29 Ford AA with Detroit 4-71

[Fat Brian]

I don't usually do build threads because they seem to be the kiss of death for actually finishing it but I think I'm far enough along to put something here. This is going to be the tow vehicle for a late 30s salt flats car I'm going to start on soon.

This started out as a Monogram 29 Ford rpu that I started and abandoned close to 25 years ago. I scratch built the 4-71 block and used parts from an 8v-71 to finish it. I had to move the cab back about 18 scale inches to fit the new engine. The frame, rear end, and transmission are from the Lindberg L-700 while the front is made of parts from a 1/32 semi and the Monogram 32 roadster I'm using for the salt car. The wheels and tires are from Scenes Unlimited. The interior from the Monogram kit was too custom looking so I built an older looking inside more befitting the back story of this project.

Next steps are figuring out a wrecker body and getting some little details buttoned up.

Edited October 4, 2020 by Fat Brian

[espo]

The engine is a marvel in it's self. 

[Fat Brian]

3 minutes ago, espo said:

The engine is a marvel in it's self. 

Thank you, I've wanted to try it for a while.

[Spex84]

Whoa! That truck looks serious!

Impressive work in the diesel...looks like you used various spare kit pieces with a scratchbuilt block?? As a non-truck/non-diesel builder I'm in the dark here. What exactly is going on with that engine?

[Fat Brian]

On 10/4/2020 at 7:57 PM, Spex84 said:

Whoa! That truck looks serious!

Impressive work in the diesel...looks like you used various spare kit pieces with a scratchbuilt block?? As a non-truck/non-diesel builder I'm in the dark here. What exactly is going on with that engine?

Yes, I used kit pieces on a scratch built block. The Detroit 2 stroke diesels were designed so most of the parts would be modular, parts from the inline 4 cylinder like this also fit the v8 version. The blocks of the inline versions can also be reversed so the supercharger can be on either side and the head will bolt on in either direction. It's an ingenious design that allowed these engines to be used in all manner of vehicles and equipment and also as stationary power units.

[slusher]

Engine looks great Brian.!

[afx]

Great looking project.

[misterNNL]

You had my attention at '29AA. Refreshing to see anything based on something of this vintage on the forums. Are you planning a hand crank wrecker boom?

[Fat Brian]

28 minutes ago, misterNNL said:

You had my attention at '29AA. Refreshing to see anything based on something of this vintage on the forums. Are you planning a hand crank wrecker boom?

That's what I'm looking for now, gears that look like they could operate a 30s vintage wrecker boom. I'm looking to build something kind of simple a home built since the whole build is going to be kind of a garage job. I have a few ideas I'm tossing around depending on what I can turn up.

[misterNNL]

6 minutes ago, Fat Brian said:

That's what I'm looking for now, gears that look like they could operate a 30s vintage wrecker boom. I'm looking to build something kind of simple a home built since the whole build is going to be kind of a garage job. I have a few ideas I'm tossing around depending on what I can turn up.

I built a '25TT wrecker a few years ago with a scratch built Weaver 3G hand crank boom assembly. I can send you some pix of it if you're interested..

[Fat Brian]

4 hours ago, misterNNL said:

I built a '25TT wrecker a few years ago with a scratch built Weaver 3G hand crank boom assembly. I can send you some pix of it if you're interested..

Absolutely, you can post them here.

[misterNNL]

3 hours ago, Fat Brian said:

Absolutely, you can post them here.

I don't know how to post pix to the forums,but if you PM me you email address I can send them that way.

[Paul Payne]

For the gears on the boom, try watch gears. You can get packages pretty reasonably- check the hobby stores and Micromark.

[Fat Brian]

36 minutes ago, Paul Payne said:

For the gears on the boom, try watch gears. You can get packages pretty reasonably- check the hobby stores and Micromark.

I bought a small assortment on ebay the other day, hopefully they will be here tomorrow. 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

I saw “4-71 Detroit” and had to look! I like what you have came up with! The side covers on the engine look great! This project is going to be a really cool build! Complete with a 284 cubic inch noise generator!? I like it!!!

I’m looking forward to seeing more!

[Fat Brian]

12 hours ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

I saw “4-71 Detroit” and had to look! I like what you have came up with! The side covers on the engine look great! This project is going to be a really cool build! Complete with a 284 cubic inch noise generator!? I like it!!!

I’m looking forward to seeing more!

Thanks, I've been wanting to build one for a long time but couldn't find measurements for the block. Finally I remembered that one of the jobs I'm working on has this ancient old pan with a 4-71 so I snuck down there on a rainy day and got the dimensions I needed.

[misterNNL]

18 hours ago, Fat Brian said:

I bought a small assortment on ebay the other day, hopefully they will be here tomorrow. 

Note that the gears used on these hand crank wreckers were about 4" thick so a thin brass gear won't look realistic at all.

[Fat Brian]

55 minutes ago, misterNNL said:

Note that the gears used on these hand crank wreckers were about 4" thick so a thin brass gear won't look realistic at all.

Yep, from the pic there were a few thicker ones and maybe enough of the same thinner oners to laminate a couple together. 

[mchook]

This is going to be a great build. I like what you have so far. I can't wait to see your wrecker boom, I've built a few different styles over the years. I used some gears from ebay, I've have torn apart some cheap wind up toys and pull and go cars for the gears they both work and look fine to me. Here's some...

[Dodge Driver]

Brian, may I grab a few screen shots of your fantastic engine? I would like to build a small Detroit myself, in the future. 

[Fat Brian]

5 minutes ago, Dodge Driver said:

Brian, may I grab a few screen shots of your fantastic engine? I would like to build a small Detroit myself, in the future. 

Sure. The block is 25mm from the head mounting surface to the oil pan and front to back, basically square. I used an 8v-71 head and valve cover from a kit as well as the front and rear gear sets. You'll need to shorten the kit oil pan about an inch or so, the 8v-71 has something around the crank pulley that the 4-71 doesn't. 

[Fat Brian]

21 hours ago, mchook said:

This is going to be a great build. I like what you have so far. I can't wait to see your wrecker boom, I've built a few different styles over the years. I used some gears from ebay, I've have torn apart some cheap wind up toys and pull and go cars for the gears they both work and look fine to me. Here's some...

Those are very close to what I had in mind. I've been spending a few days getting the car up on its wheels while I look at wrecker options and wait on parts.

[Dodge Driver]

1 hour ago, Fat Brian said:

Sure. The block is 25mm from the head mounting surface to the oil pan and front to back, basically square. I used an 8v-71 head and valve cover from a kit as well as the front and rear gear sets. You'll need to shorten the kit oil pan about an inch or so, the 8v-71 has something around the crank pulley that the 4-71 doesn't. 

Thank you for the help and the inspiration.  I intend to do something similar to your project with a 38 Chevy. 

[Fat Brian]

7 hours ago, Dodge Driver said:

Thank you for the help and the inspiration.  I intend to do something similar to your project with a 38 Chevy. 

That sounds good. It's a surprisingly big engine to be four cylinders, I didn't expect to have to move the cab nearly as much as I did.

[Fat Brian]

I got the car up on its wheels, hopefully the rear axle will be here soon so I can get rid of the bamboo skewer. I want to build the stretched hood but I'm not really sure how to get it done.