1952 Ford 8N 302 v8 conversion

[wploetz]

OK, pulling day one at the Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Association show. Not so good.
With the 16.9x24 tires filled with Rim Guard, Frank-N-Ford weighed in at 4900 pounds so I had to pull with the big boys starting out at 5000 pounds on the 800 pound sled.
The track was gripping super good. Unfortunately so was Frank-N-Ford. Front end goes up, hits the wheelie plates hard, drags hard adding additional force and my clutch starts to smoke. Not too bad so I think clutch is OK. Any ideas on what upgraded clutch I should explore?
By the way, I won the class as no one else could budge the sled.
Video -

 

[wploetz]

Day2? I have a plan. Drain 400 pounds of Rim Guard (Beet Molasses) out of the tires, get the weight down to 4500 pounds. Then I should be able to get a little spin without the wheelie plates hitting. I also should be pulling a little lighter load so I can maybe get a few full pulls in.
Starting at noon, couldn't find my valve core removal tool. Got restarted at 1pm after finding someone with a valve cap that had the tool on the end of it. So I hooked up a hose to the valve stem to drain into 5 gallon buckets after I took out the valve core, which promptly blew out of my hand and got lost in the grass. Off on a search for valve core. Found a bicycle that I could borrow the core out of.
Now I know the meaning of the phrase "As slow as molasses".
3.5 hours later, I got the 8 - five gallon buckets of Rim Guard out but missed the scale time so no pulling today.

 

[wploetz]

Some good, some bad. My changes paid off and Frank-N-Ford pulls good. Unfortunately this was a large class and I spent a lot of time idling and I should have shut it off. It overheated just as I was up for my third pull. Frank-N-Ford goes up in steam at the 2015 Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Association show August 16, 2015. Too much idling overloaded the cooling system. Got to get a bigger radiator. Don't think I wrecked anything. Shut it down at 210 degrees. I was using the stock 8N radiator, electric water pump and electric fan on high speed with a 13 PSI cap. It never has held much water and the idling in 90 degree weather got ahead of it. I will be upgrading to a triple core radiator.
First Pull in 4500 class at 4500 pounds

 

[wploetz]

Second Pull - 5000 pounds -

 

[wploetz]

Throwing a Hissy Fit -

 

[Kenneth S]

Some good, some bad. My changes paid off and Frank-N-Ford pulls good. Unfortunately this was a large class and I spent a lot of time idling and I should have shut it off. It overheated just as I was up for my third pull. Frank-N-Ford goes up in steam at the 2015 Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Association show August 16, 2015. Too much idling overloaded the cooling system. Got to get a bigger radiator. Don't think I wrecked anything. Shut it down at 210 degrees. I was using the stock 8N radiator, electric water pump and electric fan on high speed with a 13 PSI cap. It never has held much water and the idling in 90 degree weather got ahead of it. I will be upgrading to a triple core radiator.
First Pull in 4500 class at 4500 pounds

If you have someone to help you when you are pulling, and you have to sit, and wait like that. Get something like a 2 gallon garden hand pump sprayer with water in it, and spray the radiator to cool it off. We do that at the drag races when its hot, and when we don't have enough time in between runs to let the engine cool off on its own.

 

[wploetz]

Cool! (literally). Simple and cheap, the wife likes that idea.

 

[sixdogs]

I like the idea that you built that with your own two hands and especially like the idea that you actually use it and not just sit and look at it. Congratulations.

 

[wploetz]

Yes, it works a little. Definitely not just a show tractor but it is a little spoiled! Fun.

 

[Kenneth S]

Here's something interesting, 96 mph Ford 8N.
BangShift.com 8NCredible