In a 1926 and 1927 Model T the gas tank is in the crowl and gravity feed is normally not a problem. In earlier T's the gas tank was under the seat and then sometimes with a low fuel level the driver would need to back up steep hills.
@@jimthode would you say these are easier to drive than a model a the model a hasn't unsynchronized transmission lots of shifting I have some cerebral palsy which makes it hard for me to
@@brettduffy1992 Just because a T has no standard clutch or gas pedal I'd say it it harder to learn to drive then an A. After you learn it is not bad, just goes much slower then an A.
@@brettduffy1992 You drive a Model T as if it has no brakes, think way ahead. The foot brake is one small band in the transmission and it has no front wheel brakes
I couldn't quite tell in the video, but do you have a Ruckstell on the car? Shifting into its underdrive can also help slow you down with even less use of the brakes.
Yes it has a Ruckstell and that would work to keep it quite a bit slower. The only required thing is that you would have to be sure to downshift BEFORE starting down the hill.
Hi Jim, I'm curious...how would one do an emergency brake going downhill? Say you're cruising at 35mph and a deer runs out in front of you. Would you use the foot brake or the hand brake? (I know virtually nothing about Model T's)
The hand brake would be the best choice for an emergency stop. However in either case you have to drive the Model T as if it has almost no brakes. With only one brake drum in the transmission and only rear wheel brakes it is nothing like modern cars.
@@jimthode Thank you, Jim! The reason I'm asking is because I'm a historical fiction writer with my story taking place in 1917. My next question is a bit more complicated...at least it is for me! I hope you can answer it. In my story, I need the Model T to fail going down a hill. Someone has sabotaged the vehicle. Is there something 'easy' that the saboteur could do to it, to make the driver lose control? Any help or guidance you can give would be appreciated. I'm running into a brick wall with this one. Thank you!
@@CarrieKwiatkowski Since the main pedal braking system and the emergency/parking lever brake are separate systems and use different brake drums I do not see where a single action could disable both systems. Either one or both together are no way as good as modern brakes but it would not be possible to disable both with one change. Maybe it the main pedal brake was completely worn out and they were using the emergency brake only, then simply removing a single little pin on the control rod would disable the parking brake.
Well, you do get a little speed reduction. On a long steep downhill grade it seems gearing down would be the better option? I've never driven a Model T so I'm not sure if downshifting is an option. In my 1960 Chevy with a 235 engine, it works amazingly well to down shift into 2nd gear on very steep hills. Most time I don't even have to touch the brakes.......Neat experiment video, thanks for sharing :)
IronClad292, Thanks for the comment. Gearing down for a very steep hill is a reasonable option for a Model T. However a standard Model T only has two gears, really slow and high gear, so to gear down you would be doing 10 to 15mph. My T has an after market Ruckstell two speed rear end but it is still quite a big step to the low Ford gear. The low speed rear end and high speed Ford is a good option for a steeper hill and I have used the low rear end and Ford low for descending hills up to 18% without any brakes. The standard rule is when driving a Model T is to drive it like it has no brakes because compared to modern brakes, even in good condition it has only two wheel and very poor brakes. Jim
Standard Trans is 1:1 for high and 2.75:1 for low. Standard rear end is 3.64:1. Ruckstell increases then rear end ratio x 1.54. My rear end is 3:1 so that is geared a little higher then standard. Jim
Jim, I have really enjoyed the videos about your 1926 Model T Runabout. I searched through your comments about the chassis tests and discovered that you have installed a 3:1 gear ratio in addition to the Ruckstell 2-speed rear axle. It is obvious to me that you have done an excellent restoration of the engine and drive train. Did you modify the engine with any performance equipment? Higher compression head or domed aluminum pistons, Stipe camshaft, Model A crank? I have driven standard Model Ts for 45 years at 25-30 mph cruising speed. I have always been more afraid of stopping an original Model T rather than going. Modern cars with hydraulic disc brakes are my greatest fear while driving a Model T. I wish people could experience the feeling of a Model T at 30 mph. It is not as mundane as they would imagine. I was excited when your Model T reached 39.4 mph on that downhill run. I was tense when your Model T made 45-50 mph on the chassis run. Again, congratulations on your excellent work.
Nice test, much appreciate the results and method you used.
Didn't you have to go uphill backwards in those sometimes because of the gravity feed
In a 1926 and 1927 Model T the gas tank is in the crowl and gravity feed is normally not a problem. In earlier T's the gas tank was under the seat and then sometimes with a low fuel level the driver would need to back up steep hills.
@@jimthode would you say these are easier to drive than a model a the model a hasn't unsynchronized transmission lots of shifting I have some cerebral palsy which makes it hard for me to
And how is the foot brake on these I guess plan your stops way ahead of time
@@brettduffy1992 Just because a T has no standard clutch or gas pedal I'd say it it harder to learn to drive then an A. After you learn it is not bad, just goes much slower then an A.
@@brettduffy1992 You drive a Model T as if it has no brakes, think way ahead. The foot brake is one small band in the transmission and it has no front wheel brakes
I couldn't quite tell in the video, but do you have a Ruckstell on the car? Shifting into its underdrive can also help slow you down with even less use of the brakes.
Yes it has a Ruckstell and that would work to keep it quite a bit slower. The only required thing is that you would have to be sure to downshift BEFORE starting down the hill.
Hi Jim, I'm curious...how would one do an emergency brake going downhill? Say you're cruising at 35mph and a deer runs out in front of you. Would you use the foot brake or the hand brake? (I know virtually nothing about Model T's)
The hand brake would be the best choice for an emergency stop. However in either case you have to drive the Model T as if it has almost no brakes. With only one brake drum in the transmission and only rear wheel brakes it is nothing like modern cars.
@@jimthode Thank you, Jim! The reason I'm asking is because I'm a historical fiction writer with my story taking place in 1917. My next question is a bit more complicated...at least it is for me! I hope you can answer it. In my story, I need the Model T to fail going down a hill. Someone has sabotaged the vehicle. Is there something 'easy' that the saboteur could do to it, to make the driver lose control? Any help or guidance you can give would be appreciated. I'm running into a brick wall with this one. Thank you!
@@CarrieKwiatkowski Since the main pedal braking system and the emergency/parking lever brake are separate systems and use different brake drums I do not see where a single action could disable both systems. Either one or both together are no way as good as modern brakes but it would not be possible to disable both with one change. Maybe it the main pedal brake was completely worn out and they were using the emergency brake only, then simply removing a single little pin on the control rod would disable the parking brake.
@@jimthode Okay, that answers my question! But I still have the problem of making that car dangerous somehow while driving. Any suggestions? :)
Thanks. I'll remember that.
I guess the low compression of the T engine was the big factor. Interesting idea though. Nice sounding engine.
Sped up like this the T sounds like a sportbike!
sounds strange.
Well, you do get a little speed reduction. On a long steep downhill grade it seems gearing down would be the better option? I've never driven a Model T so I'm not sure if downshifting is an option. In my 1960 Chevy with a 235 engine, it works amazingly well to down shift into 2nd gear on very steep hills. Most time I don't even have to touch the brakes.......Neat experiment video, thanks for sharing :)
IronClad292,
Thanks for the comment. Gearing down for a very steep hill is a reasonable option for a Model T. However a standard Model T only has two gears, really slow and high gear, so to gear down you would be doing 10 to 15mph. My T has an after market Ruckstell two speed rear end but it is still quite a big step to the low Ford gear. The low speed rear end and high speed Ford is a good option for a steeper hill and I have used the low rear end and Ford low for descending hills up to 18% without any brakes.
The standard rule is when driving a Model T is to drive it like it has no brakes because compared to modern brakes, even in good condition it has only two wheel and very poor brakes.
Jim
Jim Thode prety much it.. neat video i might add. what kinda of gear ratio do you get with the additon of the 2 speed rear vs one with out it?
Standard Trans is 1:1 for high and 2.75:1 for low. Standard rear end is 3.64:1. Ruckstell increases then rear end ratio x 1.54. My rear end is 3:1 so that is geared a little higher then standard. Jim
how do you know how fast your going without a speedometer and without a GPS
I had a hand held GPS, you can see it on the right side of the screen. Jim
With no GPS I guess u just guess
Yes, most of the time you just guess. Don't have to worry about going too fast because it only will do 45mph flat out.
So it would be very unlikely to get a speeding ticket in it and most cops would probably not pull you over in that
Jim,
I have really enjoyed the videos about your 1926 Model T Runabout.
I searched through your comments about the chassis tests and discovered that you have installed a 3:1 gear ratio in addition to the Ruckstell 2-speed rear axle.
It is obvious to me that you have done an excellent restoration of the engine and drive train.
Did you modify the engine with any performance equipment? Higher compression head or domed aluminum pistons, Stipe camshaft, Model A crank?
I have driven standard Model Ts for 45 years at 25-30 mph cruising speed. I have always been more afraid of stopping an original Model T rather than going. Modern cars with hydraulic disc brakes are my greatest fear while driving a Model T.
I wish people could experience the feeling of a Model T at 30 mph. It is not as mundane as they would imagine.
I was excited when your Model T reached 39.4 mph on that downhill run. I was tense when your Model T made 45-50 mph on the chassis run.
Again, congratulations on your excellent work.