Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

dashboard · 2K+ Club

MODEL T STUFF

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Yeah, I was going to post about it here... if anyone wants to see Model T's there's about 235 of them registered for this year's tour in and around Rochester. This tour is the reason I'm missing Car Craft this year.

This tour is located in a different state each year, and I've done about 10 of them... been 5 years since the last time I went though. Some good friends I met on tour when we were kids on are coming from New York, so I couldn't miss this one.

I've been working on my Model T all week to get it ready... almost done. :)

SShink · 3K+ Club

Derek69SS wrote:

I've been working on my Model T all week to get it ready... almost done. :)

What... doesn't that mean just another trip to the hardware store for some more bailing wire and twine!?!?

Derek, can't you just about fix anything on a model T with those supplies?

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I've gone modern, using duct-tape and coat-hangers... may not be authentic, but it's a driver not a show-queen.

...it's all ready to go now, except the battery isn't charging. Now I'm back online searching for instructions on setting the output by adjusting the 3rd brush in the generator. More specifically, looking for pictures on what the heck a "3rd brush" looks like so I know I'm not messing up anything important.

Plan B is to drive into the parking lot, find someone who looks like they know Model T electrical systems, stall the car in front of them, and ask for help.

I can't ask Dad for help on this... his "T" is older, and doesn't have a generator, or a starter, or electric lights, or any of the modern amenities and creature-comforts that mine has.

-- Edited by Derek69SS on Friday 15th of July 2011 07:28:29 PM

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

Could not believe my eyes seen 10 or more model Ts cruising out of Pine Island today when I was coming in from work. My son was telling me all about them as he seen them down town when he was on his way to the pool.

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

We'll miss seeing you Derek, but that sounds like a really good time! Take pics- I'd love to see that many Ts in one place.

SteveS · Super Poster

Sounds like they will be passing within a couple of miles of me today, I saw signs start showing up along the roads yesterday. Rushford, Lanesboro, Preston area. Hopefully I get a chance to see them come through.

SteveS · Super Poster

I work next to an auto shop / towing company. They just brought one Model T in on a flatbed, looks like a roll-over. Hopefully everyone was OK.

I left Derek a message on his cell phone to make sure it wasn't his family. I'll update if I hear from him.

-- Edited by SteveS on Wednesday 20th of July 2011 01:08:20 PM

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Wasn't anyone that I know... happened behind us, we never saw the wreckage, but saw the firetrucks and ambulances going the opposite way on the highway, followed by "Mayo 1" helicopter fly over toward the scene. I haven't heard much about it yet. What I heard was a wheel came off and he went in the ditch.

My week has been fun but frustrating so far.

Sunday I drove in on 6-volts because the magneto wasn't working, so I couldn't get much over 30mph. Also, it was sputtering a lot at extended WOT drives... recalled that it did that same thing 5+ years ago last time I drove it, and the problem went away with a full tank of gas. Filled it up, and the sputtering went away, but still had no power. Sunday night I diagnosed (with help from someone more experienced than me) the Magneto issue as a bad connection at the mag post on top of the transmission. New mag post = runs great. Made a new fuel line routing it a little different (eliminating high-spots) to try fixing the fuel delivery problem.

Monday went well for the first 50 miles, then it started sputtering again... topped off the tank, and it ran great again. Thought maybe it was a carb problem. Had another carb I wanted to put on anyway, the "high performance" straight-through Holley model NH. (vintage speed part worth about 2hp) Drove around good, but it would overflow when I turned the car off. New needle, seat, float... still did it.

Tuesday I drove it, just turning the fuel off every stop... still would suck the bowl dry, and flooded really easily. Started to notice a miss also. Figured out the guy that rebuilt the carb for me put a plug in a vent hole which caused an air-pocket to keep the float from closing. Drilled that out, and fixed it. While running w/o hood, we noticed the #3 coil was arcing to the firewall... no time to address the fuel pressure problem (gravity feed BTW)

Wednesday, was hilly, and it only ran on 3 cylinders, and would suck the bowl dry. Frustrated and tired... need some carb cleaner to try cleaning the sediment bowl screen, and a new wood insulator kit for the coilbox...

By the end of the week, the car should run pretty good.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Sounds like a fun time. Boy I cant imagine being in a Model T in this weather. But when your having a blast, it makes it easier to look past it.

I can say this. Im not sure how often this Model T tour comes to town but if your having problems that are becomming a real nuisance and giving you frustrations. There is no time like this week to get some of the T experts out there to help out since they are already in town. Might as well take advantage of the opportunity while you can. But then again, you probably knew that.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Spent 2 hours and $65 "fixing" my coilbox arc problem tonight... didn't help. I'm kind of embarrassed I didn't even think of checking what was actually causing it. Think basic, real basic... fouled plug.

Drank some beers and got over it. probably rambling... spelling's still good though.

Dan Williams · Active Member

Derek69SS wrote:
Spent 2 hours and $65 "fixing" my coilbox arc problem tonight... didn't help. I'm kind of embarrassed I didn't even think of checking what was actually causing it. Think basic, real basic... fouled plug.
Drank some beers and got over it. probably rambling... spelling's still good though.

Hung out with Derek a few years ago at the one in Clear Lake, nobody outside after 7 besides us, luckily Derek had a full cooler of beer. Interesting to go to, would recomend going wtih someone like Derek that can fill you in on all the differances between the models.

Lost in the 60s · President

Derek69SS wrote:
Spent 2 hours and $65 "fixing" my coilbox arc problem tonight... didn't help. I'm kind of embarrassed I didn't even think of checking what was actually causing it. Think basic, real basic... fouled plug.
Drank some beers and got over it. probably rambling... spelling's still good though.
Spellcheck works at 2 AM ???.....

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Just got home... what a great time!!!

I'll post some pics later. This was my 12th tour. I did 10 in a row from '94-'03, then bought a house, got married, etc, and have only made it to the close-to-home tours in '06 and '11 since then. It was fun catching up with the same people I hung out with waaaay back when we were kids.

Next year it's in Vermont... won't go to that one. Following year is Michigan, so we might try to make it to that one.

-- Edited by Derek69SS on Saturday 23rd of July 2011 11:22:04 AM

Derek69SS · Founding Member

SteveS wrote:
I work next to an auto shop / towing company. They just brought one Model T in on a flatbed, looks like a roll-over. Hopefully everyone was OK.

Just found out that the driver, Ken Meek, has passed away. :(

He had a Model T parts business, and was selling parts out of his trailer after the tour each night to help keep everyone running... I met him when I had to buy some carburetor parts from him after the Monday and Tuesday tours.

Please keep the Meek family in your prayers.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

What was the cause? Brake failure seemed to be common on a T

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I'm just going on hearsay, but it sounds like it was a tire... The newer Model T tires available are not very good quality, and they're known for coming off the bead easily if the air-pressure gets low.

5 years ago, I was following my Dad on a tour when he had a front left de-bead spontaneously... threw the car into the oncoming lane before he gathered it up and brought it to a stop. From what I heard, the same thing happened here, except it was a front right, and he went off the shoulder. Nobody wants the liability of these old "clincher" style beads, so the only tires still being made for them come from Vietnam.

SteveS · Super Poster

Sorry to hear that, I thought I heard on the radio his wife was with him, hopefully she was OK.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Yeah, she's expected to make a full recovery. Both had a lot of broken bones, but he had head-injuries and she did not.