Autopsy of Broken "B" Engine

I've only been a member on here for about 3 months, I'm a newbie to Model A's but an experienced engine builder. I have seen over and over on here that a post (in this case Bob)intended to help people deteriorates into a pissing contest. Bob made this post to try and help people, not get beat up. Sometimes we just can't be certain what happened after all, most of the evidence has been destroyed. Bob, you might open yourself up and accept that there is a possibility, however remote, that your analysis may be off a tad. The rest of you, be polite, state your opinion once and then let it go. There is just too much testosterone and pride in these forums. I learn from everybody's opinion but once you have posted it leave it be. Personally, I am open to the idea of it being some combination of things and heck, I don't really care precisely what happened. I have no doubt that now I will com under attack and many of you will try and defend their actions. All that does is prove my point. Grow up guys, and act like an adult. These actions would not behave like this if we were together in person.
 
'28 RPU said:
I've only been a member on here for about 3 months, I'm a newbie to Model A's but an experienced engine builder. I have seen over and over on here that a post (in this case Bob)intended to help people deteriorates into a pissing contest. Bob made this post to try and help people, not get beat up. Sometimes we just can't be certain what happened after all, most of the evidence has been destroyed. Bob, you might open yourself up and accept that there is a possibility, however remote, that your analysis may be off a tad. The rest of you, be polite, state your opinion once and then let it go. There is just too much testosterone and pride in these forums. I learn from everybody's opinion but once you have posted it leave it be. Personally, I am open to the idea of it being some combination of things and heck, I don't really care precisely what happened. I have no doubt that now I will com under attack and many of you will try and defend their actions. All that does is prove my point. Grow up guys, and act like an adult. These actions would not behave like this if we were together in person.
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The various stages of our lives can be plotted on a bell curve. We ascend on the upward side of the bell curve starting out as infants followed by child, adolescent, teenager, young adult, adult, middle age and peaking as a senior citizen. As we descend on the other side, our behavior pretty much mirrors the upward side. Unless something disrupts this progression, we go out the same way we came in. We sometimes need to be reminded that we don’t have to conform to our present position on the curve and need to modify our behavior. For example, “grow up and act like an adult”. Thanks for reminding us.
 
I worked for an old man, now long gone, in heavy equipment construction. His motto was high RPMs kill engines. He had the governors on his equipment throttled back. You got caught touching them & you was hunting a job. He was still using them,(hard), mostly caterpillar equipment from the 1940's into the 1990s when he died. Take from that what you will.

I just Googled Babbitt. It begins to melt at 459°F. That really surprised me.
 
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I think it depends on how the engine is designed.
If you have a "modern" motorcycle or car engine you'll tend to hurt it by running at low rpm / high load.
Stationary engines, especially old ones such as ETA described them, are built for heavy loads at lower rpms. Kinda like the A engine, but I would think with a proper lubrication system.
 
bavArian said:
I think it depends on how the engine is designed.
If you have a "modern" motorcycle or car engine you'll tend to hurt it by running at low rpm / high load.
Stationary engines, especially old ones such as ETA described them, are built for heavy loads at lower rpms. Kinda like the A engine, but I would think with a proper lubrication system.
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Under a load you were to shift to lower gear. I spent many days moving dirt in 2nd gear, to keep the revs up. None of the stuff had Tach's, but I heard his son say under 2000 RPM's was the goal. I'm sure they had the best lubrication system for its day. IIRC the IL6 motors had a 6 gallon oil pan.

I'm not saying this has a lot to do with a Model A, but he had an old GMC truck with Babbitt rods and mains no one could drive but him. He said we'd overwind it.

Bob I'm sorry you lost an engine. Thanks for sharing the info with us and hopefully we can learn something from it.

BTW, I just remembered Dad had a Inline 6 Dodge with a busted block. He repaired it by using matress stuffing to fill the gaps and filled the radiator with waterglass. The cotton stuffing got hard as a rock from the waterglass and the block held water and run fine until the rings finally collapsed a few years later. Poor people have poor ways.
 
Big Hammer, I am having some friends over on this coming Tuesday (3/29) to install the new Model "B" engine that was built by Jersey Mike.

Also going back in is the transmission that was in the car when the other engine failed. My concern was this transmission may have had some of the poor quality needle bearings discussed on the Ford Barn, but luckily the bearings in it are made just like the OEM bearings. The Model "A" front engine mount is being tossed, and replaced by a Float-A-Motor front mount that is a duplicate of the OEM Model "B" mount. The rear engine mounts will remain stock Model "A."

Another upgrade at this time will be a change to cast iron front drums and Scandinavia type brake linings on all of the service brakes. Other than some accessories, the above should make my Victoria ready to go for this touring season. Her long run will be from Long Island to the 65th New England Meet in Mansfield, Massachusetts this coming September. By then, the new motor will have a several hundreds of miles on it.

Thanks for asking!


 

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Truth in advertising was yet to be heard of in the A days.Yes,they would do the speeds,but was it a good idea? Overdrives make it more realistic.When I went to Cummins school in 1985 I remember what the Cummins engineer drilled into us.Cruising speed is the speed you can generally hold steady,and still accellarate FROM.He told us how that applied to everything except for race cars.I think he told us the Volkswagen Beetle in the 60's advertised their top speed as cruising speed,but if you worked on them you knew better.We all know of an A somewhere that performs exceptionally,but is not the norm.
 
Somewhere I read about Ray Dahlinger driving a new Model A in a big loop around the US as a publicity stunt for Ford. As I remember it he drove at sustained speeds of 60 or 65 MPH for the entire run.
It might have been in John Dahlinger's book: "The Secret Life of Henry Ford", which I don't have any more.
 
Great post and discussion. Getting our "A"s to go 50-60-65 MPH challenges the steering alignment and braking components too. I understand the maxim, "my car, my decision" but I just think those speeds are pushing the limits of common safety and respect for a 90 year old vehicle. You have to think about anyone else in the car with you and what happens if your vehicle collides with anything else …. regardless of who is at fault ….. the repercussions of getting tossed around in a tin can is like playing Russian roulette. But we must all take this discussion for the lessons shared, Be careful out there Barners.
 
J Franklin said:
Top speed maybe, but Ford supplied you the next engine for $25.-$50. installed.
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From Parts Price List 1932
A-6005 Engine Assembly less clutch and Transmission. $120.

Adjusted to today's inflation: $2,485. Not exactly a drop in the bucket but less than replacing an engine today.
 
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