New 2 Model T's How do I get one with stuck

[jim galli]

motor to roll. Had Model A's for 47 years. Figured I needed a T before I finished up. They aren't like a Model A, you just put it in neutral. In 6 mos. it won't be such a mystery, I'm sure.

Need a roller. Hope I don't have to drag this thing everywhere it goes until I get it going.

[yachtsmanbill]

The secret elixer is a 50-50 mix of ATF and acetone! Warm up the ATF to about 175F and add some acetone and put it in the cylinders. Id pull the head off but thats not really necessary. Let it soak overnite. Put the lever in high gear and rock it back and forth. I generally do this and take a 1" dia. brass bar and let its weight fall 4" to tap the pistons. This helps shock them and get the juices flowing.
Was this a runner? If it needs a rebuild, get it unstuck and clean the deck and head and re-use the old head gasket for a test run. If it needs more than that, see section II...
So after re-reading the original question, the chassis wont roll? Put the lever half way up. Thats neutral and no parking brake. If it wont roll then, the clutch pack is stuck, If thats the case AND the motor is stuck, youll need to free the motor first, the jack up the real wheels and get everything to turn. Id pour some of the elixer directly onto the clutch drum inside the top cover. Then pull the brake back and work on the crank end.
If none of this works, youll need to get it running on jack stands in gear and then put it in neutral. With the wheels turning still, shock the clutch by hitting the foot brake. Once it breaks free let it run as long as you dare to get oil back into the clutch pack. ws

[Doug Money]

Remember a stuck starter can stick an engine. A lot of times if the car sat for a long time in neutral the clutch pack can stick like Bill mentioned. It is the car not the engine you are referring to, correct?

[jim galli]

Thanks for the nice responses.

It's actually this car here; It's been 45+ years since anything turned over. Tires are very flat (anybody local got a set of old ones to sell me just to get it back on air?)

The Modesto guy is going to haul it to Carson City for me, and somehow I've got to get it from his trailer to my trailer. He said they drug it on that trailer with come-a-longs.

Sounds like we'll have to back trailer to trailer and drag it from his to mine.

[yachtsmanbill]

Do yerself a favor and buy an electric cable hoist from harbor freight! They sell them for the front ends on 4 X 4s. Money well spent. Good luck on the tires! Thats always an issue with 30 X 3-1/2s! Take a carpenter saw and cut the old ones off if they are gonners.
Ill bet that motor is stuck and oiling it will help. At least you can roll it that way. Mine was locked up and it was a come along dragger... man, I can sure relate!! ws

[Steve Jelf]

Looks like you have the makings of a good car. As Bill says, with the lever straight up it's in neutral with brakes released and should roll as much as those remarkable tires will let it. A couple of things I notice for future attention are cooling and front suspension. The radiator looks like it's missing some of its fins, and the presence of a water pump suggests that the radiator wasn't doing its job. Very likely you'll need a new one. When you jack the car up with the front wheels off the floor and shake them you'll probably find that everything flops around like a bobble-head doll. That springy thing attached to the steering linkage is a band aid for scary steering. You'll want to replace all the worn out bushings and bearings.

The first Model T parts every new owner should buy are these. The T is not like other cars. Some things are not obvious. The Ford manual and the MTFCA books will save you a lot of grief, hassle, and dough.

[Brother Hesekiel]

I saw the car on eBay and actually e-mailed the seller, suggesting to let off in his attempts to break the piston rings. First, understand that a T has no real neutral. There is always drag, so pushing one is a bitch. I would remove the spark plugs and fill in Marvel's Mystery oil in small quantities, every day a bit more, and let it soak for at least a week. Why rebuilding an engine (which is a big deal) if it's not absolutely neccessary? If it doesn't move after a week, take off the head and the inspection cover on the bottom and get at it with Rust Blaster spray. Again, time is your friend and so is heat. Get a heat gun but make 100% sure that you have no gasoline vapors in harm's way! Report back in a week or two.

[jim galli]

Thanks for all the great helpful replies. The electric winch thing looks like the best bet for the immediate problem of getting it home. We'll take it slow from there. I have a '31 Model A project in front of the T, so lots to do this summer. Anxious to experience driving a T though.

[garrisonm89@yahoo.com]

Jim, you seem like a nice fella and a reasonable young man. But I'm worried you might have a touch of "heat stroke". I mean I think working on that other car first is a noble cause and I suppose someone will want it when your done. But to put it in front of Henry's Lizzie seems a bit like eatin' spinach when you could have filet mignon. And I know there's a chance you've got a customer waiting for that other car and a person has to eat, it just seems like, well like, and pardon my bluntness, your priorities are a bit off. Now if it were me and, I know it's not, but I'd part out that other car in order to support the rebuild on the Model T. Oh all right I'm just workin' ya a little bit. Good luck with the Model A and the Model T. And though I'm a little guilty of not providing many pictures, I think I'm talking for everyone when I say we'd all like to follow the rebuild on the "T" and see some photos as you go. Good Luck -Mike

[jim galli]

Thanks for the gentle prod Mike. (with a tazer ) Actually I consider all these Fords a virus. Maybe 1 around the place when I'm healthy, but with this latest "oops" on ebay! I'm up to 4 of the cockroaches. '39 pickup. '31 coupe (need to repair accident damage left front. 40% complete) '29 roadster, and now miss lizzie from the "Cars" movie.

After the Iranians nuke us with the electromagnetic pulse bomb, I'll still have a fleet of running cars. That's my only possible "up" side. Other than that, it's just pure craziness. (you'll also notice I'm an optimist with my numbers calling 2 non-runners, runners, and actually, truth be known, the '39 even said "NO" the other day and I haven't had time to see what's ailing it.

Originally Posted by garrisonm89@yahoo.com

Jim, you seem like a nice fella and a reasonable young man. But I'm worried you might have a touch of "heat stroke". I mean I think working on that other car first is a noble cause and I suppose someone will want it when your done. But to put it in front of Henry's Lizzie seems a bit like eatin' spinach when you could have filet mignon. And I know there's a chance you've got a customer waiting for that other car and a person has to eat, it just seems like, well like, and pardon my bluntness, your priorities are a bit off. Now if it were me and, I know it's not, but I'd part out that other car in order to support the rebuild on the Model T. Oh all right I'm just workin' ya a little bit. Good luck with the Model A and the Model T. And though I'm a little guilty of not providing many pictures, I think I'm talking for everyone when I say we'd all like to follow the rebuild on the "T" and see some photos as you go. Good Luck -Mike

[garrisonm89@yahoo.com]

I had a '38 pickup. I spent 3 years and every dime restoring it. Last year got a divorce and she got the '38. Now I dare someone try and take my T's.

[jim galli]

OK T experts. What year do you think that car is? One of the questions / answers guys told him it isn't a '23 or the roof would be lower, doors would be hinged at the front, and turtle would be one piece with body. So what year would you guess I bought?

[jim galli]

Originally Posted by Jack Innes

It looks like 1919 to 1922 probably closer to 1922. If it has the original engine the number on the driver's side of the block, near the water inlet, will tell the year it was made.

Thanks Jack. Apparently the seller placed it at 1923 from the engine no. No title on it either.