nzcarnerd Posted April 16, 2018 Share Posted April 16, 2018 This picture turned up on a Facebook page today. Probably taken in NZ. Maybe the car behind is a clue? The engine looks to be a flathead six with shrouding around the block to give carburettor heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 It looks slightly unusual to me. The carb heat pipe seems to go to the venturi area while the air intake is below? Or is that something else low down in front of the carburetor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Yes, it is a mystery. So far an image search of most of the cars sold on NZ at that time has found nothing like it. Whether it is for the car in the background I can't say. I have assumed it is American. There is even debate as the whether it is four or six cylinders. Fairly certain it is automotive by the gear stick and clutch and brake pedals. Hand brake hanging back a bit. Odd shroud around the exhaust manifold with the heat pipe to the carb. Whether the intake manifold is in the block or just covered by the shroud I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 It looks like a six to me. There are definitely too many spark plug wires to be a four. And it looks like there are three water connections on the casting from the top of the head to the rad. hose. The sheetmetal shroud on the side of the block certainly gives the engine an odd look. Greg in Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studeboy Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 This is just a guess but is it an engine with a low grade fuel adaptation? They used similar shrouded manifolds to heat fuel in tractors that would burn kerosene. The engine was started on gasoline and once warm was switched to kerosene tank. In this setup there would be two fuel tanks one for regular gasoline and one for kerosene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert b Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 The carburetor looks like a Detroit Lubricator with angle outlet to a four-bolt flange simular to that used by Hudson Essex cars, just a guess. No water pump, thermosyphon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stude17 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 On 4/16/2018 at 9:48 PM, studeboy said: This is just a guess but is it an engine with a low grade fuel adaptation? They used similar shrouded manifolds to heat fuel in tractors that would burn kerosene. The engine was started on gasoline and once warm was switched to kerosene tank. In this setup there would be two fuel tanks one for regular gasoline and one for kerosene. I think you might be on the right track Studeboy. The writing on the wooden box in front of the engine looks to me to say "Motor Spirit" so why is a box of motor spirit placed with the engine? There is more writing on the box but I can't make it out. Perhaps a test engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stude17 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 As a guess could it have something to do with the discovery around 1920 of leaded fuel by Kettering & Midgley to stop "knocking" in engines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 7 hours ago, Stude17 said: There is more writing on the box but I can't make it out. It is a Big Tree Motor Spirit box. "Benzine" came to NZ in a four-gallon tin can in a wooden box until the end of 1924. Big Tree was a brand. I have an enamel Big Tree sign in the shed. The boxes and the cans were repurposed into many things over the years. The cans were carried on the running boards and discarded on the road side when used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted April 18, 2018 Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 It doesn't seem to match any regular production car engines of the period that I can find. maybe it is a proprietary truck engine, e.g. Buda, Wisconsin, Hercules, etc. It might also help to work out what the car is there. Two swage lines close together. Guess mid-1920s but what make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 The sedan appears to have a fake landau iron, that might be a clue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 I see that as the front window edge on the door and not a landau bar. Hard to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dictator27 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 Not a Hudson person, but I think the car in the background is a Hudson just based on how close the reveal mouldings are. The engine appears to be a modified Essex Super Six based on the large hole in the bracket on the left side of the engine, which was for the lower rad hose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted April 18, 2018 Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 You may be right. Hudson typically had very square-edged sedan bodies. Worth investigation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted April 18, 2018 Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 Found this one - good call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans1 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 The picture is of an Essex six-cylinder engine. No modifications. Based on han brake on right side of trans, it is likely 1924 to 1926. 1927 had the emergency brake inside body on left side of cowl attached to frame rail through the floor. The large black box on top of engine is a hot air stove over exhaust system and provides tempered air to carb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert b Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Yep, that was my guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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