I think this is what the six cylinder racer may have evolved into by 1907/08. What do you guys think? I think it would be "doable". I have the hood, engine, and probably a transmission.
Now I need wheels, differential, front end, happy wife, and a few other odds and ends
Before: Henry Ford and the six cylinder racer, 1905
After: the same chassis, with Model K radiator and hood added
Looks way cool Rob. But I think the steering wheel needs to come up a bit and a small windshield.
NO whimpshield on a racer.
Dean,
I should have "photoshopped" you in too . Don't tell Tim you said that......
A whimpshield is for a gentleman's racer.
This happened when I hit an elevated RR grade crossing in rural Ill. a little too fast, and we went airborne. It broke a headlight lens, too.
I learned after removing the upper half that it really is effective. Suddenly there were headwinds at high speed when there hadn't been.
Another look. My preference for wheels would be wire. This is a 1909 Alco chassis. It appears I have the transmission, driveshaft, engine/hood/radiator and frame. Manifolds will be a header and aluminum intake.
Possibly a teens/twenties front and rear end would work?
Neat idea, but I think the K engine, being the centerpiece of the build, should not be covered up with a hood.
Derek,
My intention is to take off the hood whenever possible. However, driving a pre T car without the hood is a good way to self lubricate, ....... yourself
Rob
Rob
The "radiator" system on the black and white picture would not be that tough to makes. It would only work well at "speed" but still it would appear to be historically accurate.
Big water tank and all the horizontal tubes along the side. Of course I guess it was not used with the K engine.
Lubrication; Hey Rob you can be washed can't you.
The story I have heard is on the radial WW1 airplane engines they used castor oil. Apparently there were no constipated pilots of these!!
Rob
Yea, yea, yea, blah, blah, blah......all you want about the wimpshield on my Model K. It makes me think you are jealous.....
At least my car still has the proper starter mechanism.......as opposed to one of those silly little buttons with wires hanging out of it that makes all kinds of expensive noise when depressed.
Timothy
ps - if only I were smart enough to be able to post a yellow smiley face I would. All things in time I guess.....
Rob
I can't imagine the mess that would result from running the K without the hood. It's bad enough with the hood.
Periodically throughout the New London to New Brighton Run my wife, who was wearing shorts, keep saying...."I feel something spritzing my left leg...what's going on?" I replied..."it must be your imagination"....as I knew it would make for a less pleasant trip if she knew she were being spritzed with used transmission oil!
Timothy
Derek,
For you:
Les,
The photo showing the side by side radiator is taken in 1905. I believe by 1907, when the racer crashed (October), it would have had a "traditional" radiator. Then, in 1908, articles said Ford was preparing the six cylinder racer for the Savannah GA Grand Prix to be held on Thanksgiving day. By that time, and for a road race, I think the racer had to have a traditional radiator and at least a hood. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any photos of the racer after 1906.
Then in 1909, the Model T used in the Ocean to Ocean race is a stripped down T, with radiator and hood. By 1911, Ford is again racing with a big motor (410 cu in four cylinder) that uses a V radiator and bare Model T chassis (reinforced) with hood.
I also suspect "old" Model Ks were probably converted into speedsters soon after being on the market. There is a speedster version of a Model K at Pioneer Village in Nebraska that looks like a period speedster. It consists of a cowl, hood and gas tank behind the front seat, on a short chassis. I'll try to find a photo.
Tim, .....
I think the best answer is to keep the beautiful machinery exposed, and put a cover over Rob.
Derek.....
Great idea.... Why didn't I think of that!
Timothy
.......
Full body condom!
Eric, that's mean.
Cheap plastic motocycle togs will stop the oil from penetrating, mostly.
He said he wants a speedster. Wait til one of those midwestern rain showers hit. Then he won't care if he has the hood on or not.
The Model K at Pioneer Village, Minden Nebraska. This speedster is on a 1906 114 inch chassis. It appears to be a well made after market speedster built from an early Model K.
Love it!
Ricks - LOL I'm just now reading this thread but AIRBORNE?!? Did the "oh sh..." moment happen while you were still feeling weightless or not until after you landed? Also, how fast were you going?
Rob,
A top cover over the engine with no side panels would look good on you K as well as a "V" radiator.
Hey Rob, this is just me, and you do whatever you want, but if you do put a hood on it or sort of follow this red speedster, just don't angle the hood up. That's the only thing that just feels really wrong about that car.
Seth and Seth,
I agree, the slope doesn't do it for me either. I think the camera angle doesn't help (I've seen the car in person, it doesn't seem so "modern"). It might be due to the car sitting on a little decline too.
I think on the right side of a speedster the bottom hood panel off would allow more room for the exhaust header along the outside of the frame.
Yes Ralph, how fast were you going?
Rob
Less than 45, but not much. I had slowed down more for prior elevated crossings, and they were mild. The rails must have set higher above the pavement on this one, as we slammed into it, breaking the monocle. Down the back side was less of an event.
This was on a county road near Danville, Ill. in 2000. Ill has the second worst roads in the US, led only by California, which spends less than any other state, and half the national average on roads. Ill is #2 on lack of spending, too.
Calif must be catching up this year, as there is big spending on OldFolks (carpool) lanes flyovers at freeway interchanges. I call them Old Folks lanes, as OFs travel in pairs a lot.