Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-27-2010, 05:43 PM   #1
Chewie46
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 6
Default Here's one for ya!

I'm removing the small block Chevy & P/G from my 28 Sport Coupe, and replacing it with a Chevy II L4 and a T5 5 speed. Is anyone familiar with this combination, and if so, are there any tips? I'm going to use a S10 trans NWC, hydraulic clutch, not sure about the rest. Thanks.
Chewie46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2010, 06:21 PM   #2
Fred A
Senior Member
 
Fred A's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Encino California, near Burbank
Posts: 935
Default GM Four in Model A?

I don't even know the difference between the four cylinder offerings beyond the Tempest that I no longer own, but a friend in the A club wants pictures of any that I run accross at various meets and is looking for ideas. When he asked for information about his idea on the former Model A site, was shuffled off to rodding related sites where his inquiry fell as flat. Seems like an interesting idea where higher performance is not the main goal, but a reliable power source for a 70 MPH crusing A. None of you old boys try to tell me about the 50 MPH slow pokes and their 1927 born brakes cause I'ved been there and know better about pushing the old A too hard. The HAMB might also be able to find an "iron maiden" user or whatever that can offer some advice beyond not doing it. As quirkey as the HAMB guys might be, they are not wild eyed preservationists.

What a right of passage it was when I first cut a wonderfully straight, rust free Model A frame to give it a 3" step and grinding the rivets for the removal of the running boards. Up to that moment, there was a road to return to stock, but my roadster is now fated to a return to the street as what might be called a rod. Next is the filling of body holes that mounted the old tube radio on the firewall and and the unwanted cowl lights. Done right some poor soul will be thinking I hacked up an original '31 Standard especially after a correct paint job complete with apple green stripe is tastefully patina treated. Formerly one of the best original bodies seen by me 35 years ago, now on its way back to '40s cool with all the right pieces, minus the unwanted rumble seat. Having Fun: Fred A
Fred A is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 06-27-2010, 06:40 PM   #3
Paul's Garage
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 72
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

I also have a 57 Chevy and belong to a chevy forum. I think they would be glad to help you. Try Trifives.com and ask your question under modified cars. Hope this helps.
Paul's Garage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2010, 06:43 PM   #4
Paul's Garage
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 72
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

I also have a 57 Chevy and belong to another forum. This would be a easy one for them, please try trifive.com under modified cars. Hope this works.
Paul's Garage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2010, 06:46 PM   #5
Paul's Garage
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 72
Smile Re: Here's one for ya!

I also have a 57 Chevy and belong to other forums. I think this engine swap would be any easy one for them please try trifive.com and ask under the modified cars post.
Paul's Garage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2010, 07:04 PM   #6
allen
Senior Member
 
allen's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: petal mississippi
Posts: 550
Send a message via ICQ to allen
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
man this is Greek to me, although i did once remove a Chevy motor from a ford and kinda of like it,
allen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2010, 08:17 PM   #7
Chris in WNC
Senior Member
 
Chris in WNC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Spruce Pine, NC
Posts: 1,461
Default Re: GM Four in Model A?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred A View Post
I don't even know the difference between the four cylinder offerings beyond the Tempest that I no longer own, but a friend in the A club wants pictures of any that I run accross at various meets and is looking for ideas. When he asked for information about his idea on the former Model A site, was shuffled off to rodding related sites where his inquiry fell as flat. Seems like an interesting idea where higher performance is not the main goal, but a reliable power source for a 70 MPH crusing A. None of you old boys try to tell me about the 50 MPH slow pokes and their 1927 born brakes cause I'ved been there and know better about pushing the old A too hard. The HAMB might also be able to find an "iron maiden" user or whatever that can offer some advice beyond not doing it. As quirkey as the HAMB guys might be, they are not wild eyed preservationists.

What a right of passage it was when I first cut a wonderfully straight, rust free Model A frame to give it a 3" step and grinding the rivets for the removal of the running boards. Up to that moment, there was a road to return to stock, but my roadster is now fated to a return to the street as what might be called a rod. Next is the filling of body holes that mounted the old tube radio on the firewall and and the unwanted cowl lights. Done right some poor soul will be thinking I hacked up an original '31 Standard especially after a correct paint job complete with apple green stripe is tastefully patina treated. Formerly one of the best original bodies seen by me 35 years ago, now on its way back to '40s cool with all the right pieces, minus the unwanted rumble seat. Having Fun: Fred A
Fred, I'm mostly a by-the-judging standards guy, but when I hear of a project like yours it piques my interest. I have frequent impure urges to remove the fenders and running boards from our Coupe and drive it around a few years that way.

tell me more about "patina treating" a paint job. our recently acquired Town Sedan is awful shiny and could use some of that.
Chris in WNC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 03:19 PM   #8
Fred A
Senior Member
 
Fred A's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Encino California, near Burbank
Posts: 935
Default Era Correct Modified?

Chewie 46 got me off on a tangent, but.. stripping down a an old Ford was pretty popular through the service life of our beloved cars. Since I was born during WWII with a car crazed veteran father, we tracked through some glory years of the old Fords. From that perspective, the way that the cars came from factory was getting to be some pretty old news and how they were modified to enjoy the changes in road and social conditions now amuses me a bit more. Also, the original trim materials and rubber parts perish making authentic restoration a tough way to go. Ford coupes as a hot rod were more of a fifties thing and the fenders were likely to be left intact. Since the police are less likely to ticket gray haired drivers of old iron, and that they failed the public relations test against noisey pipes, we get to drive the car that would have been big trouble years ago. I personally prefer the early Fours dressed up with the era correct speed parts, although the little 60 fascinates me but was not ever popular on the street.

Still among those looking for information for my friend interested in the GM fours for his Models A. Thanks: Fred A
Fred A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 03:28 PM   #9
Fred A
Senior Member
 
Fred A's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Encino California, near Burbank
Posts: 935
Default Patina

I worked in the Motion Picture Industry for 43 years and watched our painters add the look of experience to the sets. They know the tricks to do it artfully. I still see those guys and we talk about how to give cars the right look. Even the car magazines touch on the subject. I have a '47 coupe that I won't paint even though the finish is a mess. Good Luck: Fred A
Fred A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 05:35 PM   #10
Chewie46
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 6
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Glad to see I generated so much discussion, but I'm still no closer to figuring out which parts I need. Anyway, I'll get it done, thanks.
Chewie46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 05:57 PM   #11
d.j. moordigian
Senior Member
 
d.j. moordigian's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fresno, Ca.
Posts: 3,636
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Chewie46....that chevy 2 cam in 2 sizes 153 an 181, nice engine with no real problems.
I built them for race cars, they have the same bolt pattern as a V/8, (bell housing).
Dudley
d.j. moordigian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 08:13 PM   #12
Richard in Anaheim CA
Senior Member
 
Richard in Anaheim CA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Anaheim California
Posts: 551
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Chewie46,

A friend is looking ito this right now and I was amazed to find you can buy new crate engines from "Mercruiser".

They come complete with alternator, starter, distributor and pan but no manifolds.
They are the 183 inch model brand new and have a really nice appearance with aluminum side cover and valve cover. They have about 120 HP or so and cost about $2500. That is in the same range as a good rebuild of an 80 year oild Model A engine.

You can bolt on a T5, automatic, OD automatic, etc right up.

it's starting to look interesting.

Richard
Anaheim CA
Richard in Anaheim CA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 08:59 PM   #13
Chewie46
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 6
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Thanks for the info Dudley. Mine is a 181 Mercruiser motor Clay Smith cam, balanced, just a sweet motor. Which bellhousing should use if I want to run a hydraulic clutch?
Chewie46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 10:07 PM   #14
Pete
Senior Member
 
Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wa.
Posts: 5,421
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chewie46 View Post
Thanks for the info Dudley. Mine is a 181 Mercruiser motor Clay Smith cam, balanced, just a sweet motor. Which bellhousing should use if I want to run a hydraulic clutch?
It doesn't matter too much if you are talking about an external slave cylinder type..You can fabricate almost anything to hook it up.
If you are talking about a hydraulic throwout bearing type the manufacturer will recommend the right one.
They both work fine.
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2010, 10:30 PM   #15
sonny30coupe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kansas City KS
Posts: 255
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Chewie, you need to bolt on a new thermalgockle, then it will all fit......
sonny30coupe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2010, 08:29 AM   #16
Ice man
Senior Member
 
Ice man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Southern Pines, N.Carolina
Posts: 210
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

While I was waiting for my B Crank to GET DONE, I was given a 2001 Jeep 2.5 4 banger /5 speed. I had a old 65 Chevy Van Ft and Rear and the rest is history. Runs strong, easy on gas, and it can run at 10 mph or 70 Mph, and the hydraulic brakes are a dream. I'm not a purest, but love 29s. Iceman
Ice man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2010, 09:40 AM   #17
d.j. moordigian
Senior Member
 
d.j. moordigian's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fresno, Ca.
Posts: 3,636
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

sonny30coupe.... I say that Ronald Regan movie, you must be OLD.
d.j. moordigian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2010, 11:09 AM   #18
29ModelA
Senior Member
 
29ModelA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Owosso, MI
Posts: 673
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard in Anaheim CA View Post
Chewie46,

A friend is looking ito this right now and I was amazed to find you can buy new crate engines from "Mercruiser".

They come complete with alternator, starter, distributor and pan but no manifolds.
They are the 183 inch model brand new and have a really nice appearance with aluminum side cover and valve cover. They have about 120 HP or so and cost about $2500. That is in the same range as a good rebuild of an 80 year oild Model A engine.

You can bolt on a T5, automatic, OD automatic, etc right up.

it's starting to look interesting.

Richard
Anaheim CA
Usually marine grind cams, and they can hold higher RPM for hours. I believe Brass coolant plugs are also used.
__________________
1929 Model A Barn find. California car, just a few more parts to find.

Interior, steering box (rebuild), and I am sure much more!
29ModelA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2010, 12:16 PM   #19
Keith True
Senior Member
 
Keith True's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Epping N.H.
Posts: 2,999
Default Re: Here's one for ya!

I don't know if the new ones are emission controlled or not.The old one are nice,no emissions,simple carb,the hardest part is drilling the block to hold a starter.The marine engine uses a starter that bolts up just like a Model A,and the automotive version uses a starter that bolts straight up,same as the V8's.The marine version is not drilled.There is a water manifold that is in place of the water pump,but the water pump will bolt on there with a small modification.The side bosses on the engine are not drilled for motor mounts either,but the bosses are there so that can be dealt with.You also have to come up with some kind of header,the car manifold won't fit.It will bolt up,but does not cover the ports.At least that is what I found on the old ones I have (1967,69)
Keith True is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:33 AM.