Looking for 1909 block casting

[Michael Paul]

Hi all, I'm looking for a raw casting of the 1909 block. I know there were several around a couple years back. It's the block that McTavish made in Canada a few years back.

Any help appreciated
Thanks Michael Paul

[Joe Bell]

Those patterns are still out there.

[Michael Paul]

Hi Joe, yes I've heard that. I understand they don't want to make anymore of them using the patterns.

I was told there were several at Menges that sold to one person. I contacted him, but they had all been sold years ago. Just hoping someone might part with one. I have some early stuff to trade if that helps.
Thanks Mike

[Joe Bell]

I tracked the patterns from New York to Oregon then to Canada, the ole boy from Canada was real quiet about them, I have seen several of those blocks, they are beefed up inside like the later block are. I have a local foundry that would pour them but that does not do any good with out the patterns, there is a ton of machine work to finish one! I tried to get the later patterns from the T100 project but Ford wants nothing to do with that for liability reasons.

[Michael Paul]

Hi Joe, thanks for the input. I've heard they were slightly shorter where the head bolts on the block. Enough so that it was needed to grind the original head so it wouldn't overhang. This is second hand info, someone else with first hand knowledge may have more details if this is true.

My interest is mainly a machining project. I enjoy working on old iron as much as driving it. Last winter I finished a 1902 rear end that I made patterns for, and cast the housings. You can do just about anything on a Bridgeport mill! I was fortunate to find a great older mill with very little time on it. For me, it's mainly getting to go back in time and experience what was done 100 years ago. Who says you can't time travel!
Thanks Mike

[Joe Bell]

Mike, the couple I took care of was fine on the head area, they where actually wider than the head.

[Michael Paul]

Thanks Joe, that's why second hand information can be questionable.

On another note, I was reading though pattern making info, and found grey cast iron has a net zero shrinkage or slight expansion. I was surprised to see that, my only pattern experience has been with aluminum and bronze. Aluminum shrinks 3/16" to the foot of memory serves...

I suppose Mr McTavish may have made his patterns to exact size of an original block, that may account for the casting being slightly larger.
Anyone with first hand cast iron experience? Does it actually expand slightly?
Thanks Mike

[Joe Bell]

Cast iron does shrink also, I made a few High Compression heads from Malleble, did not work from annealling them and cracking, to making them out of grey iron that worked for me and machining later.

[ModelTtexasMan]

I have a couple of the heads that need were never machined and one original forsale

[Philip]

I'm just curious why would someone want to not let the pattern be used it's not like they
Wearout. The people that make patterns use special scales that are graduated to allow for
Shrinkage. I've seen ones for iron alum. And brass

[Scott_Conger]

Philip

I would expect that limiting their use would work to maintain the value of both repros and originals. The last thing you'd want to see is a bunch of repro open valve engines hit the market to mate up with all of the Torpedo clone bodies out there, if you were serious about mainting the value of YOURS.

Just my opinion.

[Philip]

I suppose I understand that if all you want is to drive your car you can use later engines.philip

[babychadwick]

Joe can you tell me a little more about this foundry? What materials, process and quantity can they handle?

[Joe Bell]

Chad, There is two foundries local, One is Webster Mfg. that pours the malliable iron, This company made the chain for Henry to haul the cars down the assembly line it was called CC-5, they can handle any large amounts items to pour, I retired out of here as a Machinist, The other is Tiffin Foundry that is a Ma and Pop shop that pours every other week making big cast iron pots that are out of gray iron. These guys love my old cams, cranks, heads and blocks to melt back down, good virgin material. I know Webster a couple years ago casted a couple thousand Model A fuel shut off valves. Tiffin Foundry looks like you step back into Time there!

[babychadwick]

I wouldn't mind finding a foundry that can do several hundred pounds investment in bronze.

[Joe Bell]

Tim Morsher had some one casting in Bronze, he is out of Norwalk Ohio, he is on the forum.