Technical Building a new Winfield...

Even the simple hardware screws have been a challenge on this project. A few of the screws were not available in the length required, and so have to order extra long length and cut down as required. Sounds easy right...?! That’s when the screw manufacturer changed, and the screw heads went from this;

To this;


I refuse to use the under formed head screws (even tho they are technically within ISO spec), and so have begun a quest to find Fillister head screws with the correct look to complete the hardware set. I am even to the point of considering cutting down hex head bolts and slotting to get the look I want

 

All the jets on these Winfield’s are adjustable. The heads of the needles are notched, and are held in adjustment via a detent ball in the float bowl cover, or a spring tab for the idle screw. The adjustable int/high speed jet needles have a simple taper, and are not calibrated. The idle needle is an air bleed, and so not calibrated either.

Right in the center of this pic, you can see a detent ball that locks one of the needles into position

 

I know it’s been a while... but don’t worry, I’m still at it!

I have been distracted with other peoples requests for other sized brass components and such... but have been making good progress regardless. I should have my custom ground throttle shaft bushing reamers next week, I took delivery of 10 fuel floats worth of brass spinnings (I never said they were any good), gasket making, and of course brass machining. And since “no pics = never happened”... here you go;

 

I’m enjoying watching you make progress

 

Are they floating in water? Are they hollow?

 

Yes, those are the floats.

 

Yes, they are spun brass hemispheres, soldered together at the seam. These are floating in water as a simple way to check buoyancy. The original float weighs in at 22 grams... and my new one at 33. Next step is to adjust the material thickness to get the weight on point...

 

Been slow progress lately as my day job has kept me scramblin...

I found enough time to make up a batch of new float bowl covers tho. These have a viton tipped and spring loaded needle and seat, with the intent of reducing float level sensitivity. New float levers and a crimping fixture to capture the detent balls were also made to complete the assemblies.



I also came across a jet screw cover for the S/SR carbs. I had never seen one before, and they are not in the Winfield catalog... I thought they were kinda neat, so I made a few. These hide the intermediate, high, and accelerator pump (SR) screws, while leaving access only to the idle screw thru the hole.

 

Wound up getting the C19 shortly after my last post... and so pretty much halted progress for the last couple months. I didn’t get it all that bad, but sure took the wind out of my sails like nothin else before.

I did start up a 3D printed sand cast intake manifold for my T overhead project tho... manifold was delivered last week, and got it machined and mostly polished



Unfortunately I have a number of projects that take priority over finishing the Winfield’s for now... but have the floats in process and hope to get the barrels finish machined before the end of the year. I can’t wait to hear one of these buggers run!

 

Welcome back! Did I miss something, what is the deal with the above head? Bob

 

Truly amazed at your talent. Beautiful job

 

Every project has its muse... and this cylinder head has clouded my judgement for the last several years. I know y’all were thinking I was building these carbs because of rigorous market research and informed business decisions... but rest assured this was really just an impulsive decision to outfit my own ridiculous obsessions.

The cylinder head is an Akron-Hed overhead valve conversion for Model T. Designed by Harry Hosterman (HAL), and approximately 1500-2000 heads produced in ‘26 - ‘27.



If you look closely at the pic, you’ll see that there are strange tubes where the rocker arms should be. These tubes house a series of ball bearings intended to transmit the cam lift to the valve tip. A horrible valve train design! But the valve layout and port design is actually pretty decent as proven by the flow bench. The large valve cover contains the rocker arm conversion that I made to make the head usable again. Here’s a shot under the hood

 

Wow! subscribed after just finding this.

 

WOW! That is a beautiful piece of machining. The first thing I noticed in the first photo was the head bolt that was hidden under the aluminum cover. I thought there would be a stud on the bolt, but see an Allen bolt does the job. Bob

 

With any luck... this Akron-Hed will be running this spring...! There were rumors of a few of these heads running back in the 70’s and 80’s, but I haven’t been able to locate any still at it. Might be the only one...

The plan is to swap the flat head out for the Akron-Hed. The motor already has an A crank, boxed rods, full pressure oil, etc...

 

Keep up the good work...

 

Great looking speedster! Nice to see one so period correct. Bob

I did notice the early running board bracket turned up side town to hold the exhaust pipe in place, nice touch.

 

Just checking in on the progress. Still in disbelief at how awesome this is. True craftsmanship in this thread. Keep the updates coming.

 

Keep up the great work! Interesting info on the head!

 

Blow us all away with making your own carb components.
Then offhand mention that you are doing it to feed a mid-twenties OHV conversion that you have engineered to accept rockers and stands you designed and made, too!
Uh, WOAH!!!

 

Is the Akron-Hed the one that uses ball bearings in tubes to actuate the valves?

 

Yep! The valves in this head are positioned 90 degrees from the typical T/A overhead conversion (kinda like a hemi). This makes the valve train much less simple, and Hal’s answer was the tubes and balls approach. As the story goes, it worked great... for a while!

 

I think there are two engines at Speedy Bill's museum like that. I'll bet it sounds different, lots of action.

 

Kevin, In the interest of education I'm posting this link to Bill Smiths collection and the stock Akron head. If you think it is out of place and you want me to delete it let me know. Bob

https://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/halakronhed.html

 

It’s all good Bob, I have been intrigued by the Akron-Hed for many years... and pictures of the head at Speedway museum was as close as I ever could get to one. The head at the museum is done up nicely, but is missing the exhaust header. I don’t plan on using the header on my car, and have been considering loaning it to Speedway for display

Pic taken while mocking up the valve cover

 

Nice header, guess the front exit is for steering clearance. Really admire your machining skills. Back in the late 1970's I had a Twin Cam HAL midget engine, everything was custom cast and machined. Bob

 

Yeah not sure exactly why Hal chose the front dump header... there really is no good place to put the exhaust on the left side of a T engine as the steering shaft is almost always in the way. My car has a worm and sector steering box and a water pump on this side, so straight out is pretty much the only option

 

Phenomenal work, I lost track of this thread, I was gobsmacked when I saw the photos on the "Monthly Banger Meet" thread, amazing! I am interested in a pair if you decide to go into production.

 

The plan is to finish at least this first 5 carbs... so far 3 of these are extra and will be available as parts or complete. Model S-B Downdraft



Contact me directly to discuss details

 

Saw your posts on the September banger thread and after reading about what you've done here I can now say my mind is officially blown. Thanks for letting us in on it.