*MrModelT and Powerwagonmaniac build a T speedster in 6 months!*

Clayton and Chris, Looks like you are getting the bugs out of the Special. Hope you didn't break it too bad. Still need to check out the videos from the previous weekend.

Keep on going with these progress reports.

Dave

 

I need to get more picture up.

Dave I just got done TIG welding the input shaft on the Warford up and used our old Pratt and Whitney horizontal mill to make a new square on the shaft as it was worn pretty bad. I had to have it annealed first, as it was 45 to 50 Rockwell (almost as hard as tool steel!). I dropped it off this afternoon at the heat treater so by next Monday we will be putting it back together. i also finished the Magneto controls so now we can advance and retard the spark. Hood shelves are getting modified and foot throttle is finished. Still on the hunt for large drum emergency brake shoes and Rocky Mountain brakes.

 

Power Wagon, Glad you guys will be getting the special back together. Looking forward to seeing you guys at Bonneville ! Say hello to Clayton for me.

Dave

 

that's awesome! sounds like that thing rips! can't wait to see it.

 

Well figured I’d update people on how the Special is going. Since the fire up party we have been chasing one problem after another…

First the Warford transmission went bad. Seems the input shaft was really worn out when we got it 10 years ago. In my youthful infinite wisdom I decided to just shim the input shaft in the female end of the stock transmission. First time of course we munched up the shims. Ended up removing and disassembling the Warford, annealed the input shaft so we could weld it. Then we had to go find some 4140 TIG welding rod in small quantity (of course our welding supplier would sell me some, but in a large bundle, like 10-15 lbs of it!). Found some about 2 lbs worth. Had to learn how to use the TIG welder for the first time. Welded input shaft had to re heat treat it again and re-assemble the Warford and put back in the car. Problem one solved.

Stupidity was next. I had to shorten the drive about 2 inches to fit the Warford in. Well instead of machining the square that goes into the back of the Warford, I decided to weld it up. Well the welds broke. So we ended up machining a new drive shaft from our stash to replace the destroyed one.

Well then the carburetor decided to crap out. Clayton discovered that the jets were too small and the Special was starving for fuel. Tried to switch the jets out of the Holley 94 body…guess what one was froze and we could not remove it, destroyed the body of carb in the process. On goes a spare Holley 94 body, in goes new larger jets re-install on car runs great… until…

Head gasket blew up, right in the middle between cylinders 2 & 3. So tomorrow I will be ordering a new head gasket. Oh by the way before the head gasket let loose we did have the Special in Direct and moving well over 50 mph with plenty of throttle left and one more gear left.

I have followed Clayton a few times down the street and watched front bounce up and down a little too much for my liking. This weekend I ended up adding in a couple of more leaves to the front spring pack and started wrapping the spring pack with rope to stiffen it. I still need too put new spindle bushing on and to stiffen the steering some more.

Some of the rims have a little wobble to them, so we will be correcting them soon. Clayton’s dad is glassing the trunk so we can finish the body and prep it for paint. We also modified the running board bracket (they came from a junk 1912 Cadillac frame and some left over damaged Model T bracket) and placed the running board on the car too get the proper height so we can start building the fender in the next couple of weeks. Still need to come up with a design for the spare tire mount on the back of the car yet. So hope fully soon we will have her on the road with few bugs.

Chris Becker

 

Wow!

 

Chris and Clayton, I just read through this thread and it made me smile and cry this is exactly what hot rodding is about . You honour your father and friend with the gift of a car by doing so show him love and respect . Its a shame Mr. Becker didn't see it finished but judging from the pictures you did a lot to heal a family of a great loss.
The gifts you were given are your abilities to create such a beautiful tribute car and I am sure Mr. Becker was no small part of that ! Rob

 

Chris and Clayton, This was a great progress report on the Special. Seems that you are finding and correcting the bugs as they come along. Should be one great highway cruiser when you guys are done.

Dave

 

Rob, Thank you for the kind words! Bill ment an awful lot to both of us and we are all sorry he never got the chance to see his car, but it has become far more meaningful for us all now since his passing.

We certainly HOPE we're done finding and correcting bugs with this car! We have only had it out a few times, all but once it has come back to the shop at the end of a tow rope. The car has so much power and is a kick to drive...it has become a major tease!

I think Chris only has 30 seconds total behind the wheel!

....I have way more lol!

 

Just sent in the emergency brake shoes for lining and got the new head gaskets. Went up to the neighbors that I know down the road that have model t parts, found a set of early disc wheels that are 30 x3 1/2off of a early 490 Chevy. I think I can get them cheap. I was thinking they might change the look a little bit. We will paint them same the green and pinstripe them in the safety orange and put grey skinny tires on them. Won't run them all the time, just some thing different. Just a thought. Wish dad was here to see it. Need to get behind the wheel more, just don't have the guts too with out proper brakes. Don't like having no brakes if I miss a shift. Not as daring as Clayton is!

Chris Becker

 

Isn't it great when a plan comes to fruition, love this build man you guys are too much!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Chris, Wishing you all the best as you guys complete the special ! I am sure that when you drive the special he is in the seat next to you with a big smile !

Dave

 

*BIG UPDATE NEWS*

The "Becker Special"

IS FIXED!.....AGAIN!

(Hopefully it stays fixed this time! )

Well, after Chris and I's head gasket debacle two weeks ago we now found ourselves fighting some sort of ignition problem: No spark on some of the plugs, some of the time...tries to fire some times, but not all...and on and on. After much frustration and confusion, we discovered that the magneto was bad, Eureka...problem solved! Put the spare magneto on and we should be good!

...not so fast. Hmmmm....now it want to back fire up through the carburetor.....

After a quick timing fix (my fault...was off by a few teeth ) it fired right up and ran great! To celebrate, Chris and I took the "Special" around the shop for a few victory laps and a few "cookies" in the end zone!

How many Model T's do you know that will do that....or have owners that would with their cars?


Here are some pics...and a few videos for your viewing pleasure..Enjoy!


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​

 

btt

 

...and sorry these vids are so dark...will try to get some better ones soon.

 

Bump...

 

Clayton, Good to hear that the Special is a runner again ! Love the way the front of the car sits. Do you have any detail shots of the front crossmember ? I can see that the spring is under the axle. Sure lets the Special sit low.

Dave

 

We're BOTH relieved that's for sure! ...now, if it will only stop breaking.

The front crossmember is stock believe it or not. We didn't move, cut or modify in any way. The shackles were extended and the spring was set up as a "reverse eye" the ol' fashioned way. Chris posted some good ones of the front end on the last few pages and here are a few from my collection showing the shackles.

 

Well after being down at Portland Swap meet all weekend Melissa and I had to take Special out for a blast down the street. Had it up to around 50mph just in direct!

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v...ker Special/?action=view&current=MVI_0187.mp4

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v...ker Special/?action=view&current=MVI_0188.mp4

 

Chris, Glad you were able to have a trouble free cruise in the Special. Now get back to some fab work ! Are you guys building the hood ? Looking forward to the fender and hood construction.

Dave

 

Yeah, the hood and fenders will be cardboard and fiber glass. Clayton's dad is skinning the truck right now. When that get's back to the shop I'll be able to start painting the body and get the seats off for upholstery.

 

I think we finally have all the weird "kinks" work out of this car...knock on wood

Took her out for a few short runs last night, each one getting father from the shop without a single problem. I also think I have the carburetor adjusted in pretty good now as well as our fuel economy is back and and runs out nice and smooth......the switch from .049 to .059 jets is really what she wanted.

Didn't get any videos, but did take a few good pictures. Enjoy!


(The silver Speedster belongs to a friend of Chris's from church. It's mostly stock...but a real good runner)

 

Clayton, That is a neat picture of two low slung speedsters ! Do you have any other angles of the two together ?

Dave

 

Dave,

Here are some I took. I am sure Clayton has more. The silver speedster belongs to a freind of mine from church, Tim Williams.







Chris Becker

 

Chris, Those two are way cool to look at. They are similar but have enough difference to reflect the design the builders were after. I hope my Dodge bodied/"A" powered Modified is as low and neat as these two.

Dave

 

Dave,
Do you have some picture of your dodge you could post? Tim's car is about as bare bones as you can get. He was telling me it sits so low it barely clears speed bumps. Stock 26 T engine and drive-train. I'd like to build one similar for anyone to drive, something interesting to teach people to drive a T on...

Chris Becker

 

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Worked on getting running boards bolted up and Clayton mocked up the front fenders.









Chris Becker
[/FONT]

 

I really have to say, those fenders to look FANTASTIC on the "Special"....can't WAIT to get started duplicating them this weekend!

 

These fenders are from the shop's 1913 White GAF "30" touring that is undergoing it long awaited restoration. I always liked the look of them with the square nose and the "flare" up of the outside edge

They give the car a VERY unique look!

 

Clayton,

Any thoughts on putting a little deeper of a "C" on the inner fender? They DO look great on there!!!