Open Engine

Great Idea !! Many Model A clubs around the world in fact, can use that idea for a great club project without spending a bunch of bucks. Nearly everything could be donated by the members.
 
that is most impressive, both original idea and implementation. Thanks for sharing! I've already sent it to a couple non-ModelA guys who just love engines. :-)
 
Thanks for all the positive feedback! I spent a little more than 100 hours building it. I scrounged up a bunch of parts from MAFCA club members... there's probably parts from about 6 engines in this project!

One of my other pastimes is gas engines. I've had stories published in Gas Engine Magazine in the past, and they are going to run my story about the "open engine" in an upcoming issue. Here's the story...(maybe it will get Jay Leno's attention and he'll invite me to see his garage :)):

The “Open Engine” Story
When I was a youngster, dad would take me to a one-man salvage yard north of town, where I found myself fascinated with machinery. My dad was always taking things apart and fixing them, which fueled my curiosity. I was always bugging my dad to get me a gas engine that I could take apart. Finally that day happened when my Uncle Roger came over with a junk Thunderbird engine. I was about 7 years old.

I still remember the excitement I felt that hot July day as I raced into the garage with my radio flyer wagon to put dad’s toolbox in it and headed to the back yard under the big white oak tree. My younger brother, Victor, and I worked on that old ‘Bird engine all day, with dad nearby to help us break the nuts and bolts loose and answer all my questions (such as “what is this?” “That’s the oil pump.” “Why do you need to pump oil?” and so on). I learned a lot that day about how an internal combustion engine works. My dad was so proud to see his sons working together taking that engine apart, and he took this picture for posterity. Shortly before his death two years ago, he had that little picture enlarged and gave it to me.

Last fall while looking at the picture, I came up with the concept of an “open running engine” to take to shows as an educational display so I can share my knowledge with your youngsters.

Parts engine……$45
Cart…………….. .$40
Paint…….....…..$15
Seeing a new engine enthusiast born…..$ PRICELESS $

Project dedicated to my late father, Gerald L. Kedrowski
 

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That was just great ! I really like the photo, that your dad took, of you and your brother, "*** to elbows" in grease. Fantastic !
MIKE :)
 
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