February - Puget Sound Model T Club

PUGET SOUND CHAPTER
MODEL T FORD CLUB OF AMERICA
T’ OILERS
NEWS
VOLUME 40 ISSUE 2
MODEL T FORD INFORMATION
Happy Valentines Day 2010
February 2010
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The T’Oilers is published 12 times a year by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Model T Ford Club of America. The
club is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and use of Model T Fords by antique fans everywhere. Club dues
are $18.00 for the calendar year and include a subscription to the T’Oilers. The club will gladly exchange papers
with other clubs on a reciprocal basis. Display ads cost $10.00 a year for card size. All messages and articles including for sale and wanted must be submitted by the 10th of each month. For sale and want ads are free to members. Please support our advertisers. Members are encouraged to join the National MTFCA and receive the Vintage Ford for $35.00 at the address listed below. Six issues a year will come straight to your home.
2009 EXECUTIVE BOARD
Co-President
Co-President
Vice President
Co-Secretary
Co-Secretary
Treasurer
Past President
Donna McGinnis
Harold Musolf Jr.
Larry Mann
Dwaine Engler
Joyce Arneson
Ann Musolf
Dwaine Engler
(360) 658-6581
(425) 488-6983
(425) 514-8949
(360) 384-6044
(425) 485-4494
(425) 488-6983
(360) 384-6044
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
SEND $18.00 DUES TO: Ann Musolf, Treasurer PO Box 82567, Kenmore, WA 98028
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Editor
Web Site
Events Coordinator
Program Chairman
Raffle Prizes
Sunshine
Roster
Monroe Swap Meet
Safety
Storekeeper
Hospitality
Pictures
Insurance
Walt & Mary Berdan
Larry Mann
Jerry & Patty Wrolstad
Mike McGinnis
Dwaine & Linnette Engler
JoAnne Costa
Donna McGinnis
Jerry & Patty Wrolstad
Ray Moore
Duane Costa
Dwaine Engler
Dick & Bev Borton
Dwaine Engler
Donna McGinnis
(425) 643-0858
(425) 514-8949
(360) 659-8376
(360) 658-6581
(360) 384-6044
(360) 387-9701
(360) 658-6581
(360) 659-8376
(206) 446-8837
(360) 387-9701
(360) 384-6044
(360) 652-6517
(360) 384-6044
(360) 658-6581
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
T Oiler mailing address: Walt Berdan, 16713 SE 35th St, Bellevue, WA 98008 (425) 643-0858
MTFCA email
[email protected]
MTFCA web site http://www.MTFCA.com
MTFCA Mailing Address 119 W Main St.
P.O. Box 126 Centerville, Indiana 47330-0126
Dues $35.00 includes 6 issues of the Vintage Ford
MTFCI web site http://www.modelt.org
Puget Sound Model T Club web site http://clubs.hemmings.com/pugetsoundmtfca
Sunshine
Card sent to Joyce Arneson who has been under the weather.
Please contact JoAnne Costa at (360) 387-9701 or [email protected] if you hear of any member or
family member we should send a card or flowers to.
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PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE
February 2010
You might call this month's theme as PLANNING AHEAD. The first thing on the agenda is “Party
Time.” This coming Sunday (February 14) is our Valentine's Party to show everyone that you all are
appreciated. Details are further along in the 'T'oilers – so plan to join us for lunch, goodies, and live
entertainment. Plus, those at the last meeting voted that the club contribute $5 toward each member and spouse’s lunch.
Our new vice president is really with it; he already has the meeting places set up for the next two
meetings. We will be at Bob's Burger and Brew in Marysville (and hopefully they have worked out
the two little problems which interfered only the last time we were there – the video machine not
working and the paying system slow) so plan for March 27th. Then, on April 17th (remember, the
date was changed to accommodate the Horseless Carriage Club), we will again meet at the Southcenter Sizzler in the south end. It was really great to see some of the people who we had not seen
for a long time.
The club will have the same booth at the Monroe Swap Meet on May 8-9. Be watching for a couple
of items you can donate to the club to help continue this service to Model T'ers. Call Dwaine Engler
360-384-6044 or Jerry Wrolstad 360-659-8576 or Ray Moore 206-446-8837 to let them know of any
parts or whether you can help out at the booth for an hour or two.
Now is also the perfect time to start setting up the touring schedule, so let Jerry and/or Patty Wrolstad know if you have an idea of a great spot or are willing to generate a tour. 360-659-8576. With
all of the lovely weather we have been having, we hope everyone has Spring Fever and have your T
“ready to roll.” Let's hit the Road!
Your Co-Presidents, Donna McGinnis and Harold Musolf, Jr.
Photos For Club Website
Larry Mann would appreciate photos of cars and members (preferably together) for the club website.
http://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=pugetsoundmtfca
Email them to Larry at [email protected] or bring them to him at the next meeting.
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PSC Meeting
Sizzler at South Center Parkway, January 23rd, 2010
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 pm by our wandering Co-President, Harold Musolf. We had 29
members present with one guest. Welcome Cecil Paoletti. Thanks to John Sterling for the recruit.
The minutes from our last meeting, November 21, 2009, were approved by Bob Allen and a second by
George. Grimm. The motion passed.
Treasurer’s report – Ann Musolf reported that the club is in good shape, we have a few checks to be written and some of the dues are still coming in.
Events – Jerry and Patty Wrolstad reported that the calendar is open for anyone interested in scheduling
a tour. There will be a sign-up sheet and help for planning a tour is available. Also Jerry stated that the
Monroe Swap Meet is soon approaching us, May 15th and 16th. Parts are welcome and a sign-up sheet
will be passed around for help of the sales at the event.
Website – The comments around the group were very positive. Larry is doing a great job. He stated that
he would like pictures of our members with their cars to post on the website.
Newsletter – Editor Walt Berdan as usual is doing a fine job of putting together out T Oiler. He stated that
he is open for any new ideas or articles to put in our club paper.
Roster – Donna McGinnis stated that she still has copies (free of charge) of our club roster. She also
stated that if you have any changes or would like to add your cell phone, please contact her by email,
phone or at a meeting.
Sunshine – JoAnne Costa was not at the meeting but she passed on the message that Joyce Arneson
was taken to the hospital. Joyce was released and is now doing fine.
Stores – Dwaine Engler has made a list of what is currently in the store. There are a few new things going to be added. Come to the next meeting and hear about them.
New Business – Our next meeting will be held at the Eagle Crest in Arlington. It will be a Valentine’s
Party. Harold mentioned that the club would like to reimburse each member in attendance $5 for their
meal, the motion was accepted by Larry Mann and Mike McGinnis seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
There was no other new business.
Old Business – there was no old business.
Winners of the raffle prizes were Diane Tomaso, Patty Wrolstad, Ray Moore, Ann Musolf, Audi Reinthaler, Bob Allen, Patty Cunningham and Larry Mann
Badge Drawing – Jim Cloutier took home $55.00. Jim’s wife stated that she made him turn around to pick
up his badge at home.
The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn by Mike McGinnis and a second by Ann Musolf.
Respectfully submitted,
Dwaine Engler – Co-Secretary
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YOU ARE SPECIAL !
CELEBRATE
VALENTINE'S DAY
WITH OUR
PUGET SOUND CHAPTER
Our February meeting will be a special one with at the Eagle Crest Restaurant in in their banquet room
from 1 to 3 PM on February 14th. Our club will pick up part of the cost of lunch for members and their
spouses. We hopefully will have a surprise or two also. Plan to come join us and take your sweetheart
out for the afternoon. Some special entertainment is also in store for us. We hope to see you there!
Dwaine Engler showed off part of his collection and answered
questions about vintage bottles at the January meeting.
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2010 DUES AND ROSTER
Beware the RED DOT - that indicates your dues haven’t been paid for this year and this is your
final newsletter.
If you have forgotten to send them in, please do so ASAP. (Price is now $18 for the year.) We have to
have our final list to the National for insurance by February 15, so hurry. Send any paper work to Ann Musolf - P O Box 82567 – Kenmore WA 98221. THANKS!
Puget Sound Chapter
Model T Ford Club of America
2010 Membership
Membership costs $18.00 per calendar year (though there is a special of $15.00 if paid by December
31, 2009.) This includes you, your wife, and all children under 18 years of age. You will receive 12
issues of the T’Oilers newsletter and all of the benefits of the Puget Sound Chapter.
New member_____ Renewal_____
Last name__________________________ First name_________________________
Wife’s Name________________________ Phone (_____)______________________
Address______________________________________________________________
City________________________________ State_______ Zip___________________
Year and model of Model T’s______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Email address:_________________________________________________________
Would you refer email or paper (US Mail) delivery of the club newsletter?
Email ______ Paper ______
MTFCA #______________ (needed for club insurance, “none” if not a current member of the National)
In compliance with the laws of the State of Washington, I certify that I have Automobile Liability
Insurance (P.D. & P.I.) on my Model T Fords used for club functions throughout the year.
Company______________________ Policy # or agent_____________________
Owner’s signature__________________________________________________
Make checks out to Puget Sound Chapter MTFCA
Send to Treasurer Ann Musolf, P O Box 82567, Kenmore WA 98028
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By Your North-End Bureau Chief
Ed’s Note: Dreamin’ about an aux trans vs. a Ruckstell axle ?? A discussion on the MTFCA web
forum, as per usual, gives lots of opinions…
Question:
I’m looking for opinions. As I mentioned on an earlier post I’m having my engine/transmission rebuilt. Do the members here, feel it would be better to go with a Ruckstell rear or wait till next year
when I can save a little more money and put in a auxiliary transmission?? The area I’d be driving my
1919 Touring car (Northern NY) would be hilly but also with long flat areas.
Will Copeland
Answers:
Well, if there's anything I have, it's an opinion. So here is mine.
There are several advantages to a Ruckstell, not the least of which is that parts for it are available
from a variety of vendors, overnight, virtually anywhere in the US and most of Canada. They are
pretty bulletproof but if you are on tour and have problems with a Ruckstell, you can pull it out and
replace anything in it in a few hours or you can replace it with a standard differential in an hour or
two. It does not take one special tool to disassemble and reassemble one, you can do it with a cheap
set of “Wally World” open end wrenches if you really have to, and put it back together the same
way. Also, if you have already rebuilt your differential and have a new ring and pinion, new axles,
etc., you have about a third of the parts cost already covered. You can buy a brand new Ruckstell kit
for two thirds of what you will have to pay for a new (insert well known brand here) aux trans.
Money wise, a new Ruckstell kit or a good rebuild is cheaper than the (insert well known brand here)
if you consider that no matter if you spend three grand for the aux trans you still have to rebuild
your differential with new ring and pinion, sleeves, axles, etc., etc. Even with a new kit as opposed to
rebuilding a used one, you will have far less money spent than if you bought the aux trans and also
rebuilt the differential.
New (insert well known brand) aux trans: $2900 Rebuilt differential and driveshaft with parts below.
$1000 Total is about $4000. New Ruckstell kit: $2000. New R/P (ring & pinion) $300, Sleeves $100,
Axles, $225, Roller bearing pinion, $125, Driveshaft, $150, Misc, $100, Total: about the same as the
Aux transmission without the differential rebuild or a thousand dollars less than doing both. But.
now you are new from the U joint back. You now have straight axles housings (considering that you
will be able to find a straight right side or have yours straightened) and if you do it right, a reliable
differential that will run virtually forever.
A Ruckstell actually makes a more reliable differential because it uses an angular thrust ball bearing
for the thrust side of the ring gear support instead of the babbit or bronze thrust washer the standard
Ford diff uses. The ball bearing eliminates R/P clearance problems and the new ones should run
100,000 easily. As far as the overdrive in the (insert well known brand here) transmission, if you
have a stock T and are driving it normal speeds you don't need and won't get a lot of use out of the
Stan Howe
overdrive anyway. That's my opinion !! Others may, or will, or probably should vary.
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I would have to agree with Stan's points. A lot depends on who you tour with. Some clubs are largely
modified T's and an overdrive may be handy. You might install an original auxiliary transmission such
as a Warford or Muncie for considerably less but may not like the noise or shifting issues. My coupe
has a Ruckstell with 3.25 gears which works OK. My speedster project is going together with a KC
Warford. My 14 roadster is stock, tours fine unless you get behind someone lugging low Ruckstell.
Andy Clary
Well said Stan, I run a vintage over and under but ninety eight percent of the time an under drive
would work well like Ruckstell. One point not brought up is the transmission weight hangs off the pan
when Ruckstell weight is on the rear end. Testing proves to me that anything less then a 26-27 hogs
head and block is going to pull the pan down so personally early T no------late T yes. I would like to
Paul Vitko
have the new transmission on mine but I run a 26 engine.
The Ruckstell will go in without any modifications to anything other then the left side of the differential housing. A standard Ford rear axle can be swapped without any modification. The gear ratio you
use depends on where you will be driving. Do you want a higher ratio on level or a lower ratio for hill
climbing? I have 3 T's with Ruckstell 2 of them have standard ratio and the other has 3.25 to one.
The 3.25 engine goes slower when the car is going downhill or on level, but it needs to be shifted
down more often when climbing hills. If you need to use low pedal on most of your hills in your area,
I would recommend standard gear with Ruckstell. If you can go up most of your hills in high, then a
higher ratio will be good for you. If you go on many tours out of town such as Colorado, California or
Norman T. Kling
other western states, a standard ratio with Ruckstell is best.
I have had three T's with Ruckstell’s in them on one had three to one gears, wow what a ride. Our
1912 C Cab had a three speed Warford and a Ruckstell, you could get any radio station you wanted
with that car. 12 forward speeds and six in reverse. It is a very good combination for parades and
when the car is full of people. One of the T's had a five speed modern transmission with overdrive
and reverse in it with a Ruckstell and the stock T transmission. It had a RAJO and used all of the
gears very well. The only problem was that you never knew which gear you were in. You could go forward by putting the five speed in reverse and hitting the reverse pedal. What a trip. I now use only
Layne Warfords because they provide a true neutral and six speeds. You get a very low low and a
very high high as well as all the good stuff in the middle and direct drive too. It is true that you must
shorten the drive shaft with an auxiliary transmission but I have never had issues with that problem
or should it be problems with that issue? The Ruckstell axle is easier to drive than the old Warford
with their straight cut gears but the new Layne Warford has a constant mesh transmission and is
easy to shift even without the clutch while under full power, up or down hill. Auxiliary brakes are recommended for safety sake, but with the new Layne Warford transmission there is not the shifting
problem that one has with the old Warfords. If the engine dies you can jam it into gear and start the
engine again if you have room ahead of you, but it is safer to have those auxiliary brakes. So I love
Ruckstells, but I own the new Layne Warfords because of their true neutral, ease of use, and more
gears to select from within the power band. Frank Harris
There is not a lot to add to the above posts, but I'll add my 2 cents' worth. I've driven Ruckstells and
the KC Warfords several thousand miles each. I like them both. I also drove an original Warford for a
short time; just before I sprang for my first KC. (I had a difficult time shifting the original Warford
and didn't like it.)
The Ruckstell and KC Warford are both great additions to any Model T. The principal advantage, of
course, is the under drive gear on each. That, coupled with a standard 3.64 rear gear, provides an
ideal driving arrangement in a T. So both do work well. I have the KC in my Touring Car, which I
drove to Richmond in '08, as well as to a tour in Vicksburg, MS that fall, 3,500 miles in all. In the flatlands of Indiana and Illinois, I used the overdrive gear a lot. Around home where it is hilly, I seldom
use it. It was great to sail along on the flat mile after mile in overdrive. But even with an engine producing about 28-30 horsepower, it doesn't take much of a hill to need to shift out of overdrive.
In the Couplet I'm building, I have installed a Ruckstell. The car will be heavier than my Touring, and
I don't expect I'll drive it as fast, so the overdrive gear would be hardly ever used. Since the KC is
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more money, I can put that money toward other parts of the car. So I will have a KC in one and a
Ruckstell in the other of my two T's. Again, I like them both.
There is another difference which is a bit more subtle, but it is real nonetheless. The Ruckstell is
spring-loaded so that it shifts positively between gears. This results in a "bang" every time you shift
it. The KC Warford is a remarkable piece of modern engineering which shifts slicker'n snot on a glass
door knob. It is a joy to use, once you get a little practice. Some folks have a difficult time shifting
from 2nd to neutral without going past neutral and hitting 1st gear accidentally. The technique I use
is to just bump the shift lever with the palm of my hand, and it falls into neutral without a hitch. If
you push on the lever it will go too far and engage low gear, but the "bump" method works every
time. As I said, once you get the hang of it, it is a joy to use.
So that's my experience with both types of equipment. I hope it will be helpful to those who are trying to decide which would be right for their situations. Mike Walker, NW AR.
I have both, and think that there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I live in Denver where
we have some small hills! My 26 Coupe has the Layne Warford in it with 4 to 1 gears in the rear end.
I use the overdrive a lot for cruising on flat roads and have lots of low in a fairly heavy car. I started
to put a large drum Ruckstell in my 14 Touring and took it out because I did not like the way it
Paul Mikeska
looked.
I have one car with a Ruckstell and one with a new Warford. Personally I don't use the over drive. I
have a basically stock 1911 with a clamshell rear end. I wanted to keep the distinctive look of that
rear end, but I still needed an under drive for the mountains...so I bought a new Warford for that car.
I shortened a later drive shaft housing and welded a small ring on the rear flange so it overlaps the
closed spool. I took a pair of early forged radius rod ends that were off rods that had been broken off
and trashed, and cut down later radius rods and welded these in. When you look at the back of the
car it has the early clamshell rear end, closed bearing spool and the early cast radius rods, but no
early pieces were modified at all. My Warford has the earlier low gear ratio; now you can get it with
the same low gear as a Ruckstell. If you go with a new Warford I'd recommend the newer low gears.
All of that said, if it wasn't for the aesthetics of the very early rear end I'd stick with the Ruckstells.
Gary London
They're less expensive, simple, easy to get parts for are very durable.
A “new” Layne Warford
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February
13&14 Early Bird Swap Meet, Western Washington Fairgrounds, Puyallup, 8 am to 5 pm
on Saturday and 9 am to 3 pm on Sunday. Free parking, $5 entry fee.
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Sweetheart Banquet, Eagle Crest Restaurant, Arlington
19-21 The 45th MTFCA Members Meeting in Mesa, AZ. Reservations must be made by
December 15th. Bert Diehl, Chair: (602) 549-8026. Hotel: Phoenix Marriott Mesa,
(800) 456-6372. Rate is $99 per night, mention MTFCA.
March
13-14 Almost Spring Swap Meet, Puyallup Fairgrounds
April
May
27
PSC Meeting, Bob's Burgers and Brews in Tulalip (12:00-2:00)
9-11
Portland Swap Meet
17
PSC Meeting, Southcenter Sizzler in Tukwila (12:00-2:00)
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PSC Meeting
Classifieds
Your ad can go here
FOR SALE:
1927 Coupe, in nice shape; comes with spare
parts. $5500. Ask for Oscar (360) 659-6115
Wanted:
Larry Mann is looking for a 21” split rim,
tube and tire for a spare. Contact him at
(425) 514-8949 or [email protected]
Dwaine Engler is looking for a complete
26/27 motor and transmission. (360) 3846044 or [email protected]
Bob Breidenthal is in the market for a T.
(206) 522-8718
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RITZVILLE MOTOR COMPANY
In the automobile trade since 1914
Antique and Classic Car Storage
Located in Historic Old Downtown Ritzville,
Eastern Washington
Dry, secure, storage, for your next project.
$2.00/Ft. per month, for anything that rolls.
John Munroe (206) 604-8117
Your business card goes here for a mere $10.00
per year
From The MTFCA Forum
I hereby propose a law:
The throttles on all cars with automatic transmissions
shall be hand-controlled, and foot accelerators removed.
Think about it:
This safety-critical engine power control should be readily visible to the driver, and safely away from
the brake pedal, to reduce confusion.
The 1909-27 Ford Model T, the majority of all cars on the road at one time, used a hand controlled
lever (throttle) for doing the natural thing, controlling engine power. Foot feeds (accelerators) came
about less than a hundred years ago, only because of those crude sliding gear manual (as in hand)
transmissions that require a hand to operate. The planetary transmission in the Model T, and modern
automatic transmissions free up the right hand for power control.
The hand throttle is in the driver's primary field of view and focus, so safer than a foot feed hidden in
the bowels of the car by the feet. Boots, dropped items, etc., sometimes get in the way of the pedals,
with bad results. Removing the foot feed improves safety in that way, too.
The Model T Ford, the Car of the (20th) Century, sets the pace for safety in the 21st century.
How's that for genius?
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