Santa Clara Valley Model T Ford Club

November 2006: The Los Gatos High School Speedster Project is currently focused on two main areas; lowering the frame and restoring the engine. The frame-lowering design is complete and work has begun on both the front and rear frame lowering parts. A Model T engine has been purchased and is currently being disassembled. New main bearings will have to be obtained plus some work on the valves. A machine shop to do this work is being sought.

December 2006: The first photo shows Robert working on the brackets to Z (lower) the back frame. The brackets are finished and will be welded to the frame and cross-member. The next two photos show Joseph and Mike working on positioning the axle in front of the frame and making sure that it is aligned correctly prior to welding the lowering mechanism. The last photo shows Mike working on a combined Ruckstell shifting and parking brake mechanism under the guidance of Peder.

January 2007: Lowering of the rear frame has been accomplished by the students who made a Z box welded from sheet metal. In the second photo, Joseph is measuring to see that the front axle is perpendicular to the frame after installing the modified wishbone. Mike and Robert are testing the position of the steering wheel with a simulated driver's seat. In the last photo, Mike is determining the position of the modified hand brake mechanism. This mechanism combines the hand brake with the Ruckstell shifter.

February 2007: Effort has shifted to the transmission and motor. Here, Robert and Mike are disassembling the transmission. Everything was removed from the flywheel including the magnets. A second transmission was disassembled and the best parts from both will be used to build the final assembly. A 1924 Model T engine was completely disassembled. The next step will be cleaning and magnafluxing.

March 2007: In the first photo, Brianna is working on a PowerPoint presentation that will be given to local civic organizations to tell what the LGHS Speedster Project is all about and to seek donations to the project. Robert and Joseph are setting up the lathe to finish the bracket for the rear stabilizing bars. Robert is shown working on an intake/exhaust manifold for the speedster engine. Students are working with Steve to restore the Ruckstell.

April 2007: In the first two photos, Joseph is working with his advisor to determine and measure where the plates will be welded to box in the frame for additional strength. In the next photo, Robert is smoothing the ring gear in preparation of installing it in the Ruckstell. In the last photo, Joseph is installing the clutch discs in the rebuilt transmission.

May 2007: The first photo shows Joseph marking the rear radius rod for length. The end of the radius rods were cut off to attach to the tie-rod or steering rod ends. In the second photo, Robert is machining a block that will eventually become the rear Ruckstell shifting assembly. In the next photo, Joseph is removing the brake drums so that they can be used on the Chevy disk wheels. In the last photo, Mike is finishing a bracket for the hand brake/Ruckstell shifter.

August 2007: Progress has been made during the school summer break. The first photo shows a rolling chassis with installed motor. The next two photos shows Joseph working with Jim to make brackets for the steering column and coil. The last photo shows Joseph mounting the coil in its temporary position on the frame.

September 2007: With the start of the new school year, the Speedster Club has gained some new members. In the first photo, Tyler and Clayton (with some assistance) are attaching the radiator rod to the firewall. In the second photo, Austin and Joseph are applying grease to the wheel bearings. In the third photo, Austin is working on attaching the spark advance rod to the distributor. In the last photo, Mike is working on the attachment of the hogs head to the frame.

October 2007: After reinstalling the tire on the rim, Lynn is tightening the bolts of the rim to the wheel. In the second photo, James is adding ignition and charging wiring. In the third photo, CJ and Cutter are adding wood to the firewall to simulate the final firewall design. In the last photo Lynn is making cardboard sections that will define the body.

October 2007: The students are designing and creating the body of the speedster using cardboard. After several iterations, they feel that they have the body style that they want. Next step is to convert the cardboard to sheet metal.

November 2007: Although work continues on the speedster body, the focus of the students activities this month has been on the rear axle and the Ruckstell. Here the students are getting prepared to install the floating rear hubs, brake drums and hubs.

December 2007: As the year comes to a close, we find Mike marking a tire and wheel before removing the tire in preparation of painting the wheels. CJ and James are cleaning the rear axle in the next photo. Lynn is shown taping the brake lining and then painting the axle. The rear axle, torque tube, Rocky Mountain brakes and miscellaneous parts are being painted.

January 2008: The main focus of the speedster project is on the body. In the first two photos, Joseph is attaching the wood frame that will provide the bottom anchor of the metal body. In the third photo, a student is putting the final touches on the Ruckstell rear end. In the last photo Lynn is preparing the front axle for painting.

February 2008: In the first photo, Lynn is applying the final black paint to the front axle. In the next photo, Joseph and Robert are working on the wood base in preparation of adding the wood frame for the body. In the third photo Joseph and Lynn are painting the frame. And in the last photo, Joseph and Lynn continue to work on the wood buck off the T frame.

 March 2008: In these photos, Joseph, Lynn and Robert are adding ribs to the wood buck.

 April 2008: In the first photo, Joseph calculates the size of the gas tank based upon the area available in the boat tail. Joseph and Clayton begin cutting the aluminum sheetmetal for the boat tail. Clayton is shown in the third photo beginning his apprentise on the French wheel to form the boat tail. In the last photo, Robert is working on installing the new intake manifold.

 May 2008: In the first photo, James is removing the burrs from part of the exhaust manifold. The next photo shows Robert smoothing the surface of the exhaust manifold that attaches to the block.

 September 2008: The 2008 - 2009 school year has begun and the Speedster Club is back at work with some new students. In the first photo we see students working to clean a newly acquired block. In the second photo Robert is welding the exhaust pipe. In the third and fourth photo the students are shortening the length of the wheel bolts.

 November 2008: In the first one student is using a punch to provide a lock for the hub bolts. In the second photo one student is adjusting the tow-in. In the thrid photo students are adding cotter pins to castle nuts and in the forth photo, CJ is adding a bracket to support the tail pipe.