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Projects A Kid, A Banger, and a bunch of 3D Printing.

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Retson the Racer, Mar 29, 2022.

  1. On August 26, 2021 I decided to jump out of my comfort zone, and take on a project I've never done before. I realized that despite numerous amounts of people making parts for these old Model A engines, that I wanted to be a small fish in a big pond. I had just finished hopping up a banger, and was confident enough to dive into this craziness long-term.
    241678993_967964957097944_4350847133932106763_n.jpg
    After communicating back and forth with my friend Cam, I knew that the side timing covers were the start of my banger production journey.

    Initially, my plan was to start with a valve cover, but that deemed to be a bit more difficult as most 3D printer beds are smaller than the total length of it. I soon realized that once everything was designed, these parts were really going to come to life as the investment process was just around the corner.
    244792376_396516712189642_1716619746752236647_n.webp.jpeg
    After many months of back and forth, revisions, and a whole lot of waiting the finished side timing covers were on my doorstep! It was reassuring to be able bolt one right up, and finally see it in use! I've only had the knowledge of 3D Modeling / CAD for less than a year, and I am so excited to continue my work and make more things for these old Model A and Model B engines!
    Screen Shot 2022-03-29 at 10.18.39 AM.png
    So, without further hesitation, let's get to work!
     
  2. Cool stuff! Thanks for going to all the effort.
     
    Paul, VANDENPLAS and Stogy like this.
  3. raaf
    Joined: Aug 27, 2002
    Posts: 762

    raaf
    Member

    Very cool...but this only yields more questions!
    • Did you have it casted from your print?
    • What else you working on?
    For the larger pieces you could probably get another firm to print it on a larger bed. I suppose you could also print individual pieces and then glue them up and finish them for mold creation or casting.

    Anything to keep these things going! Love it.
     
  4. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,092

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Cool!
     
    Stogy likes this.

  5. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Polished or raw it looks the part and delivers...inspired Excellence, congratulations...
     
    brady1929 and VANDENPLAS like this.
  6. I appreciate it!


    Thanks Tim! Love what you're doing with that engine in your Model A!


    Most of the guys will be polishing them, I prefer the cast look myself!

    I love questions!
    These were 3D printed, then ceramic coated. After they are coated, the plastic polymer is melted out leaving the ceramic mold, which the metal goes in.

    I'm currently working on a side drive of sorts. I recently picked up a Wells Front timing cover and side timing cover to run a fuel pump and magneto, but I can't find anyone local to machine it. Here's a quick photo of my gear setup I'm working on!

    I'm looking at picking up a Creality CR-10 MAX which can print things up to 17 inches long!
    Untitled-1.jpg
     
    stanlow69, Nobey, tr_rodder and 16 others like this.
  7. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    This is cool as shit...
     
    stanlow69, dogwalkin, fauj and 5 others like this.
  8. I appreciate it!! I'm just a kid, trying to make some cool shit! Bought my first Model A when I graduated highschool in 2016!
     
    Baumi, stanlow69, rod1 and 7 others like this.
  9. raaf
    Joined: Aug 27, 2002
    Posts: 762

    raaf
    Member

    It's great that you are a "kid" because someone is going to have to carry the torch on this stuff. It's going to to take efforts like this to fill in the blanks around parts availability. It may also spur a new generation to engage with our hobby in new ways. And while the 3d printing part is contemporary, the resourcefulness and underlying process is what created all this in the first place. This isn't billet.

    ...and be careful with the "kid" part. I was 32 when I joined the HAMB. Now I'm 52.

    Time flies my friend.
     
    Glitchy, rod1, 1oldtimer and 9 others like this.
  10. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    I saw your little cover, and thought the next step should be a side magneto drive. I scrolled down, and there it is!

    Gear machining is expensive, so can you design it to use the same gear as would fit the crank? Just make the adapter shaft the same size as a crank snout?

    I've made many patterns to be sand cast in aluminum, but always as loose patterns. If you can create a plate pattern, the foundry will give you a big break on the costs as their labor is significantly less. Sand casting is not as clean as investment cast, but it is sure traditional.
     
    Nobey, Outback, chryslerfan55 and 4 others like this.
  11. ken bogren
    Joined: Jul 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,056

    ken bogren
    Member

    Well you seem to be off to a great start!
     
    chryslerfan55 and Stogy like this.
  12. Time sure does fly! The biggest problem most people my age see is the price of all this stuff. It's cheaper and easier to mess around with a newer japanese car, but thats too boring!


    hahaha, yeah I'm slowly working! The side driven mags will be run at crank speed, off of the cam gear. My thoughts are adapting stock Model A crank gears would be the easiest option price wise. Investment is all I know, I definitely want to learn more about making and using wood patterns. Here's a few more things I'm working on. 111.jpg

    Thanks Ken!
     
    rod1, Nobey, tr_rodder and 7 others like this.
  13. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,177

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

  14. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Nobey, brady1929 and chryslerfan55 like this.
  15. Thank you!!


    I have, that's wicked cool! I hope that at some point we can start reproducing more early ford stuff. Lord knows we need it!
     
    chryslerfan55 and Stogy like this.
  16. Well after a few days of playing around, I have decided I might try and make a few more parts. I want to start creating things that require minimal machining, as I am not a machinist on any scale. The first option was a few smaller pieces. I soon realized that the water pump might be a bit more challenging than I initially thought. I'd want to revise that to accept a sealed bearing of sorts. 111.jpg
    The two water necks would be relatively easy as they would require small amounts of machining, but another conflicting idea I had was to add a sort of boss on the smaller neck to accept a temperature gauge of sorts.


    The second option I had created, was an intake manifold that looks reasonably "stock" but allows you to run two updraft carbs. With this current design, you are pretty limited to only using the stock exhaust as the intake sits too high, blocking the exhaust ports. In the second revision, I will address this by lowering it a bit, but also creating adapter to run (2) three-bolt carbs. I'm also thinking of running a splitter, so a single 3-bolt carb, will split into the two ports. Untitled-11.png

    For now, I'll stop rambling on. I'll go ahead and post more updates soon! I've got a few other small projects in the works!

    Is there anything you guys would care to see?
    So far I've seen Thomas Model A valve covers, finned oil return pipe, and an aluminum front timing cover.
     
  17. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    How and where in the process is the allowance for the shrinkage of the metal at the foundry taken care of?
     
    Atwater Mike likes this.
  18. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    The shrinkage comes as the aluminum cools. It happens no matter what the pattern was made of. I make all my patterns at 102% of final size.
     
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  19. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    Like I asked, where in the 3-D process is the shrinkage factored in?
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  20. After the prototype is printed and verified for dimensions, we factor in about 2% then print the rest for investment casting.

    Thank you! I've seen your taillights, those are wicked cool!
     
    Paddy Garcia, chryslerfan55 and Stogy like this.
  21. CGkidd
    Joined: Mar 2, 2002
    Posts: 2,909

    CGkidd
    Member

    Very cool.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  22. Outback
    Joined: Mar 4, 2005
    Posts: 2,381

    Outback
    Member
    from NE Vic

    Very cool mate! Love your work!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  23. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    A young whipper snapper with an enterprising mind . Great to see and looking forward to your continued growth . :cool::cool::cool::cool:
     
    Stogy likes this.
  24. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    Very creative and productive. Work you should be proud of! Keep at it!
     
    steve hackel and Stogy like this.
  25. 48fordnut
    Joined: Nov 4, 2005
    Posts: 4,215

    48fordnut
    Member Emeritus

    On the water neck with the option of a temp gauge. I have one from someone else and where the fitting is to the rear the temp bulb hits the starter. I would be interested in both water necks and a side cover. LMK pricing.

    Thanks,

    jim
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2022
    Stogy and Outback like this.
  26. ratrodrodder
    Joined: Feb 19, 2008
    Posts: 380

    ratrodrodder
    Member
    from Boston

    I've been curious about how we take 3d printed plastic parts and make them functional in an engine environment. Never knew about the ceramic coating process - brilliant! Glad to see this technology being used this way.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  27. Thank you!


    Thank you sir! Just trying to learn as much as I can!

    Just trying to keep myself from becoming bored!


    I think that could definitely be doable! I'm looking at revamping the cooling process to change it from push to pull. I've heard that theres a drop in temperature.
     
    Stogy and 48fordnut like this.
  28. I realized I haven't updated this thread in some time.
    since my last post, I have been working a LOT on new parts!

    The first thing to come to production, is my take on the "KONG" side timing covers, also known as cam covers. While using my normal design, I decided to add a few fins as who doesn't like race fins?! Screen Shot 2022-08-24 at 9.59.52 AM.png

    A few weeks later, the test prints were printed! They are currently at the foundry being cast and machined, and I am so excited!
    283755213_375717237860325_8755766685109568455_n.webp.jpeg 283044083_1363786670753571_5318974115851907827_n.webp.jpeg
    The next project I am working on, is a Model A and Model B front timing cover, and side driven magneto base. I received an S/M Smiley Martin accessory drive, and have started tearing into that to do some reverse engineering on the mag drive and shaft. It seems that it uses a crank gear.
    The side drive looks rough because well, it is. This is a 3D scan, that I am slowly turning into a useable model. Screen Shot 2022-08-24 at 10.12.19 AM.png
     
  29. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Congrats! I recall shrinkage in sand castings when in High school metal shop.
    Cast some bootleg Moon gas pedals, was surprised when the shoe size differed after using MY cast products as patterns. Rude awakening after a lineup of 4 casting ops... (Duh!)
    It was a lesson in 'How we learn'. :rolleyes::eek:
     
    Outback, Stogy and 48fordnut like this.
  30. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,092

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Very cool
     
    Stogy likes this.

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