Projects Model T Speedster....... my take on it

I've been awol for awhile now. Life kicks in an such. However between all the excitement I have still been playing. I'm in the midst of building a period correct speedster that will have a few modern items on it along with my twist. So let the fun begin.......
Picked up this pile of goodies out of a barn where they had been sitting for 20+ years. We were told that it was the left overs from when his father had restored his T in the 1980's. We turned the engine crack handle and to our surprise everything turned over with ease. Engine, trans, torque tube, carrier, all the way out to what was left of the wheels was turning/spinning. We have our foundation.

 

It's a start!

 

We acquired some 26/27 front and rear hubs. Tracked down some wire wheels and now she rolls.......

 

decided to crack open the engine. Looks like someone has been in there before.

 

It's Beautiful!!!!

 

Looked in the rear. Not a great story to tell. Also bought the first new piece of the puzzle.

 

Nice project, looks like a good chassis, nothing smells like a T engine once you first open it up. Good luck with the build. Bob

 

If you never do anything else to the rear end, be sure to replace the babbit thrust washers with bronze. May save your life.

 

I picked up two Warford auxiliary overdrive transmissions. The first few pictures are with the TT brace. I will not be using it as it puts the Warford at a wrong angle.

 

After leveling the Warford, I hooked up the torque tube assembly. Well when you add a Warford something needs to change. In this case, the axle/torque tube assembly gets shoved back. Now the axle with leaf spring are out past the frame.

 

What better way to fix that than stretch the frame. Seems a lot easier than cutting down the torque tube, driveline, and radius arms.
In the final picture one will notice that the leaf spring is back in its pocket, however the axle is still sticking out past the cross member. More to come on that later.

 

And finally a proper cross member brace/support for the Warford.

 

WARNING! You need accessory rear brakes any time you add one of those aftermarket transmissions. Once a T is in neutral there is no way to stop it.


Bob

 

I have a plan in place for both the braking situation and the bronze thrust washer in the rear axle (as you pointed out in an earlier post) coming up. I thank you for your insight and feel free to share anything else T related. I'm all ears.

 

Let's tackle that rear suspension. I will borrow from the one and only Laurel Speedster. Not exactly the same design, but the idea is there.
First picture is where we currently sit after installing the Warford. Please take note that the axle housing has been flipped. The spring perch has gone from the top to the bottom.
Second picture, grab a chunk of rod and throw it the lathe.
Third picture shows factory Ford spring hanger with aluminum race/sleeve/inserts (easily replaced when worn out), with rod that was turned in the lathe.
Fourth picture shows hanger reattached to the backing plate.
Fifth and sixth picture shows assembly mocked up.

 

Next was to make the hangers for the radius rods.

 

Shackle time. Back to the lathe.

 

Final setup and installation.

 

I lost the pictures of the rear axle tear down. Needless to say both the ring gear and pinion gear were tore up bad along with the babbitt thrust washers being in multiple pieces. The carrier itself was in good shape, just out of spec where the axle shafts ride. Another trip to the lathe. Last picture shows carrier put together with axles checking for fitment.

 

Now that the carrier is finished, time for some gears. Now having the Warford auxiliary transmission, I chose to go with a 4.10 set up. In the first picture you can see the bronze thrust washer that "the37kid" was referring to in an earlier post. Couple little fixtures have been made, hang it off the side of the mill, and let the assembly begin. Final picture is with torque tube, axle housings, and radius rods put back together for the final time.

 

I can see the value of old axle housing going up 5-10 dollars now, just cut an inspection window.

Bob

 

Now that the rear is complete, it's time to modify the rear drums. 26/27 have large drums and I don't like the looks of them sticking out threw the spokes of the wire wheels. I took a wood wheel small drum and drilled them out to accommodate the lug pattern of the spokes. Turned out fairly decent.

 

So cool. I love watching old parts and pieces being brought back to life.

 

Had the frame and a few other parts blasted. Time to give the frame a coat of paint and install the rear end.

 

Wow!
When I openened this thread and started looking at the photos the first thing that came to mind was "this thing will go nowhere", kind of like the rotten old wood boat I drug home when I was fifteen years old, boy, was I mistaken.
I'm a retired machinist so I think it was when I saw the lathe that I thought it had a chance, then the mill, now this might actually be worth following.
Nice job, this will be like a book that's hard to put down.
BTW, where did you live in Oregon?

 

^^^^^^^^^^^ I had the exact same feeling until the Underslung work started, I plan to use the same setup on my T Bobtail racer. Bob

 

Was that a 1926 Chevrolet Coupe panel sitting on the chassis in the first pick?

 

This should be a fun one to watch come together

 

Orginally I am from the Hillsboro area.

 

No. All the parts are Model T. The only part in question was the spare tire holder.