The Ford Barn

Steve Plucker · 04-03-2020, 01:01 PM

I would like to know just how many types/brands there are for adjustable tappets for the Model A/AA Ford engine AND of the few...which one is the best.

I ask this because of an exerience I had.

Back in 1984 when I moved to Bakersfield, CA I re-restored my Coupe for a second time. I took my engine to LA to have it redone and the adjustable tappets they put in, in my opinion were great as they had a nice hex nut for which one could adjust.

Fast forward to 1995 I had it looked over again and unknown to me until later I find out that all those "good" adjustable tappets were traded out for ones with a very thin hex head and not as easy to adjust.

So, are there good ones and bad ones?

Thanks.

Pluck

chrs1961815 · 04-03-2020, 01:38 PM

The ones I am playing with right now are Colony brand - I do believe AER uses them in their engines. They do have a smaller nut that sounds like yours almost. I suppose it is better than the non adjustable type.

quickchange · 04-03-2020, 02:46 PM

I used mopar ones around 50.s these are single lock, larger foot which is good for a big cam , larger in the bore size too, found some stocker plus some 4 thou oversize , my down fall at Bonneville , one nipped up & we was on 3 pots, Found them on flea bay ,Derek in a locked down autumn day NZ

SteveB31 · 04-03-2020, 06:32 PM

The Colony ones are good. I have used them in over 300 engines. I tried the Chinese ones sold by some vendors- they suck.

Dave in MN · 04-03-2020, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveB31

The Colony ones are good. I have used them in over 300 engines. I tried the Chinese ones sold by some vendors- they suck.

Agree!

Bruce of MN · 04-04-2020, 04:07 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveB31

The Colony ones are good. I have used them in over 300 engines. I tried the Chinese ones sold by some vendors- they suck.

Can you buy them new now? Who sells them?

Thanks

Dave in MN · 04-04-2020, 06:46 AM

Snyders has them.

jwmckenzie · 04-04-2020, 08:16 AM

I would bet Bert's has them as well.

Mikeinnj · 04-04-2020, 10:36 AM

"one nipped up & we was on 3 pots"......what does that mean ?????

Explain "Nipped" and "Pots" ???

chrs1961815 · 04-04-2020, 10:38 AM

Pots are pistons?

katy · 04-04-2020, 10:58 AM

Pots = cylinders, aka jugs

Jim Brierley · 04-05-2020, 11:52 AM

"nipped up" is Kiwi for a lot of things that go wrong. I'm not sure what happened to Derek's engine but it affected 1 cylinder, so he ran it on 3 cylinders.

chrs1961815 · 04-05-2020, 11:56 AM

On an engine I used to have, the steering control rod to distributor was bent and it would occassionally rub on the spark plug, causing it to short out.

Purdy Swoft · 04-05-2020, 12:44 PM

I use the double lock style Colony lifters in a couple of my engines . The Colony lifters are good and hold their setting but are more difficult to use . I have good luck with the easier to use self locking type lifters and much prefer them . In other words ,you almost need three arms and three wrenches when adjusting any double lock style lifter .

04-03-2020, 01:01 PM	#1
Steve Plucker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 5,907	Adjustable Tappets I would like to know just how many types/brands there are for adjustable tappets for the Model A/AA Ford engine AND of the few...which one is the best. I ask this because of an exerience I had. Back in 1984 when I moved to Bakersfield, CA I re-restored my Coupe for a second time. I took my engine to LA to have it redone and the adjustable tappets they put in, in my opinion were great as they had a nice hex nut for which one could adjust. Fast forward to 1995 I had it looked over again and unknown to me until later I find out that all those "good" adjustable tappets were traded out for ones with a very thin hex head and not as easy to adjust. So, are there good ones and bad ones? Thanks. Pluck __________________ www.plucks329s.org Walla Walla (WA) Sweet A's since 1993 MARC/MAFCA member since 1978 Ford Model AA Truck Club since 1998 (LIONEL/MTH Toy Train Collector, Orange Crush Soda Collector, Steel Beer Can Collector, Old Gas Pump Collector)

04-03-2020, 01:38 PM	#2
chrs1961815 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Spring Grove, Illinois Posts: 855	Re: Adjustable Tappets The ones I am playing with right now are Colony brand - I do believe AER uses them in their engines. They do have a smaller nut that sounds like yours almost. I suppose it is better than the non adjustable type. __________________ "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

04-03-2020, 02:46 PM	#3
quickchange Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nelson. New Zealand Posts: 1,881	Re: Adjustable Tappets I used mopar ones around 50.s these are single lock, larger foot which is good for a big cam , larger in the bore size too, found some stocker plus some 4 thou oversize , my down fall at Bonneville , one nipped up & we was on 3 pots, Found them on flea bay ,Derek in a locked down autumn day NZ

04-03-2020, 06:32 PM	#4
SteveB31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Englewood, Colorado Posts: 1,320	Re: Adjustable Tappets The Colony ones are good. I have used them in over 300 engines. I tried the Chinese ones sold by some vendors- they suck.

04-04-2020, 06:46 AM	#7
Dave in MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jordan, MN Posts: 1,292	Re: Adjustable Tappets Snyders has them.

04-04-2020, 08:16 AM	#8
jwmckenzie Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 89	Re: Adjustable Tappets I would bet Bert's has them as well.

04-04-2020, 10:36 AM	#9
Mikeinnj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 1,241	Re: Adjustable Tappets "one nipped up & we was on 3 pots"......what does that mean ????? Explain "Nipped" and "Pots" ???

04-04-2020, 10:38 AM	#10
chrs1961815 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Spring Grove, Illinois Posts: 855	Re: Adjustable Tappets Pots are pistons? __________________ "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

04-04-2020, 10:58 AM	#11
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,920	Re: Adjustable Tappets Pots = cylinders, aka jugs __________________ Play it again Sam.

04-05-2020, 11:52 AM	#12
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 3,447	Re: Adjustable Tappets "nipped up" is Kiwi for a lot of things that go wrong. I'm not sure what happened to Derek's engine but it affected 1 cylinder, so he ran it on 3 cylinders.

04-05-2020, 11:56 AM	#13
chrs1961815 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Spring Grove, Illinois Posts: 855	Re: Adjustable Tappets On an engine I used to have, the steering control rod to distributor was bent and it would occassionally rub on the spark plug, causing it to short out. __________________ "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

04-05-2020, 12:44 PM	#14
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,090	Re: Adjustable Tappets I use the double lock style Colony lifters in a couple of my engines . The Colony lifters are good and hold their setting but are more difficult to use . I have good luck with the easier to use self locking type lifters and much prefer them . In other words ,you almost need three arms and three wrenches when adjusting any double lock style lifter . Last edited by Purdy Swoft; 04-05-2020 at 03:02 PM.

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