4 banger horse power

I'm sure that I've read most of the threads re Model A's and B's, but don't recall seeing any that had to do with the horse power possibilities of the engine. Here's my question. Is it possible/feasible to obtain about 125 HP from a Model A/B, without going to an OHV configuration? And would it still be "streetable"?
Thanks for any and all opinions/comments.

Jim

 

My flathead A engine is about 120HP and I drive it on the street at least once a week.
here is a video of my car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsBrEf65VvE

 

Check out the "Banger Meets" on the HAMB for a lot of info.

And here for a chart on a few different configurations of an "A" engine: http://www.modelaperformance.com/

 

You might get 125 at the crank, but that is knocked down below 100 at the wheels.

.

 

Thanks for the comments and ideas. In looking at the RK website, it seems feasible to at least get 100 hp, but I'd like more. I'll do more thinking. Oh, BTW, what are the RPM limits of these engines, assuming a well built short block, good cam, porting, etc?
Thanks again
Jim

 

I shift at about 4200, but I know some guys can get alittle more out of them.

 

With only 30 1/2 hp at the wheel I cant beleave how much fun I have. Yes I deam of 90-100 some day but for now I say off the highways and have fun on the back roads. I have a 68 chevy pickup with a 427 bigblock 450hp and it just sits the A is much cooler to drive to the shows. With my new 750-16s out back my new top speed is 61mph (gps) it real happy at 50-55.

 

You guys are great. Thanks again for the information. I'm gonna get one
Jim

 

The first thing to look at, before anything else, is how to make it rev. Full flow, full pressure oiling, counterweighted crank, oil supply to the bearings etc. This is gonna be spendy long before ya get to things like cam, valves, and bolt-ons. You sure ya want 125hp?

 

4bangertroy, do you use the stock rods, oil pump, and babbit bearings? I have an A engine, I can't leave anything stock, maybe a Model A after my 40

I currently have a 40 ford with a flathead and FE engines in other cars

 

I run a counterbalanced B crank in an A block. Inserted B rods and inserted mains. Modified A oil pump.

 

I'm running a bone stock B block with Babbit mains and rods. 7.5:1 head B cam and 2 Stromberg 81 carbs. I've been driving the pants off of it since I put it in my car in December. Drove it to the SoCal Fast Hill climbs last Sunday. Ran it up the hill a few times and home in 95 deg heat 50 miles each way on the freeway @ 70 mph. Stock oiling and all. A well put together banger will last a long time. In my book, before you spend thousands of dollars to make 125 hp. Think more about what you'll use for a drive train. The T-5 I run in mine sure make my car more versatile here in SoCal traffic then any other mod I made to my car.

 

This quaters FAST magazine came today. And they put a bunch of street driven bangers on the dyno. Check it out for a dose of real.

 

I've got a Ron Kelley banger and a t-5 in my RPU. The power is great, remember these have a lot more torque than horsepower. He estimates my build at around 75hp.

 

Here is the info from the Dyno test.

I raced Jim B. at the Antique Nats this year, and were are almost identical in ET and Speed.


Remember these are rear wheel horses.


.

 

In looking at all the great information you guys have provided, along with the comments, I'm not discouraged at all. As a matter of fact, after reading that info re HP, I think 100 rear wheel should be more than possible- and I don't think it'll cost more than a few thousand to do it. We'll see. CDO, I saw that thread about the trans adapters and I'm thinking about a Jeep T-178 transmission behind the 4 cylinder
Thanks again,
Jim

 

Crazydaddio has beaten me 2 years in a row at the Nationals, I blame it on the clocks!

 

i have a 28 roadster with the banger in it
crank redone and hc head weber carb and manifold and headers has 3 speed with volvo od great car to drive but if you dont want to put 3 grand in an old motor think about a modern 4 cyl out of ford or chevy truck with five spd and a 9 inch rear now your flying.

 

Troy's coupe runs really strong on the hill climbs that I have seen him run. The question on horsepower? My speedster put out 75 at the wheels at Speedy Bill's speedster reunion in '09. Speedway will host another speedster meet this coming June, be there!

 

I've always figured that I could pay for two SBC crate motors for the money I've put into a banger.

 

...but then you'd just have two SBC's, and where's the fun in that?!

 

Here is one over 125 hp. Counter weight crank, home built 7075 alum rods, chev 283 pistons, 1 3/4 intake valves,7-1 Brumfield head, 4 intake ports, light flywheel. Stipe 350 camshaft, home built intake.

 

Back in 1995 The New Secrets Magazine (publication of the SECRETS of SPEED SOCIETY) published a series by Ron Kelley and what I remember most was the the amount of work required just to bring the ole girl ("A") up to the advertised stock H.P of 40. Weber 2 bbl carb on aluminum downdraft manifold, mild cam, larger intake ports and 4" bore (+ .060"). The most significant changes were thosesthat improved air flow.

 

Ron Miller built a A engine (flathead) for Bonneville and a Indy friend dynoed it a couple times . It made 162 hp.....injected

 

My Speedster's Winfield flathead, 6:1 puts out 75 horses at the wheels. It has stock oiling, C crank, B rods and stock size valves, three 81's. It's been reliable as a rock ans still gets great gas mileage, 23-25 on the road.

 

at 3900 RPM