Casting Wires

Glenn C.

Glenn C.

Well-known member
During overhaul of the Model A engine blocks....it is quite interesting to probe around down in the various water jacket ports, with a small flashlight, to try and locate casting support steel wires that may have been left in the block after pouring of the cast iron. One engine that I overhauled several years back, had about 12" inches in total, in pieces of various lengths. An engine we completed two months ago, had none.....whereas a 28 engine that I have just completed had two pieces 3" long. These wires are about #10 or #12 in size.

Question: Is it common to find these support wires in the blocks for all years, including the Model B, or was this more prevalent earlier in the production, such as the 28/29 engines ??
 
I don't know how many wire supports were in there but I know it is common to Ford 4-cylinder and 8-cylinder engines and most likely even the flathead 6-cylinders due to the similar casting processes that were practiced. I've taken a small coffey can full of rusty wire out of the V8 castings before. Most of the Models A's I've been around had enough corrosion time to resuce the wire to nothing after 70 to 80 years or so. It would be interesting to see a model A engine block cast or drawing of such but I don't know if anyone out there can produce or reproduce one. I imagine a few folks in the know could come pretty close though.

Kerby
 
Various number of Supporting Casting Wires? Hummm?

In Peter Winnewisser's fine book "The Legendary Model A Ford" "The ultimate History Of One Of America's Great Automobiles" Mr. Winnewisser states that the Ford Model 'A' has over 19,000 changes to itself in the total production run....that is pretty amazing me thinks! How do 'they' ever cover that in the judging standards?

In Frank Odde's book on the Ford V-8 Flathead he states that EVERY CAST BLOCK has some casting sand deep in it's innards and that it doesn't come out with water flushing, acid dipping, or scraping. Mr. Odde can scope it and see it but can't get it out.
 
I worked for 42 yrs. at the FORD CLEVELND CASTING PLANT.On most cores for the waterjackets a wire was used to strengthen them.From 1965 til i retired in 06 we pulled all of them out.Not to say a few if any were left.As for the model a i just dont know The waterpassage cores are just not thick enough to support themselves. The wire were pulled out the freeze plugholes in the blocks or the water pump holes in the head.I think L.O.L. RAY
 
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