There's a lots of FORMS or TYPES of ENERGY in a Model A running gear. Lets talk about WHAT they ARE & how they CHANGE or AFFECT each other, just to "HUSTLE US DOWN THE ROAD"---
Bill Roadrunner
electrical, magnetic (if that is truly a form of energy), potential (springs), chemical (gasoline)...
some of these might not please a college physics prof, but seems germaine to those of us on a forum
A stock engine is 40 HP delivering 24 HP to the rear wheels. A 16 HP energy loss through the drive train
3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." Mitch's Auto Service ctr
What about the energy loss from using Bias ply tires: Don't radials increase fuel mileage?
3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." Mitch's Auto Service ctr
Actually Mitch, I believe there is a smaller contact patch on bias ply tires which would reduce the "scrubbing" effect of the radial ply tires. I think the only way a radial ply tire would be beneficial would be with a suspension geometry change. I seriously doubt that a radial ply tire would increase fuel mileage.
I did a few searches and keep coming up with the same basic info. Note the rolling resistance which equals better fuel mileage.
""Now we look at advantages of radial tire over a bias tire:
Good high speed capacity
Longer lasting and Longer tread life (Up to30%- 50% longer)
Steel Belted - Results in tougher overall construction
Better floatation ,larger contact area wider footprint
Low heat build-up or run cooler
Lower rolling resistance
Better Fuel Economy
Better stability
Wear resistant
Smoother, more quiet ride""
One of the clubs I belong to runs a rally every 2 years or so of about 1,000 miles which has several competition stages in it. One of them was a Hill Climb but now a days, insurance companies are a bit twitchy about covering any event where we compete against the clock so we turned the whole thing up side down. Starting from the top of the hill, we roll down onto the flat below and the winner is the car that rolls the furthest. The winner always is a car with radial tyres. This lower drag from the tyres would have to mean better mileage when driving, surely.
Last edited by Greynomad; 06-28-2017, 08:56 PM.
Reason: Correct punctuation.
I DIDN'T mean we should build A ROCKET or write a SCIENTIFIC PAPER, it's just to get us THINKING & VISUALIZING stuff that goes on in a piece of MACHINERY. It can be goofy FUN & "might" even help us in diagnosing problem stuff!--The more you ponder it, the WILDER it GETS! Once I wrote a list of 57 things that "went on" or "changed"---Would have written MORE, but I had a "BRAIN-FART" & went to sleep.----
Bill Whatsitdoing
Yup! And we are in the south (colder here than up north) Down to nearly zero last night (32F). A few years ago, we hosted a group from Switzerland during our winter. They froze. Go figure!!
Last edited by Greynomad; 06-29-2017, 07:04 PM.
Reason: Add more
ELECTRICAL energy from the afore mentioned DYNAMO is stored in the OPTIMA, released into the starter, sets up MAGONETIC action & is changed into MECHANICAL energy that turns the engine !
Bill W.
As some of you may have heard, last Sunday the Diamond Tread chapter of MAFCA had it's annual picnic and one individual lost enough of the pixies stored in his Optima to start the car with the starter, and wouldn't you know, didn't have a hand crank. SO, I not only loaned him mine, I showed him that even if you only have enough pixies left to dimly light a light, you still have enough pixies to run the car, if you only have the hand crank and the knowledge of how to use it. Making Energy By Hand
And don't forget about the wind at our backs which helps push these cars down the road!!!!
3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." Mitch's Auto Service ctr
With its' "BARN DOOR" aerodynamics, Joe found that on a LOOONG, straight downhill, it would hold @ 55 MPH, in neutral, with the engine OFF!
Dad Nobrakes
When surfaces in contact move relative to each other, the friction between the two surfaces converts kinetic energy into thermal energy. Therefore, our brake shoes produce energy.
When Chief adjusted his to run like that, he called it, "CALILLACING"--He considered that a sign of PERFECT TUNING!
He taught me to FINE tune the TIMING by EAR & ANYONE can learn to do it! MANY get SO confused about timing & WHERE to run the spark lever.
Bill W.
Is that pronounced "ca-lill-a-cing" ?....or "cal-ill-acing"?.....or "calilla-cing" ????..........................
Whatever it sure sounds good to my ear!!!!
Phil
Aren't the SOUNDS great, Phil,
As Minerva would pick up from Parade Mode, she had a CLUCK-CLUCK-CLUCK, like an Old Chicken! I "think" it was air blasts from the carb throat?
After doing my NASCAR Kzhaust system, some said she sounded like a 9-N Ford Tractor, was that a compliment???
Dad Happy
This is not for the old timers who know and have experience with these things, but for the new comers who have some machines and the know how to use them and want/need a little more hp under the hood to keep up with traffic, First, The head! The 5.5 heads coming from Snyders are an excellent first step. Even the 6.0 seems to be ok. For a little over $300 this should be the first consideration. Next,...
I have just returned from the Model A New England Meet at Lake George, N.Y.
My problem was climbing some of those hills out there. I climbed several in 2nd although only doing 20-23 M.P.H. at high R.P.M. (no tack but I could tell).
I climbed one at only 18 M.P.H. because I couldn't get the transmission in 2nd.
I haven't checked my differential ration yet, but other than...
Need a little help for friend with a AA. See, he is looking at a few more MPH out of the beastie and called Mitchell and they can sell him the 'in driveshaft" 2 speed.
I remember in my youth a transmission of sorts that went between the 4 speed and driveshaft but really don't remember if that was just a PTO or an actual over/under trans or something of the like. Need info on what...
As an old hot rodder, I never consider a car is ever finished. To that point, here are the modifications that I've made to the A engine in my roadster over a 26 year period.
The engine in my avatar was built in May of 1931 and rebuilt in August of 1992. At the 2015 Speedster Reunion, this engine in my Zipper roadster registered 60HP @ 3500 RPM's at the rear wheels. It's been in and...
Like, WHERE does the transmission vent?, WHERE is the Zenith float chamber vent?, how many turns of the crankshaft does it take, to fire ALL 4 cylinders?, which way does the distributor turn, whichaway does the cam turn, how many head bolts are there, can the ACKERMAN Angle be adjusted, are threads 1 or 2 continuous grooves, is low gear FASTER than REVERSE, or whatever you can think of!!
Bill...
As with most all topics, there has been considerable debate on re-torquing of the Model A cylinder head. Hot or cold? It may not matter, different users have different preferences, and both seem to work. BUT the important thing is to indeed re-torque. Several times. Many times. Blown head gaskets are all too common. Keep re-torquing until you cannot take up any more! You can't hurt anything! ...
On my way to Tennessee for work yesterday I stopped by and met Charlie. He is in my backyard here in Cincinnati. Since I have the roadster now I have the hankering to build a motor and put some period speed in it. I am keeping the roadster stock and going to look for a project car to put this motor in. Anyone on here play with speed parts?...
As with most all topics, there has been considerable debate on re-torquing of the Model A cylinder head. Hot or cold? It may not matter, different users have different preferences, and both seem to work. BUT the important thing is to indeed re-torque. Several times. Many times. Blown head gaskets are all too common. Keep re-torquing until...
Guys, thanks for all the good recommendations re: radiator leak, Much Appreciated!!
The worm gear clamps did the trick and now I've moved on to being able to drive and enjoy the car!! YEA!!!
An observation that I've made regarding these cars is that while they all appear to have been formed by the same cookie cutter, each car is an individual and has its own quirks and personality!...
I was out teaching my 17 year old son how to drive my 1931 Model A roadster. This was his third time out and he has been doing good. Well, coming off of a stop sign, he hit the gas and released the clutch quickly and the car popped forward. It didn't stall but now when it is in 1st/low gear it makes a clanging sound. No sound or issues in 2nd or 3rd gear. The noise only happens after the clutch...
Comment