The title says it all. I would like to make sure a pan is good for a rebuilt engine. I need to find a jig in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island . If anyone knows of one please let me know. Regards, John
Join Date
Jun 2013
Posts
6
Pan straightening jig in the Maritimes ?
The title says it all. I would like to make sure a pan is good for a rebuilt engine. I need to find a jig in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick ,Prince Edward Island or Maine . If anyone knows of one please let me know. Regards, John
Hi John;
It was good to see you again and to meet new faces at the photo shoot on Saturday.It'll be great to see the finished product. Hope you didn't get too wet on your trip home.
Did you check with Ivan Corkum? He may have one. He has five T's and just rebuilt an engine last winter. I may be heading down his way tomorrow so I can drop in for a visit.
If any of you know or find out keep me in the loop
All I have ever used is a good long straight edge to test and verify. If they are bent (which they often are) then it is time for some creative "black smithing" (heat in the right spots with a hot torch and use a hammer and something resembling a anvil). Yes it will probably take a little practice, but it isn't that hard to learn. If you can find a skilled steel fabricator/welder in your area, he will understand straightening steel shapes and can probably help you/teach you.
I have a big inch thick piece of "flat steel" that I would like to make a jig out of. I have only had this piece almost ten years. The problem is, I went to check my pan and it seemed fine on the big chunk of steel. Always one to do the best job possible without the proper tools, I decided to check my pans the way I had for years before. I used a good straight edge and a measuring tape. Turns out that the inch thick "flat steel" plate isn't flat enough. I instead proved that the steel plate is more than 1/4 inch out of flat over the length of the pan. The plate made it much easier to straighten the pan than I ever could before. I think I got the pan straighter than ever before on one that needed bending. Clamping and bending against the plate helped a lot. However, for checking to see how straight it was? A good straight edge and a tape measure still does fine.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
john:
i have used the table on one of my milling machines to check the pan rails for straightness ...this will not check the rear motor mount ears for positioning, but will provide a good flat referance plane for the pan rails...the crank hole area will fit into the oil galley at the end of mill table allowing the pan to rest on the table surface ...a visual check or feeler gages will locate any points that the pan is bent ...mark areas needing work then bend in an arbor press or on an anvil ...re-check on the mill table ...hope this helps ...the pan fixture would be the best and easiest way ...if none are available then improvise...regards
Thanks everyone for the ideas. There must be a scarcity of these jigs. I suppose they were prime for scrap yards. I am still interested in finding one for use in our area. I will have to widen the search. Regards
Hello John:
I replied to you on the other forum but if you didn't see it we're in Massachusetts. If you strike out you can come to us and I can straighten them for you.
www.jandm-machine.com
Good morning John:
We have a Model "T" K.W. pan straightening jig here in Ontario. I know you are looking for someone on the east coast but it is an option for you if you require our services. Restorers freight them to us to be checked and straightened accordingly with great success.
Best Regards John
J and M Machine and John Saunders, Thanks, I am still hoping to find one locally however I will put your information on file. Regards, John
The Downeast Chapter MTFCA in Maine has one and it is in the possession of a restoration shop in Searsmont (mid-coast area) by the name of George Sprowl. I've heard him to be on the expensive side, but good - I do not have personal experience there though.
Thanks Mark. That's A little closer to us. Regards, John
Since I have not found one locally I am guessing that all of the pan jigs in the area must have gone for scrap. I presume that at one time each Ford dealer would have had one.
John
I will point out that here in Calgary, where we have a very active and strong T club (100 families) there is exactly one T pan jig and most of us prefer to use our own straight edges. The jig is really a test fixture. The straightening is accomplished by using what is between YOUR ears first and foremost. I have been involved in straightening at least 10 pans. I truly doubt that every dealer had one. There was probably one at a regional branch or major repair facility.
Thanks Les. I'm still learning so I thought probably these were necessary in every shop. Regards