The Ford Barn

Smokedtires · 12-12-2023, 02:00 PM

Anyone have any idea what this bolt hole is for? It's just forward of the oil fill tube.

rotorwrench · 12-12-2023, 02:56 PM

It may be a repair or a shade tree modification. It's not common.

Ivan in southeast va. · 12-12-2023, 03:30 PM

I don't have a bolt there on my engine. I agree with rotorwrench.

mass A man · 12-12-2023, 03:58 PM

Possibly a bullet hole patch? Might be some JB Weld around it for any cracks under all the paint around the bolt patch? I've seen fairly clean bullet holes in old, abandoned sawmill engines out in the woods. It does appear a freeze crack has been repaired under water pump.

WHN · 12-12-2023, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokedtires

Anyone have any idea what this bolt hole is for? It's just forward of the oil fill tube.

How does the engine run?

More pictures?

nkaminar · 12-12-2023, 06:36 PM

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Is there oil or water under it? When you remove it what do you find?

Smokedtires · 12-12-2023, 07:02 PM

I did not remove it. Now that I just got the engine reinstalled, I started it tonight and it's running well. It was running good previously but I found babbitt in the oil when changed it so took a closer look, was likely over pour from when the mains were last done.

I haven't seen this in other A's but being new to the hobby I thought maybe I missed something with that there.

ModelA29 · 12-12-2023, 08:52 PM

In the last shot it almost looks like there is a boss for the bolt cast into the block.

johnneilson · 12-12-2023, 10:58 PM

Is this an “A” motor or a “B”?
Early B motors had a pad cast on the side of the block and two 3/8” bolt holes

The location would only have oil under it

J

lrf · 12-12-2023, 11:24 PM

I don't know either, but whatever you do, don't remove it cuz your car won't like that and will stop running!!!

LRF

WHN · 12-13-2023, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokedtires

I did not remove it. Now that I just got the engine reinstalled, I started it tonight and it's running well. It was running good previously but I found babbitt in the oil when changed it so took a closer look, was likely over pour from when the mains were last done.

I haven't seen this in other A's but being new to the hobby I thought maybe I missed something with that there.

Remember your Mother telling you not to pick a scab?

Leave it alone and enjoy your well running engine.

Happy Holidays.

Benson · 12-13-2023, 08:18 AM

Bad dog benson ... bad dog! Not funny.

Bob-A · 12-13-2023, 08:51 AM

Wow! I bet it is a one-of-a-kind Edsel Ford experimental motor that 'ol man Ford would not have approved....

Bob-A

"Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders"

jerrytocci · 12-13-2023, 10:31 AM

could be a tapped hole for a "non Ford " gen. bracket.

jwmckenzie · 12-13-2023, 10:39 AM

I wonder if it was for some kind of rear support for the genny. My Jeep has this kind of an arrangement to support the back of the starter. Uses an "L" shaped bracket that bolts to the block and the back of the starter. Just a Wild Guess. Anything else about the block that would suggest it was from a stationary engine?

jwmckenzie · 12-13-2023, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerrytocci

could be a tapped hole for a "non Ford " gen. bracket.

My thought exactly

GeneBob · 12-13-2023, 08:08 PM

You have a 1 in 5,000,000+ engine there!
You know, with the right marketing, every Model A owner will want to order one of those "speed bolts" for only $4.95 + shipping!

Smokedtires · 12-14-2023, 08:27 AM

Hahaha, I will leave my unicorn bolt be. Thanks all!

Joe K · 12-14-2023, 08:35 AM

Early attempt at a PCV valve?

Joe K

David in San Antonio · 12-18-2023, 02:01 PM

I found an original unopened NOS box of these bolts but not the stock ones. These are special high-strength lightweight alloy racing type. You can definitely feel the difference particularly going uphill, downhill, and on flat ground. Most knowledgeable people optimize the performance advantage by switching to lightweight water for the cooling system, too.

12-12-2023, 02:56 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: Weird bolt in engine block It may be a repair or a shade tree modification. It's not common.

12-12-2023, 03:30 PM	#3
Ivan in southeast va. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia Posts: 303	Re: Weird bolt in engine block I don't have a bolt there on my engine. I agree with rotorwrench.

12-12-2023, 03:58 PM	#4
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 712	Re: Weird bolt in engine block Possibly a bullet hole patch? Might be some JB Weld around it for any cracks under all the paint around the bolt patch? I've seen fairly clean bullet holes in old, abandoned sawmill engines out in the woods. It does appear a freeze crack has been repaired under water pump.

12-12-2023, 06:36 PM	#6
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,898	Re: Weird bolt in engine block Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Is there oil or water under it? When you remove it what do you find? __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

12-12-2023, 10:58 PM	#9
johnneilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 34.22 N 118.36 W Posts: 1,057	Re: Weird bolt in engine block Is this an “A” motor or a “B”? Early B motors had a pad cast on the side of the block and two 3/8” bolt holes The location would only have oil under it J __________________ As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.

12-12-2023, 11:24 PM	#10
lrf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: long beach ca Posts: 171	Re: Weird bolt in engine block I don't know either, but whatever you do, don't remove it cuz your car won't like that and will stop running!!! LRF

12-13-2023, 08:18 AM	#12
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,599	Re: Weird bolt in engine block Bad dog benson ... bad dog! Not funny. Last edited by Benson; 12-13-2023 at 09:17 AM.

12-13-2023, 08:51 AM	#13
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,138	Re: Weird bolt in engine block Wow! I bet it is a one-of-a-kind Edsel Ford experimental motor that 'ol man Ford would not have approved.... Bob-A "Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders"

12-13-2023, 10:31 AM	#14
jerrytocci Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 235	Re: Weird bolt in engine block could be a tapped hole for a "non Ford " gen. bracket.

12-13-2023, 10:39 AM	#15
jwmckenzie Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 213	Re: Weird bolt in engine block I wonder if it was for some kind of rear support for the genny. My Jeep has this kind of an arrangement to support the back of the starter. Uses an "L" shaped bracket that bolts to the block and the back of the starter. Just a Wild Guess. Anything else about the block that would suggest it was from a stationary engine?

12-13-2023, 08:08 PM	#17
GeneBob Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Denver Area Posts: 433	Re: Weird bolt in engine block You have a 1 in 5,000,000+ engine there! You know, with the right marketing, every Model A owner will want to order one of those "speed bolts" for only $4.95 + shipping!

12-14-2023, 08:27 AM	#18
Smokedtires Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Baldwinsville NY Posts: 174	Re: Weird bolt in engine block Hahaha, I will leave my unicorn bolt be. Thanks all!

12-14-2023, 08:35 AM	#19
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Weird bolt in engine block Early attempt at a PCV valve? Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

12-18-2023, 02:01 PM	#20
David in San Antonio Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 222	Re: Weird bolt in engine block I found an original unopened NOS box of these bolts but not the stock ones. These are special high-strength lightweight alloy racing type. You can definitely feel the difference particularly going uphill, downhill, and on flat ground. Most knowledgeable people optimize the performance advantage by switching to lightweight water for the cooling system, too. __________________ David in San Antonio 1930 ('31?) Deluxe "Wretched Roadster" Restored 1957 Alamo A’s Club