Update on Dad's 1917 Model T Speedster

I think the disc brakes are a good and safe upgrade. Looks like your building it to run at highway speeds. Lets see you've got a 2 speed high, low tranny, then a 3 speed auxiliary Tranny, and then the high, low Ruxtell rear end, that would be how many gears?2X3X2X?? I'll say its a lot! Looks very nice,will be fun to drive and a attention for sure,

 

His hands and feet will be VERY busy driving this rig with 12 forward speed combos and 6 reverse speed combos to deal with, but it will look GREAT while he trying to figure out which gear to put it in next

MrModelT

 

i am really digging the body concept! very refreshing from the standard boring rootlieb cookie cutter.

 

X2!!!

CLayton- I'd LOVE to see Chris row through all 6 gears in reverse .

 

I just hope it turns out as good as we hope it will!
Chris was originally going with a boat-tail body, but the details and fenders he was originally playing with just didn't groove or flow together. At this same time he was really diggin' the way my T had turned out with the stock roadster body, so I suggested "let's try something different?". He wanted an early roadster to fit the era of his car (1914 to 1917) but something with a lower and sleeker cowl similar to my car, so I did up a few drawings for him with a '26-'27 roadster cowl grafted to a '15-'17 T roadster body (from the doors back)...added a long early Chrysler hood and custom "V-style" radiator to compliment the V shaped suicide front axle brackets that he had built. Since then we have been refining the design further and think we have a great look.

Mac-
I'm curious to see him fly through them all myself!
60+ hp T motor + 2-speed T trans + 3-speed "Warford" OD (3 to 1 OD gearing) + 2-speed Ruxtell Rear Axle w/ 2.77 to 1 rear end gears = LOTS OF SHIFTING / CRAZY FAST (we hope)

 

Wow. Im TOTALLY diggin your setup guys. Great ideas, and its gonna have super nice flow. Its really refreshing to see it. keep up the good work!
-GothY-

 

Cool head?

My dad is building a T speedster. Ill have to get some pics on here. He is using only PRE 1930 parts on the entire car.

 

Discs on an original T axle - brilliant, just brilliant.

 

You have a nice project going and your grammer is exceptional for someone your age.

 

The ultimate peddle car. Speedsters are so cool.

 

Mac-

The White is far from done, but getting alot closer. Chris and I have been working on just about everything besides the body, paint and what remains to be done on the engine. I have been going through loads of nickel and brass bright work and doing detail work on the little parts and accessories, and at the same time Chris and I are researching and working on getting the motor back together.

Chris has been spending more time lately on his roadster and rightly so! His car is the reason I built my T and we always hoped we would have them running about the same time. Good things did get in the way (Carston and family), so it's not all bad that it has been a little neglected...I'm glad he is back on it!

...I used to kid him that by the time he gets that car done, I will be restoring my T AGAIN with my grand kids!

Here are some of the latest on the White and some earlier shots of Chris's T with the headlights he is running. I had found them on Ebay and picked 'em for myself: Brass, electric and fork mount. Not many cars used these, We think they are 1912 White.

 

I've seen the Ruckstell and Warford setup before and it works pretty good.



The thing is with both they cancel each other out.The car is set up to run High way speeds, 55-65 (hence the disc brakes) and hopefully top out on a flat stretch of road around 70+. With the tall ring and pinion in the rear and a roadster body on it you'll have to be real careful in the up shifting as too much torque could bust the rear axle, the stock transmission and Warford you shift like normal (Clayton understands!) but the Ruckstell 2 speed axle allows a 1/2 shift in between (so in overdrive I can be in overdrive low and then jump overdrive high by shifting the 2 speed axle). I drive commercial trucks for a living and some of the first trucks I drove used a similar setup as what is in this car (our water truck at work has 5 speed main box and 4 brownie box), so splitting shifts is nothing new to me.