Model A Marine Engine?

[harvest]

i recently bought some model A engines from a woman who’s father passed and this was included in the deal. im not a boat guy, is there collectors for these? what kinda value do they hold? i would like to have a little knowledge on this before it finds a new home. i appreciate any helpful info that can be shared.

[Jim Brierley]

That is the most complete marine conversion that I have ever seen! I have no idea of its value, but the MAFFI museum may be interested in it?

[Phil Brown]

Like Jim said very compleate and nice, I'm sure there is a boat owner out there that that would be very happy to have that. #'s look to be April 24, 1930 on the block

[Gene F]

I bet it is a good engine. Load on it the whole time it's running, and no big hills tipping the oil away from the rods.

[kbinde2]

Late 2010 there was a post on this subject with some additional information.
Sure would be nice to hear a restored Chris Craft on the St. Lawrence, with that Model A music from the exhaust.!!

[nkaminar]

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Most marine engines used on the ocean have a heat exchanger where the raw water cools the coolant used in the engine. This keeps the engine from rusting up to become an anchor.

If this engine was used on a lake then it could have just used the fresh water for cooling. It looks like the coolant went through the exhaust manifold before entering the engine. That makes sense as otherwise the engine would never get to operating temperature.

[nkaminar]

The item on the port side of the engine(driven off the cam timing gear) is likely a pump to circulate the coolant. The exhaust manifold is liquid cooled. The gear box is likely reverse, neutral, forward. There should be a plate on the exhaust exit of the manifold that keeps the coolant from exiting with the exhaust. That probably stayed with the exhaust pipe.

[harvest]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Most marine engines used on the ocean have a heat exchanger where the raw water cools the coolant used in the engine. This keeps the engine from rusting up to become an anchor.

If this engine was used on a lake then it could have just used the fresh water for cooling. It looks like the coolant went through the exhaust manifold before entering the engine. That makes sense as otherwise the engine would never get to operating temperature.

thank you for that info!

[stickshift]

I was so intrigued by that model A marine engine that I looked up the stats. It was used by Chris Craft back in the day and put out a whopping 60 HP at 3200 RPM. It was succeeded by the B engine but the same HP. I wonder why they didn't put a 60 HP A engine in the cars if they had that technology at the time?

[nkaminar]

At the time, there was a tradeoff between output and reliability. The B engine had a bigger journals in the crankshaft and put out 50 horsepower. The gasoline back then limited the compression ratio.

[harvest]

Originally Posted by stickshift

I was so intrigued by that model A marine engine that I looked up the stats. It was used by Chris Craft back in the day and put out a whopping 60 HP at 3200 RPM. It was succeeded by the B engine but the same HP. I wonder why they didn't put a 60 HP A engine in the cars if they had that technology at the time?

i dont know how you found that info, but wanna say thank you! i had no clue these would be used with Chris Craft boats. and 60hp’

[stickshift]

Here's a brochure of engine models. I think they offered the model A engine up through the 1950's.

https://www.grantmaclaren.com/50chri...neBrochure.pdf

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by stickshift

Here's a brochure of engine models. I think they offered the model A engine up through the 1950's.

https://www.grantmaclaren.com/50chri...neBrochure.pdf

Those aren’t Ford A or B engines. Numerous details don’t align, but the most obvious is the engine displacement.

Those are just identified by CC as their own Model A and B engines with no relation to Ford Model A or B. This engine is closer in spec to the N series engines found in the tractors and early 40’s 4 cylinder Ford trucks.

[Keith True]

I know of a workboat with the Model A engine mounted nearly in the middle.It was never meant to power around in the open water.It had two transmission control levers,one fore and one aft.It also powered off the snout of the crank,not the flywheel.I really see no reason for them to do that,but the flywheel had a a big V belt pulley mounted to it,so maybe it had more than one purpose when it was made.It had a water pump that ran off the timing gear cover.It had two iron pipes that ran alongside the keel,front to rear.That engine was not raw water cooled,the water in those pipes kept circulating around.For some reason I am thinking the exhaust manifold was raw water cooled,separate from the engine.I could be wrong,I haven't taken a close look at it since the early 80's.The rear of the head was tapped with a steam/water relief that loops over to where the water pump was.I saw it run in the water,it did not sound like a Model A at all.

[Dodge]

Love it !!!

[Brad in Germany]

Several different companies offered marine conversions for Ford Model A engines, but the one in the original post is a marine engine conversion made by Lehman Marine Engineering Company out of Newark, NJ.....thus the "L M" initials on the gearbox cover emblem.

Here is a photo from the 1935 Lehman Marine catalog and parts list showing that marine engine, along with its original specifications, dimensions, etc.



That engine was available as a complete engine and gearbox (three variations) or as a kit (four variations). Lehman Marine also offered a similar complete marine engine or a kit, for the Ford Model B engines and the Ford V8 engines, with various add ons, modifications and accessories available for each.

Brad in Maryland

[mercurycyclone]

See attached.

[Fullraceflathead]

That's wild thanks for digging up that info very very interesting!!!

[Joe K]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Atomic_4

Comes to mind.

Joe K

[Bruce of MN]

Originally Posted by mercurycyclone

See attached.

Can you scan them higher resolution? I can't zoom in to read them without too much blurring.