Looking to Get Started...

Couldn’t wait. I used my Lucas assembly lube. Slicked it up and stuck it in New aluminum cam gear. New adjustable lifters. Installed and adjusted the original valves and guides with new springs in their original locations.

 

You may notice I made a bit of an attempt to port the intake and exhaust. That’s what happens when you get too much time on your hands.

 

Still not roadster weather in MD.

 

Making some progress on the banger. Valves adjusted, oil pump installed, oil pan installed. Working on getting flywheel housing true and then will mount the flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate.

 

Getting there…

 

Lookin' good.

 

List is getting pretty short. Goal is to drive it this weekend.

 

Closer....waiting to hear this thing run.

 

Ratty The Rusty Roadster lives again!! So much fun!

 

You deserve TWO Blue Moons for that last fete!

 

OUTSTANDING!!!

 

Sweet! That smile on your face says it all, well done.

 

I finally got sync’d up on a roadster weather day and a running/driving roadster. Ratty has significantly more power now. Had a great 10 mile initial shake-down run. All good!

 

Awesome!!

 

Yeah. I hate to get too many variables going at once. I was concerned that either my first try at a 39 trans rebuild or my first try at a cam replacement would go sideways. Once I’m sure this is dialed in I plan to try the Mallory distributor and the upgraded 12v generator.

 

I like it.

 

So glad you were able to drive it this week. Bet you felt great!

 

Got the generator working pretty good after my 12v field upgrade. I have to admit it was a bit of a pain. Getting the new fields in tight enough for the armature to fit was a challenge. Not understanding that I had to polarize the fields to make them work was a hurdle. I learned a lot by reading the Ford Barn posts from the guys that rebuild these things.

 

You may also notice that I am hitting the new head with a strip disk to remove the coating so I can begin the rust process.

 

You wouldn't be the first or last to not know about the polarization. I think I saw a foot note in my Olds manual referencing that which undoubtably saved me considerable head scratching.

 

Hanging with my peeps at the Westminister Swap meet today.

 

I stopped by my buddy Skip’s house on the way back from the swap meet. He gave me his collection of F.A.S.T magazines. So generous. I have never been so excited about a box of magazines!!!

 

Did you find anything at the swap meet that you didn't know you needed?

 

Absolutely. I’ll post my small haul soon.

 

Also received this in the mail today. I have more reading material than I have time for now.

 

That ^^^^ is a fantastic book, you will find yourself referring to it often.
The roadster is killer kid!

 

Let’s talk voltage regulators. Should I use one with the 12v generator? Here is why I am asking. If I adjust the middle brush to give me 12v at idle then I get upwards of 17v at high RPMs. Seems like that is not good and could do some damage. If I adjust the middle brush lower then I only get 3-6v at my retarded timing cool model a loping idle. That means I am running off of battery power to keep the engine running. Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

Voltage regulator use................YES!