Ford Model T Totrod

[Twisted Patience]

This is my daughter Scarlett's totrod as it was when it was donated to us.

It was a bit abused and battered and is in need of some TLC.

I started by cutting all the mudguards, fenders and lights off.

The plastic steering wheel was broken so a new one would have to be fabricated.

The front of the frame was bent backwards by about 1/2 inch so that was hacked off along with the pedal mechanism.

The first job I started was the steering wheel, I'd just been looking at a friends thread on another forum about building one for a real hot rod and decided to have a go myself.

I cut the rim, in two parts (my CNC mill is not big enough to do it in one) four spokes and a boss for the center out of 3mm T6 aluminum bolted the lot together with M3 stainless cap head screws.

I them cut some wooden covers to fit over the rim one side only again in two parts on the CNC these where glued on and the whole thing spun up in the lathe to sand down and give it a smooth finish (pictures to follow)


Next installment to follow when I take some pictures.

 

[davidh]

that is really cute. on this side of the pond, it seems all we have for the tykes is plastic crap. altho I do have a metal, cast johndeere pedal tractor from about 22 years ago that my boy learned to drive, and back up with a trailer attached. ahh the memorys. they grow up way too fast.
keep sharing the progress

 

[benmychree]

That is a wonderful thing! As quoted by another, my daughter (now 34) had to make do with "plastic crap" also, but she lived through it!

 

[dogcatcher]

that is really cute. on this side of the pond, it seems all we have for the tykes is plastic crap. altho I do have a metal, cast johndeere pedal tractor from about 22 years ago that my boy learned to drive, and back up with a trailer attached. ahh the memorys. they grow up way too fast.
keep sharing the progress

I have my cast John Deere that I got over 60 years ago, our son drove it, and now the grandson has it.

Got to watch this thread, the John Deere is due for another overhaul.

 

[Twisted Patience]

Managed to get a bit more done whilst waiting for the paint to dry on the trike (I have my MOT test tomorrow, for the US that's a yearly road worthiness test)

 

[davidh]

the front suspension is really neat. simple yet functional. I see no pedals on the inside, is it just a" push along with your feet" kind of powered or are you going to put electrics on it ?

makes me wish I was a kid again.

 

[Twisted Patience]

Gas or electric depends on what comes up, I cut all the levers and stuff out as I considered it to be dangerous too many sharp edges.
I want Scarlett to learn to steer it first so it's foot power until she's got the hang of it.

I have to extend the chassis by about 4" yet but as the front end is only held on by two bolts at the moment it's no sweat to sort.

 

[MOTOXFAMILY]

Very cool project

 

[Twisted Patience]

Not done much apart from stripping some of the paint off the body, welder is coming out soon to finish the chassis. Then I have to turn up 16 spacers of various lengths and once that's done I can turn my attention to the steering set up.
I may have sourced an electric motor for this just waiting on a phone call.

 

[Twisted Patience]

Now in pink.
A bit more done on the outside, new chassis, one way hub for drive and a disc brake.

Also have a new set of headlights that where the indicators from the trike.