Rally Restoration Project
RESTORATION OF 1915 MODEL T TOURER
This vehicle was located from a farming property in Dunedoo about 98 km from Dubbo. The rear seat was removed forming a flat deck for carrying farming equipment. When its useful life was finished it was stored in a leaky shed and dismantled in to many parts. During storage some body panels were lost or damage beyond repair. All the rear seat panels were missing and the rear mudguards were stored upside down and filled with rain water and rusted out at the crown.
I took all the remains of the car home and stored it safely in my Garage while I thought about how to restore the car. I decided I wanted to do as much of the restoration myself so I enrolled at Tafe in Panel beating, spray painting and upholstery courses.
The engine in the car has engine number C42920 with a casting date of 30th January 1914 putting it as a late 1915 car which is why it has electric head lights. The original fire wall was beyond restoration but gave me some useful information as the original Canadian dating plate was still attached showing the same engine number, a speedo had been fitted but was missing and the coil box was complete. I took many photos of the car before starting the restoration and this proved to be a good move as I had a record of all the parts I had and how they fitted together.
I began the restoration with the Chassis which apart from being heavily covered in red mud which had set like concrete proved to be straight and square. The original wheels were in good condition so I removed all the paint and soaked each wheel for three months in a linseed oil mixture before repainting. I was surprised how elegant the fellows were.
I re timbered some parts of the front of the car and completely remade the rear timber structure. I had some rear old panels that I used for the timber details and some Mel Miller plans. Next I started work on the sheet metal work the under seat panels, side panels and the rear were quite easy but those rear corner panels which form the tapered junction of the rear and sides were the most difficult to make but they turned out well after a lot of work.
I was lucky enough to have a friend importing a car from the USA who was purchasing a new K C Warford gear box for his vehicle so I purchased one for my car and they came to Australia inside his car. This required 12 inches to be cut from the drive shaft and this was done by a club member I now have six forward gears. While the diff was out of the car new axles with safety hubs were fitted and Rocky mountain brakes have been added.
All the mud guards, valances and running boards have been fitted to the body as it required some adjustment of the panels prior to removing for painting. I have to tidy up the hood before painting can begin. Painting the body is the next big job.
I have already finished many components ready to be installed after the body is painted these include the following:
New hood irons with new timber bows, Brass radiator fitted with new core, new round fuel tank, assembled new muffler, coil box finished, Head lights and two side light finished tail light still not finish, steering column and timber steering wheel finished. The upholstery to the rear seat squab is finished and the front seat is underway.
There are still a lot of fiddley bits to do but I am well on the way to Dubbo and maybe even to Dunedoo.
Robert Fordham
This vehicle was located from a farming property in Dunedoo about 98 km from Dubbo. The rear seat was removed forming a flat deck for carrying farming equipment. When its useful life was finished it was stored in a leaky shed and dismantled in to many parts. During storage some body panels were lost or damage beyond repair. All the rear seat panels were missing and the rear mudguards were stored upside down and filled with rain water and rusted out at the crown.
I took all the remains of the car home and stored it safely in my Garage while I thought about how to restore the car. I decided I wanted to do as much of the restoration myself so I enrolled at Tafe in Panel beating, spray painting and upholstery courses.
The engine in the car has engine number C42920 with a casting date of 30th January 1914 putting it as a late 1915 car which is why it has electric head lights. The original fire wall was beyond restoration but gave me some useful information as the original Canadian dating plate was still attached showing the same engine number, a speedo had been fitted but was missing and the coil box was complete. I took many photos of the car before starting the restoration and this proved to be a good move as I had a record of all the parts I had and how they fitted together.
I began the restoration with the Chassis which apart from being heavily covered in red mud which had set like concrete proved to be straight and square. The original wheels were in good condition so I removed all the paint and soaked each wheel for three months in a linseed oil mixture before repainting. I was surprised how elegant the fellows were.
I re timbered some parts of the front of the car and completely remade the rear timber structure. I had some rear old panels that I used for the timber details and some Mel Miller plans. Next I started work on the sheet metal work the under seat panels, side panels and the rear were quite easy but those rear corner panels which form the tapered junction of the rear and sides were the most difficult to make but they turned out well after a lot of work.
I was lucky enough to have a friend importing a car from the USA who was purchasing a new K C Warford gear box for his vehicle so I purchased one for my car and they came to Australia inside his car. This required 12 inches to be cut from the drive shaft and this was done by a club member I now have six forward gears. While the diff was out of the car new axles with safety hubs were fitted and Rocky mountain brakes have been added.
All the mud guards, valances and running boards have been fitted to the body as it required some adjustment of the panels prior to removing for painting. I have to tidy up the hood before painting can begin. Painting the body is the next big job.
I have already finished many components ready to be installed after the body is painted these include the following:
New hood irons with new timber bows, Brass radiator fitted with new core, new round fuel tank, assembled new muffler, coil box finished, Head lights and two side light finished tail light still not finish, steering column and timber steering wheel finished. The upholstery to the rear seat squab is finished and the front seat is underway.
There are still a lot of fiddley bits to do but I am well on the way to Dubbo and maybe even to Dunedoo.
Robert Fordham
