History Gemsa notes on Frontenac D.O. Conversion

I’ve cherished some personal effects of Joe Gemsa for many years and I’d like to share this rare info with the interested. Have a great weekend!

 

Joe, that is some great info, from the great Mechanic.
I love history like this, it makes me daydream of pre-war San Diego and Ascot, Conze knock-offs and all of the rest.

 

Thanks immensely for this HudsonJoe, not many men in this world no how to set up the cams on a Stagger valve.

 

I hope you don't mind that I posted a link on the vintage sprint car picture thread, there should surely be some interest there.

 

Very cool! Yes I’d like for everyone to share it. Gotta keep em goin!

 

For those unfamiliar with the port design of the “stagger valve” Fronty. Nothin cooler!

 

Fronty Staggervalve after completing the restoration.....

 

Wow! That’s somethin great right there! I have have so super rare personal Red Garnant effects and his personal tool box.

 

@hudsonjoe49 thank you for sharing the information. We have to preserve these sorts of things.

 

Now that's special to have.....

Frontenac made a lot of D.O. heads for the Model T, but only 5 AF-16 Staggervalves for the B blocks.

 

HJ49;
Thanks for posting that up.
One of my very favorite engines. There was the HAL & a few others, but still... .
Was told that more than 5 were made, later, in iron, + some aluminum castings. Never got a guess on the amount. Talked to Joe Gemsa ~ 6 mo prior to his death, & was promised a head n needed parts. Found out he died just before I was to call him back(found out why I had to wait the 6mo, but didn't/doesn't matter. Kinda amusing now, but it wasn't when I found out that the probability/possibility of an AF-16 re-pop ownership was permanently gone.). Price was very fair. Typical my-luck. From what I'm told, the patterns disappeared, probably into SpeedyBill's hoard - never ever to be useable again. & by now, I couldn't afford a re-pop anyways... ;( .

Any more printed material from Joe you care to share?

TIA.
Marcus...

 

As the story goes, Gemsa poured 6 stagger valve casting sets in Aluminum from the original patterns. Problem was the combustion chambers were thin and no extra material for the needed hard seats. Some of these heads were welded up, some were put into museums, but as I hear none are running.

The 3D model pictured above was made from the original drawings. I was lined up to do the machine work on the last known un-machined aluminum casting, but wouldn’t touch it until I had a backup plan in place. Figured if I ruined the casting I could have a new one 3D sand printed with all the problems fixed. The project went somewhere else, but I still have the design…

 

I may have his Galavan sketches on paper.

I’ll dig deep tomorrow in my library. I may still have his Gallivan writings on a tablet

 

Gallivan is another screamer... .
& the "threshing machine" .
&... &.. &.. .
Anything you can find would be appreciated. Can't afford any of it anymore(before only as a repop, & only because I stumbled on things at the right time. I thought. Except it wasn't - ;( .) So I'm sorta content to read what I can find these days.

Kevin, you're making life kinda difficult right now... .

Marcus...

 

Just found this, GREAT STUFF! I have some letters Joe sent me when I was building my 4Port Riley back in 1975. Pre internet, you took time to find information. Bob