Looking to Get Started...

This came in the mail today. Gave me a bump of motivation.

 

Still cleaning trans parts. Trying see what I have and what I need to order.

 

I’m considering swapping out the cam. Any recommendations or advice?

 

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Thanks Don. I’ve never swapped out a cam. I’m not sure what all I need to consider. Do I need to adjust the valves afterwards? No adjustable lifters. Not sure I’m comfortable with grinding the valve stems if that’s what’s required. I’d like to talk with someone with experience before I tackle this one. TM

 

I'm no help there. Anything that I might suggest would be purely speculation. Maybe some of those guys up at Bratton's could offer up some advice. Good luck. Hopefully some Model A gurus will chime in.

 

Might be able to talk with H&H out in CA. They do a lot of performance flatheads but I bet they would know who to go to.
Turn-Key Engines - H&H Flatheads (handhflatheads.com)

 

Check with Jim Brierley
[email protected]

He did mine , tell him the set up you are going with and he can grind you cam

Skip

 

Thanks Skip! I had a good conversation with Jim Brierley today. I’m going to send him my cam. He recommended his C grind for my purpose. I picked up some adjustable lifters from Bratton’s today. I’m not sure about valves, guides, springs. Can I just used what I have in there? Should I? TM

 

I also sent Mac Vanpelt pics of my tranny gears today. He said he would take a look and give me a recommendation of what I should keep and what I should replace. These pics are the ones I consider the most concerning. I’m bracing for impact on this one. $$$

 

The engine looks better than I expected. The pistons, rods, and caps look pretty new to me. I can see hone cross hatch on the cylinder walls. No lip at the top of the cylinders either. Also the pistons are marked with 80. Does that mean 80 over? Is that good? TM

 

I believe that is what the 80 means. That's quite a bit, could possibly affect cooling. I think 10 would be a typical "clean up bore". If I were to guess, that little engine may have been rebuilt more than once in its' life. It may be fine. It couldn't hurt to inquire with some of the A experts to get their thoughts.

 

Yeah. I’d like to hear what the experts on here have to say. Good or bad it is what it is. I’m sticking a higher compression head on it, probably a C grind cam, Mallory dual point ignition, and a 39 trans behind it. Also considering a lightened flywheel. All that and I want to keep it looking like the rusty old barn find it is.

 

Ask over on the banger monthly meeting forum. My engine is 60 over with balance crank runs very smooth.

 

I'm no expert, never played one on TV, and didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but...
I had a Model A that was bored .125 over, and had no problems with it. That was a pretty common overbore, but might also have been the maximum, but no one in the Model A community thought anything of it. Ninety years ago they weren't worried about 3.1 pounds of cast iron to meet fuel economy standards, so castings were thicker walled than what you find even in the '50s. I would be tickled pink (how the hell did THAT become a 'saying'?) to have a good one at .080 over.

 

I would think a more important question would be "what shape is the Babbitt"?

 

My clearances are good. I think it was a recent rebuild. Not sure about the actual babbitt condition.

 

Can I use the stock valves and guides with adjustable lifters?

 

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I may be close to needing an intervention.

 

You don’t need an intervention, you just need some pallet racking.

 

These guy's convert your old generator to an alternator. Not cheap, but they have a good rep. https://ejwhitneyco.com/automotive.html

 

Maybe not an intervention, but perhaps a model A pickup will do.

 

Without going into details and sharing other people’s personal business…

I have sent my cam off to be reground. It looks like it may be some time before I will get it back now. Any recommendations on where I can get a good mild performance cam for my banger (without a core)? TM

 

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Still waiting on my cam.

 

Tranny bolted in and filled with gear oil.

 

@lothiandon1940 . Don, I think you are my last remaining follower. I still plan to continue using this thread to document my hot rod hobby. Thanks for hanging in there!

 

There are more of us following, just not commenting regularly

 

^^^^^^^^^^^
What he said!!!!