Ford GP (series 1) slow build

[Lionelgee]

G'day Mike,

What was lost has now been found!

Try this ... Accessed 23rd of June 2016 The first thread started in 2013 http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...801#post180801

There is a second thread http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...662#post211662

Maybe a very kind moderator could link it all back together?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

Are you sourcing engine parts from Ford 9N ? tractor people. Is the engine much different to the tractor engine ? I guess you are a regular watcher of the G503 GP club .

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks Lionel .... it has been a long time since I first got the vehicle, hasn't it? Still, making progress at a pace I enjoy, so no problem.

Mike, yes, the GP has what is in effect a 9N tractor engine but with some important differences. The 9N is a sleeved engine, whereas the GP is not. But the bore is 3-1/16 which you'll remember is the same as the 85bhp V8 sidevalve, so 9T pistons and rings, available up to 60thou o/s, fit nicely. The block is capable of being bored out to 60 thou o/s, and those 4 ring pistons and ring sets are available. When I pulled the engine down, that's what I found: 9T, 4 ring pistons had been fitted (and I have been recently told, were listed as a change to the GP parts list in 1943, via a respondent on the G503 forum). Other than that, main & big ends, cam shaft bearings, valves, gaskets etc are all 9N and readily available. It has those horrible Ford split valve guides and little horse-shoe keepers, and was originally equipped with non-adjustable tappets, but adjustable tappets are available.

The peripherals are also different: the tractor engine has a front mounted distributor/coil combination with no vacuum advance, whereas the GP has a right angle drive and conventional distributor (the coil is mounted on the firewall). The exhaust/inlet manifold is a downdraught, whereas the tractor is updraught, and the carbie is a Holley. So like the GP in general, some parts are easy to get, and some parts are very difficult and others are outrageously expensive: an original Holley carbie has sold for over $8,000 US!!

Mike

[Mike K]

So you will be looking for eight Johnson adjustable valve lifters ?

So a tractor engine block will not change over... annoying for GP restorers !

[Mike Cecil]

I think the block will change over, but it will be sleeved and won't have that magic 'GP' cast into the block.

It's the peripherals that make the difference: you can't just take a 9N from a tractor, you have to transfer all the peripherals to make it into a GP engine.

The valve guides are available as part of an overhaul kit from David Tractor at a pretty reasonable price: http://store.ford8n.net/product.php?xProd=6315

Mike

[Lynn Eades]

Mike, the Ford V8 went over to one piece guides. If you are doing all new valves
(stainless?) then that would be the way to go. Do they have hard seats?(inserts) Then you don't have issues with fuel lacking the lead.
I assume the v8 bits interchange?

[Mike Cecil]

All part of the investigation, Lynn. The post above has a link to Davis Tractor who are just one of many who supply an overhaul kit which includes one-piece guides, but you'll see that certain other parts such as seats are purchased separately.

Started wrestling with those *7%$#@ horse shoe clips yesterday, after the valve spring compressor arrived from Northern Tool.

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

G'day Mike,

What was lost has now been found!

Try this ... Accessed 23rd of June 2016 The first thread started in 2013 http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...801#post180801

There is a second thread http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...662#post211662

Maybe a very kind moderator could link it all back together?

Lionel.

Done!

Hanno

[Mike Cecil]

Resulted in this 1944 MB joining the GP in the garage/workshop. Starts, runs, drives, stops, so will do 'as is' for now.

2,000 miles in 32 hours driving time over 4 days: rain, rain and even some snow for most of the way.

Mike

[Mike K]

The paint on the GP chassis . Can you tell us its origin ? Looks to be a matt finish . Enamel ?

is it the Gillespie stuff ? Have you painted the body with the same paint ?

[Mike Cecil]

The undercoat was Rustoleum for rusty metal. Despite being sandblasted, there is always a delay in getting the undercoat on and oxidation starts, hence the choice of the 'for rusty metal' finish. It is a very durable coating.

The top coat is the early war US green from RAPCO, who I believe source their paint from Gillespie. Comes in either 1 gallon cans or very handy spray cans for doing smaller parts. The finish is more like a satin than a true matt finish, which makes maintenance that much easier.

The white and gold used for the instrument panel were also Rustoleum, and the red was a modeler's enamel paint by Testors.

All are enamel coatings.

Mike

[Mike K]

Ah OK . There are many types of undercoatings available these days , the POR stuff is good but expensive . I have heard of Rustoleum, I think it's available here. The sandblaster here uses red oxide .

The neighbour down the road put me onto something in the local hardware " FERRONITE" . It was developed for the marine industry and it is made in QLD . The active ingredient is tannic acid , from vegetable matter. The theory is: the acid draws out the oxides in the rust and the rusty steel surface ends up a blackish colour. It is not cheap to buy at 38 bucks a litre. The base is a polimer I think , or something similar.

The GP is looking very nice . Who is building the new tubs ?

[Mike Cecil]

Tub is by Joe's Motor Pool, UK. It's a first-class job.

You can see the example here (Rory is Joe's North American GP parts re-seller)

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php...5ea73b15e11500

Mike