Engine rebuild

T

Tbud

Junior Member
Hello Folks. I am in need of your input. I have to rebuild the engine on my 1927 Model T Ford Touring which has a high speed (3-1) rear end. I am concidering installing a higher lift cam, aluminum Pistons an possibly a 6-1 compression head. My concern is, will the stock crank be able to handle these upgrades. Any helpful input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Bud
 
The engine up grades are fairly standard that you are suggesting. I would make sure you are using the 26/27 style crank and have it checked for cracks and balancing the reciprocating parts. Like any engine depended on how much you lug it and running the spark lever correctly.
You could do a google search "mtfca;blue printing an engine"
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/199186.html?1300999517
Go down to about 8:05 some good info there.
 
Yes it would, they have in the past.

Problem is they will not. No stock model T crank is actually engineered to stand the stresses on them even in stock form, they all get metal fatigue and break no matter how carefully you drive them. Every single one. It will break eventually but no sooner than a stock engine.
 
dumb person said:
Yes it would, they have in the past.

Problem is they will not. No stock model T crank is actually engineered to stand the stresses on them even in stock form, they all get metal fatigue and break no matter how carefully you drive them. Every single one. It will break eventually but no sooner than a stock engine.
Click to expand...

So what is the average life expectancy of a T crank?
 
Two weeks to 100 years. I have driven 5 T's over 54 years. I only had one crankshaft break. It probably had some misalignment in the bearing behind the transmission. Some cars I have driven hard. I give the crankshaft a lot of credit. If driven enough most will eventually break but some have lasted more miles than we will drive them.

$.02
 
I have had five Ts over the past 35 years all were 23-24-25 I done the engine on all of them. All ground up I drive them like I stole them as fast as I dare. I have never had a crank break. And only know of one in the T club in 35 years.
The last 2 engine I built I did put in 1927 cranks. Because the cost of rebuilding the engines got so expensive.
 
There is a two-piece crankshaft club for those who have broken crankshafts. They have collected stories of when and how their crankshafts broke. It would be interesting to compile how many miles they drove before the failures. I maintain T cranks break form poor alignment far more than being weak. Stock crankshafts were race extensively in the early days with little problem.
 
Unless you know the history of that crankshaft from the day it left Ford's foundry (or Dodge brothers) you don't know anything. Any anecdotal evidence of how the car was driven, what engine speed, body style, or what time of day it was when the crank broke is silly, and not worth discussing.

I agree with the statement above - all Model T cranks will break. The part is perfectly well designed for its intended purpose. Ford never intended to make the crank last over 100 years.

Back to TBuds question - check the crank while the engine is being rebuilt. Do all the things that you said. If the crank breaks later, fix it.
 
I agree that the Problem is they will not. No stock model T crank is actually engineered to stand the stresses on them even in stock form, they all get metal fatigue and break no matter how carefully you drive them.
 
"2 weeks to 100 years". I busted out laughing when I read that. Is the 26/27 crank available and is it less than say a Scat? I'd sure be agonizing over the extra $ but I'd sure feel better with an improved crank.
 
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