Straighten the chassis
Today we have the curve chassis straightened on the
straightening bench.
It was rather curved especialy the front cross member of the
chassis.
the front cross member
Because of the accident the chassis was more than one inch out of
square
the curved chassis
on the straightening bench
But finaly we succeeded in getting the chassis straight
the result is a straight chassis
Front axle in progress
The front axle is to bad to repair after the accident.
That’s why we found a good old axle but we have to repair the holes and the threads of the king bolds.
Here you see the axle in the cutter machine.
front axle in progress
restoration of the rear end
We started with the restoration of the wood work of the rear end of the Model T
wood work rear end
We also started with the assembling of the new Ruckstell rear axle
Ruckstell rear axle
Dismantling the rear axle
Today I dismantled the rear axle and th axle housings where so curved that it was hard to get the axles out of the housing.
how curved can it be
Fortunalely I had a good helper; Simon my grandson. A new generation takes the steering wheel.
new generation helping grandpa
Started with the dismantling of the Model T
Today I started with the dismantling of the rear wheels.
The axle housings are so bent that it was difficult to get the bearings out of the housings.
axle housing left
axle housing right
This is the left over of the rear fender on the left side.
It will be a hard job to get this in a good shape again.
I think mounting a new one is the best option.
rear fender
The box that was mounted on the left running board.
Luckily the plaque of the Model T Ford Club of America and the plaque of the Antique car club of Uruguay are undamaged.
I am sure that they will show off after the restoration of the box.
box
The end of the Model T Worldtour??
Last Monday our dream collapsed when our Model T was demaged in a freak accident on the highway in Belgium.
Luckily Trudy and Dirk and passanger Rick Nicolaas came away without serious injuries wich is a miracle.
Perparing the Model T for our next leg of the Worldtour which starts in New Zealand, we did a practice weekend in Luxembourg and at the same time we were supporting the Make a Wish foundation, an organisation who tries to make come true the dreams of children with a life threatening diseace.
children at the event
On our way home to Holland from a very succesfull weekend, things went terrible wrong.
Easily cruising in Belgium with the Model T safely on the trailer behind the LandRover, a truckdriver -nearing from behind at high speed- didn’t pay attention.
He smashed into the trailer, causing the combination to array with the LandRover ending on its side.
accident 1
accident 2
accident 3
Fortunately the 3 of us were all doing okay, besides some bruises and myalgia.
we are okay
That cannot be said for the Model T and the LandRover; both total loss.
accident 4
accident 5
After celebrating its 100 year-anniversery last Februari, the future of our Model T is very insecure.
He carried us in 2007 from Beijing to Paris (8000 miles); in 2012 from Holland to Cape Town (14,000 miles); in 2013 round in the USA and Canada (17,000 miles and in 2014 from Colombia, via the south of Argentina to Brasil (16,000 miles).
At this moment nothing is certain. Not the Model T. Not the continuation of our worldtour.
We’ll keep you informed.
what will the future bring
