HELP 8ba/59a

[48fordnut]

I know some of the answers but want confirmation. I have a 59 a eng that is going to need lots of work. I have located a 8ba eng that I would like and convert to 59a , as much as I can.

I don't think water pumps are interchangeable. LMK. I have a 59 a cam, can I use that ,along with the 59a crab dist?What do I have to do there ?What about crank and cam gears. I am going to use a 59a intake .

Help me make a wise decision. This is only my 2nd flat head in years.

Thanks,
jim

[supereal]

It is easier and ls less expensive to rebuild the 59A engine if it is in suitable condition with no cracks, etc. We just did one for a customer and swapped out the camshaft so the later "post hole" distributor could be used. It was topped with an Edlebrock intake and a four barrel carb. As usual, we replaced all valve seats and put in one piece valve guides, straight stem valves, and adjustable lifters. In all, the tab ran a bit over 5K. The owner is very happy.

[48fordnut]

My plan is to go with the 59 a cam, if no machining is needed, as well as the crab dist. I understand there are other items. Don't like the post hole dist, even though its easier to use.
Just need the items to be changed.

[40cpe]

I probably should wait for the experts to guide you, but I'll start with a few items. 59 pumps will bolt up, but use the ones with sealed bearings. Use the 59 cam, cam gear, crank gear, and cam cover. If you use 59 heads there is a bypass hole at the front of the deck that will need plugging. I guess you have the rear of the block figured out.

[48fordnut]

Thanks 40 .Block comes with the stamped housing. Is there any thing I need for the oil pump? I found the w/p I have are usable. I have the new ones.

[40cpe]

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Does the 8BA come with the oil pump and oil pan? If so, it should work. I can't say about oil pan/steering compatibility.

[flatjack9]

What car is it going in? I would use the 8A oil pump. I don't see the 59A as being cheaper to rebuild. Use the 8BA rotating assembly and valve train, except for the cam.

[48fordnut]

A V/8. My eng needs too much work and this is a better option, I think

[JSeery]

Shouldn't be any issues switching parts around. One area that would need attention are the cooling holes in the block. There is ample data on how to do that modification.

[rotorwrench]

If you use a crab type distributor, it would be a good idea to use the 59 series gears so the thrust will be an advantage for that cam cover and distributor. 8BA thrusts the other way for the Load-O-Matic distributor. I'm not sure about gear oiling though with this change. Oil comes through the cam front on the 8BA and it comes from the pressure relief valve on the early motors. It may need something done about that.

If you use pre-war type cylinder heads there may be clearance problems in the valve recesses. 59A or 59AB heads will do OK on the 8BA block but the decks will need the bypass mod as mentioned previously.

If you don't run the fuel pump push rod, the bore needs to be plugged due to an oil squirt hole in there. You should be able to use an earlier intake manifold but the fuel pump might need attention to work and the breather tube in the valley is likely different.

The best oil pan for the 8BA block is the Mercury pan from 1949 thru 1951 since it is the most like the 59A pan shape plus it has a tie in with the starter plate for strength and the oil pump pickup set up is a good one with a decent windage tray built in. The 8RT truck pan may work but it is deeper than the Merc one and doesn't have the same oil pick up as the Merc. The 8RT set up has an aluminum seal retainer at the back so it likely will work better with all 8RT stuff back there like the half bell & starter plate.

[48fordnut]

Roto, can you give me a link to the modifications for the by pass mod?

[Ol' Ron]

I'd like to ask, what do you need? Just a renning engine, or a complete rebuild?? If just a running engine just change the pan and use truck water pumps.
On another note. Changine the crank and cam gears is a wast of time and money.I think. However, t. Just check cam end play it shoulkd be .006 to.010 i've found 8ba cams to have as much as .025"play.

[48fordnut]

Thanks Ron.
Need a running eng. I have all the 59a parts, that were going into the 59 .Want to know what all can be used. I think that has been answered. Especially about the truck pumps.

[1931flathead]

it would be a lot of work to switch it over you have to switch cams order to do that you have to pull all the valves out and you will have to get your valve clearance set when you put them back in pull the pan to get the timing gear off the crank and who know how good the rest of the motor is I think I would try to find a 59ab if it was me

ps I know you want to get the motor from me but like I said to you I have know any thing about it I was going to put the heads back on and take the pan off and clean it out and put it on a test stand and run it it might have problems you will never know

[George/Maine]

Its all in what looks good to you I guess. What so good about the cam.
I had a 59a and had a knock what I was going to do was replace the crank to 8ba and use 59 pistons . Seeing you have what you think is good engine pull the crank and do crank change and keep the supper cam and engine looks the same.

[1931flathead]

Originally Posted by George/Maine

Its all in what looks good to you I guess. What so good about the cam.
I had a 59a and had a knock what I was going to do was replace the crank to 8ba and use 59 pistons . Seeing you have what you think is good engine pull the crank and do crank change and keep the supper cam and engine looks the same.

he is trying to make a A V/8 car they used my under standing they used the 59ab motor

[1931flathead]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Shouldn't be any issues switching parts around. One area that would need attention are the cooling holes in the block. There is ample data on how to do that modification.

I have a set of water pump just for that set up to put a 1949-1953 into a 1948 to 1932 frame new from speedway

[George/Maine]

What's wrong with the 59A? If the cam is good how are the valves.
If the valve train is good and block is good but the lower end is knocking.
What can be done is take a 8BA crankshaft and rod and pistons to fit the 59A block.
What you get is the same engine with a newer lower end with insert bearing.

[Ol' Ron]

I never use the crab distributir anymore as the 8BA distributor drive is better suited to a better ignition. I also use the early timing gears as I have less back lash problems. At present the electronic advance systems will give us a complet ignition system with the original distributor. Thus we'll have an engine that looks like a stock system but with compleat control of the davance in both the nechinical and with vacuum as well. Something to look forward to.

[rotorwrench]

On an AV8 build, you need to decide what engine you want to use first. I wouldn't want to put the old tried & true 59A or earlier engine in there and then try to change it later or visa versa. It's almost as bad as starting over. The 8BA family of engines is just plain different but it has been done very well on more than a few occasions on the HAMB. Some of the fan installations are pretty ingenious but they work. The 28 & 29 model A doesn't have much room to work with and the 30/31 aren't much better. If you move the radiator forward then you can almost forget using the hood or going with fenders on the car. Everything is custom fabrication after you make a change like that. AV8s start to look funky if you move too much around on that little short frame.