30's era Rajo Model T powered dirt track racer

I thought if I posted a few pictures it would draw some encouragement to finish the car. It's starting to drag on and I need some motivation to finish it and move onto the next project.

Car was found in pieces in the back of an old UPS van after the owner died. At one point in time it belong to one of the Snyders, from Snyder's Auto in Ohio. It is an original car and not a modern replica.

Has a Rajo B, with Winfield, Bosch mag with side drive. What you see is about 10 years of puttering. Thanks

 

Go watch THE BIG WHEEL with Mickey Rooney.That would motavate me.That thing is awesome.

 

Consider yourself encouraged!!! Gary

 

Finish it or I'll kill you !!!!

 

here's one of mine outta my sprinter, get on it!

 

You really need to get that thing finished and go have some fun track time running it with the AARA ( Antique Auto Racing Association ) group which run about 6 times a year on Ohio and Mi. fairground tracks. Just like in the old days. Either that or give me your address and I'll be right over with a trailer and relieve you of your problem. ( FREE of course, as I won't charge you a thing for removing it from your property). I've got a post WWII V8-60, rail frame midget which I'm presently restoring and this would make a good companion for it.
Press on, GIT'R done, and have some FUN !!!!!
CHEERZZZZ !!!!!!

 

Motivation solution:
1. Buy several cases of beer
2. Invite all of the HAMBer's over to work on car.
3. Pick a goal of work to be done and tell them "no beer until job done"

It has worked for me on some projects LOL!

 

Get it done. What a nice piece! Whats holding you up ? The motor? Thanks for posting.

 

Here are3 some pictures of the Rajo I am working on.
How are you planning on firing the dual plugs with a magneto?

 

daddyo- you sly devil!

That is a fantastic engine!!!... whatcha gonna put it in?

 

Mac,
It is out of a dirt racer that my uncle has had for many years. Earlier this year we got it running and he has decided that he wants to use it more. So I pulled the engine and I'm freshening it up. It is set up for a side drive Bosch mag, but it only powers one set of plugs. I'm working on an early aircraft dual mag so that both banks of plugs will fire.

 

Thanks for the info, daddyo-

Sorry for temporarily stealing the thread, but please keep us up to date on your efforts... BOTH of you!

 

Great looking engine. The head I have is a B head, a single set of plugs. The BBR head had 2 set of plugs, some bigger valves and ports and higher compression. The castings were the same. I'm not sure your head is a BBR, but a B head drilled for the second set of plugs. The giveaway is the hot air port between the intake ports. This was for the exhaust heated intake, which was not found on the BBR head. Is the engine pressurized for oil? If so what type of pump is used. Is it a standard T crank?
Thanks again

 

Rajo in our speedster...pressurized after the fact. Get going on your car.

 

It is a B head, because it has the larger combustion chamber. It is not preasurized. It is a T crank. I bought an oil pump set up at a swap meet that mounts to the generator mount, picture below pump is the black one, but it won't work with the mag drive.

 

I have a choice of running a Bosch side drive for my mag or a front MATCO. If I run the MATCO I can run the oil pump from where the generator mounts. If you have an interest in parting with it let me know. Whats the gray pump?

 

Gray piece is a Model A govenor. I'll probably use it for a side drive of some sort.

I don't think I will use the T pump set up, but until the engine is back in the car I don't want to get rid of it. If that changes I'll let you know.

 

motivation? I have size 12 motivational tools for you. (looks great)

 

That would be so cool with a tractor grille shell and a rack and pinion on the front axle.

I wish I had something that nice to work on.

 

The first picture does it for me.

Why do you need any more to motivate you?

 

Had my Rajo head car out yesterday for a drive. If I knew where you lived I would have drove it up for inspiration!

Definitely a cool car, get busy!

 

motivated? With that car and and you ain't already motivated you never will be.......

 

I don' t want anyone to think I've been sitting on my thumbs all this time. The two pictures are how I got the car after I put it back together. The owner before me past away and had stored it in pieces in the back of an old UPS van. I learned from his son that he bought it from Snyders Antique Auto who in turn bought it from Tommy Traylor of Specialized Auto Parts in Houston Texas. When I talked to Tommy he couldn't recall any history of the car.

When I was taking it apart I found a repair ticket from a Jesse James Smith Garage for a repair to a Fronty Racer owned by a Red Kennedy, I couldn't read an address for the garage so this is where the investigation stopped.

There is a small write up on the car in April 1977 Secrets magazine.

In the process of restoration I found that Model T speed equipment in many cases was priced way too high, the owner didn't want to sell or it was in such bad shape that they were close to being worthless.

I made my own patterns for a front cover, side drive (thanks Dick McKee) and oil pump (it uses small block Chevy gears). Had them cast and then machined them.

I'll tell you more about the purple roadster in a future post, thanks for the encouragement.

 

Man....That timing cover/oil pump look bitchin!!!!!!!! Good work!!!!!!!!
Don't stop, we need to see and hear that car run.
.

 

Ten Years? Looks like ten years well spent to me.!

 

My Lyndwood dragster restoration is enterung it's 20th year so I can't say anything that will motivate you. I think it took 5-6 years to do my 1933 Riley 4Port. Thanks for mentioning all the guys that helped you with the car, all them were in the Vintage Race Car part of the hobby in the early years.

 

Joe!

Hey welcome to the HAMB! (its "circa" from the other board) I just realized you were on here,....! Good for you!

Yeah finish it! HA!

 

Not to side track the thread, but anyone have a period correct oil pump they'd let go for a T? I'm talkin' 1920s period..... (wink, wink!)

I'm not going to run anything like the VW oil pumps or anything on my T racer when its to that point....

sent you an email joe

 

that front drive oil pump conversion/ side drive mag set up is spot on perfection. you have any plans to make a run?

 

Ok here's the story on the castings. The front plate will only fit if you use the magneto side drive as well. I need to make an additional front plate pattern that will bolt up to the stock generator cover and not need the side drive. Also the side drive is meant to have a water pump before the magneto. I never finished the water pump patterns, although I have a few "period original" pumps that will fit. With that said the big problem is finding a "local" foundry you will cater to the small volume.
Lastly, there is a whole lot of machining that gets done. I have my sketches on the machining I did, but I never drew them up in a presentable fashion. Give me a little bit of time and I'll see what I can get done as far as castings, no promises.

I'm surprised and a little disappointed no one asked about the purple roadster. I've attached a few more pictures. It was a steel body on an orignal 32 frame (came from Don Broyles in Dayton). I trimmed the bottom of the cowl to fit the frame rather than having a gap to fill.

Cross members were Model A, the chassis was welded up by Larry Sikora, the rear end carried a Halibrand quick change. I carried the quick change on board a flight from Atlanta and visit to Joe Smith's Auto after a business trip in the area.

The rear end had been changed to the large Ford bearings and was welded up by Chuck Finders (who I did a bit of work for). 58 Buick finned drums on all 4 corners.

The engine was a 296" bought from a a Hans (?) in North Royalton. Transmission was a 39 Ford with 25 tooth Lincoln gears.

Steering was a F100 with a banjo wheel.

The car was inspired by a Tom Senter article where he built a similar car but with an Ardun.

Sold it to buy the racer. My understanding is that its' sitting somewhere in someones garage unfinished.