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Post by haflinger121 on Jul 15, 2010 22:10:29 GMT 1
Hi memaerobilia. Thanks for the close up explanatory pix and I like that one of your dad peering into the works as well, Rod.
Memaerobilia, you mentioned that half Bugatti engine. I have a feeling my friend Ivan (he who has just resurrected a Skirrow) now owns one of those halves, but I'm not sure which one! He's talking about building a replica of whatever car it was supposed to have been in originally. I think he said it was very similar to an Elto and used Model T axles perhaps? But he also mentioned something to do with a Lea Francis and the 'half engine' might have been in connection with that.
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Post by ezwalk43 on Jul 15, 2010 22:13:42 GMT 1
Still got two old midgets Rod, the V8-60 I just added to the for sale page and a similar Chevy2 powered car
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Post by memaerobilia on Jul 15, 2010 22:37:15 GMT 1
Number four photo, I have no idea what engine is fitted in this photo, if anybody can tell me I would be delighted to hear. I have been looking at these photos (and more) since I was about seven years old, and only recently discovered this one is different. You see what you see, and dont see anything different until it is pointed out to you Rod; I think it is a safe bet that this photo shows a J.A.P. engine, now turned the same way as mounted in the J.A.P. Special in first photo of this thread. (Note the twin mags, & drive unit, also just above the frame.) He either combined both exhausts nto ONE, Inside the car, or he routed the exhausts so one came out of each side.
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Post by memaerobilia on Jul 15, 2010 23:28:21 GMT 1
I think he said it was very similar to an Elto and used Model T axles perhaps? But he also mentioned something to do with a Lea Francis and the 'half engine' might have been in connection with that. Yes; In U.S. a lot of early midgets were base on Model T rear and front axles. Also most of the brake handle and crossshafts, that mounted to bottom of the frame and had a big "U" shaped dip to go around the drive shafts to go to the rear Only, mechanical Model T brakes. Although some used from Other years, it was only the 1926 and 1927 Model T rear ends that were any good, because those had the larger size brakes. The "T" rear ends had to be narrowed a good bit for the midget class. Actually we started by taking it all apart and then narrowing the outer cast rear end housings by 4.190 inches on EACH side. Then grinding a slight v on the exposed tubing ends and welding them back together as a narrowed unit. It helped to use special nickle welding rod, for strength. Then. one had to narrow both axel shaft halves. Either by cutting one end or the other, and either machining a new Tapered outer end, and key way, or cutting a new groove and key way for the inner gear, at the axle inner end. (which was Much easier) Cutting out a middle section and re-welding together would have been simple, but not much chance of it lasting very long..The front "I" beam axles were easy to cut a piece out of the center. We ususally added a big chunk of steel on BOTH sides, inside the "I" ends, after welding the main axle back, at the required width. Stock Model "T" steering arms could be used, usually requiring a bit of intense heating to rebend to new angles. There was also an added stiffener rod at bottom of rear axle. from one back-plate to the other one, on other side, which kept the rear end from flexxing, breaking and snapping when it hit rough spots etc. I have lots of detail shots of making every single piece of these cars, from bodies, frames, steering wheels, radius rods, drive trains, fuel tank, hand air pressure pumps, seats, different type fames, grilles hinges etc etc.mounts, cowl frames, springs, radiators, even wheels, two and four cyl exhausts, engine turning dahes and firewalls. welding up brass radiators, fuel tanks etc etc. and hammering out body panels and radiator shells. Even how to draw up a car in full scale and make three dimensions of templates before cutting the first piece. Usually started with making a frame with the compound curve at rear end, Kick-ups. Frames usually from 11 -15 different pieces of steel cut & V-welded together, and ground & filed off neat and smooth enough to be chromed or painted without seeing a seam. There! I have gone Well and Truly off topic!!!
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Post by rodpashley on Jul 16, 2010 9:41:10 GMT 1
Memearobilia, you have just told us how to build a vintage Midget, hardly off topic.... ;D
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Post by memaerobilia on Jul 16, 2010 17:12:32 GMT 1
"A picture is worth a thousand words..." Number 1: shows the outer tube of the Model T rear end. The red line is where 4.190 inches of the tube has been cut out and removed. (So Two cuts on Each side) Then it was "v"ed out at tube edges and rewelded with nickel-steel welding rod. THEN it was flush/ground off with grinding wheel, smooth filed-by-hand, on outside, so you would never see the weld or notice it was narrowed Number 2: shows added steel rod, hand threaded at ends, rests tight on bottom of rear end housing and going through drilled holes at bottom of Model T back plates, then fastened on outer side of brake backing plates with large washers and nuts & lock washers. Strengthens rear end, keeps from flexing/breaking. Number 3; Shows the larger size brakes used only on the 1926-1927 Model T.
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Post by haflinger121 on Jul 16, 2010 22:02:08 GMT 1
I agree with Rod, absolutely NOT off topic and very interesting indeed. Go OT like this again anytime, fine with me!
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Post by tsrwright on Jul 28, 2010 15:40:13 GMT 1
Re the rodpashley (brother of Tony?) query that is almost certainly an 8-80 JAP too - note the twin mags and double Pilgrim oil pump.
(Can you post a reply to a particular post rather than the thread as a whole?)
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Post by rodpashley on Jul 28, 2010 16:13:25 GMT 1
Thanks for that, yes, Tony is my brother. Are you a friendof his, or just know of him?
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Post by tsrwright on Jul 28, 2010 16:15:19 GMT 1
The engine with GC on the rocker covers is (at least in part) from Gus Carlheim (Bronx?) whom I believe developed the 8-80 with a lot of his own stuff for midget use. Don't know much more and would like to. Anyone got definitive info? Google the name; also there is quite a bit if info on the S&S website - try following www.sscycle.com/tech/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=10301&start=0
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Post by tsrwright on Jul 28, 2010 16:24:10 GMT 1
Thanks for that, yes, Tony is my brother. Are you a friendof his, or just know of him? We have met a few times and exchanged info. on Skirrows and "Ginger". I am working on a history of V twin Coopers and the pre-history includes Skirrows etc. Pse give Tony regards from Terry Wright, tsrwright@gmail.com
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Post by bruffsup on Jan 6, 2013 19:49:05 GMT 1
JAP magside THIS IS NOT A JAP ENGINE. IT IS A GUS CARLHEIM ENGINE. SEE THE GC ON THE ROCKER COVER? ALSO THE SPECIAL CASES DISTRIBUTOR ETC. ETC. GUS CARLHEIM BUILT HIS OWN ENGINES IN NEW YORK LOOSELY BASED ON JAP DESIGN . I HAVE A SET OF CARLHEIM BARRELS, HEADS AND OTHER PARTS FOR SALE IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.
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Post by bruffsup on Jan 6, 2013 19:52:58 GMT 1
OK, I DIDN;T SEE WRIGHT'S POSTING ABOVE BUT THE POSTINGS ON THE S&S SITE FROM KOSLOW ARE FROM ME. THAT IS MY KOSLOW BIKE AND CYLINDER HEADS ETC. .
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 9, 2013 5:27:43 GMT 1
Bruffsup, if you are Koslow on that other site maybe we can email or pm or just talk here even if some of it is two-wheeled stuff? I'ld like to know more about Koslow.
I collected some info on Gus Carlheim last summer in eastern US. There is a nicely restored midget - Burd Piston Ring Special - with Carlheim JAP in a museum near Gettysburg. I then visited the owner in RI and got some photos and I'll post it all when I get time. I understand Carlheim started by putting JAP top-ends on Harley bottom-ends then progressed to his own JAP-like bottom end. Also JAP had an agent there - I think it was Rod Pashley who sent me a copy of an advert.
Seems the big-twins were very competitive but tended to disintegrate.
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Post by bruffsup on Jan 9, 2013 17:11:36 GMT 1
Terry, It is Barry Brown who sold you the Skirrow you are talking to ! Something interesting about Koslow gleaned from legendary Indian racer Pop Dreyer's ( Indianapolis) biography written by his son. You may know that Pop built midgets and he used Koslow engines in a few of the early ones. Here is a picture of what may be my very engine now in a motorcycle. Lots of folk misspell KOSLOW Attachments:
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