The Club’s Seventh Engine Install

Garage Days

Theon attaching engine to hoist.

The Utah Valley Model A Club held a Garage Day in April in the garage of club member Theon Laney. Fifteen club members attended to install a newly rebuilt engine and transmission in Theon’s 1928 Tudor. Fortunately the weather had warmed sufficiently to melt the six foot snow banks that lined the driveway, so there was room to park.

The activity began with the adjustment of the clutch contact and mating the transmission to the engine. Once the engine was in the air it was a tight fit to get the engine over the head light bar and into the compartment. That was accomplished with an expert on the engine hoist and a sharp eye below the engine compartment. It was a team effort — forward an inch and drop two inches, forward an inch, drop two inches. Until we got it in.

The next challenge, as seems to be the case, was the rear engine mounts. With Clyde, Bob and other’s ingenuity we beat those engine mounts. Next was the installation of the accessories. After about four hours of work, it was time to hear that engine purr! purr! purr! Thanks to the collective expertise of the club members, the April Garage Day was a success.