This is what I posted on the Ford Barn a couple of days ago. "Well, today I finished the first part of my sample machining. I will be putting the block in another machine to bore the cylinders and then into one of my horizontals to cut the intake/exhaust face and everything on that side. In that setup I will also cut the ends and the water outlet. I was able to get a reasonably priced reverse spot facing tool to spot face the valve spring seats. In production I will have to go to a more expensive automatic production type. But so far I am very pleased with the first casting and all the machining. As I move along I keep checking my work against blue prints, the CAD model and an original block. The plan is to machine this and build it and see how it runs. Since all of my other engine block projects have produced running blocks on the first try, I do not expect any different now. Production fixturing is underway at this time, also. My time is a little limited because of all the things I have to work on including machining a batch of my Cleveland blocks. When I bore the cylinders I will take pictures for people on my update list. I am anxious to get this thing machined to where I can bolt on a flywheel housing, a head, an intake, one of my cast headers, one of Snyder's aluminum oil filter housings, a side cover and return tube, a front cover, and an oil pan. Sure wish I didn't have to sleep!" Tod
Rick, I hope to have some nice pics tomorrow to send out. The block is in a horizontal machining center right now. I finished the top end and am going to cut on the sides and ends so I can bolt stuff on to it. I can't totally finish it yet, since my fixtures are still being made. I can come pretty close, though. Tod
Pictures are available and being sent out. I sent out some 40-50 emails yesterday to interested parties. If you are interested email me at my block-specific email - blockheads2014 at yahoo dot com Tod
I have finally arrived at the point where all external bolt-on pieces have been attached to the new Model A block. I have a few more things to rough machine before it is finish machined and we start to assemble it. Machining has validated that there are a couple of small changes to the pattern that I want to make, but over-all it looks very nice for a first sample. Hopefully, this first one will eventually fire up. Tod
Tod : Thank you for the project update!! If anyone ever asks you "Why?", you'll know they'll never "Get it"!
A link to a Youtube video of various stages of machining and bolted on parts. Email me for the last few pics at blockheads2014 at yahoo dot com. Tod
The Jalopy Journal
