pickin up a 1930 A coupe this weekend. the car is without motor or trans and i have a few options. I have a 351W out of a 1990 bronco with the c6 trans. told today by a friend that the 351 may be to wide for a stock A chassis. the car already has the motor/trans mounts for a flathead/three speed but i have the 351 already. anybody got any suggestions. or advice. just for some backround. the frame is boxed. 4 inch drop front axle, 40 ford rear axle thanks in advance 29arod
At the motor mounts, a 351W is no wider than a 221,255,260,289 or 302 Ford small block...and those motors easily fit into ta Model A chassis, as do almost all other V8s! The 351W is a bit wider at the top because it has a taller deck height than the other Windsor-based small blocks, but it will mount in your chassis just fine. Now, it MAY present issues fitting within the confines of a stock hood...meaning that you may have to eliminate the hood sides or run bulges in them to clear the motor...but most hot rod A-bones run hoodless! I know the smaller Windsor V8s can fit under the stock hood, but a 351W might be a bit tight...that may be what your buddy was trying to tell you.
Engine is no problem. Tranny is a bit beefy for the application though. A C4 would give you less weight and more working room. Diff you have is for a torque tube so you might want to condiser that against the engine trans selection also. Unless you swap it out for an open driveline version.
You would have to do some tranny work too. The Bronco is 4x4 and the tranny had a transfer case bolted on the back, so you would have to get a 2 wheel drive output shaft and housing, which is probably a pretty big job. The 40 rear end would probably not last long either if you put your foot in it...and what's the fun in having a hot rod you can't put your foot in Good luck with your build. Oh yeah, you may need to use a shorter oil filter, or get a 90 degree adapter. The FL1A size filter will probably hit the frame.
changing output shaft in a c6 requires completely gutting the trans. On another note, small block c6's are real easy to get rid of in the 4x4 crowd and c4's are easy pickins from anywhere...and AODs are easy to find nowadays, too. 351W/AOD and a 4.10 gear would be quick even with a stock rebuild in an A
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