Projects My '26 Roadster / Vintage photo search

Brought my T home eventually. I've been trying to sell it because I have a severe bike-fever and space is a never-ending problem. However, now that I was looking at it in my carage last night, I felt I was getting heretic thoughts...

...my precious....

 

So Its been a long time since I posted here….but I figured It was time for an update.

So with Charlotte’s arrival in August and a number of high profile builds that came through the shop…the roadster got shoved to the back burner.


Its been sitting on that back burner for almost three years now, up on jack stands (Sad, I know). The worst part is, its been exiled to my buddy’s shop (cause he has the room I don’t) while the last two big builds were going on. His shop is new and he has not had the floor poured yet, so its just gravel. This winter while I was up there, I noticed the moisture had really taken its toll and done a lot of damage.

Last weekend, I made plans, cleared so e floor space and brought her home for cleanup, reactivation, major service work and a face lift to get her back to “Fighting Trim” again.


The biggest deal is the steering wheel. The moisture trapped in the building warped and buckled the steering wheel, splitting one of the finger joints. It will take time and patents to repair.






A lot of the old, surviving nickel plate work is also nearly gone, so most of that stuff was sent off to be replated. I also ordered a set of Muroc Mfg. Co. stacks for it, to replace the frog mouth scoops I used when I finished it in 2012.




She also got a very thorough cleaning, de-mildewing and some touch up work.




I struggled actually posting this….as I’m quite unhappy with myself for allowing all this to happen, but I ultimately needed to own up to it and fix it all.



After all we have been through together, I owe her that much.



~ Mr. Model T.

 

Looking forward to seeing it back in all it's glory. Understand the delays, life and family take priority. Sometime projects need to get put on hold. God knows, mine seems to be on a continual hold.

That little girl has a smile that definitely lights up the room.

 

Congratulations Clayton- Charlotte is adorable!
Totally understand "life getting in the way"- our oldest is about to graduate from high school , but it's great to see that the roadster is coming back out into the sunlight

 

Fock' I love this thing. Sh*t happens, man.

LIFE !!

 

Nothing that can't be sorted out or improved upon. Time to create some happy T memories with Charlotte

 

Know the feeling - was started, but far from finished, with a G28T engine rebuild, when Sofie was born, so it's been laying open for +16 month now...
Glad to see someone (else) is getting something build! Keep up the good work, Clayton @MrModelT!

 

I love this car! It will just have more character when fixed and Charlotte will be driving it before you know.

 

A-dor-a-ble

Sent from my SM-A102U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Nice to see you back, Clayton. Your cutie is a real cutie. You will fix the T back to former glory.
Cheers, Carsten

 

Glad to see you getting the old girl right again! Hopefully I can follow your lead and get mine out of the shop this year too!

 

I have been really hoping to see that. The rear suspension mods are looking really good!

Update*

So I got all the Nickel Goodies back for the roadster the other day and I have to say, it really dolled the old girl back up! I did the headlight bezels, Moto-Meter, Cap, thumb screws for the windshield, thumb button for the Ruckstell shifter, Steering wheel hand throttle and spark levers, etc.






I also fitted it with a pair of Muroc stacks from Muroc Mfg, Co.


I also pulled the Steering Wheel and brought it in the house the let the dry, warmer air work it's magic. The it actually worked quite well, and its almost round again. Yesterday (amid quarantine boredom) I strapped it up with Cargo straps to keep it together and pull it back round the rest of the way and glued the hell out of it. Next is a good coating of Poly Spar Varnish to seal it against moisture.


More to come...

Clayton

 

It's looking good. What size are your front tires?

 

I'm running 4.75/5.00 - 19" Lucas tires on all fours...with those M.W. Co pin-drive split rim Wires. Same size as a '30-'31 Model A.

 

Man, I love nickel- so much "warmer" than chrome!

 

Since I'm board in quarantine, I got a lot done on the T.

The wheel is finished (got 9 coats of spar varnish)..


I also figured I would pull the column and give it a once-over and a fresh coat of paint while I was at it.





Once that was all done, it was time to re-assemble it and all the new nickel goodies..








I also took some time to fix an old problem. The LH Door latch has always been messed up (spring was gone), so it would pop open on bumpy roads. I happened to find a new LD latch while shop sturing the other day, so decided to swap it out.







More to come

~ Mr. Model T

 

The wheel turned out nice, lots of character. The new nickel is classy. Though probably not PC I need something on my roadster that says "RETARD". It would explain a lot.

 

Nice!

 

I love that it says "RETARD".

 

My middle school kids always giggle when I have to teach them the term "ritardando" in band class

 

Figure it's been long enough... Time for another update.

I finally finished a long standing project on the T! I got the two-bar false knock-off caps done! only took ten years.....





also decided to let her run the Nickel Shell for a bit. I have to say I like it..



I also got her prepped, serviced and ready for her first major event in 5 years, the Model T Ford Club National Tour in Spokane, WA. We had a blast!

Chris brought his 1919 Touring (that we just built a fresh motor for) and I had the Roadster. We put about 600 miles on both cars over the week of touring and both ran flawlessly. Here are a few sights from the trip:



























More adventures to come this summer (its my resolution not to let this car sit anymore).

Stay Tuned..

~Mr. Model T

 

I love this roadster. That is just what I wish mine looked like only Chevy.

 

Looking good Clayton, Keep having fun!

 

We will...Thanks for the Update...Gow Man Gow!!!

 

Matt, didn't you have a little helper a while back? Should soon be hiding tools for you.

 

I did! Charlotte is two years this month, so it won't be long before she is "helping" in the shop.

 

There are lost tools I have never found from my son and he is now 40.

 

Ain't it about time to start collecting parts for Charlotte's T?

 

My boys were a help in the butt. Wouldn't trade a second of it. The oldest one dropped the keys for our '40 International in a space between the cowl and nonremoveable kick panel. Still there I guess.

 

Why so long? Just for racing?