*Clayton Paddison's Carb Heater and Ruckstell expiriment!*

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: *Clayton Paddison's Carb Heater and Ruckstell expiriment!*
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Paddison (Vancouver Washington) on Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 11:30 am:

It has been far too long since I posted a update and thought I should considering I have made some improvements and advances.

First off, I finally solved my Carburetor icing issues. A good friend of mine, Dennis of Imperial Speed & Custom has been prototyping a Stromberg carburetor heater and hooked me up with a pair to test for him.

They act as a carb spacer and are fed with water from the cooling system. Install was clean and looked great:



Next, we welded and drilled a fitting into my lower radiator down-pipe and threaded in a brass hose fitting. I used an old Flood water neck/pump as my upper fitting:





Then we added the hose fittings to the carb heaters and plumbed it with clear hose:



The reason behind the clear hose was so that we could see if the heaters would work using thermosyphon.....or if I would need a water pump.

Here is the layout of the plumbing:



After testing it for several months, I found that not only did the icing issue go away....I also have more power and the hesitation in my throttle response is gone as well.

A few months ago, a friend dug me up a pair of Lg-Drum Ruckstell housings, both badly cracked.

Free is a good price however, so I decided I would make one out of two.

The best housing had a shattered torque tube connection (2 bolt holes were broken), the other had been cut paper thin where the diff housing meets the axle tube by an exploded ring gear.

I carefully cut the good torque tube connection piece out of the 2nd housing, removed the matching damaged piece from the good housing, trued it all up with a spool and a stock RH housing and grafted it into place. I am pleased with how it tuned out:





I have also managed to scrounge up almost all of the internals to make a complete axle. Just need the Triple gears and my ring/pinion.



I also acquired the last pieces I need to redo my Top and windshield:



Not changing anything drastic...just giving myself some more head room:

No mods - current look:


With 3.5" added:


My last big piece of news is that this year, the T and I will be competing in one of the largest vintage racing events in the world... The Race of the Gentlemen!



It is Oct 3, 4 and 5th in Wildwood, NJ

If you haven't heard of it, check out www.theraceofgentlemen.com

There should be plenty of T's there and many other pre-1953 era correct cars and pre'48 bikes.

There will be PLENTY more coming, so stay tuned!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz8VNE7B_18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukhEI4JwHCo


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Phillips on Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 10:47 pm:

Great to see you are still improving on perfection Clayton. Are the hood irons you are using for a roadster or are you modifying tourer irons?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 01:12 am:

Clayton,

Interesting carburetor heaters. I would wonder if you would get much flow too but if it work, it works. I would guess that the carb heaters act as mini radiators and the flow of water is really reversed that shown in the drawing. Not that it really makes any difference, have you measured the water/fitting temperatures though out the piping and carb heaters to determine the real flow?

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Crane on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 04:45 am:

Clayton
As always a very interesting post. A rather unique situation, heating the carb with engine cooling water. As always you are unique and creative. Kind of what Henry did to the T carburetors from the exhaust manifold. When we used to drag race it was always cool the fuel, that's why we had cool cans with coils of fuel line in ice..make the fuel more dense. Same idea on many of the Bonneville racers.

I tried to enter the Race Of Gentlemen with my Model A speedster but they were full and not accepting additional entries. When I was a high school student, (many years ago) we used to race and play with beach buggies at the Jersey Shore. I had a 49 ford flathead cut down to a 65" wheel base that we raised cane with all winter long. Could not get on the beach during swimming season. You will find "playing in the sand" to be a hoot.

I presume you are going to Hershey after the beach buggy event?

Are you going to Speedway Motors Hillclimb in June at Lincoln Neb? It is worth attending just to see the incredible Speedway Motors racing car collection.

Be safe and hope to see your car at Hershey.

Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Crane on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 09:10 am:

Clayton
Thought a little more about it...Wouldn't we want to cool the fuel and heat the air?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 09:23 am:

Ford tryed the coolant under the carb back in the 60's. When I needed a replacement spacer on my 61 Tbird, I ordered 1 from a place and they first sent the 1 that the heater hoses went thru. I had to send it back.

I am very impressed with the work on the ruckstell.
Stan might hook you up with some work if you keep showing us that!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Paddison (Vancouver Washington) on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 01:46 pm:

Ken, Thank you kindly!

These are actually '28-'29 Model A roadster top irons. The '29 A top is almost spot on size/shape-wise to my current hand made top. The advantage is, it is a more correct looking top assembly, it folds better without having to exit the car...and it is the much needed 3.5" taller.

It even looks the same.

I am also modding the windshield into a double pane style...but with the same dimensions..and working seals this time ;)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Paddison (Vancouver Washington) on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 01:53 pm:

Jim and Jon,

I wasn't sure if the Thermosyphon system would actually circulate through the heaters or not....but wanted to try. I wasn't really keen on adding a waterpump if I didn't have to.

Ironically...it does, to some extent. Both heaters get hot and warm the carbs. I have not measured temps yet, but will try that this weekend if I remember.

The problem with this motor is....it is very thirsty (yet still gets stellar economy) and extremely cold blooded. The colder the fuel and air....the more choked it gets with ice. The fuel is still at "room" temp...but the carb bases are warm, so it keeps the jets from icing up.

It runs better now then it ever has.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Paddison (Vancouver Washington) on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 01:56 pm:

Mack,

Thanks! I was quite pleased with the results of my Ruckstell "Rehabilitation" as well. It should be more then strong.

Maybe Stan will ;)

Jon,

I don't know if I will have the time to hit Hershey on the way home, but we are gonna try for sure!

What are the Dates?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Owens on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 04:29 pm:

Jon, Cold air has more oxygen. Heating the fuel will help in vaporizing. Scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Crane on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 05:45 pm:

The race of gentlemen is Friday Sat and Sunday. Hershey is Wed, Thurs and Friday after the Race of Gentlemen, You would have to hang in Atlantic City Monday and Tuesday and spend all your winnings...or maybe double them! Hershey is about three hours west of Atlantic City. On Friday Hershey Stadium is the site of race cars operating. Everything from 09 Highwheelers, to speedsters, midgets, dragsters and Bonneville cars drive in the stadium...it is a good show and you would enjoy it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Paddison (Vancouver Washington) on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 05:21 pm:

Here is some practice runs for the ROG!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF5jO1alqUk&feature=youtu.be


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Williams on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 11:11 pm:

sorry my finger was in the way partly. Great stretch of road to practice on.


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