Model T Racing Thread

[t-head]

These illustrations show Roofs third model of head that he evidently called the eight valve, without giving it a letter model like the earlier 16-valve heads. I think at a later point it was called the Liberty Head.

It is a more conventional head that appears to be very similar in design to the early Fronty Model T, S & R heads. It has two intake ports on the left hand side and three exhausts on the right along with its very distinctive valve cover.

He also made what he called the Super Racing 8-valve model with what is called extreme high compression. It came with bigger 1 7/8" valves along with larger ports and a high speed camshaft. It was $135 complete with manifolds a single 1 3/4" carb and the camshaft. For $160 it was available with two 1 1/2" side draft carbs.

The forth photo shows a Liberty Head in Bill Smiths wonderful Museum.

 

[Roadster62]

The Model C 16 Valve ROOF is the one I'd like to have! ROOF and Laurel Motors were one in the same, if not they used the same office and factory IMO. If anyone has the details on why they ran two different companies selling the same stuff please fill us in on the datails.

 

[Roadster62]

Two of my favorite T racing sales literature pieces. ROOF and Laurel Motors, note the date differance on the two.

 

[twin6]

While the topic is on Roof, I thought this would be worth sharing. No, it's not a model T but it is Robert Roof in one of his racers, c. 1910 (perhaps earlier) and you can see "ROOF - 6" on what appears to be a pennant, near his foot.

 

[t-head]

Great stuff guys.....Thanks.

 

[FL&WVMIKE]

"T" Men ...........................
I don't have a "T", and never did, but I think that this is one of the most fascinating threads on FORDBARN ! Keep up the good work !
MIKE

 

[Layden B]

These are of Roof type C 16 valve (cast right in "ROOF TYPE C"):
intake side
exhaust side
and optional intake manifolds. You could run 4 single sidedraft carbs OR put on the aluminum pieces ( right one turned over for clarity) to use 2 sidedraft carbs OR add to them the iron manifold and run one updraft ( this piece is the same as intake manifold for the 8 valve head).

 

[t-head]

A very interesting colorized photo of a Mercury speedster.

 

[t-head]

Another good photo of a Mercury.

 

[t-head]

A one more that is a little bit racier.

 

[S.Duncan]

A very interesting colorized photo of a Mercury speedster.

This photo and the one below it are of my grandfather in the early twenties.This pic was colorized by Mercury guru Jarvis Erickson

 

[t-head]

This photo and the one below it are of my grandfather in the early twenties.This pic was colorized by Mercury guru Jarvis Erickson

Thanks for the background info on those photos. Can you add any more info about the car or your grandfather?

 

[S.Duncan]

A very interesting colorized photo of a Mercury speedster.

This picture and the one below it are of my grandfather and his Mercury in the early twenties.The colorized pic was done by Mercury guru Jarvis Erickson.Love the speedster and racing stuff.Maybe someone could post about any heads or speed equipment thats been recast in the last 20 yrs or so .Do any patterns exist for exotic stuff like the DO Fronty?

 

[t-head]

Some more early Roof photos and a horsepower chart. The forth photo shows how the dash or firewall needs to be cut away on some cars. Also note the early style cross over manifold which has been modified to exhaust out the side of the hood with the welded or brazed on short tube. The rest of the manifold also appears to be intact behind the intake manifold.

 

[S.Duncan]

Sorry about the double post;My grandfather moved from P.E.I. Canada to Boston in the early twenties to look for work.He worked for a while driving a chain driven truck delivering ice.My dad used to say his father was quite the"man about town" during his years in Boston".He sure wasn't shy about having his picture taken.On one of his trips back home to P.E.I. he took the speedster and left it for his two younger brothers to drive.It's unknow if the T had any perf. equip. on it.It's funny that it had the whole mercury package but still had T wood wheels.

 

[t-head]

S.Duncan.... Thanks. it is great to have the story behind the photos. T-H

 

[t-head]

Photos of Robert Roof in his early racing car with the type C 16-valve head with the four Zenith side drafts. I believe this is the same head that Laydon Butler showed us in post #94.

I also reproduced that drawings that roadster62 showed in the photos of the filer he has. I reposted them as there are so many great details to be seen.

 

[t-head]

The type C DOHC 16-valve Roof head. There is not much information out there on this head. The Museum of American Speed has a similar type C on display with photos you can study, but there are differences between the two. The head has two cams and bucket type followers that I believe were arranged over a head that maybe be the standard C minus the rocker arm arrangement. The two cams are geared together and driven by a silent chain on the sprocket you see at the front.

Link below more photos below.

http://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/Collections/Engines/RoofE133.shtml

Can anyone add any more info about this head or more photos?

 

[t-head]

Enough of studying old cylinder heads for today. These modern photos show some of California's finest looking T racers. I am very familiar with the history of the yellow car and have seen photos of the green car but would be interested in any details of the others if anyone has any.

 

[Roadster62]

Thanks for posting this photo, I couldn't find my copy. Really like the looks of this car. Daytons always made a car look good, not that there is anything wrong with Buffalo's