Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "John McNarry"
Ladies and Gentlemen,I am building an 'A' Ford Air Camper. The plans call for a 'Ford spring' tobe attached to each of the four mounting bolts that attach the engine to thetwo Ash bearers. I got the four Ford springs and the set of bolts/nuts (AN)that the plans call for. But I guess that I am too dense to figure out whatBernie had in mind. The two mounting holes in the block on the engine'sPort side (the carb/exhaust side) are VERY close to the vertical side of theblock. They are so close that the nut, washer and spring, that are supposedto fit there, will not fit because the vertical block wall is so close. Thebearers are so narrow that the bolts must be completely vertical or theywon't have any wood to hold on to. I considered grinding into the block at those two points, but the block wallis only 0.170" thick there. The bolts are too long to go in from the blockside, down into the bearer. I guess could put the bolts in from the bottomwith the spring UNDER the bearer and the nut at the top. But, I would stillhave to grind off most of one side of the nut to get it to fit between thebolt and the side of the block.I'm sure that I am not the first builder to face this problem, but since Ihave never seen a Ford Air Camper in person, I don't know what the 'BestPractice' would be.Thank you in advance for the help,Larry Prange________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Bruce J. Park"
Hi Larry I looked on my set of plans Orrin Hoopman 1933 Improved Version.Drawing No. 8 shows the bolts ( heads down) up through the bearer through alayer of leather then through the spring (Ford part No. 2742 ) and thendouble nutted. I would be inclined to use the AN hard ware and cattoer pinit as well. I also would not be afraid of grinding the side wall of theblock to get nut clearance provided it didn't become thinnner that about1/16" and was blended into the thicker wall. I wouldn't make the pan flangearea any thinner. I think that Bernard's idea was that the short stiff Ford spring wouldtake up any change in dimension as the wood and leather worn in. Think of itlike this the weight of the engine rests all along the white ash bearer andthe bolts pull the airframe along behind the Ford block.Hope this helps.John McPiet/GN-1/ Me Cirrus power. Was to be a Ford B but that Cirrus engine isjust too neat to leave alone.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Michael Brusilow"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Ford Engine Mounting ProblemJohn,What is the Cirrus engine?Mark BoyntonGilbert, AZ> > Hi Larry> I looked on my set of plans Orrin Hoopman 1933 Improved Version.> Drawing No. 8 shows the bolts ( heads down) up through the bearer througha> layer of leather then through the spring (Ford part No. 2742 ) and then> double nutted. I would be inclined to use the AN hard ware and cattoerpin> it as well. I also would not be afraid of grinding the side wall of the> block to get nut clearance provided it didn't become thinnner that about> 1/16" and was blended into the thicker wall. I wouldn't make the panflange> area any thinner.> I think that Bernard's idea was that the short stiff Ford springwould> take up any change in dimension as the wood and leather worn in. Think ofit> like this the weight of the engine rests all along the white ash bearerand> the bolts pull the airframe along behind the Ford block.> Hope this helps.> John Mc> Piet/GN-1/ Me Cirrus power. Was to be a Ford B but that Cirrus engine is> just too neat to leave alone.> > > > > Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by ExciteVisit http://freeworld.excite.com________________________________________________________________________________