My Model T Welder

Steam Engine Pete

Steam Engine Pete

Senior Member
A year ago I picked up a welder powered by a T. It is a 1914 engine according to the number with some interesting modifications.

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The T transmission was gutted and made a direct drive coupled to a 3 spd with reverse.

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Tie rod end plugging a coolant leak!

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This thing is made of all kind of parts from different years but the neat thing is that they made a governor and installed it in a model t generator with linkage to the carb. When I got it I assumed it was a generator equipped engine but it obviously is not. The front cover was modified and a piece was welded on to run the governor. I have had this running but have not welded with it yet.
 
It kind of makes you wonder how many mouths this thing helped feed during the depression. Sort of gives it an identity that makes you respect it much more and not think of it as an old piece of scrap. Very cool.
 
Steam Engine Pete:
You sure do have some cool stuff. I think I would be afraid of frying myself if I had to run the "welder." I somehow thought that arc welding did not develop until WW2. Guess this machine predates that.

What is the gizmo on the front of the exhaust manifold?

Enjoying your pictures. Your assessment of the Molson crazed Cannuks is accurate.
 
jon, are you referring to the tire rod end sticking out of the block? I have since removed that and installed the correct plug so the water will stay in the block. Someone stuck that in years ago to stop the leak.

Pete
 
Tie rod end in the block? Never heard of that.
Hope you used a buffalo nickel and installed it right side up! Otherwise the buffalo will try and turn over the machine to get upright.
 
Years ago a local mechanical guru made a similar welder with a Model T engine & 3 Dodge Brothers starter/generators. He welded with it for years & it worked extremely well. In the 70s he re-powered it with a Chev 6 cylinder on a new frame since the T was getting tired. He mounted the original rig on a shortened T frame with 2 shortened front T axles so it would go through a 4 ft. door. I am not sure but I would bet his son is still welding with it. I was able to buy the T engine when he removed it & still have it. There was a recent TV series called Warehouse 13 that I think was short lived but it had a strange car that they drove around the warehouse. This car was built on the original narrow T chassis from the welder. (After about 40 years in my "why am I keeping that" pile it became a TV star!)
 
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