No Bias FTW

Thanks for the recommendations.

After answering the questions, please come enjoy a game. Hopefully, this will be the easiest game you have ever played: which picture shows the classical axle of Ford Model T? 😁

Disclaimer 1: This is just a cursory look at the contradiction between my desires; I will not be buying and butchering a Model T in the near future, so don't worry. I simply like to ponder certain things in advance in order to avoid problems with any plans. Disclaimer 2: I am looking for contributions, additions, and corrections from professionals. You don't have to answer all the questions; just the ones where you have a high degree of expertise. Thanks. Disclaimer 3: High speed to a certain extent is a safety measure, so I would be replacing the Model T engine with something more powerful and would still fit in the original engine compartment. Disclaimer 4: Yes, if I do end up buying a Model T and completing this project, I would replace the wooden wheels with look-a-likes made of light but strong metals. But even without the threat of collapsing wheels, I would still have to be reasonable when cornering. I am aware of all the usual dangers, so no worries. Final Disclaimer: Please focus on answering the questions. Overcoming problems with the front wheel drive on this thread does not mean sticking with the rear-wheel drive😈 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is no doubt in my mind that the my most desired antique would have to be a Model T given its sheer impact in history. If I am to get one in the distant future, however, I would remiss if I did not make it more fuel efficient and ultimately safer. I think most auto engineers has agreed that the front wheel drive configuration allows for the greatest stability and fuel economy. The problem is that the hardware of the front wheel drive tends to be heftier and this is contrary to the spirit that one must try to preserve the classical look of conveyance. Looking at the picture below, one can see that using the usual front-drive mechanisms as they are is contradictory to the preservation of the classical look of the Model T (with its style and placement of the front axle, the knuckles, and the wishbone). There are three problematic solutions that I could see: 1) use chains for direct drive; 2)use small hydraulic pumps and motors as seen on some motorcycles; 3) use electric motors. The problem with chains is that they tend to be untidy, even for something as small as the bicycle. But perhaps there were Model Ts that were front driven with chains; in that case, can you provide some authenticated photos? The problem with hydraulic pumps used on motorcycles is that - even if I were to use two hydraulic motors for each front wheels - I'm not sure I could get the Model T up to its cruising speed at a reasonable time and maintain the speed with such small motors. Are there any engineers here who could definitively answer in either direction? The problem with electric motors is that useful battery power is still far off. Furthermore, if one wants to keep the Model T engine, using the alternator to power the wheels is - presumably - highly inefficient. How far into the future can one expect the third solution to be an option? .

I am just curious. Note that I am talking about extreme rain, not just the usual heavy rain. For more info, start at around 2:38 in the video below. I can't imagine how cars with older tech would fare in this kind of weather. Hopefully, there are a few of you who could share some insane, ASMR stories😁.

Woah!!

Very informative!

A while....

Fatal lightning strikes may be rare, but they do occur even while one is driving near thunderstorms. As most of you probably know, regular convertibles do not form a 'perfect' Faraday Cage and - while the such roofing would provide you comfort when it rains - the fabric would just be an open area in the view of the lightning strike. I have a few questions regarding cars and lightning strikes overall: 1. Was the idea of wire meshes ever borrowed from the airline industry and implemented on the top covers for convertibles? In the modern world, airplanes made of flexible, composite materials have copper wires running through them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXrqTUVN7G8 2. I don't quite understand how even normal cars would form 'perfect' Faraday Cages. Wouldn't the windshields and side glasses be viewed as open areas by the lightning strikes? 3. Perhaps this would answer question 2 but it is quite a distinct problem. I am aware that people were still electrically shocked by lightning strikes even while they were inside fully-enclosed (normal) vehicles. Even if a person were to touch metallic objects within the 'perfect' Faraday Cage, why would some lightning strikes 'chose' the person to travel through rather than remain in the Faraday pathway? Are there cases of individuals still being shocked while inside airplanes and metallic ships?

I'm sure that I would never be wealthy enough for the discussed problem to be an issue. However, lets just say that I do ended up having enough money in my old age and became so eccentric that I decided to add motors to unorthodox vehicles (covered wagons, horse buggies, etc.)😈. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covered_wagon#/media/File:Covered_wagon_at_the_High_Desert_Museum_Outside.jpg Let's also say that, while I chose to keep the spokes design, I ended up making the wheels as metallic and wide as those of an average car today. Presumably, this would not be a problem since there would likely still be machine shops eager for customized works. However, and for whatever funny reasons, lets also say that I desire the pneumatic and low-profile winter tires as seen on racing cars today🤪. As of today at the least, is there a proper channel for one to order such a set of customized tires from mainstream tire brands? And how do you guys deal with the unorthodox tire size required for your vintage vehicles (presumably driven)?

From my current understanding of the automobile, vehicular brakes developed in this fashion: archaic wooden brakes>>>>mechanical drum brakes>>>>hydraulic drum brakes>>>>hydraulic disc brakes>and then abs. I'm just curious: was there ever an phase where MECHANICAL disc brakes were used? I asked because, in the bicycle world at least, we seem to have an almost identical brake history (main exception being the computerized abs). As in the automobile world, we noticed that disc brakes offer better performances in a lot of situations. The difference is that cyclists have a choice between disc brakes that are actuated mechanically (by physical cables) and ones that are actuated hydraulically (by fluids). Did car drivers used to have that choice?

Thank you all for the informative posts.

*Note 1: I have not used the cleaner on the interior of any of my vehicles yet* *Note 2: I realize that this is not a car cleaning forum, but I don't like signing into too many forums that I would end up using only once* I've bought a tonneau cleaner in a spray bottle a while ago. I've used it quite a few times for my truck covering and found out that I don't really need it. Unfortunately, the labeling has been torn out and I'm not sure if it is advisable to use it on the interior fabric. Even if -as a result of quick googling - the label says that it can be used on fabrics, I just want to be extra sure. Have you guys ever used tonneau cleaners on the interior fabrics? There were no - at least what you considered pertinent - problems, right?

Hi guys. I am currently not an antique cars collector but I have always been interested in the engineering history and the developmental milestones of the automobile. From my current understanding, many safety features we have on vehicles today have contestable timelines. For instance, a lot of people are unsure about when and which company introduced the red brake/tail lights to a car. The same contestable timeline seems to also apply to the history of the Instrument board. If I am not mistaken, people first used to calculate their speed by the use of postings on a stretch of road. But what is the - even though it might be arguable - first instrument board with the odometer, speedometer, and/or rpm dial? What does it look like and was it made mostly out of brass? How was it made visible at night; was it lit up by oil/carbide lamps or was it - pretty much - immediately designed with lightbulbs in mind?