I'm in Columbia MO tonight, headed to Birmingham Alabama, via Memphis. From Alabama, it's on to Detroit, then Canada. I'll post reports as this adventure unfolds. It involves a 1910 Model T, sort of.......

Rob: Keep us posted!

They did not make Model K's in 1910.

Actually FMC sold four more K in 1910.

However, this a T. On steroids......

Rob you should swing through Huntsville on the way or back!

Fronty, RAJO, or Roof?

Are you rethinking that 400 cui Ford racer again?

Seth, I'll be heading north toward Nashville Tuesday evening, hopefully. I'm on a pretty tight timeline, and need to be in Detroit by Wednesday evening.

Wayne, you sniffed it out. This is actually a 300 cubic inch Ford Special that we discussed last year. Some things came together and it's now going to happen. First a stop in Memphis to speak with a group interested in making an early Ford movie.

I'll post a few pics once I've loaded the project Tuesday afternoon.

Wow! This sounds FANTASTIC Rob. Waiting for photos........

Well this one could give Donnie B's 2 pedal, 2 lever adventure in the desert a run for cool factor

So-oo Ni-ice!! Off the top of my head, I couldn't recall which of the "big block" engines it was (so I guessed the wrong one).
That project couldn't have a better caretaker to get it done, and get it done RIGHT!
Looking forward to more pictures and lots of updates!
Congratulations.

Rob,Has Bill Ford adopted you? Bud.

Rob. We need this updated ;)

So far, it's been quite a journey. Nebraska, to Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama to pick up the old racer. Then up through Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. Once I arrived in Michigan, Benson Library at The Henry Ford. Drove through snow, rain and snow again.

Arkansas. It's not snow, but wind blown cotton:



Somewhere in Alabama:



What I came for:







I believe this is "M - III". There were at least four Ford racers between 1910-1912 that were world beaters. This is the second largest engine, a 300 cubic inch motor, placed back into a 1910-1911 chassis.
Benson library has "Model M" drawings, including those of the III, and I'm copying them today and tomorrow:

Another interesting find at THF this afternoon. The "M-III" wire wheel was a 32"x4:"

Strange to see the rim locks that late?? Bud

Interesting fuel tank. I assume since there are 2 potatoes that one may be for oil.

Looks very nice. Peter will be so excited to get a chance to work on it.

Maybe you can take the wheels off the Model K and go for a spin.

Wow, that looks great Rob. If you go for the big wire wheels I'd be interested in those tyres.

Looks like a pretty good start. From what I can see, some proper stuff there. Front axle will depend upon research and month built. The engine of course is the really incredible part!
Good luck with your research.
And as I said before, looking forward to lots of updates!

Bud,
I've seen several of the Ford racer photos, and they all seem to be using rim locks (where the rim is visible). Ford was racing high horsepower, light weight chassis and reporters wrote that the cars skidded around the corners holding the inside of the dirt tracks. I suspect holding tires on was a big concern.

Dave, yes, oil and gas reservoirs on the tank.

A few more part drawings. At a point I'll place all the drawings in a file and make them available. Drawings courtesy of THF, all rights apply.

The "M" piston ring. This was the big 410 cubic inch racer (the V-nosed one at THF, not on display). This racer was timed at 109 mph on ice in 1912:



Water pump impeller on the M-III (our engine, 300 cubic inch):



The M-III head space (not sure if this is a partial gasket or head drawing?). 4 1/2 bore:



Magneto gear. The Ford Special racers used Bosch high tension dual ignition magnetos:

Rob,I wonder if that water pump is the same as the first 2500 model T's? I think everyone eagerly awaits seeing the hood open!! Bud.

Bud, it's similar, but larger.

185 Ford Special racer drawings for anyone who would like to compare them to T parts. These racers roamed the earth between 1910 and 1912.

They were world beaters, winning over Benz, Fiat and domestic stalwarts of the day. Then, in 1912, they were done, and Henry Ford and FMC left racing.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tmgiesefk0hnbbz/AACLbQtKyflIJ9Spy1oWwRK-a?dl=0

Hi Rob, It looks very nice. A new challenge and I'm sure you'll do it right.

Keith

I bet Martin Vowell is drooling over this.

Thanks Rob. These are magnificent things to see.
How lucky are we?
Rich

WOW Rob,
Very nice. I am assuming that it is a 6 cylinder?

This is just the inspiration I needed to give my stalled speedster some energy!!!!

OT - The rarest Ford? Maybe the Model M
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/822076/902725.html?1538803194



https://youtu.be/-oSrOZ4Zfo0

You look right at home Frank,opp's i mean Rob!! Bud.

Where's Julie going to sit?

Rob,Do the head bolts go all the way into the alum crankcase and also hold the cyl block in place? Bud.

Yessss! In the hands of a player. Emm, someone who'll play with it! :-)
Happy for you Rob. :-) Thank you for sharing this!

4.875 bore and 5" stroke. Wow that is huge!!!
Looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing.

David M., your project looks like it's coming along great!

Gil, there will be two seats. As you see below, most of the time the Ford Special racers ran with two seats.

Bud, yes. Below are a few pics of the engine from the top and bottom. Also a look at the flywheel with hogshead off.

Duey, I found a T that will take the K in a fair fight (race).

John, that piston is the "big dog" 410 cubic inch racer still at THF. The bore/stroke are listed as 4 3/4" by 5 1/2."





Different looks:



The big racer. This photo was taken in 1912 in the Ford Detroit Branch store window:



This is one of the two white racers Ford shipped to the Mardi Gras "Carnival of Speed" in New Orleans, February 1911. The Fords scored three or four first places and a couple of second places during the meet. The 300 cubic inch racer was one of the two cars running. I think the racer below was the 200 cu. in. Ford at the races:



This photo was taken sometime prior to June, 1911. I believe it's the racer that ran with our 300 cubic inch motor. We've "cloning" this chassis for the original engine:



Same photo:

That beast looks incredible! I just keep staring at the cast aluminum pan, what a work of art. So similar to a regular T pan, yet so different. The big flywheel stuffed between the engine block and what appears to be a basically stock transmission is also a sight to see, and ponder.
The engine appears to sit just a bit farther back from the radiator than a standard T setup. Between that and the larger size of the engine, how much shorter is the drive shaft (and related pieces) than stock T?

Enjoy the process of getting this treasure back onto the hill climbs and oval tracks!

PS, Any hopes or plans to find out what the top speed is like?
And thanks again for sharing the journey.

Perhaps this is the engine we should consider casting so we can all have one. ;O)
OK, but it is fun to see and hear about.
Thanks again
Rich

So you are sitting in the same car Frank Kulick raced?

WOW!

Wayne, do you have to ask? (top speed).

The wheelbase is two inches longer than a stock T. The big 410 cubic inch racer wheelbase is 2 inches less. I thought the engine should on our car should be forward, however there isn't room when the fan is added. There are drawings at THF for a fan on the M-III car (ours).

Richard, sure, I finally have a "one off" and suddenly the market will be flooded.....

Denny, no, just the same engine. We are trying to duplicate the chassis the engine was raced with. Yes, I believe this is the motor used in the 231-300 cubic inch class:

You have GOT to love that last paragraph in that article. "At the close of the meet the little car was in perfect shape while the large cars were all ready for overhauling and many unable to run."

So Henry Ford hired Mr Kulick to drive his race cars. Who is Mr Heyen going to hire to race his car?

What dirt track is still here in this country that will let Rob run his car on?

Can we race with him?

Anyone think after seeing the racer the paper might have streached a little with no water or oil pump? Bud.

One of the most fascinating topics I have ever read on the forum. What an amazing car. I may have missed it elsewhere, but how much of this car is original? Where did Vic source the engine from? would love some more detailed history of the restoration and preservation up to this point. Thanks Rob. what a wonderful opportunity to watch Ford history come to life and be shared here.

That is just off-the-charts cool.

Rob...if the engine is the real deal, how do you know the chassis isn't?

Wayne, I suspect Ford didn't' wish to open the hood often because they promoted their racers as "20 hp Fords." In 1911, Ford's stable of racers came in 5th among all car makers in number of national meet victories. Their percentage of wins to 2nds and 3rds was the best of car makers.



This photo shows one of the Special Ford racers going against Barney Oldfield in a Benz. It appears to have wire wheels:



The M-III had wire wheel drawings, with 32" x 4" clincher rims:



I'm beginning to understand the different model drawings. I believe when a drawing is labels "M," it refers to a general part for the four or five Ford Special racers. "M-I" is the large 410 cubic inch racer and M-III the 300 cubic inch. The M-IV is just under 200 cubic inches and I believe the M-II may be the 228 cubic inch "Special." There are also a few M-V drawings but I'm not sure what engine that may have used.

M-III used one valve cover, while the larger M-I used two valve covers:





The M-IV used a Model T brake lever cut down to size:

Dave, you know who's going to drive my racer "at speed...."

There are a few remaining one mile dirt tracks in the U.S.. I believe the nearest one to me is in Illinois.

Bud, yes, Ford "stretched" things a bit. Dealers were given a generic advertising cut showing the racer and said "no waterpump" while claiming the stock Model T was beating 100 - 200 hp racers. I found it curious in one ad Ford said "beating a 200 hp Benz, a car with three times the horsepower." If they were claiming it was a stock T, the ratio would have been 5 to 1.

Warwick and Don, what I know is original is the engine and hogshead. I think the Bosch dual magneto and maybe the five ball carburetor may be original, only because the big racer at The Henry Ford has the same pieces. The torque tube may be original, because it has top and bottom support rod "ears" where a rod attached to the top and bottom and top/bottom of the differential housing for additional support.

Fascinating stuff! In your reply to Warwick and Don, you answered a question I had, and was planning to ask. In your 11/17, 10:09 am posting (with a bunch of wonderful photos!), the final photo, the clear shot of Kulick sitting in the car, one can see those extra support rods. I wondered what they were, suspected they connected to the differential housing for added support.
Thanks again Rob!
Have a fantastic family holiday this week!

Thanks Rob. I just love this stuff!! Can't wait to see it. Lincoln hill climbs?

John, I hope to have it up and running by this years Speedster Reunion in Lincoln.

Wayne, a few pics of the support rods on the Ford Special at THF:





The brakes are external woven bands, controlled by the brake lever.



High gear is controlled by another hand lever at the drivers feet:

Fa-as-cinating!

Thank you.

Since Julie knows how to start and drive the Model K, I think these two should race and may the fairest win.

Have you made it to Peter's yet. More shots of the engine and magneto would be appreciated.

I think a few shots and explanation of how those extra valve stems relate to holding the tires on the wheels would be enjoyed by many of us.

Thank you.

Thank you for the awesome posts and updates

Rob, please bring this car to the 2019 OCF I bet that Bud will be there to see it in person. It wasn't the same without him and the Missus, this year.

Ed, I hope to have it and the K at next years OCF. Bud, we need to see you there too.

Dave, the bolts are clamps inside the wheel to hold the tire on.



Our N had these type of rim/tire holders:

I'm beginning to speculate (how's that for a disclaimer?) that Edsel's speedster below may have evolved from the Ford Special racers. It's often thought the speedster below was the six cylinder that now resides in the Speedway (late Bill Smith) Museum in Lincoln, NE. However, I think this is a much earlier speedster.



One reason I suspect this is due to this drawing found at THF (all rights apply). It was the only drawing with a revision date (1914). It's a revision of the 1910 M-III 32x4 wire wheel spokes:



What I believe is the same speedster, with wire wheels and straight radiator: