MTFCA Forum

** UPDATE - can anyone with the skills figure out the casting mark on the engine (above the water inlet)? that would have a date. (See picture added below)

A friend of mine is constructing a child sized pedal car of the Noel Bullock 1922 Pikes Peak race car. His interest in building the racer is to make the complete drive train shaft and gear driven instead of typical chain drive. He also wants to detail the engine as much as he can. Stu makes fabulous replicas of older race cars with as much authentic detail as he can using recycled and repurposed items.



Stu himself has a model T speedster he built up and is familiar with Ts, however, he has some questions about the engine on the Pikes Peak race car that someone here may be able to help with:

Can you help identify the attached Model T engine please. It is the block used by Noel Bullock when he raced in 1922. I think the double valve covers went after 1919 but the generator mount has me confused. I am not sure if the timing gear covers were interchangeable between the years.

Bullock certainly used an alloy hogs head cover and had no starter, but that may have been to save weight.
The flashy finned generator blank plate looks like something from a modern hot rod shop and might not be original to the time. The Rajo head can just be seen in this photo.

Stu advises the chassis is a (possible shortened) 1916, and as the race was 1922, the engine is probably earlier., certainly not more than a '22.

So, can we definitively ID the block, and does anyone know if the generator cover is 'period' correct or not?

Any other info on the car engine appreciated

(A 'shout out' to the curatorial team at the Pikes Peak Museum, they have been very very helpful and provided lots of info and photos, but alas, they are not Model T speed engine experts )

Thanks in advance

Adrian

and does anyone know if the generator cover is 'period' correct or not?

That generator block off plate or cover would be more modern, still avail from Lang's # TG1.

Haven't seen similar in old time catalogs for T speed parts.


However, might still be ok, as there was a period alum. and finned oil pan cover, so it could fit the look.

One design of a period correct generator block off plate is a block of wood with three holes drilles in it. Picture is available upon request.

Art Mirtes

** UPDATE - can anyone with the skills figure out the casting mark on the engine (above the water inlet)? that would have a date. (See second engine picture added above)

Rajo MODEL 31

Thanks Ed, you have great eyes