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-   -   Pennies in block (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116822)

louisb 09-08-2013 04:29 PM
Pennies in block
 

Hi All,

I picked up an 8RT commercial motor to rebuild and I came across something interesting I wanted to run by you guys. I was out cleaning the gunk off the intake manifold surface trying to determine the year of manufacture and I noticed someone had pressed some pennies into the intake manifold seating area.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9...b682836c16.jpg
2013-09-08 17.12.12 by louisfbrooks, on Flickr


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/9...f8946e646e.jpg
2013-09-08 17.12.17 by louisfbrooks, on Flickr


Any ideas why this was done? Will it be an issue with the rebuild? Block passes the visual inspection otherwise. It has been rebuilt in the past with stock parts and a small overbore. Hoping to rebuild it for a future AV8 project.

There was no date code on the block, just the number 8 in a square stamped into the surface. But it looks to be red originally which I think means a '50-'51 block. Came apart real easy with none of the horror stories I have read about on here. Now I need to hold my breath and send it off to be cleaned and magnafluxed.

Thanks,

--louis

HIGHTOWER611 09-08-2013 04:41 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...t=penny+intake

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...t=penny+intake

42merc 09-08-2013 04:42 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

The pennies are used to block the exhaust heat risers to the intake manifold. The thinking is to make a cooler intake and a denser fuel charge. Anymore they are used to make the exhaust bark louder. It really works. Knock them out to return to stock, no problem.
If you wish to reinstall them after the rebuild, make sure they are the older copper pennies, the newer zinc enriched pennies will melt.

louisb 09-08-2013 04:46 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Thanks guys. So much to learn about these cool little motors. Pennies look to be a '57 & '61 so I think I will keep them for the rebuild.

--louis

pistonburner 09-08-2013 05:46 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by louisb (Post 722006)
Hi All,

I picked up an 8RT commercial motor to rebuild and I came across something interesting I wanted to run by you guys. I was out cleaning the gunk off the intake manifold surface trying to determine the year of manufacture and I noticed someone had pressed some pennies into the intake manifold seating area.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9...b682836c16.jpg
2013-09-08 17.12.12 by louisfbrooks, on Flickr


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/9...f8946e646e.jpg
2013-09-08 17.12.17 by louisfbrooks, on Flickr


Any ideas why this was done? Will it be an issue with the rebuild? Block passes the visual inspection otherwise. It has been rebuilt in the past with stock parts and a small overbore. Hoping to rebuild it for a future AV8 project.

There was no date code on the block, just the number 8 in a square stamped into the surface. But it looks to be red originally which I think means a '50-'51 block. Came apart real easy with none of the horror stories I have read about on here. Now I need to hold my breath and send it off to be cleaned and magnafluxed.

Thanks,

--louis
yep an old hotrodders trick what year are the pennies

Mike in AZ 09-08-2013 05:53 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

welcome to the 'Barn....have fun with flatheads...lol....Mike

louisb 09-08-2013 06:10 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike in AZ (Post 722052)
welcome to the 'Barn....have fun with flatheads...lol....Mike
Thanks for the welcome. I have been lurking here for a while trying to soakup all the knowledge on Flatheads. Lots of knowledgeable people here. I am sure I will have more questions as I move forward with the rebuild.

--louis

ken ct 09-08-2013 06:16 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

I would drill an 1/8" hole in both of them to get a little heat under the carb.Other wise it will run crappy till fully warmed up. OMO ken ct.

ford38v8 09-08-2013 06:22 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by louisb (Post 722022)
Thanks guys. So much to learn about these cool little motors. Pennies look to be a '57 & '61 so I think I will keep them for the rebuild.

--louis
Louis, the pic shows the 1961 penny to have been staked in. Do this again if there is any looseness to them.

Oh, yes... 1957 was a verry good year!

louisb 09-08-2013 06:56 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ken ct (Post 722074)
I would drill an 1/8" hole in both of them to get a little heat under the carb.Other wise it will run crappy till fully warmed up. OMO ken ct.
Hi Ken, thanks for the input. I don't think the intake I plan to run has heat risers either so I am not sure it will matter.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ford38v8 (Post 722076)
Louis, the pic shows the 1961 penny to have been staked in. Do this again if there is any looseness to them.

Oh, yes... 1957 was a verry good year!

Yeah I noticed that as well and will do when it gets rebuilt. As for '57 being a good year I will have to take your word for it. I wasn't born for another 15 years. ;)


Thanks,

--louis

ken ct 09-08-2013 07:05 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

What ever you say youngun.i graduated HS 15 yrs before you were born. Do what ever you think is right. ken ct.

Ol' Ron 09-08-2013 07:15 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Using the pennies will reduce your gas mileage.

louisb 09-08-2013 07:57 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

The pennies popped out easy enough using a piece of 3/8 rod though the exhaust port. I will give some more thought to if they go back in or not. Thanks to everyone for their input.

Thanks,

--louis

59ab 09-08-2013 09:20 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Welcome to the Barn.

zzlegend 09-08-2013 09:25 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Good luck Louis. Just my 2 cents :D:D

louisb 09-08-2013 09:41 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by 59ab (Post 722207)
Welcome to the Barn.
Thanks. I was wondering if there were more members from the SE on here.


Quote:
Originally Posted by zzlegend (Post 722211)
Good luck Louis. Just my 2 cents :D:D
Love the RPU in your avatar. I have been on the lookout for one like it to put this engine into.

Thanks,

--louis

Rand 09-08-2013 09:51 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

My Dad used to tell me...back in his day they used to match the year of the penny with the car for " Good luck"... strange why they would want the exhaust to pop in a commercial motor though? A Hot rodder that was a truck driver too I guess?
Randy

louisb 09-08-2013 10:13 PM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rand (Post 722226)
A Hot rodder that was a truck driver too I guess?
Randy
Even weirder than that since it didn't come out of a car but was powering a piece of equipment. Of course who knows what it originally came in. It also came with a set of Johnson lightweight adjustable lifters. Too bad it didn't have a merc crank as well.

--louis

ken ct 09-09-2013 03:43 AM
Re: Pennies in block
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by louisb (Post 722242)
Even weirder than that since it didn't come out of a car but was powering a piece of equipment. Of course who knows what it originally came in. It also came with a set of Johnson lightweight adjustable lifters. Too bad it didn't have a merc crank as well.

--louis
Watch your fan,some industrial units used a fan in which the blades were angled opposite to a pass car or truck and blew the opposite way,ive run across one before. Easy to mistake you got to compare a pass to one to see the diff set to the blades. Good luck in your project. ken ct.

37coop 09-09-2013 04:08 AM
Re: Pennies in block
 

welcome to the barn Louis,i,m pretty new to it ,around march when I imported my 51 fi truck to the u.k and had lots of problems I didn't know the answer to,along with my 39 coupe all questions have been answered and all the problems sorted ,at first I was reluctant to ask certain questions as I thought the answers are probably so obvious and I would feel little small asking them but all questions answered with knowledge and sometimes some humour which I like , good luck, regards jim.


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