Sweeet Georgia "T"

Found this little sweety yesterday in mid state GA. Don't know the first thing about T's , but I've always had a fondness for them. Saved from a kids torch by mere minutes. I had it loaded on my trailer when this kid drove up. He said he had driven 80 miles to look at it. He was pissed. Now I need to find some cool era speed stuff... Fronty, Rajo, Riley, Roof, Cragar, etc. I'm sure you guys have some info on this stuff! I've built several flatheads, but never been in "T" country before. Does this make me a banger club prospect? -Mike

 

Well Hot Damn!
I've nothing to offer as far as parts but, congrats on a sweet score.
You can have that going in short order from the looks of things.

Oh...there is a guy up in NC named Richard Landress.
Runs an office supply business.
Ebay name is something like BigHudson.
Anyway....he has an old T that will keep up with most A's.
If I can find his contact info I'll post it for you.

 

My father went to college in Athens in the early to mid 60's and his Aunt's father (married to my grandfather's brother) had a model T just like that.
I may have a pic somewhere.
Cool find.

 

Very COOL - man that think looks like it is in fine shape. Have you got it fired up?

 

big mike c,
i have a good friend in douglas, ga. that is a model t and model a guru and a nice guy to boot. if you will p.m. me i will let you know how to get in touch with him.
dan

 

Is that an original, or an older restoration?

 

Cool find!

 

Mechanicals were done 15 or so years ago with the body off by the family of the original owner. The body is currently just sitting on the frame. The paint might be original. How cool is that! Haven't had it running yet...I don't even know how to start it, but I do enjoy a mechanical challenge! I did get a nice set of books/manuals with it, so it will be puttering around soon I hope. -Mike

 

This site gives a concise start-up procedure:

http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/community/history/NorthPortal/htsamt.html

Before you do this, you need to do a few "check system" items.

1. Spin engine over (with battery disconnected) to make sure it is not stuck.

2. Remove pan and check bearing play in the rods and crank. Should be pretty tight, unable to move by hand. Reinstall pan and add oil until it just drips a bit out of the upper pet**** (located on the "hogshead" of the transmission).

3. Reconnect battery and check for fire at the plugs, by rotating the engine slowly with the handcrank with key at the "on" position. Each coil should buzz in turn, and there should be fire at the plug corresponding to that coil.

4. Check for good fuel flow by opening gas flow valve, and carb pet**** (if it has one). Look for rust particles in the gas that comes out.

5 Check/add water to the radiator.

That's all that I can think of off the top of my head. If all checks out, then you are ready to get ready to start the car.

First, block the two front wheels. Then jack up the right rear wheel and put a jackstand under the axle to hold the tire off the ground (a T is never entirely out of gear, so this helps to let the engine spin over when starting). Set the choke and richen the mixture a bit. Put the trans in neutral. Set key to Battery On.

Then, follow the instructions given at the website (except that you may want to try the electric starter, if it has one, instead of handcranking).

Let us know if you get it started! Oh, and if you don't know what year the T is, PM the engine number to me, and and I'll look it up for you.

 

Speed equipment is around for it but more common for the Model A/B bangers.
You might consider getting a Model A frame and drivetrain and building a hot A banger., or maybe a hot V8-60. This would give you car with easy conversion to hydraulic brake, better steering and ride. Easy to do, shorten the A frame to the Ts 100" wheelbase, and drop the body and sheetmetal on it. You'll need to make up fender braces or modify the originals.
(TWO CARS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!, sort of)
You could then build a really neat little speedster from the running/driving T ch***is without having to spend a bunch on parts.
Oh, and yes you can get a dropped axle for a T!!

 

Whatever you do, leave it tall. Unchopped T's with hopped up engines are just plain cool.

 

yo luckie *******...nice score...when do you want me to come over and help chop it..lol

 

I gotta T its chopped 5 inches when i got it it was cut in half down the middle longways and the rust protruded up the bottom of the car 6 inches you got a killer score and well just let it be known that the kid who wanted to buy it may not have wanted to totally butchered it

 

Yeah maybe not... but he had that look.

 

And what "look" would that be?

nothin like throwing stereotypes about hot rodders on a hot rod board

 

Oh, fine.....rub it in, to those of us who live in states where they use road salt in the winter. Nice find!!!

 

Man... I drove 80 miles to look at a T coupe this weekend and this crafty restorer-type already had it on his trailer... he had that "look"..... oh, wait... hahahahha.

 

Gotta have the "look". I probably have the cut with torch look too. You just never can tell. Cheap beer does strange things.

 

i gotcha prolly was going to cut it in half and put it on a corvette fram then make the body wider to accomadate thats what they tried to do with mine