Latest aluminum block.

[Tod]

There may be no interest in this here but, just in case, here is a picture of the latest 5 main aluminum block casting with the sand off the outside only. The casting looked flawless from what I could see. I am making several of these and iron also for waiting customers. Also going to be pouring 4 more iron OHV heads and a few aluminum OHV heads. I think a half dozen 6:1 Winfield heads are in the schedule as well. And, another few Stock Top Crow Foot heads for testing.


Tod

[DBSHELTON]

Very nice Tod! How long does it usually take to get one?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by DBSHELTON

Very nice Tod! How long does it usually take to get one?

I am totally at the mercy of all my suppliers who are extremely busy this year. I don't make any promises and I take no deposits due to the work load of all of us. My aluminum foundry poured this one on a day when their mold floor and line was completely full. My iron foundry is also busy and they do their best to accommodate me, but sometimes that means I have to lend a hand in mold assembly.



This particular block took around 3 months before they had time to pour it. There is no end in sight for my machining services and I also make foundry tooling and have several orders in house with quite a bit of work quoted. I expect things to slow down considerably next year (and the following few years), so maybe my parts will be easier to get.



Tod

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by Tod

I am totally at the mercy of all my suppliers who are extremely busy this year... I expect things to slow down considerably next year (and the following few years), so maybe my parts will be easier to get.

Tod

Are you able to share your thoughts on why this year is unusual? (I mean, obviously it's unusual, but why for foundries?) Just curious.

[Tod]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

Are you able to share your thoughts on why this year is unusual? (I mean, obviously it's unusual, but why for foundries?) Just curious.

I'm not sure why my foundries and my cores shops are so busy. Maybe all foundries are not as busy. My one core shop has 2 shifts working 6 days a week. I actually get tooling to quote from other foundry tooling shops because they can't handle everything they get. It seems odd that with this Covid stuff that it is the case, but lead times from suppliers I use is longer than normal. And none of them are short staffed.



Tod

[alexiskai]

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A good sign for manufacturing in the US? Maybe?

[jak]

my two cents on why foundries are busy. I have had parts cast overseas for years because it was much less expensive than having them made here in the states. Once the new tariffs went into place at the end of last year the prices to have stuff cast overseas skyrocketed. I found for several pieces it was less expensive to retool the part here in the US than reorder from overseas. And I'm
just a small guy in a huge ocean casting 12-14 pcs, imagine what caterpillar, ford, GM, and other larger companies are experiencing the same things?

[Synchro909]

My thoughts on why foundries are busy and why I think they are:
One of our club members is a pattern maker and does some casting at home. Since China has gone rogue, many companies that used to have stuff done there are turning away from them. That means local businesses which have been gutted in recent decades because their customers went for the cheap option are now so depleted that they can't keep up. His company is flat out and would run 24/7 if they could get the skilled people.
My friend said that job advertisements for all sorts of foundry work have gone up 6 fold here since China stared their campaign of bullying and coercion. We have only been talking about foundries, all of the skills downstream of them are also in high demand but lacking. You guys are most likely not fully aware of how China has Australia in its sights right now. I think they are starting a campaign to become #1 in the world by picking off smaller countries first before they take on a USA left with no allies.
I know we are not supposed to get political but this relates directly to our hobby (which in the big picture is nothing). My advice to you guys is be aware of what is going on and be worried. An over assertive China spells trouble for all of us.

[daveymc29]

Not to be political, but isn't about all private business in China owned by Japan? If that is the case then things may not end up as dire as it would be otherwise. Just hoping that it is that way. If not, it seems to me Taiwan would be in the hands of the communists by now.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by daveymc29

Not to be political, but isn't about all private business in China owned by Japan? If that is the case then things may not end up as dire as it would be otherwise. Just hoping that it is that way. If not, it seems to me Taiwan would be in the hands of the communists by now.

About the only thing keeping Taiwan out of CCP hands is the western alliance. China is trying to break it down so they can have their way without opposition. As for Japan owning Chinese business, I can't see that being so. What are the chances of any other western country owning anything of significance in China? Given the great dislike of Japan in China for the occupation just before and into WW2, I can't see China being happy with that.

[alexiskai]

Related free advertising for Tod, here's a pic of one of his Winfield crowfoot 7:1 heads. I've just finished doing the paint job selected by the voters in this poll. Still need to touch up around the spark plugs and detail the lettering, but I think it came out OK. This color is Dupli-Color Engine Enamel Universal Red.

[AzBob]

alexiskai, I like the look of Tod's Winfield crowfoot head. Nice job with the paint. Red looks right. Appears to be a quality cast and machined head. How does one order one?

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by AzBob

alexiskai, I like the look of Tod's Winfield crowfoot head. Nice job with the paint. Red looks right. Appears to be a quality cast and machined head. How does one order one?

Send a PM or email to Tod himself.

[nomadpsd]

Tod's email is [email protected]
Best way to contact him. I have one of his 7:1 Winfields also.

[Boston Bruce]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

Still need to touch up around the spark plugs and detail the lettering, but I think it came out OK. This color is Dupli-Color Engine Enamel Universal Red.

I also have one of Tod's "Winfield" heads. It will be a few months before I will be installing it on a new engine going into my coupe.


What are you going to do with the lettering? Maybe paint it BLACK?

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by Boston Bruce

What are you going to do with the lettering? Maybe paint it BLACK?

I'm not sure. I've seen it done in what looks like gold, or a sort of dusky yellow. I have not seen good evidence regarding how the lettering came from the factory. In photos I've seen of surviving originals, it's either been repainted or the paint is in a condition where the original lettering is unclear. Possibly it wasn't detailed at all.

[Crazydaddyo]

Here is a picture of my original Winfield head.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by Crazydaddyo

Here is a picture of my original Winfield head.

Thanks, I saw this pic over at the HAMB when doing research. The yellow is original to your knowledge?

[Crazydaddyo]

Yes, as far as I can tell. The head came from a collection from a reputable collector.

[johnneilson]

Inquiring minds want to know the Block status, has the eagle landed?

Not that the Winfield information isn't interesting.........

John

[alexiskai]

Now I'm wondering if I absolutely need to use engine enamel to do the lettering, because if I do, the range of yellows available is, um, limited.

[Chris Haynes]

What is the benefit of an aluminum block on a touring car?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by johnneilson

Inquiring minds want to know the Block status, has the eagle landed?

Not that the Winfield information isn't interesting.........

John

I am making blocks for mostly 5 main application, aluminum and iron. I have a few aluminum orders to fill and several 3 main iron blocks to do for waiting customers. Yesterday, I dropped off 2 truck loads of core sand for blocks, headers, OHV heads (all iron, and all sold already), Winfield heads (mainly 6:1), and more Stock Top Crow Foot heads (7:1 compression). I won't really have to wait long as there is more than enough there for a heat or two of just my castings. As usual, while getting ready for this run of castings, more inquiries were coming in. I'd rather operate one or two runs behind than cast a bunch of parts that have no buyers.



As I have been saying all along, I want my main focus of blocks to be 3 main A journal and B journal. Cylinder heads are easy to make any time.



Tod

[katy]

Do those aluminum blocks use sleeves?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by katy

Do those aluminum blocks use sleeves?

Yes.



Tod

[CarlG]

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And all of Tod's products are MADE IN THE USA!

[katy]

Originally Posted by Tod

Yes.



Tod

Are the sleeves cast in? Or?

Just asking as I don't know squat about aluminum blocks other that that they're lighter than cast iron.

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

What is the benefit of an aluminum block on a touring car?

Chris,

The only two benefits I can think of are: 1) the lower weight of the aluminum block, and 2) Aluminum conducts heat better than iron.

Tod can tell us what the difference is between the weight of his aluminum head and a standard iron head.

It’s also unclear if there is a significant difference between the cost of a new aluminum head that is machined and ready to be assembled versus the cost to rebuild an original block.

David Serrano

[Tod]

Originally Posted by katy

Are the sleeves cast in? Or?

Just asking as I don't know squat about aluminum blocks other that that they're lighter than cast iron.

Sleeves are inserted after machining. Sleeves are slightly larger in diameter than the bored cylinder in the aluminum. The block is heated up which allows the sleeve to slide in and then when the block cools the aluminum creates "crush" to hold the sleeves in place. There is also a flange around the top of the sleeve so that the gasket and head add to the pressure holding the sleeves in. I posted a picture of this on my FaceBook page with test/dry fitting of sleeves. It is attached. This picture is of a 3 main aluminum block that will be heading to a customer soon. I have quite a few blocks of various configurations under way in the shop right now. 3 main iron and aluminum as well as 5 main iron and aluminum. Half a dozen, or so, are slated for use with my OHV heads.



Another run of block castings, as well as heads (OHV, Winfield, Thomas, Stock Top Crow Foot) and cast headers are about to be poured.


I hope this helps.



Tod

[katy]

I hope this helps. Tod

It does, thank you, much appreciated for the info and for your time.

Ken

[rotorwrench]

That looks really good. The sleeve top edge is visible in the image and is definitely wide enough.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

Chris,

The only two benefits I can think of are: 1) the lower weight of the aluminum block, and 2) Aluminum conducts heat better than iron.

David Serrano

#2 is actually a detriment, not an advantage! You want to keep as much heat as possible in the combustion chamber. Heat that is conducted away from the combustion chamber into the cooling system or surrounding air is wasted energy! Obviously, combustion temperatures must be controlled to avoid detonation, but overcooling is not good!

[rotorwrench]

Thermostats eventually came along the pike in order to keep temperatures at peak performance standard for liquid cooled internal combustion engines.

The model A predates that but then they weren't a pressurized system yet either. An aluminum block will make some difference but not a lot. It's lighter for those that want to get in the performance applications. Die hard restorers would more likely stick with cast iron for the most part. I can see a place for both types.