The Ford Barn

1937pickup · 11-26-2017, 08:28 PM

I have been thinking, always dangerous, and have a question. When Ford was building flathead engines how did they make sure the valves were adjusted correctly. Just thinking about the cam, lifter and valve and the quantity of engines being built there must have been many engines with the valve adjustment out of spec.
Any one have an idea of what they did?

tubman · 11-26-2017, 09:00 PM

"Tyranny? Gene Tierney (a woman, even with that name) was an actress best known for playing the title role in the 1944 film "Laura".

JSeery · 11-26-2017, 09:06 PM

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There are videos online showing engine assembly. A lot of gauges like go no-go gauges etc were used. Quality control was a big deal with Henry so it would be surprising for much to get through out of tolerance. There is a rebuild manual Ford published that spelled out rebuild procedures.

rich b · 11-26-2017, 09:11 PM

I am certainly no expert on this; but as far as I have seen Henry's machining was held to a very high tolerance and I would expect this would result in the valve clearances being correct off the assembly line.

11-26-2017, 08:28 PM	#1
1937pickup Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 586	Tierney of tolerances. I have been thinking, always dangerous, and have a question. When Ford was building flathead engines how did they make sure the valves were adjusted correctly. Just thinking about the cam, lifter and valve and the quantity of engines being built there must have been many engines with the valve adjustment out of spec. Any one have an idea of what they did?

11-26-2017, 09:00 PM	#2
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,316	Re: Tierney of tolerances. "Tyranny? Gene Tierney (a woman, even with that name) was an actress best known for playing the title role in the 1944 film "Laura".

11-26-2017, 09:06 PM	#3
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Tierney of tolerances. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There are videos online showing engine assembly. A lot of gauges like go no-go gauges etc were used. Quality control was a big deal with Henry so it would be surprising for much to get through out of tolerance. There is a rebuild manual Ford published that spelled out rebuild procedures.

11-26-2017, 09:11 PM	#4
rich b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,826	Re: Tierney of tolerances. I am certainly no expert on this; but as far as I have seen Henry's machining was held to a very high tolerance and I would expect this would result in the valve clearances being correct off the assembly line.