Featured Technical ***January 2026 Banger Meet Thread - Happy New Year***

Link to previous month: December 2025 Banger Meet

Coming Events: (PM Jiminy with additions/corrections)
Stay safe.

For the HAMB banger newbies, here are some links to a lot of banger info:

Jim Brierley's book 4-bangers! And me! is a must read book for all banger enthusiasts. US customers send $34.00 all color except for the oldest pictures (includes S/H in the U.S.A.), PayPal welcome, to:
Jim Brierley, 39480 Colleen Way, Temecula, CA 92592.
email: jimb4e4@gmail.com
phone: 951-695-7313.

A few links to speed equipment companies there may be more
https://specialtymotorcams.com/index.php#header
http://www.millerhi-speedheads.com/index.html
http://www.modelatrader.com/brumfield/brumfield.html
https://www.hotforhotfours.com/advertisers.htm
https://www.secretsofspeed.com/speed-parts
https://eraspeed.com/

Bert's, Synder's, Mikes affordable also list some speed performance parts.

Here is a list of most of the prior monthly banger meet links:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=161498

Banger basics. another info link list:
http://www.fordgarage.com/

http://www.plucks329s.org/index.htm

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=251717

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=42480

The link below shows flywheel lightening dimensions
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/may-bang-er-thread.470853/page-4#post-5212157
and this link shows the missing image from the above post
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-work-on-bangers.1010716/page-3#post-11427055

The 4 Banger hot rod picture thread.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-4-banger-hot-rod-picture-thread.997051/

Model B rod bearing insert numbers
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6992484#post6992484

Engine tuning with a Vacuum gauge
http://web.archive.org/web/20120415...e.com/tuning-with-a-vacuum-gauge-spg-148.html

Adjusting dual Strombergs:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6638461#post6638461

Helpful Model A tools and tips:
http://www.maurer-markus.ch/ford_a/tipps.index.en.html

Gary in MN's late model Malory distributor conversion for A/B engine:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9147025&postcount=109

Elrod's stuck head tech:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218487

Model A generator to alternator conversion:
http://ejwhitneyco.com/automotive.html

Gear ratio / speed and RPM calculator:
http://www.accuautoparts.com/calculator.php

Model A master cylinder mounting bracket ideas:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...73#post4953173

Go here to read the 1931 edition of Harry Ricardo's book "The High Speed Internal Combustion Engine"
http://www.scribd.com/full/40610101?access_key=key-w2bcjicdancrnxypd05

Chevy Banger Stuff
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=463465

Post 198 starts a great discussion of the shape of a flat head combustion chamber
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=470853&page=10

T-5 5 speed in a Torque Tube:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256226

Model A & B Style Cast Iron Cylinder Head Compression Ratios.
http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/headcompressionratio.htm

 

About 18" of snow in the past 2 days. Should put a blade on the RPU. Happy New Year!
Warren

 

Hot and Dusty down here. Just as we like it in January. Banger time.

 

Banger time alright!
If this were a cult I'd have done my good work for a bit, gave 10 people who haven't been in a vintage car/hot rod a lap round the block or two plus I gave my cousin & his 18 yr old son their first drive's
Perfect weather for bombing around in a banger!

 

Had a little drive out in the T on a frosty first day of the year. Some cars had more than four cylinders, some had less…

 

happy new year banger brothers...
smiles and miles in your 2026

 

Happy New Year from Beamsville Ontario. Burtz engine, B ****** with LZ gears ready to drop in the ch***is.

 

Oh my, this is fascinating! Would you mind explaining the Columbia Rearend set up? I knew they did early Quickchanges, but didnt know they had early Columbia units as well!

 

It’s out of a 1940 Lincoln, shorten the driveshaft and torque tube, weld on Model A spring hangers, cut off the extras and you are done. Columbia’s were a dealer installed option on Fords beginning in 1934.

 

This past Fall, I helped a buddy install a Columbia in his '37. He is also running the LZ gears in his ******, but I believe we are going to upgrade it to a Cad/Lasalle with the Olds tail shaft. The irony of all this is, he lives about a half hour from you. You guys must have some miracle grow in the soil in the Niagara Peninsula.
Warren

 

Not for us, no joyride.

Happy New Year to everyone.
Greetings, Harald

 

Not enough snow to bother going out to play here…

 

Loaned my roadster to the AACA Museum in Hershey Pa for their Old School Rods and Customs exhibit this winter. They also sourced a really nice T. At least I'm not the only banger enthusiast in the exhibt.

 

You guys have too much fun! Some interesting cars at the New Year's show

 

Nothing much to report.
I’m having a sell-up so that I can clean up the garage, and my headspace. Time to get rid of that stuff I doubt I’ll ever use!

 

Gotta love them 21” Buffalos on a T roadster. Makes me miss this ol gurl…

 

@hotrodfil great picsthanks for sharing!!

 

I'm currently trying to track down as much info as I can on Joe Gemsa, is there anyone that I could pick their brain? Happy New Year everyone!

 

Joe at Calistoga sometime in the early '80's I think he had sold the Foxy Lady to Hank Becker at the time of this picture.

 

Model A with Columbia and 39 style transmission gear set in B box. Just curious as to what gear ratios would work for a 30 phaeton (fairly heavy) with a strong B engine. First Model A for me. Looking for the best combination. Overdrive is right at 30 %. 6.50X16 tires. 4:11 or 3:78 in rear? with 25, 26 , 28, or 29 gear set? Looking for good all-around performance, highway driving with good acceleration.

 

With a 3.78 in your Columbia, OD top will be 2.72:1.

Some real world numbers from my fleet. All full fendered cars.

T Coupe - heavy barn door of a body. Very warm B engine, stock A box, 3.27 and 600 x 19 tyres. Sits in traffic cruising at 60-65 without any drama. Goes quicker than I want as the fabric visor starts flickering above 70 - did 74 at Pendine Sands. Accelerates really well with the low first and second. Revs well which fills the gap betwixt 2nd and top.

T roadster. Stock-ish Burtz engine. '36 V8 box (29 tooth ge****t maybe?) 3.25 rear end, 500 x 19 tyres, pulls 60 in 2nd, cruises well all day long at 70-75. Did 78 at Pendine.

T Tourer. Tuned A engine, close ratio gears in stock A box, 3.54 and 600 x 19 tyres. A great combination. I stick to around 60 max with the full height top up, did 78 at Pendine.

'30 Fordor. Warm B engine, stock box, 3.54 with 6.50 x 18 Firestones. Managed 68 at Pendine, have wound it up for a few miles to a scary GPS checked 84 - but it'll cruise around 60 no problem.

 

My engine is back from the conversion from Babbitt to insert bearings and all the other work. It took a long time, from February 24th to January 26th.
Regards, Harald

 

That is very helpful Phil, I haven't had my A on the open road yet but a change to 7.00/18's seemed to have helped. I don't know but suspect that I have 3.78's

 

Thanks hotrodfil. Any one else?

 

I suspect with an OD the 4.11:1 would be your best bet.
It will still be rather tall

 

The Halibrand in my roadster is currently geared for a 4:11 final ratio and with 7.50-16 Firestones on the rear its great around town and up to about 50 MPH without beating the motor. So whatever OD you get it might well be an ok ratio. The motor in the roadster is far from a warmed up flathead but.................

 

Tell us more

 

found it in my 4 banger ideas folder dont know where it came from i think a speed museum? On the last months 4 banger thread ive also posted ive been looking for these Miller carbs but no clue on the specific model name/number