Building Burtz block

gdmn852

Well-known member
Hello. Current engine in Model A Is getting tired, rods have no more shims to pull, so finally started to work on the Burtz been in crate for a couple years,please wish me luck.!
 

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Not much luck needed IMO, just allow plenty of time to check everything - twice.
BTW, Good luck helps so Good luck!
 
Have ordered a Burtz cam and valves for engine, still trying to decide the cam followers , single lock or double, might go with single due to larger base .Just cleaning and de burring so far.
 
If you can, machine a little off the top of the bosses where the cam followers go. That makes it so much easier to adjust the valves.
 
If you can, machine a little off the top of the bosses where the cam followers go. That makes it so much easier to adjust the valves.
Be aware that ANY "machine work" will void the warranty. Ed Tolman is building Burtz engines. The head gasket failed on the one in his car. Here is a video of him machining the head to correct the surface. On all his new builds he surfaces the deck and head to assure they are flat.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1123377268114692/posts/2414148359037570/
 
Additional reason to use the correct lifters:

If you look at the shipping label (TAG) which comes with the new Stipe IB330 camshaft it says.

"Must use minimum 1.1 inch lifter" There is a reason for this statement.


1. The self locking lifters (also called single lock) sold today are 1.117.

2. The double nut lifters are less than one inch.

AS I understand it, using the smaller lifters called double nut lock lifters will damage the camshaft and lifters (if lifters are smaller than 1.1).
 
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I understand, gdmn. I received my Burtz kit in fall 2022. Just got around to building it last spring (2026), and I haven't fired it yet. I went "all Burtz" - block, 6.5 head, cam, oil pump, flywheel, flywheel housing. Damn is that thing heavy!

The head is one of the early production that had insufficient clearance for the water pump shaft. I opened it up a bit per Terry's guidance.
 
This is from the Burtz engine assembly manual.


We recommend that "single lock" Colony CM102-8 tappets be used for flathead applications. For OHV applications where the adjustment is at the rocker arms, stock Model A or Model B tappets can be used.
 
I used the Colony tappets specified. I got them from Bert's. They fit the lobes of my Burtz cam well.
 
Have ordered a Burtz cam and valves for engine, still trying to decide the cam followers , single lock or double, might go with single due to larger base .Just cleaning and de burring so far.

The larger base is important, especially on a performance cam. The Burtz cm is great for touring, a bigger carb will help too.
 
This is from the Burtz engine assembly manual.


We recommend that "single lock" Colony CM102-8 tappets be used for flathead applications. For OHV applications where the adjustment is at the rocker arms, stock Model A or Model B tappets can be used.

If using stock lifters on an OHV engine, you have to machine the top of them to accept the push rod. I've done this and they work great. BTW, B lifters have a larger diameter base than A lifters, a good thing on a performance cam.
 
The B lifter is also 0.032 inch taller or longer.

In case anyone thinks this is a good thing, the height of the lifter has no effect on performance because the total length of the lifter + valve lash + length of the valve must be a fixed quantity. If you substitute a longer lifter without changing anything else, your valve lash will be inadequate and you'll have to grind down the valve or adjust the lifter.
 
Hello back again, placed order with Snyders for lifters , single lock, pistons , rings etc .Thank you for all the replies.
 
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