1922 vs 1923 touring body

[NoelChico]

My 1923 touring has some bad wood, poor repairs from 50 years ago, and a few other issues. It is a steel firewall, 2 man top slanted windshield low hood car. I am contemplating looking at a 1922 touring body 2 states away while going for a graduation and could bring it home and make some swaps. I know the windshield stanshions are different, and don't know if the 23 windshield stanshions will bolt onto the 22 body, or what other changes there were between the 2 body years. Friends I've asked didn't know so I am asking you guys.

[KWTownsend]

Either windshield will bolt on just fine. I'm not sure about the current 2-man top bows fitting with the straight windshield tho...

[John kuehn]

I was thinking the mounting holes on the earlier 22 straight windshield brackets are a little different in their location on the later slanted windshield brackets. But I’m guessing.
I have a 21 Touring and it has a 2 man top. The top mounting brackets on the rear go over the body where as the 23’s go through it. I guess you could redo the top brackets to a 1 man top but I don’t think it would be quite right.
The 22 and earlier low cowl bodies had a wood fire wall and the 23 came out with a metal low cowl firewall. But as years went by T owners would swap out the wood firewalls that deteriorated and they would then use the metal low cowl firewalls that Ford offered with the 23. It’s not uncommon to find an earlier low cowl body that has the replacement metal fire wall in it that was replaced many years ago.

The 22 and 23 are transition years and sometimes dating which is which isn’t easy since the parts would interchange to a certain point!

[speedytinc]

Did some home work with Mcally' encyclopedia.
21-25 top saddle comes thru the body as opposed to earlier with an L bracket.
sept. 22 began the "23" style update with the slant windshield & 1 man top & metal firewall low cowl.
Some slant W/S bodies still had the wood F/W.
The destinging feature would be the top brackets in the front arm rests for the 2 man top. (pre sept 22) One man tops attach to the slanted W/S posts
2 man tops attach to the center folding W/S hinge with straps to footman loops attached to the front bow sides.
a 22 body & 23 body are the same untill (late23) 24-25 models with the high cowl, hood & radiator. The cowl is wider. The hood latch plates have a kick out @ the rear for the wider cowl/hood.

[John kuehn]

To have more clarification the 21 Touring that I own is a mid year 21 and as Ford introduced the newer changes that came along they were being added in late 21 and onward. To say that the lower bodies were exactly all the same starting in 21 is not exactly correct.
This subject comes up in other years fairly often and to say that Model T dating to an exact date cutoff point is almost impossible to do because the transitioning that occurred and when the cars were actually sold.

[NoelChico]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to look at this body next weekend to see if it will work. I'll try to get some good pics of my April 23 body to see if there are any major differences. I'd sure like to have them side by side!

[Steve Jelf]

Your 1923 body probably has a steel firewall. Beginning in January wood and steel were both used. By April wood was gone. Of course, steel firewalls were also used as replacements on earlier cars.

[NoelChico]

Yes, my 23 has a steel firewall. Would the 22 body fit to that chasis with a steel firewall or do I need to try to find a 23 body or re-wood the one I have?

[Steve Jelf]

Apparently 22 and 23 use the same frame. I expect either body will fit it. The steel firewall should also fit both, as it was used as a replacement part for the wood ones.