Characteristics Ford Model T

1 characteristics

1.1 engine
1.2 transmission , drive train

1.2.1 transmission bands , linings


1.3 suspension , wheels
1.4 colors
1.5 body
1.6 diverse applications

characteristics

1908 ford model t advertisement

the model t designed childe harold wills, , hungarian immigrants joseph a. galamb , eugene farkas. henry love, c. j. smith, gus degner , peter e. martin part of team. production of model t began in third quarter of 1908. collectors today classify model ts build years , refer these model years , labeling first model ts 1909 models. retroactive classification scheme; concept of model years understood today did not exist @ time. nominal model designation model t , although design revisions did occur during car s 2 decades of production.

engine


model t engine

the model t had front-mounted 177-cubic-inch (2.9 l) inline four-cylinder engine, producing 20 hp (15 kw), top speed of 40–45 mph (64–72 km/h). according ford motor company, model t had fuel economy on order of 13–21 mpg‑us (16–25 mpg‑imp; 18–11 l/100 km). engine capable of running on gasoline, kerosene, or ethanol, although decreasing cost of gasoline , later introduction of prohibition made ethanol impractical fuel users. engines of first 2,447 units cooled water pumps; engines of unit 2,448 , onward, few exceptions prior around unit 2,500, cooled thermosiphon action.

the ignition system used in model t unusual trembler coil system drive spark plugs, used stationary gas engines, rather expensive magnetos used on other cars. ignition made model t more flexible quality or type of fuel used. need starting battery , ford s use of unusual ac alternator located inside flywheel housing encouraged adoption of electric lighting (standard fitment of 1915), rather oil or acetylene lamps, delayed adoption of electric starting, not offered until 1919. model t engine produced replacement needs, stationary , marine applications until 1941, after production of model t had ended. utilized in drivetrain of fordson tractor, produced in until 1928, , in ireland until 1964.

transmission , drive train

the 3 pedal controls of model t



view driver s seat, 1920 model t

the model t rear-wheel drive vehicle. transmission planetary gear type billed 3 speed . in today s terms considered two-speed, because 1 of 3 speeds reverse.

the model t s transmission controlled 3 foot pedals , lever mounted road side of driver s seat. throttle controlled lever on steering wheel. left pedal used engage transmission. floor lever in either mid position or forward , pedal pressed , held forward, car entered low gear. when held in intermediate position, car in neutral. if left pedal released, model t entered high gear, when lever forward – in other position, pedal move far central neutral position. allowed car held in neutral while driver cranked engine hand. car cruise without driver having press of pedals.

the first 800 units sent in reverse lever; units after sent in reverse pedal between clutch , brake pedals. middle pedal used engage reverse gear when car in neutral. right pedal operated transmission brake – there no brakes on wheels. floor lever controlled parking brake, activated pulling lever way back. doubled emergency brake.

although uncommon, drive bands fall out of adjustment, allowing car creep, particularly when cold, adding hazard attempting start car: person cranking engine forced backward while still holding crank car crept forward, although nominally in neutral. car utilized wet clutch, condition occur in cold weather, when thickened oil prevents clutch discs slipping freely. power reached differential through single universal joint attached torque tube drove rear axle; models (typically trucks, available cars, well) equipped optional two-speed ruckstell rear axle shifted floor-mounted lever provided underdrive gear easier hill climbing. gears vanadium steel running in oil bath.

transmission bands , linings

two main types of band lining material used:

cotton – cotton woven linings original type fitted , specified ford. generally, cotton lining kinder drum surface, damage drum caused retaining rivets scoring drum surface. although in did not pose problem, dragging band resulting improper adjustment caused overheating transmission , engine, diminished power, and – in case of cotton linings – rapid destruction of band lining.
wood – wooden linings offered longer life accessory part during life of model t. single piece of steam bent wood , metal wire, fitted normal model t transmission band. these bands give different feel pedals, more of bite feel. sensation of definite grip of drum , seemed noticeably increase feel, in particular of brake drum.

suspension , wheels


the suspension components of ford model t: coil-spring device aftermarket accessory, hassler shock absorber .

model t suspension employed transversely mounted semi-elliptical spring each of front , rear beam axles allowed great deal of wheel movement cope dirt roads of time.

the front axle drop forged single piece of vanadium steel. ford twisted many axles through 8 full rotations (2880 degrees) , sent them dealers put on display demonstrate superiority. model t did not have modern service brake. right foot pedal applied band around drum in transmission, stopping rear wheels turning. mentioned parking brake lever operated band brakes acting on inside of rear brake drums, integral part of rear wheel hubs. optional brakes acted on outside of brake drums available aftermarket suppliers.

wheels wooden artillery wheels, steel welded-spoke wheels available in 1926 , 1927.

tires pneumatic clincher type, 30 in (76 cm) in diameter, 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide in rear, 3 in (7.6 cm) in front. clinchers needed higher pressure today s tires, typically 60 psi (410 kpa), prevent them leaving rim @ speed. horseshoe nails on roads, high pressure, made flat tires common problem.

balloon tires became available in 1925. 21 in × 4.5 in (53 cm × 11 cm) around. balloon tires closer in design today s tires, steel wires reinforcing tire bead, making lower pressure possible – typically 35 psi (240 kpa) – giving softer ride. old nomenclature tire size changed measuring outer diameter measuring rim diameter 21 in (530 mm) (rim diameter) × 4.5 in (110 mm) (tire width) wheels has same outer diameter 30 in (76 cm) clincher tires. tires in time period used inner tube hold pressurized air; tubeless tires not in use until later.

wheelbase 100 inches (254 cm) , standard tread width 56 in (142 cm); 60 in (152 cm) tread obtained on special order, southern roads , identical pre-civil war track gauge many railroads in former confederacy.

colors

by 1918, half of cars in model ts. however, monolithic bloc; ford wrote in autobiography in 1909 told management team in future “any customer can have car painted color wants long black”.

however, in first years of production 1908 1913, model t not available in black rather gray, green, blue, , red. green available touring cars, town cars, coupes, , landaulets. gray available town cars, , red touring cars. 1912, cars being painted midnight blue black fenders. in 1914 color long black policy implemented. stated ford suggested use of black 1914 1926 due cheap cost , durability of black paint. during lifetime production of model t, on 30 types of black paint used on various parts of car. these formulated satisfy different means of applying paint various parts, , had distinct drying times, depending on part, paint, , method of drying.

body

1910 model t, photographed in salt lake city



t speedster



1925 ford new model t tudor sedan

although ford classified model t single letter designation throughout entire life , made no distinction model years, enough significant changes body made on production life car may classified several style categories. among visible , identifiable changes in hood , cowl areas, although many other modifications made vehicle.

1909–1914 – characterized straight, five-sided hood, flat top containing center hinge , 2 side sloping sections containing folding hinges. firewall flat windshield down no distinct cowl.
1915–1916 – hood design same five-sided design obvious change being addition of louvers vertical sides. significant change cowl area occurred windshield relocated behind firewall , joined compound-contoured cowl panel.
1917–1923 – hood design changed tapered design curved top. folding hinges located @ joint between flat sides , curved top. sometime referred low hood distinguish if later hoods. edge of hood met front edge of cowl panel no part of flat firewall visible outside of hood. design used longest , during highest production years, accounting half of total number of model ts built.
1923–1925 – change made during 1923 calendar year, models built earlier in year have older design, while later vehicles have newer design. taper of hood increased , rear section @ firewall inch taller , several inches wider previous design. while relatively minor change, parts between third , fourth generations not interchangeable.
1926–1927 – design change made greatest difference in appearance of car. hood again enlarged, cowl panel no longer compound curve , blended more line of hood. distance between firewall , windshield increased significantly. style referred high hood .

the styling on last generation preview following model a, 2 models visually quite different, body on wider , had curved doors opposed flat doors on t.

diverse applications

a model t homemade tractor pulling plow



pullford auto-to-tractor conversion advertisement, 1918

when model t designed , introduced, infrastructure of world quite different today s. pavement rarity except sidewalks , few big-city streets. (the sense of term pavement equivalent sidewalk comes era, when streets , roads dirt , sidewalks paved way walk along them.) agriculture occupation of many people. power tools scarce outside factories, power sources them; electrification, pavement, found in larger towns. rural electrification , motorized mechanization embryonic in regions , nonexistent in most. henry ford oversaw requirements , design of model t based on contemporary realities. consequently, model t (intentionally) tractor , portable engine automobile. has been regarded all-terrain abilities , ruggedness. travel rocky, muddy farm lane, cross shallow stream, climb steep hill, , parked on other side have 1 of wheels removed , pulley fastened hub flat belt drive bucksaw, thresher, silo blower, conveyor filling corn cribs or haylofts, baler, water pump, electrical generator, , many other applications. 1 unique application of model t shown in october 1922 issue of fordson farmer magazine. showed minister had transformed model t mobile church, complete small organ.

during era, entire automobiles (including thousands of model ts) hacked apart owners , reconfigured custom machinery permanently dedicated purpose, such homemade tractors , ice saws. dozens of aftermarket companies sold prefab kits facilitate t s conversion car tractor. model t had been around decade before fordson tractor became available (1917–18), , many ts had been converted field use. (for example, harry ferguson, later famous hitches , tractors, worked on eros model t tractor conversions before worked fordsons , others.) during next decade, model t tractor conversion kits harder sell, fordson , farmall (1924), other light , affordable tractors, served farm market. during depression (1930s), model t tractor conversion kits had resurgence, because used model ts , junkyard parts them plentiful , cheap.

like many popular car engines of era, model t engine used on home-built aircraft (such pietenpol sky scout) , motorboats.

an armored-car variant (called ft-b) developed in poland in 1920 due high demand during polish-soviet war in 1920.

many model ts converted vehicles travel across heavy snows kits on rear wheels (sometimes pair of rear-mounted wheels , 2 sets of continuous track mount on now-tandemed rear wheels, making half-track) , skis replacing front wheels. popular rural mail delivery time. common name these conversions of cars , small trucks snowflyers . these vehicles extremely popular in northern reaches of canada, factories set produce them.

a number of companies built model t–based railcars. in great railway bazaar, paul theroux mentions rail journey in india on such railcar. new zealand railways department s rm class included few.