Engine building considerations

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
bnchief
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2019 8:33 am
First Name: Steven
Last Name: White
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 2
Location: Great Bend Kansas
MTFCA Number: 73
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Engine building considerations

Post by bnchief » Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:17 am

My 1927 engine will not use the magneto but bosch front plate distributor any reason not to remove the magnets and lighten the flywheel the crank has dunn counterbalances.

On the clutch which is better the watts clutch or the gm turbo discs. The transmission will have a floating trans shaft.


Jonah D'Avella
Posts: 686
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2020 8:00 am
First Name: Jonah
Last Name: D'Avella
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring
Location: Kingsport TN
Board Member Since: 2020

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by Jonah D'Avella » Fri Oct 02, 2020 8:18 am

The mag gives momentum and helps prevent stalling.
F: first F: find
O: on O: oil
R: race R: revive
D: day D: drive
Jonahdavella@gmail.com


ModelTWoods
Posts: 1049
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:53 am
First Name: Terry
Last Name: Woods
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Model T coupe, 1926 4 door sedan
Location: Cibolo (San Antonio), TX
MTFCI Number: 20180

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by ModelTWoods » Fri Oct 02, 2020 12:14 pm

A lot of T owners who either don't want to fool with getting a mag set right, or want more speed from a lighter flywheel, eliminate the magnets, but use the scoops that are available from vendors to splash the oil around. If magnets are not left, or scoops are not used, the ring gear will no catch enough oil to be thrown around to lubricate the trans, or send down internal and/or external oil lines to the front of the engine. On the clutch, I recently asked the same question and the majority of replies favored eith the Watts or jack Rabbit clutches over the Turbo 400.


big2bird
Posts: 205
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:57 pm
First Name: Jeffrey
Last Name: Hausey
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Early 23 Touring
Location: Anaheim, Ca.
MTFCA Number: 51193
Board Member Since: 2020

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by big2bird » Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:01 pm

It depends on the weight of the car.
Speedster, yes.
Open car, I did.
Sedan, no way.

User avatar

walber
Posts: 213
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:55 pm
First Name: Walt
Last Name: Berdan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '18 Speedster had 25 touring and 26 coupe
Location: Bellevue, WA
MTFCA Number: 16421

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by walber » Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:28 pm

On my speedster, I left out the mag ring and magnets but kept the spools on the flywheel to help fling the oil. Not sure about long term but it's worked for me since '94.

On a stock T I would keep the mag ring and magnets. The momentum from the flywheel is good for the heavier car and you or the next owner may want to go back to coils some day.

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6789
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by Rich Eagle » Fri Oct 02, 2020 2:14 pm

I've driven my Speedster without magnets or any kind of slinger without any problems since 1976. That's over 10,000 miles. It's never lacked for oiling. It does take more RPM's from a dead start without that weight. It feels like it is harder on low band but that may be an illusion. Everything else is delightful and it has better acceleration. The lack of body weight may be much of that.
I do enjoy the momentum of magnets in the other T's. Even cast iron pistons seem to have more inertia.
Rich
When did I do that?


Topic author
bnchief
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2019 8:33 am
First Name: Steven
Last Name: White
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 2
Location: Great Bend Kansas
MTFCA Number: 73
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by bnchief » Sun Oct 04, 2020 8:26 am

ModelTWoods wrote:
Fri Oct 02, 2020 12:14 pm
A lot of T owners who either don't want to fool with getting a mag set right, or want more speed from a lighter flywheel, eliminate the magnets, but use the scoops that are available from vendors to splash the oil around. If magnets are not left, or scoops are not used, the ring gear will no catch enough oil to be thrown around to lubricate the trans, or send down internal and/or external oil lines to the front of the engine. On the clutch, I recently asked the same question and the majority of replies favored eith the Watts or jack Rabbit clutches over the Turbo 400.
I have the scoops and the crank is counter-weighted, Thanks for the reply.


blgitn
Posts: 147
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2019 10:36 pm
First Name: Roger
Last Name: Harmon
Location: West Point, VA
MTFCA Number: 16412
Board Member Since: 2007

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by blgitn » Sat Oct 17, 2020 7:45 am

walber wrote:
Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:28 pm
On my speedster, I left out the mag ring and magnets but kept the spools on the flywheel to help fling the oil. Not sure about long term but it's worked for me since '94.

On a stock T I would keep the mag ring and magnets. The momentum from the flywheel is good for the heavier car and you or the next owner may want to go back to coils some day.


Like this? I feel like the splash from a single stack would miss the mag post oiler and maybe even the funnel. There's enough parts to do 8 stacks.

R/ Roger.
Attachments
PXL_20201016_201227961.jpg

User avatar

walber
Posts: 213
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:55 pm
First Name: Walt
Last Name: Berdan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '18 Speedster had 25 touring and 26 coupe
Location: Bellevue, WA
MTFCA Number: 16421

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by walber » Sat Oct 17, 2020 12:20 pm

I used a single stack all the way around but while the internal funnel is installed I also run pressurize oil to the mains which gets plenty of oil up front. The spools are there mainly to ensure enough oil gets splashed around for the transmission. Doubled spools might well be better if using a splash system augmented by a mag post oil fitting.


DHort
Posts: 2461
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:30 pm
First Name: Dave
Last Name: Hjortnaes
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Speedster, 20 touring
Location: Men Falls, WI
MTFCA Number: 28762
MTFCI Number: 22402

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by DHort » Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:22 pm

I have no magnets and probably no spools. Speedster runs great with no problems. Been that way over 20 years.


Norman Kling
Posts: 4070
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Engine building considerations

Post by Norman Kling » Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:37 pm

For what purpose are you going to use the car? You might get a bit more speed and higher revs without the magnets, but you do need slingers to get the oil where you want it unless you use an after market oil pump. If you are making a speedster, maybe that is the way to go, but with a good magneto and good coils, the car runs fine the way Henry designed it. It is also a good conversation piece to show lookers how it works.
As far as the clutch goes, it might be a bit smoother with a modern type clutch, but the original type disk clutch works very well when the car is used and driven as intended. The modern type clutch disks will also wear out if you try to slip or ease the car as you might with a modern stick shift.
Everyone must decide what to do with the car. Some like it the way Henry designed it and others like to "improve" on it. It has been my experience when on tours that the majority of breakdowns involve modifications to the car, and unfortunately, most of the other drivers don't carry along parts which will fit your car. The way Henry designed the car, it will run on both battery and magneto, and if the magneto stops working you can switch to battery and go on with the tour. Also if your generator stops charging on a car, you can crank start it and drive on magneto without running down the battery. If you have a problem with a coil, you can plug in another and go on. If you don't have a spare, someone will loan you one. But if your distributor has a problem you will need to carry spare parts which fit the actual type you have on your car, and there are many. If you go to NAPA or Auto Zone, you might, if you are lucky, find distributor parts, but maybe not.

Anyway, it is your car. You can do what you want with it.
Norm

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic