Steam Car Blog

With the National Steam Car Association now closing here is the heading photo the organisation used.

Steam car photos to enjoy .

Grout Steam car restoration update

Billings Cooke
It was really a good day in the Cooke garage today. After sitting dormant for almost 25 years Tilly is now showing the first signs of life. With the new pilot tank mounted in place and the feed lines to the pilot all run and pressure checked , I thought it would be nice and light the pilot.
The pilot is burning Coleman fuel and running currently at 20 pounds PSI pressure. After a short preheating. I open the valve allowing the fuel into the pilot. It lit with absolutely no difficulty. It's settled down nicely after getting thoroughly hot. I know that adjustments will need to be made. They will be made at a later date when I'm able to get the car outside.
I've included in this post a photo of
the new pilot tank in position and the burner when viewed from the left side and the right side. Sarah came out and took this short video of what for Tilly is a rebirth. Now if this damn snow would disappear I'd really be happy.

Steam Dreams writes:
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I’m rebuilding a 20 HP Stanley engine. The block was apparently operated with too
little steam oil and the valve seats were damaged as well as a bronze repair was attempted with poor results.
This repair of the worn valve seats uses a machined steel plate and high temperature silver solder - very pleased with the results. Gilbert Hall and Rempco did the work. My crank gear also had a broken tooth, I had a NOS gear that was pressed on.

Mark Herman writes:

Amelia Island 2020, 1st in class, 1902 Grout Brothers Steam Car Model K Prototype. Bill and Barbara Parfet, Hickory Corners, Michigan.

Congratulations to the Parfets, Mark Iles, and the M S Herman & Co crew:
Peter Kruger
Fran Gozzi
Al Romano
Scot Sanford
Tom Kokenchak
The best team ever.

Billings Cooke continues to work on his Grout Steam Car Tilly:
"From what we can gather from photos of other Grouts, Tilly originally had 1 brake on the differential hub. Dad put a cable pulley system on Tilly when he added the second shoe. It's a tight fit, because the brake linkage has to pass through the engine. Took me a bit, but we're upgraded to rods."

We regret to report that the British Steam Car Movement has recently lost two of it's members.

Richard Marriott passed away on the 21st February, after his long battle with cancer. He had restored the 1922 Stanley 740 Valentines Massacre Car, and was well along with restoring a 1906 White Model F.

And Brian McMorran, who was progressing well with his wood pellet fired BMC Mini.

We send our condolences to their families.