The Ford Barn

Bradensc · 11-29-2015, 11:35 PM

Can anyone tell me when a Rucker Over Head was made for Model A. I found one in the rough. How much is one worth? Thanks

DougVieyra · 11-30-2015, 01:39 AM

50 years ago or more, when I was 'fiddling' with Model A speed stuff, I heard of about 6 or 8 OHV heads for the 4-cylinder Ford engine. Roof, Riley, Crager, Miller, Christy, Hal, etc., etc. In all that time I never heard of a Rucker OHV.

Charlie Stephens · 11-30-2015, 01:51 AM

Try contacting Charlie Yapp at the Secrets of Speed Society (google it). The name sounds familiar. If Charlie doesn't know the answer maybe he could post the question in his magazine. A picture would sure help (send it to Charlie for the magazine and post here).

Charlie Stephens

V4F · 11-30-2015, 09:56 AM

ill take it if you don't want it ..........

Jim Brierley · 11-30-2015, 12:13 PM

I think the Smith Museum in Lincoln, NE might be the best source for info?

BILL WILLIAMSON · 11-30-2015, 06:51 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Northwest Vintage Speedsters has a HUGE section on OHV conversions. One, that they can't even identify.
Bill W.

modelAsteve · 11-30-2015, 08:01 PM

Rucker is about the same as a Christy. Made in the Bay/ San Jose area after WWII

Bradensc · 11-30-2015, 09:30 PM

Does anyone have information on Christy Over Head?

Dodge · 12-01-2015, 02:29 AM

The valve cover says Made in San Francisco. A friend of my Dad's had one on a Model
A Sedan when we were growing up. I heard his nefhew has the car now.

Craic · 12-01-2015, 08:30 AM

rucker 1.jpg

Rucker 3.jpg

rucker 2.jpg

Craic · 12-01-2015, 08:32 AM

Rucker 4.jpg

Rucker 5.jpg

Rucker 6.jpg

Craic · 12-01-2015, 08:39 AM

That was easy thanks to all the hard work done by Dave Ziegler

SOSS-Index Updated 10-2013.pdf

BILL WILLIAMSON · 12-01-2015, 09:14 AM

A friend had an Alexander OHV set up, I know little about it. Saw it once, in a packing crate. I'm amazed how many companies produced OHV & even overhead cam heads. Brands of carbs were fascinating also. One even had a Japanese sounding name.
Friend, John, has an engine with a COOK OHV set up in his steel top pick up. The engine is reputed to have been run in a Dry Lakes car in the past!
Bill W.

Jim Brierley · 12-01-2015, 12:29 PM

Cook, aka Cyclone, heads were made by the Cook machine shop just East of L.A. They made 104 of them, I don't know if this includes the 1 made of aluminum or not. They were made in the late 30's for racing, had no water pump boss or distributor opening. They ran great on gasoline but needed work to make them run good on fuel, because of the cartridge fire plug location. The last time I ran mine was in 2013, ran 167 at Bonneville in the 4 ever 4 Club lakester. Turbo-charged on alcohol.

Kahuna · 12-01-2015, 04:54 PM

In 1958, I bought a Rucker OHV conversion for $125.00 from an older Japanese man in Honolulu, Hawaii. I was working summers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. It was almost exactly like the one pictured here, but had no provision for the oil feed to the rockers. The shaft was so worn that I had to have it Hard Chromed to build it back up, had the rockers rebushed, but before doing so I had the shaft drilled for the oil pressure. I used Chevy 6 solid push rods and adjustable lifters with a special bolt head to receive the push rod ends. Engine ran well. Wish I still had it

11-29-2015, 11:35 PM	#1
Bradensc Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 4	Rucker Over Head for Model A Can anyone tell me when a Rucker Over Head was made for Model A. I found one in the rough. How much is one worth? Thanks

11-30-2015, 01:39 AM	#2
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A 50 years ago or more, when I was 'fiddling' with Model A speed stuff, I heard of about 6 or 8 OHV heads for the 4-cylinder Ford engine. Roof, Riley, Crager, Miller, Christy, Hal, etc., etc. In all that time I never heard of a Rucker OHV.

11-30-2015, 01:51 AM	#3
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,032	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A Try contacting Charlie Yapp at the Secrets of Speed Society (google it). The name sounds familiar. If Charlie doesn't know the answer maybe he could post the question in his magazine. A picture would sure help (send it to Charlie for the magazine and post here). Charlie Stephens Last edited by Charlie Stephens; 11-30-2015 at 02:00 AM.

11-30-2015, 09:56 AM	#4
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A ill take it if you don't want it .......... __________________ V4f

11-30-2015, 12:13 PM	#5
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,089	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A I think the Smith Museum in Lincoln, NE might be the best source for info?

11-30-2015, 06:51 PM	#6
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Northwest Vintage Speedsters has a HUGE section on OHV conversions. One, that they can't even identify. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

11-30-2015, 08:01 PM	#7
modelAsteve Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Penn Valley (Nor-Cal) Ca Posts: 128	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A Rucker is about the same as a Christy. Made in the Bay/ San Jose area after WWII

11-30-2015, 09:30 PM	#8
Bradensc Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 4	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A Does anyone have information on Christy Over Head?

12-01-2015, 02:29 AM	#9
Dodge Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sonoma, CA. Posts: 1,497	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A The valve cover says Made in San Francisco. A friend of my Dad's had one on a Model A Sedan when we were growing up. I heard his nefhew has the car now.

12-01-2015, 08:30 AM	#10
Craic Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 21	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A rucker 1.jpg Rucker 3.jpg rucker 2.jpg

12-01-2015, 08:32 AM	#11
Craic Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 21	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A Rucker 4.jpg Rucker 5.jpg Rucker 6.jpg

12-01-2015, 09:14 AM	#13
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A A friend had an Alexander OHV set up, I know little about it. Saw it once, in a packing crate. I'm amazed how many companies produced OHV & even overhead cam heads. Brands of carbs were fascinating also. One even had a Japanese sounding name. Friend, John, has an engine with a COOK OHV set up in his steel top pick up. The engine is reputed to have been run in a Dry Lakes car in the past! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 12-01-2015 at 11:26 AM.

12-01-2015, 12:29 PM	#14
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,089	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A Cook, aka Cyclone, heads were made by the Cook machine shop just East of L.A. They made 104 of them, I don't know if this includes the 1 made of aluminum or not. They were made in the late 30's for racing, had no water pump boss or distributor opening. They ran great on gasoline but needed work to make them run good on fuel, because of the cartridge fire plug location. The last time I ran mine was in 2013, ran 167 at Bonneville in the 4 ever 4 Club lakester. Turbo-charged on alcohol.

12-01-2015, 04:54 PM	#15
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: Rucker Over Head for Model A In 1958, I bought a Rucker OHV conversion for $125.00 from an older Japanese man in Honolulu, Hawaii. I was working summers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. It was almost exactly like the one pictured here, but had no provision for the oil feed to the rockers. The shaft was so worn that I had to have it Hard Chromed to build it back up, had the rockers rebushed, but before doing so I had the shaft drilled for the oil pressure. I used Chevy 6 solid push rods and adjustable lifters with a special bolt head to receive the push rod ends. Engine ran well. Wish I still had it