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

most of us hobby folk who build model T's on a budget usually suffice with the ring test...hang the crank by a coat hanger and smack it with a hammer and listen to it ring...long ring good, dull thunk bad...very scientific and cheap.

 

Exactly! I know this old OLD trick too, it does work.

 

No big deal - I like that - How ever green is the color of money {

 

Of course....its JUST a crank transplant in a T....that's almost a road side repair

The nice thing is, T's are cheap and they made a hell of allot of 'em

 

This much trouble was sure not worth it in the short or the long run. In retospect, if the money to do it right was saved for and then spent, and if other projects were delayed to allow that rebuild to be done right, you'd have all been twice as happy and not a penny poorer for it.

In my best Walter Brennan accent: "Dad burn young-uns, just can't tell em nothin."

 

Very true, it was not my call though. He and I talked about that last night and he knows he should have, but like I said...he was learning too and hind sight is ALWAYS 20/20.

All that matters is that we will have it fixed.... it will be stronger and he will be wiser for it.

Oh, you and your Brennan impressions

 

Pretty tough commentary. Chris and Clayton have done a lot for their age. Haveing known about their projects for a few years and finally haveing met them I don't think bad workmanship was the plan. SHit happens.

 

It's okay noboD....he's with us . Gene is a very good friend and has watched and helped both the "Special" and my Roadster become the machines they are today since the very begining. He is only inflicting some parental "I told ya so"...why? because he can and I must applaud him for exercising that right, lol!

I thank you for the compliments and agree that no poor workmmanship was intended....Chris was just young and didn't know. This T engine was the first T engine he had ever had built or re-built and it was his money. To be honest, if it was me.....I would have probably done the same at that time. When I did my original motor, I was still a Model T novice and didn't mag or balance mine either...just cleaned it, assembled it and drove it. In the period between rebuilds, I read and learned allot and sough what can happen when the magniflux step is skipped. That is why I saved a little extra and had it done on the new engine.

Really it's a "would'a, could'a, should'a" kinda moment....how could we have really known?

 

Yeah, I've been working with these guys for years out at the shop. I guess experience is the unavoidable teacher. Me they can shrung their shoulders at, and roll their eyes, and get annoyed, and choose to ignore or not. A busted crank is sorta hard to ignore. That is one really hard way to learn... but, when all else fails...

 

Hehehheee, ask Clayton about torquing his rods the first couple times he put his first engine together.... ROTFL! You've come a loooong way Clayton!

 

10-4 Climer, didn't realise you were just busting their nuts. These guys impressed me just reading their build threads. Meeting them affirmed that the future is gunna be OK. Yea, I know, now their heads are going to swell.

 

I have known Gene for to many years, I have been watching progress on his '49 Power Wagon and have seen his workmanship get better then mine. Gene always gives Clayton and me a hard time! I don't know how many time we come up with an idea and Gene shakes his head tells us it might not work and with his help we tend to come up with a better and stronger more appealing part. Even though the Special only made around 52 miles it was a learning experience, albeit painful. We will make it better and stronger down the road in the next coming weeks.

If I would have known that there was so many different crankshafts in 21 years of production of the model t, I would have figured out which one was the best. Now I know and every T motor I will put in, I will be sure To have a double E crank that has be checked out!

Nobody it was fun to meet you in Wendover, next couple of years the Special will be on the salt hopefully with the roadster chasing it instead us chasing him!

 

UPDATE
The "Special" goes under the knife...

Last night Troy and I started pulling the "Special" apart in preparation for her crank "transplant"...











More to come, stay tuned!
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I'm sorry about Chris's motor. And I do want to hear about the rebuild....but right now I'm excited to hear about your trip.

What insite do you have for us. Did anxiety build as you moved further & further away from the comforts of your garage? What was the weather like? How did the wind in your face feel? How did the modifications work? Do you feel that the car handels better now? How about fuel economy (if you kept such records)?

And most importantly...we want to know what was running through your heart when you made the aproach to the coveted Bonneville sign...When your tires kissed salt, when your eyes witnessed the brilliant white curviture of the earth. What was it like for you? Was your Granddad present in spirit?

I can only imagin what it must have been like for you. And to have your best friend with you, even though his poor car did not fair so well, it must have been one of thoes moments that you will mark time with.

Awesome dude, I cant wait to hear more.

Cheers

 

First off, let me say that the one way to describe this trip is "EPIC" ...but I don't think I could possibly describe my true feelings.

The modifications and the new build work flawlessly...exactly as I had envisioned actually. The handling was perfect, the ride an exceedingly comfortable improvement and the drive train ran out like spooked wild horse. The Stromberg's also ran out great...yielding 20 mpg.

As for the other questions...I think this will tell it best. This is a link to my narrated photo blog of the entire trip:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=727004&highlight=mrmodelt

 

Sorry man, I guess I didn't go that much in depth as I thought I had in my narrative.

There was some anxiety for both parties with zero road time on either car, but after the loss of the "Special"...I really had second thoughts about continuing on and the further I got from home, the worse it got.

Once we reached Pendleton however, that fear faded a bit and the trip became more enjoyable and conceivable I might actually make it. The weather was nice and tolerable, but as we progressed out of the valley and into Eastern Oregon, the temps got way hotter....so did the wind in my face.

The lure of a convertible of course in the wind in your face or hair and being able to cruise with the ragtop down. The wind however, beats the tar out of you ...and after 8 hours in the sun and the constant wind at 55 mph I was exhausted. I was fine the next morning and ready to go, but after an 8 hour shift behind the wheel, I was done.

The trip proved to be an emotional roller coaster....the good times with friends, the excitement of the adventure, the frustration of issues with the law, the sting of defeat having to trailer her from Boise and the underlying memorial story behind the trip made the first time I laid eyes on the salt and when my tires kissed the salt the most memorable moments of my life....and one of my most emotional victories.

At that time, and when I reached home safely, I could not help but think about George Schuster and the Thomas-Flyer crew on the New-York to Paris race....that I know now how they must have felt when they reached Paris and sough the Eiffel Tower for the first time. I only traveled 1,732 miles as compared to their 22,000 mile adventure, but I can't help but appreciate their journey more now.

I am proud to have made this trip and honored to have been with who I made it with.

This trip was exactly what I hoped it would be, yet nothing like I could ever have imagined.

 

Very nicely put.

 

I've never seen the show, but this shot:



Reminds me of the screenshots and promotional stills I've seen from the television show Bearcats! Not just because it resembles a Stutz, but because of the jaunty pose against the rustic background.

I feel inspired to write.

 

Thank you Robert. I have been trying to put the emotions of the whole thing into prospective for a while...so I'm glad I did them justice

Lol! seen a few of those shots too...just needs Chris and I in 70's TV promo shot poses to be complete

Please, write away! .....I'd love to hear what you were inspired to write

 

Alas, aside from the time I took a creative writing class, I never finish anything.

 

Darn....

 

Clayton, Now that was a bummer of a response ! Hope you and Chris have a quick time to get the speedster back on the road. I need some inspiration to get me back to working on Hot Rods. My Chopped '41 is sure patient with me. It needs some glass, wiring, exhaust and someone to drive the wheels off of it ! That 351 W is going to spin those rear tires . . .

Talk to you more later.

Dave

 

*UPDATE*
She is "Cranky"

Well here is the latest on the "Special". I got the crank out finally and everything looks good inside...here is a look:







Here is the break....you can see were it was cracked..



More to come!
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bump..

 

Your my Hero.

Growing up HotRod, I'v e always said, "My hotrod's gonna have a V8, open header, . . . . And just this May I started bang'g with V8 far from my mind. Well, maybe not that far, I do have this 54 Olds V8 giving me the eye. I'm 43 now, & now I so into Bangers.

Bottom line, I love reading your shit. Love your style. You have one of the best, if not the best T here on the HAMB.

 

Wait Im 39. Got to get off that weed.

 

Thank you kindly!

I have heard the same thing many a time, even about my own cars...."you gonna put a V8 in it?" or "You should really put a V8 in it"...

..Why?...Who said the V8 was the end-all, be-all of hot rodding?

Now don't get me wrong...I do LOVE the sound of a healthy V8 (especially a flathead ) barkin' through a set of Smithy's in a nice looking coupe or roadster. There is something however, about an equally healthy 'Banger that will stomp out a small block in a drag race.....and I mean by a car length or two!

Those early engines are fun, simple and different. Personally, I just like building "outside the box" and what fits the car best.

I am glad you enjoy my posts and updates, I'm just happy to share them with all of you guys and gals on the H.A.M.B.

 

Well I ordered my Double EE crankshaft today (NOS by the way!! Way late 1927). Hopefully it will be in by end of February. My old crank was .005 under size on the main journals and .002 on the rod journals. The crank will be magna-fluxed, balanced, polished and ground and ready to be installed in it's new home when it gets here. Still have to save enough up for the new rods, head gasket and a new gasket set. Goal is to have it running by first weekend in May for the first show of the year.

Been way to long, life has gotten in the way for to long....

Chris,

 

....it's about damn time!

 

yeah....yeah ...yeah..!!