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08-27-2017, 11:14 AM | #41 |
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Location: Temecula, CA
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Ken, you sure that is a Cook? The casting looks right but never saw one with that cover or 4-bolt header. What are the rocker arms?
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08-27-2017, 12:08 PM | #42 |
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Location: Van, Texas
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Jim, I can't prove it. I would not know a Cook from a Chef. All we know is what the previous owner said. Car came out of CA. and if I understand Gary (current owner) the car was built in Oregon in the '90"s.
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08-27-2017, 05:19 PM | #43 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
Thanks for the update, Bruce |
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08-28-2017, 01:41 AM | #44 | |
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Location: South California
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
I''ve only heard guys (like you) talk of Bill LaRosa. I've read different pieces written with his name involved. Would be nice to visit with him and to have him explain all of the 'stuff' that he was involved with. Talking sprint car, the old racer who I mentioned that was visiting, ask me to keep an eye out for a sprint car body/frame for him to build/work. Guess the 'fire' in the belly never goes out while alive, eh ! I found him one possible, but turned out to be 'cardboard' body as the original alum melted everything down to a puddle in a fire during a race(circa 40). Darn near brought a tear to my eye, as the original 4 port riley and winfields were also ruined. |
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08-28-2017, 01:51 AM | #45 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
Dismal painted outlook, but most likely correct. '30 years'...whoohoo ! That is good news and about all the time that I'll need to get this sickness out of my system Hey, I do not begrudge any of them hoarders/collectors, what they have accululated thur hard work and love of the 'sport ! I just happen to agree with you about keeping the love for this stuff alive by its continued use. However, I've missed my share of chances of acquiring, for want of more $ ! |
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08-28-2017, 10:32 AM | #46 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
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08-28-2017, 03:29 PM | #47 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Hi Jim, yes I did! I was amazed at the work he produced from his small shop on his property. If I remember correctly it was a shipping container or something similar, dogs running around and a white picket fence around his property. He owned a "big car" Kurtis that ran a 270 Offy and I believe it was also used in a movie. I think his place was on Rush St. in El Monte and its been close to 40 years since I was there. Jim, do you have any idea what happened to his machinery and his cylinder heads?
Since we are talking about these older pioneers in 4 bangers, what happened to Wes Cooper's Crager dragster? Kong Jackson was a character also and I remember seeing him at Tom Hutchinson's shop while I was picked up some 59a parts for the 3/8 X 3/8 Mercury I was putting together for my 40 coupe. I was just a youngster back then and I had a lot of respect for all of them. Thanks, Bruce [Offy 220] |
08-29-2017, 11:15 AM | #48 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Gemsa's place was on Rush, good memory! Don't know what happened to his stuff. I heard that when his daughter went to the foundry to get his patterns after he passed, she was given a big box of stuff, when she opened it, it was full of broken concrete! Fitting end for a guy that screwed a lot of people! I think Coopers dragster was gone long before he passed? Don't know any history on it. When Cooper passed, his stuff disappeared in a matter of days! Guys were there as his services were being held! He had a daughter in Australia, and was a nice person. Some of the important stuff went to friends, but a lot of it just disappeared.
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08-29-2017, 01:34 PM | #49 |
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Location: Eureka, California
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
What is all the hoopla about OHV heads on a Four-banger ?
Without any hassle or heart-break looking for esoteric parts, I continue to run my factory-stock OHV on my 4-cylinder 1928 Chevrolet ! Runs like a scalded dog - beats the hell out of a Velie, Dort, Erskine, etc. |
08-29-2017, 04:00 PM | #50 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
Mark Dee's "Miller Dynasty" has a chapter dealing with the development of the Miller - Schofield [Cragar] cylinder head and has a photo of Cooper's dragster. I can remember seeing it run at the original Irwindale or OC dragstrip at the Antique Nationals. Sorry to hear what happened to his stuff also - do you know if Kong passed away before he did? This makes me rethink about all the stuff [family might think it is "junk" or scrap] we have collected thoughout the years and what will happen to it after we are gone! |
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08-29-2017, 05:57 PM | #51 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Hey Bruce,
I wonder if anyone would have information on how many DIFFERENT Gemsa heads were made ? Seems like a ton of different type Gemsa heads...and other equipment. Are you saying that this guy did it all in a 'trailer' type shed , machining all instead of castings ? I was just at a swap meet a week ago and a guy I know has a Gemsa OHV head/intake , etc on a Donovan block set up..very powerful coupe !! |
08-29-2017, 10:53 PM | #52 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Nice looking setup. Any more pics Rick??
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08-29-2017, 11:30 PM | #53 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Here's one more of the coupe that this engine is in.
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08-30-2017, 01:22 AM | #54 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
Great question! I know some of Gemsa's cylinder heads were stamped but I am not sure if it they were serial numbered and dated. Maybe someone on here or on the HAMB would know. Yes, as Jim B. stated, his heads were cast at a foundry or may have been machined from a solid block or billet. I remember he had a large milling machine [may have been a Bridgeport or something similar], a large surfacer and in the back he had a 'clean' area to assemble engines. I know he assembled at least one 270 Offenhauser which was done for Bob Anderson and his A pickup and also he put together a 255 or 270 for Louie Senter and his T track roadster. How many modified "A" four bangers I don't know. Hopefully someone would know an answer or details. As I stated earler, I used to sit next to him at our WRA meetings at the Burbank airport bunker once a month and I never thought to ask him questions about his heads or machine work. I remember he was arguing about using Gasoline instead of Methanol and also disconnecting front brakes on our sprint cars because some of the drivers would stand on the pedal deep into the corners and rely on their front brakes to slow them down while they pitched 'em sideways! I am wondering if his daughter is still with us - maybe she could answer our questions! |
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08-30-2017, 02:28 AM | #55 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
All of the Gemsa heads that I've ever seen (flathead/OHV) were marked something like: experimental head / #*** / and date made. The coupe that I've shown above has that type stamping. I've often wondered upon seeing the words 'experimental head', if he only made one off or whether they all were experimental ! Almost bought a Gemsa head/intake last year(from Ohio?) that ran at Bonneville two years ago. It was similarly stamped. I think that I have pics somewhere in this new fangled machine. He, the racer, said that with the injector setup on this crossflow, that 'they' could only get near 140...and that wasn't good enough. Gemsa seemed to be a prolific producer of stuff. |
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08-30-2017, 03:43 PM | #56 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
I have one of Wes Cooper's engines in my cabriolet.
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08-30-2017, 04:47 PM | #57 |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Mngreen,
Did you have Wes Cooper go through your engine or did you purchase it after he passed away? Do you know any details of the engine's internals? I can't tell from the photo but are you running a Winfield? I remember Mr. Cooper always pushing to use a Winfield instead of a Stromberg downdraft. I bet your Cabriolet moves pretty good down the highway! I wouldn't think too many could say they have a Cooper four banger! Thanks for posting the pic! Bruce [Offy 220] |
08-30-2017, 05:03 PM | #58 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
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08-30-2017, 07:31 PM | #59 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
I located the Gemsa head that I mentioned above from back east. Thot that you might like to see these. Kinda wish that I'd have gotten that head now. Hey , the injection and headers seen all came with ! mngreen...ford's improvement of the B block over the A, was oiling of the mains. |
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08-30-2017, 08:59 PM | #60 | |
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Re: OHV for Model A engine
Quote:
Even this was not true pressurized oiling as the galley was not closed completely to maintain pressure. J
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