So what did you do today?

[N8TE]

cut some Ash!

 

[thedude74]

Must be an above ground pump? How do you prevent freezing, or does it all drain?

We have been considering options for my Cabin in the Catskills, which is off the grid (2 mi up the mountain on a 4WD road).

Hi Mike. I'm using a deep well pump without a check valve so it drains back after well pump is shutoff. Have a 275 gallon tank INSIDE the cabin. Deep well pump feeds a 30 gallon collection box gravity fed to a sand filter(30 gallon plastic drum) and gravity fed to the 275 gallon tank. Plumbing fixtures are fed via a Shurflow 12v rv pump.

Almost forgot. Burried the lines from the well to the house 3' deep covered by 4" of foam insulation. Used PVC. If I did it again I'd use poly/pex piping underground.

Decent well pumps can found on Amazon for $150. Mine is only 600 watts/120v and will pump up to 20 gallons a minute (depending on pipe size). No problem running it on a small generator or solar.

How far down do you need to go to hit water?

 

[thedude74]

Cleared some grass and weeds with the strimmer today. It's about waist/shoulder high. Started dropping the dead standing spruce after trails were blazed. Also cleared a large staging area. Neighbors coming over this week with his sawmill. Should have enough lumber to build a small 12x20 pole barn. Already scored some free steal roofing at the landfill last month.

A different neighbor traded my helping him put windows in his house for some dozer time(clearing).

It sure will be nice to put all my tools and equipment away. Last winter much of my tools and equipment lived under a big tarp....under 3 feet of snow. It was less than optimum as you can imagine.

 

[MustangMike]

Thanks for the detailed info. Not sure how deep we have to go, but likely not too deep. We were of the opinion that any hole we could drill ourselves would not be large enough for a below ground pump.

My previous house had an above ground pump capable of going 110' down. We also toy with just using a removable hand pump.

We have also noticed (for our lighting) that our solar panels work far better in the summer than in the winter.

 

[MustangMike]

Went to a party yesterday at one of my wife's cousin's houses on Long Island. I'm sure a lot of you will recognize the Holly Grail of Ford Engines. I believe this one was owned my MT himself!

Don't have a clue as to the HP with velocity stacks and injectors, but I do know the single 4 bbl version was 616 HP!

 

[460 magnum]

Went to a party yesterday at one of my wife's cousin's houses on Long Island. I'm sure a lot of you will recognize the Holly Grail of Ford Engines. I believe this one was owned my MT himself!

Don't have a clue as to the HP with velocity stacks and injectors, but I do know the single 4 bbl version was 616 HP!

The coolest thing I've seen all day. Only way it would be better if it was a Chevy LOL.

 

[MustangMike]

The only two motors most of the top builders of that era would build for a rail or funny car were the Chrysler Hemi or the Ford SOHC.

FYI, Mickey Thomson was the first to brake the 200 MPH barrier with a Funny Car, and he had one of them 427 SOHC motors in it.

 

[Sty57]

The only two motors most of the top builders of that era would build for a rail or funny car were the Chrysler Hemi or the Ford SOHC.

FYI, Mickey Thomson was the first to brake the 200 MPH barrier with a Funny Car, and he had one of them 427 SOHC motors in it.

Does it still have the MT aluminum rods in it?
Was it converted to a gear drive from the timing chain?

 

[MustangMike]

Does it still have the MT aluminum rods in it?
Was it converted to a gear drive from the timing chain?

I don't know what rods are in it, but I'm sure all of the SOHC motors had very heavy duty stuff.

Some of his 302s are converted to gear drive, but I don't think you could do that to an Overhead Cam motor, but I could be wrong! Don't all overhead cam motors have big long timing chains???

Ford also developed a dual overhead cam 427, but NASCAR banned it after it's first race, so Ford discontinued it. Technology before it's time!

Hey, my current Mustang Motor (started life as a 2006 4.6 liter) has cross bolted mains, which were first developed for the 406/427 Ford motors.

 

[CrystalRiver1]

Drove a few hundred miles round trip to check on, talk to, and watch a couple hrs of Gunsmoke with my 84 yr old Pa.
He lost his brother and a neighbor of 60 yrs, all within the span of 48 hrs...he said over the phone, "I'm okay son", but I just wanted to lay eyes on him and see for myself.
He was in good shape & happy as a lark to see me!
Other than that, I picked up my fried piston/scored 026 from the shop and I'm currently mulling over whether I want to invest in resurrecting it!

I'm seriously considering hunting down a nice MS 361 and maybe getting it ported.
Anybody have a ported MS361 and willing to chime in on the results?

 

[Sty57]

I don't know what rods are in it, but I'm sure all of the SOHC motors had very heavy duty stuff.

Some of his 302s are converted to gear drive, but I don't think you could do that to an Overhead Cam motor, but I could be wrong! Don't all overhead cam motors have big long timing chains???

Ford also developed a dual overhead cam 427, but NASCAR banned it after it's first race, so Ford discontinued it. Technology before it's time!

Hey, my current Mustang Motor (started life as a 2006 4.6 liter) has cross bolted mains, which were first developed for the 406/427 Ford motors.

I'm just guessing, but if that was a engine from M/T it would be running a lot of his parts in it not factory parts.
A few different gear drives were made for them to get rid of that 6 foot long timing chain. Some of them ran the one bank backwards so they could run the same cam on both sides of the engine.

What year and who was the team that ran a DOHC 427 in NASCAR?
Ive never heard of that, they never allowed the SOHC engine to run as they were not a pushrod engine.

 

[MustangMike]

You obviously have more specific knowledge on this engine than I, but I distinctly remember from back in the day that Ford developed the SOHC for drag racing and the DOHC for endurance racing. This is all I could find at the moment.

"In 1964, Ford had their best season ever, with 30 wins. Dodge was second with 14, while Plymouth had 12. Adding the five wins that Mercury had, the 427 had a total of 35 NASCAR Grand National wins for the 1964 season. Fred Lorenzen won the Atlanta 500 and proceeded to beat Dodges and Plymouths, which were using 426 Hemi engines, in six of the next seven races. Ford was using the high-riser intake and matching heads, which were allowed by NASCAR for one season (1964).

In 1965, NASCAR banned Ford's high-riser engines [4] claiming they did not fit under "stock" hoods, allowing Chrysler to continue racing its 426 Hemi, which had been installed in a production vehicle that year. Yet [5] Also in 1965, Ford developed its own version of a hemi-chambered engine. The 427 "Cammer" used a pair of overhead cams to operate the valves in its hemi. NASCAR banned the engine. Then Ford developed the medium-riser intake and head, which fit under stock hoods and was accepted by NASCAR. Ned Jarrett, driving for Ford, was the 1965 Grand National champion and Ford won the NASCAR crown. "

 

[Sty57]

M/T had made aluminum Hemi heads for the Pontiac and the 427 Ford before Ford came out with the Cammer.
In '63 GM banned all racing from the factory and that when so many of them guys switched to Ford and Mopar as they were still backed by the factories.

 

[Sty57]

Here a couple of one of my good friends vintage drag cars.

 

[MustangMike]

Great stuff, I did not know about that, likely for dedicated racers (not street racers) only!

I know Ford also used the tunnel port heads in NASCAR, but I'm not sure of the dates. I had opportunity to buy a set once, but I passed. They were wild looking, big oval ports, and a sleeve in the middle for the pushrods to go through!

I was still in college, had just bought the 427 short block for $300 (was a 1966 Holman + Moody seasoned block with the crank cut 10 + 20, with low riser pistons, with the valve bumpers). The same guy wanted $1,500 for the Tunnel Port heads, which was way out of my reach at the time.

I later installed the engine, with 428 SCJ heads (that originally came on a Talladega) in a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang (I purchased it with a spun bearing for $800 and sold the Boss heads for $300). I told people I had the "real boss". With an Aluminum Edelbrock intake the weight was reduced enough that the car handled great with BFG Radial Trans Ams. Had 850 DP Holley, Mallory Photo Cell ignition, Hooker Headers, TRW double roller timing chain, and the Ford solid lifter cam (306 duration).

With slapper traction bars, a 3.50 pumpkin, and a small block top loader tranny (had a 2.71 first gear instead of 2.20 close ratio) I could drive it on the highway and run quarter mile competitively. It was a VG all around car for it's day!

 

[Teemore]

Getting rid of the sticks so that I can have some fun with the larger diameter beech logs.
View attachment 192618

Some entertainment in form of selected background music helps a lot.
View attachment 192620

What is the consensus on Ash as firewood?
Mixed opinions in my area, mostly negative.
I got a reduced price for accepting some 6 ash logs in my firewood load, it will get burned mixed with beech and oak.

Wilhelm's post prompted me to share this :
The Firewood Poem
Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

Ash generally sells for a premium in Ireland (North and South).

 

[MustangMike]

Nice poem. I would not say it is the best wood, but likely the best if seasoned for less than a year (Although I don't have enough experience with Locust to judge dry time).

 

[Wilhelm]

Wilhelm's post prompted me to share this :
The Firewood Poem
Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

Ash generally sells for a premium in Ireland (North and South).

In my area Ash is mostly unwanted, as such the forestry usually has trouble getting rid of it.

I will have to ask my neighbor if there is more Ash to be had at a low price once I dismantle my current firewood pile.

I will know this winter whether I like Ash as firewood, I have a stove and a cast iron fireplace.

Thank You for the poem.

 

[Sty57]

Great stuff, I did not know about that, likely for dedicated racers (not street racers) only!

I know Ford also used the tunnel port heads in NASCAR, but I'm not sure of the dates. I had opportunity to buy a set once, but I passed. They were wild looking, big oval ports, and a sleeve in the middle for the pushrods to go through!

I was still in college, had just bought the 427 short block for $300 (was a 1966 Holman + Moody seasoned block with the crank cut 10 + 20, with low riser pistons, with the valve bumpers). The same guy wanted $1,500 for the Tunnel Port heads, which was way out of my reach at the time.

I later installed the engine, with 428 SCJ heads (that originally came on a Talladega) in a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang (I purchased it with a spun bearing for $800 and sold the Boss heads for $300). I told people I had the "real boss". With an Aluminum Edelbrock intake the weight was reduced enough that the car handled great with BFG Radial Trans Ams. Had 850 DP Holley, Mallory Photo Cell ignition, Hooker Headers, TRW double roller timing chain, and the Ford solid lifter cam (306 duration).

With slapper traction bars, a 3.50 pumpkin, and a small block top loader tranny (had a 2.71 first gear instead of 2.20 close ratio) I could drive it on the highway and run quarter mile competitively. It was a VG all around car for it's day!

If I remember right M/T made under 20 sets of the Hemi Pontiac heads. You need to remember that at that time he was running Pontiac and Buick in all of his stuff until GM pulled the plug on the racing programs.
GM never got back into racing officially untill the 70's everything was under the table and backdoor deals up to that point.

A few years ago the casting molds for them Pontiac Hemi heads came up for auction but I've never heard what became of them after that.

 

[MustangMike]

He was obviously a brilliant guy and way ahead of his time. Was watching the video of him by his son and there is some real interesting stuff there … Indy Racing, Drag Racing, Bonneville Salt Flats, etc.

Indy changed the rules to thwart his brilliance!