Reversing an A firewall ?

How much actual space would I gain if I reversed the firewall over the stock position?
I've already whacked this one up and have another to use if I go to the reversed way.

https://photos.buckeye-express.com/pictures.cfm/17293

 

I gained enough room for SBC with space to spare.
and it actually clears bellhousing. there is a loss of leg room and pedal swing, but Im only 5'7"

 

i did works great

 

Thanks for the pics.
I guess I'll take the one out thats in there and
try the other one reversed and see what it looks like.

 

By the sounds of it, is this a direct fit when you reverse it?

 

you will have to cut off the lower section at the Toeboard I believe

 

JimA's

 

My friend Lynn Bird did the slick metal work on this. The gain was 4-inches- the toe board area was returned to stock config. after the upper was reversed. NO foot room was lost, but 4 more inches really helped with distributor clearance.

 

I'm doing somthing similiar right now, using 2 firewalls. I cut the outside radius of my original one because it was a late 31, so it had the recess in the passenger side, then will cut out the center of the 2nd one so the K detail faces the stock direction, weld them together, finish the bottom portion with the stock mounts and she's done. I want it to look stock, but not?

Casey

 

Good stuff...

 

Now that is sweet and I just happen to have a extra one laying around. Wonder if this will give you plenty of room for a nailhead?

 

JimA & Nashman, how far back are your radiator
rod mounts from the front edge of the cowl?
That looks like the way I'm going to go.

 

glad this thread has come up, am thinking of doing the same in my A. Scott, could you do me a favor? How far from the front of you block (like the flat surface where the timing chain cover bolts to) to the back of your front crossmember? Trying to get a ball park figure on where to put my engine mounts without setting the engine and body in/out, off/on a bunch of times (i.e. I work alone with no hoist )

 

Yup good thread, anyone else got any info or pics, might help gain some space for a Rocket in there.....

 

I just took the stock one and fabbed a 3.5" band to go around the outside to allow mine to set back.

 

This is my 1931 Ford model A body, which is not channeled, with a 4" recess built into the firewall, which is the perfect size for a small block Chev V8. It leaves plenty of foot room, and as far as I know would not cut into the original gas tank position. It's a bit hard to tell, because the gas tank was cut out of my body when I bought it, however a friend of mine has the same body with a functional uncut gas tank, and he is running the same recess as mine has.

brianrupnow has attached this image:

 

I know that this isn't what you asked for, as far as a reversed firewall goes, however----This is a non reversed firewall that I built a 4" recess into, and it worked out very wall. The recess does not require a lot of complex metalwork, and it leaves more clearance under the dash.

 

Now thats FOOSE. Change it, but make it seem like it wasn't. Damn nice work!

 

Any step by step pics when Jim A’s firewall was reversed and re done! Thanks for any help...Dennis

 

Any step by step pics when the firewall was reversed? Thanks for any help...Dennis

 

Reversed along the line of spot welds, then a section cut out and by using a hammer formed band to gain a additional 3". Custom rad support rods to place the rad in stock location. That Buick is a long engine.

 

For a SBF or SBC engine in a Model A you could consider what I call recessing the firewall about 4 inches.
In some cases reversing a firewall may achieve that magic number.
I am not a fan of using a wheel barrow bowl for this purpose, but then again each to his own.
A recess done with a bit of forethought, no cutting corners and a decent amount of effort should provide a decent outcome.
For a 28/29 Model A firewall I like this type of recess.