Hot Rods Engine options in a stock A

Consider a Stude Champion 6 mill. Came in 169cid or factory stroker @ 185cid. Short little buggers, respond well to hop-ups, decent stock. Used from '39 on. Was a real good swap for an early jeep4 banger. Should work well in a light modelA. Probably has maybe twice the rpm capability of a stock A mill. & ~4+ times the hp.
Marcus...

 

When Chuck Yeager was asked how speed felt,he said nothing compares to 60 mph in a model a ford..you feel it with all your senses..

 

Interesting that General Yeager felt he needed a crash helmet to drive a stock Model A.

 

The OHV conversion on my Model B motor dropped right in, looks good, sounds good and goes fast enough to get a very expensive ticket. The cool factor for me every time I take a road trip is to think how it must have been back in the 40's and 50's to have a banger run like this. ....and the hood fits!

 

To the OP... How much money ya got? If you've got lots, there are endless possibilities, but if not, I think your goal of '53 or earlier is not gonna be realistic. Also remember, a Model A weighs approx 2200-2500 pounds... it doesn't take 200 hp to make it a snappy, fun ride.

 

Pinto engine, Model A tranny or T5 conversion

 

Chevy II (153 cubic inch) or the industrial version (181 cubic inch) from GM. Same bell housing as a SBC Chevy so a standard adapter will mate it to a '39 Ford transmission. The '39 transmission bolts right up to the stock torque tube. Paint it Ford engine green, run a generator, and it looks like it belongs in there. Forget the weak non synchro Model A transmission. You will need to fabricate a wishbone mount and brake and clutch pedal mounts as they are part of the Model A transmission. That is what I am running in my AVATAR.

Charlie Stephens

 

I lined up a whole bunch of 4 bangers on the ground. Fiat, Miata, Ecotech, and an Alfa. Fiat is a belt driven cam motor with a really ugly plastic cover, Miata and Ecotech have no distributor. Alfa is perfect in my opinion. All aluminum top to bottom....

 

If you have deep pocket's you can order a Donovan Engineering, Model D, aluminum, Model A engine. Their ad states that 180 HP isn't out of the question. Not cheap, but you can have the coolest Model A around.

 

Love your roadster and engine choice looks awesome!

 

Chevy II and a T5 trans.
What’s with 1953…was it the year you were born or something?

 

I like what I see but you remind me of my ex-wife, turn ya on from 10 feet and shut ya down up close...hence the X. More pics of the engine plz.

 

What's a Chevy Eleven?

 

Chevy II ?

 

The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a small automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, and produced in five generations for the 1962 through 1979, and 1985 through 1988 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968.

 

Agree, the Champion checks all the boxes; it fits, it's available, it's inexpensive and there is a currently available Offenhauser 2x1-bbl intake for it. Use the '59-60 cylinder head, build a header and good to go.

jack vines

 

Here you go Billy

 

There have been a few postings of using the Oldsmobile Quad 4. Looks like an Offy with the factory dress-up cover removed.

 

I believe fitting a Ford flathead V8 requires some massaging of the firewall. The SBC is just about the same dimensions, needs a little modification of the firewall to make room for the distributor.

 

V8 60, 110 Offy?

 

what year is that Alfa @Bs27rlb? What tranny are you running and did you have a build thread on it?

 

Two years younger and you have a clear winner, just saying.....

 

Post 1953, but the Volvo ,or MGB 4 bangers would slip right in.

 

Have you considered a buick nailhead. They are narrow.
I run a 425 nailhead in my RPU with a full hood.

 

It replaced the Chevy Ten.

 

They are narrow, but they are long. I had to really move the firewall back to get a 401 in my Model A.

 

Lot of choices but not to many HAMB friendly.

 

I have seen a 1,000-hp twin turbo Olds Quad-4.

While that one would be difficult to make look "triditional", one thing that it did have is a distributor. It was installed horizontally, and was run off the timing belt.

A little quality time in the machine shop could produce that adapter.

 

Mercedes 180 engine, lots of alloy to polish, from 1953, No issues with these engines, very solid, you should be able to find one for not much money. Carbs and usual mods should get some ok HP.

 

research Ford 2.3 4 cyl. tough engine used in racing around the world. T-5 - 5 speed trans. lots of guts and good top end. I have built several with no issue. Not much money and you can add power asc. T