Valve Cover - Dual vs. Single

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Valve Cover - Dual vs. Single
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rowland Smith on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 09:49 am:

I have what serials out to a 1921 Engine. It has the hole between 2 and 3 cylinder, but it has a single-long valve cover on it. Should all blocks with the center hole have dual covers? Seem's like it would leave a gap in the middle to let dirt and stuff get into the valve train.

It looks like 1921 was the year they went from single to dual covers from what I've read.

thanks


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 10:03 am:

Only the earlier blocks with the two chambers for the valve should have dual covers.

All blocks have the hole between the cyl for passing the throttle rod to the carb, except in 1927 when the Vaporizer carb was std, then the hole was eliminated and a solid long cover was used.


'23 block with single valve chamber, uses the long cover.




1919 block with dual chambers, uses two covers.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rowland Smith on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 10:25 am:

thanks....its a 21 block with dual chambers...must be from early 21.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 10:57 am:

Rowland

According to Bruce's terrific CD Encyl, the block was changed 10-18-21 to 'new design...{one piece valve chamber} to run at 100 per day'.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 08:40 pm:

Dan,

This is also a great example of how things changed -- at least in this case. I believe the 10-18-21 refers to the date on the factory drawing of the new block with the one piece valve cover (ref: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/E.htm#eng2 ). The first new style engines with the one piece cover came out Nov 1, 1921 ref the engine logs listed on page 526 of his book and would also be in the engine serial number section of his CD. That would have been approximately 13 days from drawing to new part in production. From Nov 1, 1921 to Apr 3, 1922 both the old two piece and the new one piece valve chamber blocks were produced [same ref page 526 of Bruce McCalley's "Model T Ford." Then there were 5 months of overlap when new and old parts were still being produced. And of course the old style engines that were produced on Apr 2, 1922 would have been installed some time some place. And if the two piece engine block was shipped to a branch plant for assembly it could have been even later.

Thanks for posting the great photos showing the two styles.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stephen D Heatherly on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 09:53 pm:

Personally I don't see why they went to the one piece design. More metal and gasket material is used to cover the area between cylinders 2 and 3 and the cover can't be take off without first remove the throttle rod.

Stephen


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 11:27 pm:

Stephen, the one piece design or the two piece design is better than the 1909 thru early 1911 which was a no piece design. (no cover) This was a messy design. Oil could not find its way back to the crankcase and dripped off on the ground.
I have a 1910 with one of those engines and I have to watch where I park it after some driving of the vehicle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Baker on Thursday, August 22, 2013 - 11:55 pm:

My Feb 22 has roasdster piokup has the 2 piece valve covers. It also has the limited edition 1 piece spindles.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 01:45 am:

I sometimes wonder, because replacement blocks can mess things up with numbers. But if I recall correctly, I have a 1920 block with the single long cover and a 1922 block with the two small covers. I think they did have about a two year crossover as they wore out the earlier casting molds.
I was trying to find a proper 1919 block to eventually put in my boat-tail. I finally decided that the only thing I had close enough was the well rusted 1919 block with three pistons stuck in it. I haven't spent much time on it so far, but have not yet been able to move any of the pistons. I don't want to split the cylinders forcing them out. The block will require quite a bit of clean up. The cylinders will likely have to be bored (runs up my costs). But the main bearings are beautiful!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 04:56 am:

Wayne,

When you have time please check your engine that you think is a 1920 block with the one piece valve cover. If that or a different block has a casting before Oct 1921 or so, please let us know. That would contradict the above information and would indicate we need to do some further research.

From the above information we see that the main Highland Park engine production only had 5 months of overlap when both styles were produced, not 2 years. Later blocks would have been used as replacements when a block was damaged. And the Ford dealers would normally restamp the new block with the original serial number for the car. But the casting date would still let us know when the block was cast.

Also of interest to me -- I wonder when did the Canadian cast engine blocks transition to the single valve cover? For some things they changed earlier than the USA production (slant windshield and one man top) for other things about the same time and still other things they continued the old style long after USA production had changed (ribbed pedals continued into the 1920s on Canadian produced cars).

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Conger on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 12:19 pm:

Hap

I have a T which appears to be entirely original down to the script kingpins and script tie rod ends. It has a one piece valve cover and I always assumed it to be a very old replacement engine, though the serial number places it squarely in "1919" along with the body and all other details. I am not suggesting that it is anything other than a replacement, but don't recall ever seeing a casting date. Please remind me where to generally look and I'll clean off that area enough to take a peek. I was never curious enough to bother to look before, but now am.

regards,

scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerry van Ekeren (Australia) on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 05:17 pm:

What's in the cars and the parts books seem to always be 2 different things, the Canadian overseas edition parts book, 1923, has 6 blocks listed, the latest being the 1919/23 starter type with the 2 side covers, but also lists both types of covers, the single one for 1922.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 08:05 pm:

Another thing to consider. There are at least four different thicknesses of valve covers. The thinner they are, the more they leak.


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