Well after a long dry spell, I got busy and we made some progress on my Model A. Not really a hot rod, but a modified A engine in a full fendered roadster. Running a Volvo overdrive and still need an intake for my Stromberg so I can run my header with it. Still haven't got the fenders painted but the body is on and the doors are on...and they open and shut nice. Got it wired and started it last week..runs great.
It really looking great ! Can you tell us if you had anything done to the inside of the engine ? Was the cam reground to different specs to get some more power out of the engine ? I have always enjoyed hot rodding and fast cars , but it is really nice to see the stock look of the Ford Model A ! They are beautiful cars and I would enjoy riding down the road anytime in one ! If you set aside one days a week for a few hours , it will be done before you know it ! Just make sure you do set time aside each week so you don't loose interest in it . So can you tell me what the rest of your plans are for the A ? Retro Jim
The engine has been fitted with a counterbalanced crank, a lightened flywheel with a V-8 pressure plate, a "B" cam with adjustable lifters, a Snyders 5.5 head, and the whole assembly has been balanced. I have the header as shown and a Holley "94" carb, just need the intake now. It's pretty responsive as it is. Just waiting for the fenders to get painted now and I have to get new trim for my running boards, which are new. I have half of a LeBaron-Bonney upholstery kit for it, just need the seat redone to match it. I have the top as well. I plan on driving it on a regular basis.
Actually I bought it already converted. A guy named Rich Little ( not the comedian) in Cali builds them. It was a bolt in deal, but I disassembled the rear and checked the bearings while i was at it. It's fully electric, like the od's in the newer cars, hit a switch and it shifts . it's actually like a little mini-automatic tranny and you can split any gear you're in. No lever taking up space...just an on/off button in my case..
Great car. Talk to Bill, BCCHOPIT on the HAMB. He can fab you an amazing intake... he did mine, nothing short of art.
For those inquiring about the Volvo Overdrives, here's the info I have. Mine was built by Rich LIttle in Bakersfield, Ca. His phone no. is (661) 325-2255 and his email address is: [email protected] When I talked to him over a year ago I think he was getting $1250 for the units but had a long backlog of orders. I have another guys number too. His name is Jim Norman in San Diego, Ca. His no. is (760) 749-6317 and at the same time I think his units were around $1500. And yes they work fine with 6v. Mine is still 6v. The fellow I bought mine from bought it at a swapmeet several years ago, freshly converted, but never used it so I got it for what he had paid several years ago, which was very generous of him. By the way, the units from Rich are all gone through and checked out and then put into the Model A torque tube. I would imagine the ones Jim Norman builds are as well.
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