Article by Mark Wing, photos by Mark W. and Orlando Ortega

This Monday’s work party at Larry’s garage was on Memorial Day.  Albuquerque had gotten some much needed rain the two previous days, but the weather was absolutely perfect. Joining us on this fine work day was Brian Gilmore, a docent at the Coronado Monument in Bernalillo, NM (an Native American archeological site) and a friend of one of our club members, Ethan Ortega, who had recently begun working at the monument.  Brian got a tour of Larry and Lorna Azevedo’s extensive collection of  Model T’s and a taste of the wide-range of projects underway on this Tin Lizzie work day.  In addition to observing the activities, Brian got a chance to drive Paul and Marilyn Duncan’s 1920 Model T touring.  As Brian put it, “I was grinning ear-to-ear!”  We hope that Brian and his wife join our club and immerse themselves in the delightful obsession that is the Model T hobby!

Visiting Ethan from Portales, NM was his father Orlando, who with his wife Melody, own a 1924 Model T touring car.  Orlando had recently coordinated our club tour to Tucumcari, NM.  Orlando’s presence in Albuquerque  led to discussions about potential destinations for future day and overnight tours!  Stay tuned – the Tin Lizzies have some great trips in the planning stages!

Among the projects needing attention at this work party were Bruce Daniel’s ongoing work on his 1925 Tudor engine.  The engine was at the stage where new freeze plugs needed to be installed, the valve seats ground and lapped, and valves cut to length.  Bruce’s rods and caps had already been rebabbitted and bored so, at the end of this work party, the engine is now ready for assembly!

Dave Ferro trailered his 1918 Depot Hack to tighten a loose lower fan pulley and Paul Duncan assisted him on this project.

Ethan Ortega and new visitor to Larry’s garage – Brian Gilmore Dave Ferro working on his 1918 depot hack with Paul Duncan Michael Housholder working on his 1924 Model T pickup Rod and cap ready for final boring Boring bar with rod and cap Ethan, Marilyn, and Bruce Mark machining a rod and cap Larry taking inner-diameter measurements Boring setup Linda gives Paul a hug (Ethan in the background) Ethan cutting and grinding valve stems Mark with the rod lathe Our visitor – Brian Gilmore Dave, Marilyn, Ken, and Jeff Dave Ferro Vernon Armstrong, Don Souther, and Michael Housholder Kirk with his 1927 Model T touring car Brian Gilmore getting a Model T driving lesson from Paul Duncan Paul and Brian Dave Kirk Larry grinding a valve seat with Bruce, Dave, and Linda (background) Lunchtime under the trees Larry fitting a rod to the SCAT balanced crankshaft Ethan machining valves Dave, Bruce, and Larry New freeze plugs installed Don, Orlando, Brian, and Vernon 1925 Model T rods and caps awaiting final boring

Michael Housholder continued work on his new acquisition, a 1924 Model T pickup truck from Yuma, AZ.  Michael has been going through the car and correcting many of its problems.  At a previous work party, the car had fired up and ran well after laying dormant for over two years.  On this day, Michael was replacing conventional nuts, (such as on the end of his steering shaft, holding the Pitman arm), with a correct castellated nut and cotter pin.

Mark Wing was working on the rods and caps for his 1925 Model T touring engine.  After re-babbitting the rods at the last work party, Larry had bored away much of the excess babbitt on his milling machine.  It was now time for final boring to the correct 1.25-inch diameter that would allow for a 0.0015-inch clearance for the balanced SCAT crankshaft.  Larry instructed Mark on the machining procedure and everything went well – if not very speedily.  Only one rod was completed at this work party but it turned out well.  Torquing the bored rod and cap with Plastigage to the crankshaft confirmed the 0.0015-inch clearance we were seeking.  One down and three more to go!

Thank you Larry for another wonderful and memorable work party!