The Ford Barn

Brian T · 08-10-2012, 05:00 PM

I am seeking help to give Maggie a kick in the butt when ascending hills, (Maggie is our double A), she starts and runs very well, and is not overly stressed at 45 MPH with occasional spurts above that.
The engine is stock with an overbore of .090”, Zenith 2, lightened flywheel, timed to the letter and jetted correctly, spark plugs have a light brown color.
On the grades where speed drops off I shift the High-low unit to low 3rd gear with little lose in momentum (to big a gap if shifted to 2nd) this works for the most part, I would like to retain the stock look, and know that the 5.5 head would be my best option for more power for not much outlay.
However I am thinking a downdraft manifold with a Holley 94 for better breathing may do as well, does anyone have any real world experience in this upgrade as an improvement in low end torque, I am not interested in more speed.
Any comments welcome, Thanks Brian T.

ctlikon0712 · 08-10-2012, 06:21 PM

My experience is if you open up a intake for better breathing it benifits higher RPM HP not torque. Typically the smaller the venturi and the higher the intake air velocity the better torque, along with higher compression. Snyders also makes a 6.1 head, but it is on backorder. Good luck, I don't own a AA but I love them all.

CarlG · 08-10-2012, 07:48 PM

In addition to the 5.5 Snyder head, my vote goes to a Weber carb.

spdway1 · 08-10-2012, 07:48 PM

Mitchell does make an overdrive for the "AA", worth looking into. I will have one in my AA.

James Rogers · 08-10-2012, 07:54 PM

Now you, are a prime candidate for a 5.5 head.

spdway1 · 08-10-2012, 08:10 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Gearing in an "AA" is the culprit!!

Brian T · 08-10-2012, 08:23 PM

spyway1,

The gearing on the double A hampers top speed not hill climbing, unfortunately Mitchell does not make an Overdrive for the worm drive axle, only the bevel axle.

Brian T · 08-10-2012, 08:51 PM

Thank you all for the input , now you folks have got me wondering how things would go if did both, the carburetor and the head.

With this engine bored out to .090" can anyone estimate what the compression pressure would have risen to over the stock 4.2, I have not done a compression test, just curious not wanting to over do it.
Thanks again.

gibby · 08-10-2012, 08:53 PM

In our Vicky, i have installed a Lion Speedhead 111, a Scalded Dog single downdraft intake with a stromberg 97, and a high flow exhaust. I know thats all against the model a purist rules, but man can she go!

TinCup · 08-10-2012, 10:11 PM

On my own car plus the half dozen I have installed on other cars their is no better bang for the buck. You be climbing hills in third with throttle left over with a 5.5 head.

columbiA · 08-10-2012, 10:48 PM

Brian T. Find a 3-speed Warford aux trans that fits in place of the Dual High and it will give you under,direct & overdrive.What ratio rear end do you have?The low speed ratio of 7.25-1 is best for power. the high speed ratio is 5.17-1 and is best for speed. The low speed ratio is stamped with letter "A" on LH hsg near rivets on the bell. the high speed ratio is stamped with letter "B" at the same spot.This is for the worm drive rear end.

Brian T · 08-10-2012, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by columbiA

Brian T. Find a 3-speed Warford aux trans that fits in place of the Dual High and it will give you under,direct & overdrive.What ratio rear end do you have?The low speed ratio of 7.25-1 is best for power. the high speed ratio is 5.17-1 and is best for speed. The low speed ratio is stamped with letter "A" on LH hsg near rivets on the bell. the high speed ratio is stamped with letter "B" at the same spot.This is for the worm drive rear end.

Hello Columbia,
I do have the 5.17 axle,and a Warford would be great but finding one is tough enough, not knowing if it is a yard ornament is another, for the time being some extra grunt to pull her 3.900#s up hills would be nice.

Benson · 08-11-2012, 07:25 AM

New ones are available if you have the bucks.
The T guys use them.

Looks from picture to be a modern "selector Dog", ("constant mesh") shift mechanism similar to the Yamaha 360 RT-1 and 250 DT-1 dirt bikes I worked on in the early 1970's.

http://www.texastparts.com/mm5/merch...ategory_Code=l

Bob C · 08-11-2012, 11:36 AM

Years ago Layne posted that they were going to make a Warford for the AA and I got on the
mailing list for it but nothing ever came of it that I know of, I checked back a couple of
times and nothing just the T Warford.

Bob

08-10-2012, 05:00 PM	#1
Brian T Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 1,377	More power I am seeking help to give Maggie a kick in the butt when ascending hills, (Maggie is our double A), she starts and runs very well, and is not overly stressed at 45 MPH with occasional spurts above that. The engine is stock with an overbore of .090”, Zenith 2, lightened flywheel, timed to the letter and jetted correctly, spark plugs have a light brown color. On the grades where speed drops off I shift the High-low unit to low 3rd gear with little lose in momentum (to big a gap if shifted to 2nd) this works for the most part, I would like to retain the stock look, and know that the 5.5 head would be my best option for more power for not much outlay. However I am thinking a downdraft manifold with a Holley 94 for better breathing may do as well, does anyone have any real world experience in this upgrade as an improvement in low end torque, I am not interested in more speed. Any comments welcome, Thanks Brian T.

08-10-2012, 06:21 PM	#2
ctlikon0712 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 1,609	Re: More power My experience is if you open up a intake for better breathing it benifits higher RPM HP not torque. Typically the smaller the venturi and the higher the intake air velocity the better torque, along with higher compression. Snyders also makes a 6.1 head, but it is on backorder. Good luck, I don't own a AA but I love them all. __________________ Wanted: Simmons Super Power Head Craig Likon 1931 150B

08-10-2012, 07:48 PM	#3
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: More power In addition to the 5.5 Snyder head, my vote goes to a Weber carb.

08-10-2012, 07:48 PM	#4
spdway1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 1,400	Re: More power Mitchell does make an overdrive for the "AA", worth looking into. I will have one in my AA.

08-10-2012, 07:54 PM	#5
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: More power Now you, are a prime candidate for a 5.5 head. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

08-10-2012, 08:10 PM	#6
spdway1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 1,400	Re: More power Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Gearing in an "AA" is the culprit!!

08-10-2012, 08:23 PM	#7
Brian T Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 1,377	Re: More power spyway1, The gearing on the double A hampers top speed not hill climbing, unfortunately Mitchell does not make an Overdrive for the worm drive axle, only the bevel axle.

08-10-2012, 08:51 PM	#8
Brian T Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 1,377	Re: More power Thank you all for the input , now you folks have got me wondering how things would go if did both, the carburetor and the head. With this engine bored out to .090" can anyone estimate what the compression pressure would have risen to over the stock 4.2, I have not done a compression test, just curious not wanting to over do it. Thanks again. Last edited by Brian T; 08-10-2012 at 10:33 PM. Reason: Added text

08-10-2012, 08:53 PM	#9
gibby Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 44	Re: More power In our Vicky, i have installed a Lion Speedhead 111, a Scalded Dog single downdraft intake with a stromberg 97, and a high flow exhaust. I know thats all against the model a purist rules, but man can she go!

08-10-2012, 10:11 PM	#10
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: More power On my own car plus the half dozen I have installed on other cars their is no better bang for the buck. You be climbing hills in third with throttle left over with a 5.5 head. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

08-10-2012, 10:48 PM	#11
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: More power Brian T. Find a 3-speed Warford aux trans that fits in place of the Dual High and it will give you under,direct & overdrive.What ratio rear end do you have?The low speed ratio of 7.25-1 is best for power. the high speed ratio is 5.17-1 and is best for speed. The low speed ratio is stamped with letter "A" on LH hsg near rivets on the bell. the high speed ratio is stamped with letter "B" at the same spot.This is for the worm drive rear end.

08-11-2012, 07:25 AM	#13
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,594	Re: More power New ones are available if you have the bucks. The T guys use them. Looks from picture to be a modern "selector Dog", ("constant mesh") shift mechanism similar to the Yamaha 360 RT-1 and 250 DT-1 dirt bikes I worked on in the early 1970's. http://www.texastparts.com/mm5/merch...ategory_Code=l

08-11-2012, 11:36 AM	#14
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,741	Re: More power Years ago Layne posted that they were going to make a Warford for the AA and I got on the mailing list for it but nothing ever came of it that I know of, I checked back a couple of times and nothing just the T Warford. Bob

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