Guest Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 (edited) I'm not a Model T or Model A guy, but I found the engine conversion mentioned / pictured in this ebay ad to be very interesting. Anyone know more about these conversions? Were similar setups made by others? The last photo in the ad shows the engine best. I suppose I could contact the seller, but wouldn't do so as I'm not interested in owning his car. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1930-HOMEMADE-SPRINT-CAR/223448149511?hash=item34068c2e07:g:QfoAAOSwjfhciqe3 Edited March 17, 2019 by Guest (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 I found this on the Gallivan engines. https://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/gallivandohc.html Ad states the conversion is a reproduction using original molds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 There were several racing engines based on Ford T blocks. Some were reasonably simple overhead valve set ups like the Roof head and others were single and even double overhead cam. Some were virtually hand made few of a kind and some were produced in reasonably large numbers. Greg in Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 The Gallivan was one of the more developed or advanced heads for the Model T Ford block. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Auto racing was a big novelty from about 1905 to the late teens, then cars became so common the novelty wore off and car racing didn't draw such big crowds. Purpose built race cars cost from $5000 to $15000 or more, this was not sustainable in the twenties without a corporate sponsor. So someone got the idea of building cheap race cars from Model T Fords, Dodges and Maxwells. They would not be as fast as a full blown race car but a lot cheaper, and if everyone was on an equal footing you could have some close races. Soon they were racing these cars on dirt horse tracks and bull rings around the country. This may have been the beginning of the speed equipment industry as these hop ups made their way onto regular road cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 23 hours ago, zepher said: I found this on the Gallivan engines. https://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/gallivandohc.html Ad states the conversion is a reproduction using original molds. Good article. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Years ago Joe Gemsa in El Monte, Ca. used the Gallivan patterns to cast heads and the related parts he had his name cast in the cam covers. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motoringicons Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 (edited) I believe the red race car in question has a Gemsa head (made in the 1960s-1970s) that is disguised to look like a Galivan head. Still a great piece of equipment. This race car seems very reasonably priced considering the pieces it contains. Edited March 18, 2019 by motoringicons (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 50 minutes ago, motoringicons said: I believe the red race car in question has a Gemsa head (made in the 1960s-1970s) that is disguised to look like a Galivan head. Still a great piece of equipment. This race car seems very reasonably priced considering the pieces it contains. I think you are correct, they are Gemsa CASTINGS, but Joe didn't assemble any of it. This is the MILLER V16 that Joe rebuilt for Chuck Davis, degree of finish is a tad nicer. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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