Most potential power out of the Model A engine ?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Tsk! Tsk! Bill, Your Research Cat is sleeping AGAIN! Was it his/her's fault that you drilled that oil hole too big?? Bill W.

[Bill Stipe]

Jordan,
Right now only for myself until I get my cars together. I am semi retiring soon and moving to Kentucky, I bought a small home and some land and will start to build a work shop hopefully next year. I may build engines at that time once my projects are done they have been sitting almost 30 years and this summer I turned 60 and decided it's time before I crap out.

If I do decide they will only be high end performance engines and only turn key ones that I have proved out and no changes or custom engines it is hard enough making an 80 year old engine perform like we some guys want (new car tech) I do not recommend running as hard as we did coming back from Iowa without an OD but once in a while one is force up on the Interstate and it is nice if you can run in the 60 to 65 MPH and stay in the slow lane.

I feel this engine will do that for a long time. I started designing my engine and components 10 years ago and a good friend of mine begged me 3 years ago for the first one (coarse he had deep pockets and said he didn't care about the cost) he goes to the Iowa speed meet every year with his heavy Fourdoor and now has over 16,000 miles on it. The standing joke when I call to see how its running is (Hank how the engnie running and he replies 38 pounds of oil pressure!!) These are both Model B engines and I did make a few small changes to my engine now but nothing to speak of, my next one is a Model A engine because the A engines are more readily available and the way I make my bearings one can use a B crank or aftermarket crank and have 1-7/8 bearing across the board for a much stiffer and stronger crank.

So I'm sorry but right now I'm not building engines for the public but would like to once Cindy and I have a little time to ourselfs and can do some more Tours and get to meet half you guys on the road or places. seems life is going so fast now!!
I am building a hill climb car and also would like to run at B-ville while I can still pee with out a Catheter!!---Bill Stipe

[Bill Stipe]

Bill,
The problem is Olie works 3rd shift and he is sleeping when I need him, kinda like my second born son Dieter!!
We won't get into that one. Yup Olie is a good mouser he is out all night hunting and usually brings back 3 mice a night from the neighbor hood or 1 mouse and a damn flea infested rabbit!!
Yes It was my fault on the hole it was not a problem when the rods where splash and I was in a hurry to finish the engine the night before the Iowa speed meet and forgot I wanted to smallerize the hole squirting on the back of the cam gear. I did take a pay cut on that and the rework I have to do for free!!--Bill Stipe

[southfork]

Bill, What 'centrifical advance distributor' do you use, or do you make your own?

[Bill Stipe]

Southfork, I have used several in the passed but this one is a dual point mallary that I have had the best performance, I did change the advance springs on this unit to my liking.

[Pete]

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Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

I am curious as to how far one can reasonably go in boosting the power of the model A, and still have a streetable / reliable machine, in terms of HP output.

Some basic scenarios/parameters:

1) HC head
10-1

2) Performance Cam ( so-called Touring grind?)
#4 Offy. Radius lifter.

3) improved induction ( bored-out intake, dual Zeniths, S-berg down draft, Webber down-draft, etc.)
2 Stromberg 48's on individual runner manifold.

4) Counterbalanced crank & lightened flywheel
BB crank with added counterweight.

5) Larger valves
Yes.
6) Porting / relieveing ?
4 intake ports. NO relieving.

7) Insert bearings / pressure oiling
Yes. Carrillo rods. 80 lb. oil pressure.

I guess I'm curious as to how much benefit each particular mod would achieve, and their cumulative effect, if combined in the same mill.
Each mod by itself probably would not gain much overall.
The cumulative effect on this engine was 168hp on the dyno with a 650
Holley carb. On the street with the 2 Stromberg's probably about 150.

What's the practical limit on power out-put w/o turning it in to a "hand-grenade motor" ?
The practical limit is most likely your wallet or your wife's ok.
There are "B" flathead Bonneville engines that make power undreamed of
by Henry Ford.
The engine described above was driven as a daily driver for 2 years, ran in several hillclimbs and ran one season in my vintage circle track car turning 6000 rpm twice a lap. Never had any problems with it.
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=13204358.mp4

I know we're primarily a restoration-based group, so I really don't want to provoke any controversy; I think I am staying within the realm of mods often discussed and (usually?) tolerated by participants here...

The mods to this engine were expensive and way past what most people do, BUT, remember it was a DAILY driver with that engine. It's just dumb metal. These engines can be made super tough.

Thanks !

SC Frank

[pbishop]

I am 'way' interested in the fan/water pump on your 'wonderful' motor. I am 'SOOOO' tired of reworking my 'leak-less' water pumps that it is not funny. I can see the plastic fan and serpentine type belt, but I am really curious about the 'pump' set up. Can it be purchased or did you turn and mill it from bar stock?

[dumb person]

What about just a B size crank' and a low pressure turbo? It would keep it simple but if people saw the turbo they might give you funny looks.

[Bill Stipe]

Pbishop,
I may eventually sell the set up, but right now I want to stream line it and test it for a longer time period. The water connections are a little difficult and a fair amount of hand fitting. I will take some pictures of the fan support and pullies later and post.