April 2010
Cylinder Block
Everything is coming together nicely as the foundry tooling is maturing to its’ final configuration. Small changes are being made to make the assembly of cores more precise (maintain wall thickness), quicker and easier to assemble (less labor). As I write this update, Lodi Iron Works and I do not see anything that would be a show-stopper where the new Model A cylinder block could not be cast.
A technical meeting was held on the foundry floor at Lodi Iron Works on April 5, 2010 where Lodi Iron Works had already made a set of cores before the meeting. At the meeting, these cores were inspected and assembled to one another, and the cores, core boxes, assembly of cores, assembly fixtures, drag and cope cavities, etc were all discussed. The attached pictures were taken during that meeting. Both Lodi Iron Works and I left the meeting with a list of action items that we are both completing in preparation for our next technical meeting. To keep costs down, this project is being worked on as a fill in job so as to not impact production.
If everything goes right, I would guess that Lodi Iron Works and I have a technical meeting near the end of April at which time I can pick up the drag and cope plaster cavities to cast the final male patterns.
Cylinder Block
Everything is coming together nicely as the foundry tooling is maturing to its’ final configuration. Small changes are being made to make the assembly of cores more precise (maintain wall thickness), quicker and easier to assemble (less labor). As I write this update, Lodi Iron Works and I do not see anything that would be a show-stopper where the new Model A cylinder block could not be cast.
A technical meeting was held on the foundry floor at Lodi Iron Works on April 5, 2010 where Lodi Iron Works had already made a set of cores before the meeting. At the meeting, these cores were inspected and assembled to one another, and the cores, core boxes, assembly of cores, assembly fixtures, drag and cope cavities, etc were all discussed. The attached pictures were taken during that meeting. Both Lodi Iron Works and I left the meeting with a list of action items that we are both completing in preparation for our next technical meeting. To keep costs down, this project is being worked on as a fill in job so as to not impact production.
If everything goes right, I would guess that Lodi Iron Works and I have a technical meeting near the end of April at which time I can pick up the drag and cope plaster cavities to cast the final male patterns.
Connecting Rod and Crankshaft
No additional work has been done. The crankshaft and connecting rod are very simple when compared to the cylinder block.
They will be worked on after the cylinder block is complete.
Terry Burtz, Campbell, Calif.
