Felix Graves' Car

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Felix Graves' Car
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 01:28 pm:

Some time ago, a fellow in Tulsa named Felix Graves built a hill-climbing T in which the engine turned counter-clockwise. This provided 4 intake ports and 2 for the exhaust. He was quite successful at the hill climb in Tulsa, winning it twice with that car.

Sometime after that, Felix sold the car to someone else. Does anyone know the whereabouts of the car and/or current owner? Thanks for any help.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 01:33 pm:

Maybe more like a cut and spliced camshaft (or custom ground) to re-time the porting. ws


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 02:06 pm:

It was in Vintage Ford years ago (I think it was a cover story - I'm too lazy to look in the index).

Reverse rotation.

I believe this is the article from VF:

http://www.nwvs.org/Technical/MTFCA/Articles/1104FelixGraveRacer.pdf


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 03:03 pm:

I think the stock cam lobes have a symmetrical profile so the cam wouldn't change. (Open ramp same as close ramp.) Just change the firing order. I wonder how he kept the cam from going through the radiator though?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 03:27 pm:

"Cob" Burandt near the Twin Cities built a "Ford" hotrod with a reverse flow small block Chevy:

http://www.cleverlever99.blogspot.com/2005/09/reverse-intake-engine.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGf90fK-kQ&mode=user&search=

He's an interesting fellow - in case you want to read more:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/profiles/down-and-out-in-ham-lake


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 04:12 pm:

Mike check with Fred Houston


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 08:14 pm:

John -- I'm asking about this for Fred.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Bender Tulsa Oklahoma on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 09:46 pm:

The cam was stock config and ran backwards. Not a big deal.
I believe it had a front plate mag set up and the cam ran up against the bolt at least that how I am building mine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 10:10 pm:

Perhaps "going through the radiator" was a little exaggerated. :-) The normal cam thrust is to the rear. Reversing the engine will cause the crankshaft gear to push the cam to the front. I would think it needs more than just running against a bolt. Unless the bolt is made from bearing brass.

And a "bump" for Mr. Walker.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Bender Tulsa Oklahoma on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 10:59 pm:

I took "going through the radiator" as tongue in cheek and gave me a laugh. Good idea on the bolt being brass or at least the tip. Thanks I like that idea.

another bump for Mikey also


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 02:49 am:

I think there might be a problem with the transmission, if you like it to be planetary - the band's will be like repro Rocky Mountain brakes in reverse, non self actuating when the engine is counter rotating. Some welding and machining of the hogshead and it might be possible to reverse the self actuating mechanism, I think.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Kable on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 03:03 am:

Rodger I don't think there is a reverse self actuating problem. The bands just clamp together to stop the drums. On RHD cars the cams and adjusters are opposite to LHD but still clamp the bands around the drums. The brake works backward as well as forward in both cases???


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 03:36 am:

Well, according to the old article Mr Graves used a std 26/27 trans, so perhaps it works anyway, but if it doesn't makes much difference I wonder why Ford did make the effort to keep the self actuating mechanism when designing the RHD hogsheads?

I've done some checking if it would be possible to put a chain drive in place of the timing gears to counter rotate just the cam shaft without changing the rotation of the engine, but it seems there isn't enough space for the chain and sprockets? External belt drive would probably work, but that would look much too modern for my taste..

Another concern would be the cooling of the new exhaust ports - the former intakes may have less water cooling than they need?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerry van Ekeren (Australia) on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 03:40 am:

What would be wrong with the early straight cut gears, wouldn't matter which way then.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Bender Tulsa Oklahoma on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 10:05 am:

Roger

I don't think there is a concern about cooling. This engine is built with one goal in mind, Go fast and not long. Felix's engine was built for hill climbs, 500' to 1500' runs, not for touring.

I am planning not to run a cooling fan, water pump and use a small radiator. It is all about weight to HP ratio.

I needed to go look at my notes and straight cut gears for the cam/crank are being used.

No problem running the transmission backwards.

Just something to have fun with and it wouldn't live long in mileage but do the math and you wouldn't rack up 10 miles a year or so if you did a hill climb every month. If it blows up oh well it was a lot of fun.

The last known owner of Felix's car live in the corner of Ark, Mo, Ok area.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 10:57 am:

Sure a hill climb racer won't be used much. I was more thinking of this as a way of building a fast speedster engine as an alternative to an expensive OHV head..?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 11:05 am:

They say a flathead V8 Ford runs better backwards. It's something about present exhaust ports heating the coolant.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 11:14 am:

LOL hey! A new trick for those guys who rebuild their rear-end with the ring gear on the wrong side. Don't tear your fresh work apart, just tweak a couple things and run your engine backwards.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 03:49 pm:

Roger and Peter
On the RHD cars the adjusters and cams are changed so the bands self energize in the usual operating mode (driving forward for the brake). Generally you are braking while traveling slowly in reverse so the lack of self energizing is not important.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy Clary on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 10:55 pm:

Short term it may run well. You'll have issue with the lack of cooling around the Siamese exhaust ports. Flipping the rear end, not too difficult, starting a reverse rotation would be more trouble.

Andy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Kable on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 02:30 am:

Les,
I don't think there is any real self energising with the operation of the bands. Each end of the band is backed by the pedal shaft and the stop built into the transmission cover when you apply a foot to a pedal all you do is draw the two ends together, the band can't self energise.

On RHD the reverse and the brake are identical set ups They are adjusted outside the cover the opposite to the LHD pedals. The cams have to be reversed so they work when pushed forward.

AS the motor turns the same direction -Take the brake pedal -

On LHD its left ear is fixed and its right ear moves left.

On RHD it is the right that's fixed and the left ear that moves right .


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 04:17 am:

All you guys who insist on cranking right handed would be well served to reverse the rotation of your engines.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Warren Webb on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 11:54 pm:

The car is in Arkansas and I have seen it. The owner is a private fellow and bought it from Felix and will probably never sell it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 12:54 am:

Peter
My point is Ford made sure the torque didn't work against the cam action of the pedals. And so the RHD drive has two outside adjusters and one inside.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 08:45 am:

Warren -- I see you are in Tulsa. The reason I asked about the whereabouts of Felix's car is that Fred Houston was wanting some info about it. Would you please contact Fred and let him know about the car's location and owner's contact info? Thanks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 02:48 pm:

OK, Never mind. I just spoke with Fred and he has located the car. Turns out it's only about 30 miles from here and belongs to a friend who is an Arkansas Tin Lizzies member. :-)


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