Technical ***May 2026 Banger Meet Thread - Mother's Day***

Link to previous month: April 2026 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

 

Checking in

 

Checking in, still hunting for a Model B DOHC

 

Checking in!

 

So am I!!
Looks like a HAL and block, no?

 

yep I'm here,

I posted this late on last month's, will throw it up here.

"Interestingly I've had 2 conversation's which I didn't initiate about balancing Banger's, one is a B with welded C/weights that was balanced but has a vibration just below cruising speed, the other was about a stocker that buzzes.
there was talk about 'floater' engine mounts causing issues, they both have them.

what do you guys do with balancing these engines, do you prefer C/weighted cranks? harmonic balancers? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts."

& the replies

 

Checking in.

I started to set up the Riley 2 carb setup I bought.

Had both machined surfaces re-machined, as they were way off.

Went to bolt the 81's on ...... ****** hell!! The guy who drilled and tapped the holes must have been drunk AND needed new gl***es.

The holes were tapped at an angle and in the wrong places.

Now to plug them, then re-drill and tap them in the correct position .

Like we'll need the extra work when modifying these cars.

 

Dang on the rework. lettuce know as it comes together

 

You will get many opinions on this subject, but, you can only balance an inline 4 to a point, not completely.
There will always be some harmonics as the pistons accelerate at different rates from top or bottom of the bores.
Production cars and trucks have attempted to lessen the felt imbalance by adding in counter shafts out of balance to counteract the rotating ***embly. Get one timed incorrectly and it is very bad.
The absolute best you can do is have the crank/flywheel and if used balancer done to ISO standards.
Then equalize the pistons, rods both top and bottom ends, that's it.

There are many who run balancers on these motors, I do not. IMHO, the cranks are not stiff enough to employ one.
I have removed a few and repaired the damaged crank and gear keys.

As for cranks, you cannot put enough counterweight on the cranks. Look at the Offy and Millers.

Best, John

 

I understand the thing about opinions but yours is one of the ones I hoped to hear,

I know there are some opposed aircraft engines which have a rpm range which is a no-go zone in terms of constant rpm, it stands to reason that there would always be a range which is not good. Another friend spoke of pushing the harmonics of an Aussie GM 6cyl - which had a habit of breaking cranks when pushed - beyond the operating range by removing materials on the C/weights, his engines tended to hold together.

all of this made me wonder about our Bangers & good ways to reduce the buzz.... aside from driving slower that is

 

I'm working on the coupe's electrics and have installed my relays and fuses in a cookie tin;


now it's ready to go in the car. Regards, Harald

 

Hello Brothers of the Banger, it’s finally roadster weather here in Maine.

 

Happy May! Spotted this interesting model T head, from what I understand “Giant Speed Equip.” was an effort of both Joe Gemsa and Jerry Sherman. This head is neat in that, it appears to have Mr. Gemsa “initials”, Is made out of aluminum and has the V8 60 combustion chamber. The patent reference number is also not accurate, it should send you to the “Haibe” model T head patent number. Fun bit of kit.

 

A friend of mine has a DOHC on a Hal Block, might still be for sale?

 

Saw your email! Ironically, it's got the same patent number as the Simmons Super Power head. The weird thing is, I've also seen a Giant Super Power head. Timeline wise I think Green heads came out in 1918, Waukesha-Ricardo in 1923, with Giant/Haibe/Super Power being released in 1925. I'll have to do more research!

 

It was 100% Jerry Sherman. Giant Equipment Manufacturing. His son Jerry is still racing the family Ts and one he's built. He was the T winner at last weekends Antique Nationals.
BTW: Jerry would like to buy the head if you could share the who/where.

 

For those that havent seen it yet, Time Trials are coming back to Santa Margarita Ranch! Hoping to have the 'ol Slant Window there racing inbetween shooting video!

 

Our new to us 26T with Riley 4 Port will be returning this year.

 

The patent is pretty cool, and that is one thing that made that particular head extra fun, it has the v8-60 combustion chamber (which i forgot to take a picture of).

here is the Haibe patent:

https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/dow...jLTQzNzMtOWMyMS05ZjQ4ZDJjZmQyMGEiLCJleHAiOjB9

 

All the iterations of performance heads for these old things are fascinating. Is the v860 combustion chamber considered a good one?

 

The v8 60 is a compact cc that makes good compression, it was very popular for a long time. How ever it lacks in flow opportunities and it is easy to shroud valves due to the compact nature. Camshaft lobe design needs to be carefully considered to accommodate the limited space to create power without making it very “sensitive” (prone to knocking?). There are better cc’s out there if significant power is to be attained. That said it was a very popular choice for many years.

 

Thanks, that makes sense.

After heading down a rabbit hole I came across this May banger monthly meet from 2010 some great conversations re combustion chamber design a****st other things, worth a flick through, some of you were even there!
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/may-bang-er-thread.470853/

 

That is a ripper!

 

Back in a banger! Just scored this today,last ran in 97.

 

Woohoo, lovely ole tudor!

 

Good score Mr. Wheeltramp. Must have been a northern car. What did they put in it for a heater?

 

It's got this aftermarket Montgomery Ward heater. It came from Gr*** Valley California then to Palmdale now sitting in my shop in lancaster. Motor is stuck but it's full of the trans fluid and acetone so that's worked for me before

 

Looks like it had one of the manifold heaters but those were very inefficient in areas with real winter so they updated it with a Monkey Ward water one with a fan.

 

My dad's Tudor had a manifold heater and plenty of holes in the firewall where hot water heaters had been mounted over the years. People looking at the engine would see that heater (his had the cast iron air duct) and ask what it was. When they asked if it worked, he'd say, "Hell yes, that thing gets so hot it'll run you right out of there... in July. By September you'll be wishing it had something a lot better." Haha,