Technical **August is for a Bang of a Good Time**

Dusty,
Just an opinion here, with the modern plugs, wires and fuels you don't need a mag even for the Hill Climbs.
The motor needs to be in decent shape, not burning oil and if possible use a modern ring package on the pistons.
Is running a Mag cool, hell yes, it is just another option.

John

 

Hood ornament looks like Hispano Suiza, likely a J series with the disc wheels, mid 30's...

 

Good mail day,



Certainly looks A, here it is with an old blown gasket,


I notice nearly all aftermarket cylinder heads use a B gasket, is this the case here? Looks fine with the A gasket.

Can anyone tell me what CC the factory combustion chamber is? I'd like to try and work out the comp on this one.

Is higher comp OK with a standard camshaft or should I be looking at regrinds?

Or, lastly, should I stop carrying on about it and just throw it on and run it?

 

Removed the impulse drive out of the Wico JEM magneto for the A last night and made a coupling for a fixed drive. I’ll run a earth switch on the dash to fire the mag once the engine is cranking over. Nothing flash, just learning this stuff. I’ll run this until I can get the side drive sorted.

 

I have a B gasket Paul if you want to compare it against the A.

 

Cheers Chris, Henry's don't have any B gaskets on hand and couldn't tell me the difference. I might give you a call later in the week.

 

thank you

 

Thanks for the input. Engine is fresh. Bored 60 over balance crank. Flywheel lignin to 34lb. 6:1 aluminum head, twin 81s ,red header 4 to2. . Just changed the jets to 41s. One of Jim's cam R1
Been kicking around Mallory dual point or FSI with 12v. Been watching this trend pickup a lot of info and thongs to think about trying

 

tcr in Bayswater Victoria have them, as do Automotive surplus nearby them.

 

Had a blast at the track last weekend. Car would not hook up at all. Lowered tire pressure to 18lbs and still just kept spinning.

 

If you want to REALLY light up your 4-Bnager; put on a CD box (ex. MSD 6AL) & a 45,000 volt coil. You could put a Pertronix distributor (FSI) as a trigger. This setup is as good as a magneto (perhaps better because it does not rob H.P. at high revs. Having said all that; this setup is not period and race groups often ban them! Moreover, If you don't rev. your engine much over 3000 r.p.m. as most stock type Ford A&B's bottom ends shouldn't go; it is no great benefit! Of course neither is a "Mag"! Just saying

 

"Wells" also known as Curly Wells, was based in the Central California, and Middletown areas.

After a chat with Tod Bentson in NorCal, we can confirm that Wells at-least made a front drive timing cover, a magneto drive side timing cover, and a cam gear.

Is anyone familiar with any other products that he made, or any info on him in general?

 

speaking of side drives, here is a unique one,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1752495909...rentrq:cddc85901820a9f516fbd609ffffa6e4|iid:1

J

 

Haven’t seen that Mallory version before... but not the only magneto base dizzy out there. Here is an early right angle version on a T mag drive

 

Hi Hance - enjoyed meeting you and make a few passes against you and Casey as the only bangers at the event. Have a great time down at RPM

 

Bonneville
Saw the couple that runs the Pre and Tech inspections at Bonneville late last week they told me that the all motorcycle meet had been cancelled. Received notification two days ago that two of the BNI staff was on the Salt and that at was the starting line for this years event still had 2" of water. The end of the road while you enter on to the salt was 6' deep, and was told that the World Finals where cancelled. In some areas where the salt was thin, pieces of salt dinner plate to hubcap size had floated away from the dirt under it. Before I left a lot of the salt plate/hubcaps had raised edges, if dry the course would have to be drug again when it was dry.

 

I have been looking at building a three springer. I have an article out of a 1935 Modern Mechanix that I would like to use as a guide, but I am missing page 129. I know that I got it from the HAMB, but searches have not found it. Does anyone have a copy of this article (with page 129) and could post it?

Thanks!

 

The power of the HAMB. That didn't take long.

 

Thank You very much Jet96! I had exhausted every idea that I had.

 

I asked this over in the Chevy 4 thread as well, but does anyone recognize these carbs used on the Spurgin Giovanine restoration???

 

Almost look like Motor cycle carbs.

 

Isn't S&S a motorcycle carb?

 

That's what I was wondering- they're not the originals (at one point the car ran on alcohol)

 

https://www.sscycle.com/tech-info/carb-quick-guide

 

Good eye, I remember reading that Spurgin Giovanine car originally as raced had custom made side drafts

 

Curley Wells- I met Curley one Memorial Day weekend while visiting with Carl Schmid at his place in Stockton around 1970 or so. Being Memorial Day, and with the big race about to start, Carl HAD to be in front of the TV for the start of the race, so he invited us in to watch the race with him and his friend. The friend turned out to be Curly Wells. Watching the 500 with these two guys and just sitting there as an 18 year old kid listening to their comments and knowledge is something I still remember to this day. After the race, Curly invited us to come up and visit him in Middletown, as he said he might have some shop equipment to sell and he would show me his collection of A/B speed equipment. I was just starting my shop, so it seemed like the thing to do. Over several visits, Curly freely shared stories etc. During one trip I purchased a line boring bar that I still use to this day. I was not aware that Curly made the mag drive and timing gear shown above. Curly made a few T timing gears and that was one of the reasons years later that I started making T and A timing gears. Curly had built a wonderful lowered A roadster pickup with a
Riley engine in it that was a pretty strong runner. I recall he drove the A from Middletown to Calistoga when we had the Calistoga Classic T Speedster Races. My best memory was Curly driving into the fairgrounds in the A and I overheard some fellow say to Curly- "Nice car- too bad it has a Chevy in it". I caught Curly's eye, and he just smiled and drove on. AFAIK, Dave Wilton of MT Products fame, was the owner of Curly's pickup at one point. Pretty safe to say that Curly was just another hot rodder and car guy!

 

Thank you for that Dan. If I ever find myself in Northern California, I’d love to meet you and hear more stories about Curly! It’s great to Immortalize Americana!

As far as T and A parts, are you familiar with any other speed equipment that he made? If email/phone is easier, I can PM you my contact information.

 

could be HD