the top.

My hot water heater and furnace are in the garage and they are electric. I will wear my cowboy hat and probably add a chin strap to it.

Hap, I do have a question about the picture you posted of the two lever, two pedal T, where would the carbide generator be mounted? Thank you for all of your suggestions, and well wishes!

Colin, I believe your dad was bang on with his advice on the 8 foot high door. My dad only told me two things, the more you have, the more you have to look after and don't drink and drive, you may spill some!

[Hap_Tucker]

John,

Good question "Where would the carbide generator be mounted?" Normally I recall seeing them on the left side running board of the USA produced Model Ts in the old photos I have seen. And when they have an acetylene tank instead of the carbide generator, that also is often seen on the left side running board of the USA produced Model Ts.

(Note early English T photos show the generator on the right running board most of the time. At least a few early Ts that were imported as Left Hand Drive had the gas generator on the Left side running board see pages 21, 30 & 31 of "The English Model T Ford" by Riley, Lilleker & Tuckett. But the photos of the RHD cars appear to usually have te gas generator on the Right Hand running board. And in some photos we cannot see the gas generator at all so it may not be on the car or it might be on the other side? )

Note some of the early Ts were apparently sold without headlamps. Ref page 480 of Bruce McCalley's "Model T Ford." Serial number 1,774 manufactured Mar 24, 1909 -- it also did not have a windshield. Serial number 2110 manufactured Apr 2, 1909 was also a touring and also did not come from the factory with gas headlamps or a windshield. Serial number 2,200 manufactured Apr 7 also did not have gas lamps or a windshield. So in those cases the owners could have purchased them later from a dealer or an aftermarket seller. If from the dealer I would have thought they would be installed with the "gas generator" on the left running board. But if an aftermarket supplier then perhaps they put it on the other side? Perhaps someone else has another thought or even the real answer on why it is not located on the left side running board on the photo that was posted?

God Bless,

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[Colin Mavins]

Hello John to the top of the rear bow on my Canadian 12 Touring is 6 foot 10 inches and the centre bowes are a little taller so I would say you need 6 feet 11 inches clear .

[John Heaman]

Thanks for that Colin, very much appreciated!