Projects Giant speedster project

those clamps are perfect for this project, You have a great eye for the details!

 

Jerry, what are those clamps called- they'd look great on the '28!

 

They're pipe hangers. I've got a ton of them. They've got a 2 1/8 ID if you need them.
Jerry
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

I'll have to check my radiator inlet/outlets- thanks Jerry !

Just in case I need to find a different size, do you have the Item#/info from Espay?

 

So you stopped working on your project because it snowed???

We have snow on the ground for 6 months up here, and it is the only time I get to work on the projects!!!

Seriously though, The Segrave Special looks great. Keep up the good work.

 

Or use EMT conduit for the actual radiuses. Easily bent, cut away what's not needed after it's welded on.

 

Or use EMT conduit for the actual radiuses. Easily bent, cut away what's not needed after it's welded on.


I thought about that, but all that welding and grinding... Plus, I've done that before and it's hard to keep the sheet metal aligned with the conduit so you get a smooth line. I'll do a few examples--straight and radiused and submit them to you guys for critique. I agree--that dipstick ad was giving Scotsmen a bad image.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

This isn't an excuse but the heat in my shop sucks. I still have the waste oil furnace that I used when I had a commercial garage. But if I started tinkering on it now it would be spring before I got the thing working. It would also help also if I had some insulation in my ceiling. I commend you guys up north. And thanks for the encouragement too.

Jerry

<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

Those pipe hangers come in a lot of sizes.

They are gonna be the new flat black And you are the first. Can we call them Jerry Clamps?

 

The clamps come in pipe OD sizes which just happen to fit my hose size. It was just some guy selling them. Here's the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360247470880&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Jerry
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

Hey Gas Pumper,
Call them Jerry Rig Clamps. I hope they don't turn green--or is it blue?

Jerry
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

Jerry, I insulated my shop last year with just 4" of pink rolled between the rafters in the ceiling. It's paneled inside with 3/8" waferboard, with 3/4" foil face foam board under that on the sidewalls. It hasn't gotten below freezing in there yet, and takes about half an hour to go from 36 (where it stays) to 50 with the woodstove. I have south facing glass doors, when the sun shines, it heats up much quicker. I cut 1" foam panels to cover the glass when it's cloudy, and at night. If I'm out there all day, and really stoking up the stove, with outside temps mid teens, I can get it mid 60's.

It's much more comfortable now (just ask my cat, "Milo"), but hasn't gotten any cleaner...

Brian

 

In regard to the weather, it RARELY snows/freezes down here, but when it does, everything stops. It's a combination of things- lack of clearing equipment, lack of proper tires, and not knowing how to drive in the weather.

Growing up in Phila, PA I was used to just jumping in the car and going, especially when I lived well outside the city (Fort Washington got LOTS of snow) and worked in the city where the school district rarely took snow days because of mass transit.

It took alot of getting used to down here- the grand majority of people who drive in this weather just don't know how and get in trouble quickly... or are like the high school idiots who, more than once, almost took out the cars parked on the street today having "fun" with their car in the snow.

 

Hi, very nice and good job this giant speedster!
My Speedster is way smaller but fits in my garage much better
Moe pictures of the Model A Speedste at www.iron-age-garage.com and even more on Facebook, if somebody is interested.
Keep the car running!

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I love your speedster! Great metal work! I tried to read your page but it was German. Is there an English page? Hey, why not drive the speedster to our little Bavarian village? http://www.helenga.org/ It's covered in snow now. I'm thinking of opening a ski resort.

Jerry
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

Cooling

I'm ready to get the cooling system hooked up so I can fire this baby up and go for a ride. As you recall, in a previous episode I acquired an American Lafrance radiator. Well, the lower outlet is threaded and I've got to come up with a fitting that fits. The outlet measures 2 inches across the threads and the threads are 11.5 threads per inch. The 11.5 threads per inch isn't unusual. Most bigger pipe threads are 11.5 TPI. But the 2.0 across the threads is unusual. Of course pipe threads are tapered too and these are straight. If you look at the second picture you can see what I need--a big nut and an inner pipe. The one pictured is too small. Also, my pipe needs to be curved not straight and it needs to be 1 5/8" in diameter. So that's my problem. I've looked all over the internet and can't find anything. I could attempt to make it myself but the oil in my lathe is so cold the machine won't hardly move. I've got a machine shop buddy who can make this piece for me but I'd rather not bother him if I can do it myself. Who knows, I might really need him for something I can't do. Suggestions?

Jerry<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

I don't know how visible the outlet is, but could you cut off the threads and make your own fitting or tube that would accept standard pipe or hose, and then braze it to the neck?

 

I always hate to cut anything on an old part. Who knows, years from now someone may dismantle my creation and need that part. Besides, if I heated up the outlet hot enough to braze it, solder would run out of the radiator like a moonshine out of Grandpappy's still. Those big old radiators are a miracle of solder and brass. And there's only three people left in the world who know how to fix them. I'm going to check some hydraulic fittings today and if there's nothing that will work it's off to Phoenix Machine Shop. Jon owes me a favor, anyway. Let me also say that just because I don't act on all the suggestions and tips I get doesn't mean I don't value them. I do. Keep um coming. Thanks

Jerry

Jerry

<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

i wonder if there is a size of brass water pipe union that would match ? if you found the correct one just use half of it the part that sticks down from the radiator would match the face of half a union then you would have the union to screw a pipe nipple into and plumb where ever you wanted it to go

 

Perhaps a fire hose fitting...seems like it would be appropriate and most likely brass to boot.

 

Maybe there's a LaFrance forum or owners club on the net. I'm sure someone else has had this dilemma at some point. I can't wait to see this damn thing on the road. I check every day for updates

 

Jerry,
While we are suggesting things, you might try the food industry suppliers or milking machine suppliers. They both use a lot of union type connections for ease of cleaning. The pieces there would likely be stainless steel.
Good luck,
Jack

 

Good suggestions all. After deep thought I have formulated a plan. Since there is only .10 of an inch between the Lafrance radiator outlet and a standard 1.5 pipe thread, and since there is plenty of meat on the outlet, and since both are 11.5 TPI, I'm thinking if I get a 1.5 inch pipe die I can cut the outlet down .10 and a standard brass pipe fitting will work. This way I'll only be altering the radiator .10 and I will find a ready supply of fittings. The down side: I apply just a little too much force when cutting the outlet and I rip it off the radiator!
Now to scrounge up a pipe die. Harbor Freight has a set for $60. Can't work tomorrow. MLK have to watch kids.

Jerry


<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

Now i have not seen that rad, so I can't swear as to how hefty it is. Nevertheless I'd be a'scared of twisting the fitting off. You have to exert a lot of force to thread something that big, and it is probably hard brass. Can yo first try to open up the threads on a nut? The nuts are expendable. Hah, that did not come out right; you know what I mean.

 

Check out NPSH threads

 

You say the threads are straight not tapered. I had a friends that ran across straight threads on sometime he was working on and he was told there is a National Machine Thread, NMT, which is straight threads as well as a National Pipe Thread, NPT. He found a machine shop that had dies for that Thread and made him the piece he needed. He was told that if you use a NPT fitting on a NMT piece you can crack the NMT part. ????? rj

 

You say the threads are straight not tapered. I had a friends that ran across straight threads on sometime he was working on and he was told there is a National Machine Thread, NMT, which is straight threads as well as a National Pipe Thread, NPT. He found a machine shop that had dies for that Thread and made him the piece he needed. He was told that if you use a NPT fitting on a NMT piece you can crack the NMT part. ????? rj

 

I did some research on the web regarding NPSH thread and I couldn't match any up thread sizes to the radiator outlet. As far as other threads I couldn't match anything up with them either. I'm not sure why Lafrance would use an oddball thread size except that back in history they had their reasons. And I know that brass is sometimes harder to thread than steel. It likes to grab and won't let go. Maybe I'll stop at the machine shop tomorrow morning and see what they can do. If anyone feels like researching the size, it's 11.5" TPI and 2" across the threads, straight with no taper. I also thought about taking a 1.5" pipe connector (female) and cutting the threads deeper therefore opening up the inside by .10"

Jerry

 

This is a great project, I whish I had the skills and the room to build somthing like it.

I have scanned some pictures from the latest Hot rodding international of Rod Hadfields (an Australian ledgend in hot rods) project with a V12 rolls engine.
Brendan

 

Hey, That's cool! Here's video link. I hope the Seagrave starts easier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AMJJjeqX1o
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">