MTFCA Forum

Today started the irritating solving little issues.

Dual SR Winfields and worn linkage. Keeping in mind this Gallivan was assembled and restored in 1955 with a ton of miles since them. So lots of wear and slop in the throttle linkage. WE solved most of the wear in the linkage, and the last issue was the arm on the steering unit throttle shaft. The arm was attatched to the throttle shaft with just a cotter pin. This was solved with a #3 taper pin. Had a taper pin reamer and reamed the hole. We have taken a ton of slop out of the linkage now getting full throttle opening not that we really needed the extra opeing of the butterfly!!!

Next is dealing with the steering unit adjustments. The steering box is some unknown origin. WE have almost 1/4 turn in the steering unit before the wheels move. Part of the problem was the steering unit was loose in the frame so a tightening of all mounting bolts solved a large amount of movement. Need to go thru the entire front suspension. Tomorrows project.

Did get it out on the road the other day in overdrive up to 50+ mph with just 4 notches on the Throttle lever. IT will be interesting to see how much faster once all the details are worked out. Supposed to have been driven 113 miles per hour in 1970. So once its up to snuff anyone want to sign up for a very fast drive? I'm too damn old to even think much less actually drive that fast.

just sayin'
frontyboy.

We need a picture(s) or it does not exist!

Oh, it does exist. I remember when I first saw it back in about 1963. According to the owner, Burt Lobberegt, it did 107 in the quarter mile. I may have a picture of it from back then. I will look tomorrow.

I'd love to drive it!! It would be worth the trip from Michigan!

This is a link to a thread with an article about Burt's Gallivan runabout. There are some good photos here.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1378527076

The article says that the engine has 2 1/4" Hispano Suiza aircraft valves with 5/8" stems. There is a photo showing a valve. That's crazy in a good way.

There was a more recent discussion started on the Gallivan viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39751&p=305626&hili ... an#p305626
Sold for $41,250 at 2007 Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction.
The Ford Model T four-cylinder engine was a popular powerplant for racing, as it was strongly built, widely available, and with a little tuning could be transformed into a competitive powerplant. There were many Model T cylinder head builders during the post-War era such as Harry Miller who created dual overhead camshaft Model T heads, and the single and double overhead camshaft rocker arm Frontenac heads created by the Chevrolet brothers. The Gallivan dual overhead camshaft head is a little less known but very technically advanced. These were the ones chosen by Carl and Tudy Marchese in 1925 to upgrade the Rajo head on their Model T-powered car.

In the capable hands of Carl Marchese, the Gallivan head Model T block special was driven to a victory in the 1924 Milwaukee race and set a new record on the State Fair Park track at 77.7 mph. The car continued to race for the next few years. It was later discovered in an Indianapolis wrecking year in 1952. The car was later restored to its former glory.

It was brought to the 2007 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $25,000 - $35,000. It was offered without reserve. The estimated value proved to be underestimated, as bidding quickly surpassed those figures. As the gavel fell, the lot had been sold for $41,250 including buyer's premium.

Yes it is Berts Gallivan from the 50's. Dan as far as photos I'm having far too much fun working and driving it no time for photos.

Yes Dan, it does exist, happily in my car barn. Once I finish working on it I might take time to post photos, or I might not. I did take a video last week but tried to post it here, no luck. So if anyone knows the secret to posting a video, post it on here. Then I will post the video.

just sayin'

frontyboy

a few photos

will add more

had to resize these

I'd would never have thought that would fit inside the hood of a brass car. The ultimate sleeper!!

got10carz wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 09, 2023 12:08 pm

I'd would never have thought that would fit inside the hood of a brass car. The ultimate sleeper!!

Yes, but I'll bet it gets terrible gas mileage.

Dan McEachern wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 08, 2023 1:02 am

We need a picture(s) or it does not exist!

Dan McE, I remember hearing and reading about a Gallivan model T about fifty years ago. Since we ran in some of the same circles, I am sure you had heard of it also. However, I have no idea how many of them were built, or exist today. I had seen photos of the racing car above many years ago, and heard of a 1915 runabout but don't recall having seen photos of it. I am fairly sure that I never saw either of them in person.

Wow, what a beast!

I think the horseless part is an understatement and helps make it a sleeper!

This is a link to my Gallivan/Rajo hillcimb car
http://buymegivemetakeme.com/1927%20gemsa/index.htm

This is a link to another Gallivan powered car
http://buymegivemetakeme.com/bluecar/bl ... tails.html

I no longer have these two cars. The hillclimber was sold to a collector in Dayton Ohio.
The blue flat tail car is in Texas.

The hill climb car was faster than snot. I hope the links work

The Flying Dutchman! Bert Lobberegt's famous Galavan powered Monster/sleeper. He said it was ungodly fast...

Here is our Gallivan/Rajo powered T race car. Uncut B crankshaft.
If there are any others being actively raced, I would like to see them and race them. This one is set up for 1/10 mile sprint, usually on a hill. It’s a white knuckle ride. This is a later head made after Jagersberger took over when Gallivan got into trouble with the government. Turns out he was supposed to be building airplane engines for them. The Hispano Suiza influence on this head is evident.

Jarvis Erickson( Mr Mercury) has done a lot of research on the Gallivan after I sold the roadster to him. There seems to be some record of the original Gallivan engines built. The number is 7 before Gallivan was convicted by the Feds . There are 3 that are known to be up and running. There are 4 that are nice and pretty but not running or have no interior parts. I'm not the source of this information just passing it on.

Be interesting to compare the serial numbers of those that are known to be complete and running. If someone is interested I do have a complete set of timing gears and several tools that Bert manufactured to work on the Gallivan heads. I also have used pistons 12to 1' compression.

WE adjusted both Winfields and that made one hell of a difference. We also adjusted the linkage to make both butterflies opening and closing at the same time, added a hand choke for ease of cold starting. All the above has made a huge difference both starting and running. I am amazed at the acceleration from the low range then quickly slip into hi range and whoa nelly hang on to your hat!!! now we are flying!!

I'm thinking the flying dutchman is a keeper, looking forward to next year to go touring.

frontyboy