v/8 in model A

George Miller said:
Sorry I did not make the rules. Torque is what you need when climbing a hill or starting out with the engine at low rpms. You would not have 60 hp at say 1000 rpms like when you start out from a stop sign.The Model A probably has more hp at a 1000 rpms, can not say for sure because I never checked one at that speed. Now when you are going down the road at 50 the 60 would have the A beat. Clear as mud right. As a rule long stroke engines have more torque like a big truck engine. Short stroke would have good hp but less torque. Of course there is a lot more to hp and torque than just stroke.
Click to expand...
Hi George,

I did not make the rules either.
An engine producing 100ft\lb @ 5000 rpm produces the same power as an engine producing 200ft\lb @ 2500rpm. If the engine producing 100ft\lb @ 5000rpm is geared down to 2500rpm the end result between the two engines would be identical. A torque rating alone is useless, its like stating current without voltage.

I suppose my point is the V8 60 could work fine assuming the gearing in the vehicle is correct for the job the user wants to do.

I have a feeling you already know this and I'm probably nit picking. :( After all, which one of us can actually make an engine (not me).
 
Oldforder; The reason that the 4 cylinder A engine pulls better is that it produces its' peak HP at 2200 rpm, whereas the 60 V8 produces its' peak HP at 3500 rpm, therefor to achieve max HP while driving the V8 you would need to be going approximately 97 MPH in 3rd gear. So, as you can see, most of the time you would be much lower in the HP scale of the V8 at moderate cruising speeds. Also the max torque of the V8 is achieved at 2500 rpm, whereas the 4 cyl. max torque is in the 1000-1500 rpm range, which puts you in the normal crusiing range of 35-50 mph. Longer stroke engines produce their max torque at lower rpm than short stroke engines.
 
Columbia gives the explanation in post number 18. The 4.44 ratio will give the 60 hp engine the torque. You can't have both with the stock 60 hp engine . If you gear it low enough to have the needed torque you will loose the top end. I've been there . I put a 1937 sixty horsepower engine in my 30 town sedan in 1963 and it was one of my worse mistakes. With the 3.78 model A gears you will have a long windeing first and second gear but when you shift into high gear you lose so much RPM that the engine will barely get above idling speed.
 
I agree with all of the above.

However, if someone already modified it and put the V8-60 in it, why not go a step further and throw a 4 or 5 speed in + a good axle ratio. This way at least its a fun car to drive rather than a dog. Do any 5 or 6 speed transmissions with 2 or 3 overdrives bolt up to that engine?

My understanding is the OP wants to buy this "A" or already has, and would like to keep it as is as far as the engine goes.
 
I'll put it like this so it will be easier to understand. (insert smiley face) The model A engine has the low end torque and can pull the higher ratio of an overdrive or a 5 speed. The 60 horse flathead doean't have the torque to pull the standard 3.78 ratio of the model A, much less an overdrive or 5 speed.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
I'll put it like this so it will be easier to understand. (insert smiley face) The model A engine has the low end torque and can pull the higher ratio of an overdrive or a 5 speed. The 60 horse flathead doean't have the torque to pull the standard 3.78 ratio of the model A, much less an overdrive or 5 speed.
Click to expand...

You don't have to dumb anything down, thanks.

I thought the concerns were over getting the "A" moving, not maintaining speed. I assumed once up to speed you could drop the rpms for cruising.


If the V8-60 doesn't even produce enough power to allow the "A" to cruise at 65-70mph at a nice low rpm of 1500-2k. Whats the point!? I guess that is what everyone else is saying and I'm the dope arguing it.
 
Well, I remember the V8 60 and what a gutless thing it was. They were an embarrassment. Only knew one guy that bought one on purpose and he was sorry about it after, not sure what ratio's they had. They used them on the track hopped up in midget's and some small boat classes. You couldn't hardly give one away..
 
Hey oldforder,
Some good input here for your consideration and you're lucky to get it before you buy! You don't say where you reside (?) i.e.- faltlander/hill country/what, but if you live and drive on flatland and that's, it...I'd still think thice about buying an underpowered car. You may have buyers remorse,eh! Now if you live and/or intend to drive in hill country...you are definitely not going to be happy (IMO) with the behavior of such an underpowered vehicle!
The '37 thru '40 V8 60....has a total of 136 cu in ..stock! You can spend a FORTUNE on v8 60 'hopup' add ons and limited gear choice... and have a nice conversation piece(cute bling) ! Now consider that the Ford 4cyl, i.e.- '28 thru '31 model A and '32 B has 200.5 cu. in. ..stock engine. This engine , without boreing, can handle relatively inexpensive 'hopup' add ons to impressively increase output and with myriad gear choices...can do darn near anything you'd ever ask of it.

Do you belong to a club or know anyone who has or can recommend to contact someone who....does have the Model A/ V8 60 combination. You will learn first hand what most of these guys are trying to tell you. Might help you save a lot of money and by buying what you will be happy with!

BTW- I had two different V8 60 engines sitting in my roadster frame, before I came to my senses and installed a B engine. I do not hotrod...but have had model As, in a past life, that were very overpowered. My B powered roadster will drive anywhere easily and it woild have to be something else than a stock full size flathead to outperform her:)
 
I believe the only way the V8-60 is going to be any good in an A is if the rear end ring/pinion is also changed to what the 60 was attached to originally (4:11 or 4"4?).
I also believe "back in the day" many, many of these conversions were done. JMO
Paul in CT
 
Interesting discussion regarding the V8-60 hp. I recall some comments in Lee Iacocca's book about his years with Ford. He owned one for a time and was clearly embarrassed about its lack of torque.

My brother was given a very low mileage V8-60 engine + transmission by another V8 guy and saved it for me as he was convinced I should exchange it for the 4-cylinder in my "A". That is, until he later drove a 37 coupe with a V-8 60 and found out how gutless it was.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top