Back in the early '70s, Bill Stipe was wishing he could add an overhead valve conversion to his Model A Ford's engine.  He didn't have the bucks to go out and buy one, but he did have the Bridgeport milling machine that he bought with the money instead.  So, the apprentice machinist made his own overhead valve setup using a 327-cid Chevy cylinder head that he modified.

Stipe knew what he was doing and his '30 Ford Tudor was a hot ride, but at the time he was just starting Strip Machine Co., Inc. (www.stipemachine.com) in Plymouth, Wis. and his primary focus was on purchasing a building to get his company going.  He found that local cheese companies had a lot of use for his services, such as making shafts for their machinery.  It wasn't until about 20 years later that Bill decided to merge his passion for Model As into his business.

In the early '90s, Stipe purchased Ash Cams and turned it into Specialty Motor Cans.  Today, Specialty Motor Cams regrinds old cams and makes new ones.  Stipe also makes a long list of parts for Model T, Model A, and Model B and his son Tony is even taking the company into the '55 Chevy gasser world with a straight-axle front end conversion kit.

According to Tony Stipe, Specialty Motor Cams can regrind old cams, but he has found that new cams are a better option.  So a lot of the cams and all other products the company sells are newly manufactured.  The items include shock absorbers, patch panels, timing gears, flywheels, block-off plates, oil filter kits, pulleys, oil pumps, carburetor float valves, breather tubes, and port covers.

The company also makes handy tools such as engine stand adapters and distributor pullers.  "We have a catalog of stuff and we make both stock parts and parts for hopped up Model A engines," said Tony Stipe.  "We do stuff for any Ford flathead owner who wants a banger motor."  Large vendors such as Snyder's Antique Auto and Brattons Antique Auto Parts also sell some of the parts.

"Dad was thinking of selling the company, but I told him I didn't want to have another job because I like this stuff," Tony added.  And he should do well running the company in the future, because he shares his dad's "where-there's-a-will-there's-a-way" attitude.  He's already talking about improving the Website and turning out products for different types of hot rods that are popular today.