flat head transplant,to Mod A frame/Help
- Thread starter Msgt.Dad
- Start date
hardtimes
Well-known member
Does anyone have a step-by-step to put a early "flattie" in a model "A"
will the rear-end "A"/// bolt to a '40 flattie ?
What eng. mounts are needed ect
Any help!! books, pictures ,, measurements , ect
Thanks Ron
Ron,
Google 'Vern Tardel'...he's in CA and wrote what is considered one of the best books available regarding AV8 conversion.
I hate to do this, but you WILL get better/more knowledgable help,generally, with this same question next door at EARLY V8 site. lol
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
HAMB would also be another source for information.
Bassman/NZ
Well-known member
The book "How to build a traditional Ford hot rod" by Bishop/Tardel is your best friend. It covers everything you need to know.
Also, there are quite a few AV8 builds on the Hamb that are fully documented with pics. One build by Gashog uses an A rear end and the change to hydraulics (easy) is fully documented. The Hamb is your friend for a build like this. Register, do an intro, then use the search function. You will find several days worth of reading. Use "AV8" as your keyword for the search.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/
Also, there are quite a few AV8 builds on the Hamb that are fully documented with pics. One build by Gashog uses an A rear end and the change to hydraulics (easy) is fully documented. The Hamb is your friend for a build like this. Register, do an intro, then use the search function. You will find several days worth of reading. Use "AV8" as your keyword for the search.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/
1931 flamingo
Well-known member
Early (all) editions of bishop/tardel book evidently have some wrong measurements in it. I forget which ones but as the others have stated go to the "HAMB. Lots of good info there.
Paul in CT
Paul in CT
thebanjoman
Senior Member
Then again, I remember almost killing myself more than once with something concocted by me as a 'school kid'.
Get the advice and info from those who have done it with sound ideas.
Don't make it one of those..
"Here, hold my beer, watch this.."
moments.
Not sure if you are using an V8-85 or V8-60 but a friend had a '29 Tudor with V8-60 with one 97. 1937 to 40 was the V8-60 range as I remember. Then the 90 HP 6 came out in 1941.
Sold it after 2 years ... did not have enough torque to pull the heavy Tudor around. Might have worked better with 4.11 gears but 3.78 did not work too well at 6000 feet.
Duane has had quite a few Model As in the last 50 years.
Sold it after 2 years ... did not have enough torque to pull the heavy Tudor around. Might have worked better with 4.11 gears but 3.78 did not work too well at 6000 feet.
Duane has had quite a few Model As in the last 50 years.
Does anyone have a step-by-step to put a early "flattie" in a model "A"
will the rear-end "A"/// bolt to a '40 flattie ?
What eng. mounts are needed ect
Any help!! books, pictures ,, measurements , ect
Thanks Ron
Bassman/NZ
Well-known member
A V860 swap is pretty much a pointless exercise. At least a 100hp 46-48 engine should be used, and if you can find a later Mercury with the 4" stroke that will be even better.
I looked into this some years ago and it is not an easy job. As one small example, you have to notch the steering column in just the right place to clear the left rear head. Lots of things need to be done. Also be careful of the condition of the engine you get. Get Tardels book as mandatory reading, and talk to people who have been there, done that and have the T shirt. Those "school kid" conversions done with a hammer and torch often wound up with cracked frames and other problems. It is cool though when done right.
Purdy Swoft
Well-known member
I put a 1937 60 horse flat head in my august 30 briggs town sedan back in 1963. I had to trim the rear flip up part of the front cross member for clearance. The front motor mounts were made from steel about two inch wide by about 3/8 thick drilled and bolted through the frame on one end and mounted with pads under the water pumps on the other end. for the rear mounts i used steel rod heated and bent it to the shape that I needed. I slid one end into the hole on each side that the torque rods had been and welded the other end to the model A rear motor mount blocks and it seems like I may have done a little trim on them for clearance, but they could still be unbolted and removed. I had to cut out a vee shape section out of the firewall for clearance. The V8 transmission hooked right up to the original model A backend You will need the V8 transmission universal joint housing. I added two water necks to the upper model A radiator and blocked off the center neck. I think that I used a metal pipe shaped like a Y in the lower hose to feed both water pumps. with the taper of the lower tank it was going to be tough adding an extra lower neck. I retained the mechanical brakes . details on the pedal rig would take lots of typing but I used model A pedals and shaft on a bracket that had to be fabricated. I used gravity feed and a 94 carb. The exhaust manifolds cleared the steering with no problem.Does anyone have a step-by-step to put a early "flattie" in a model "A"
will the rear-end "A"/// bolt to a '40 flattie ?
What eng. mounts are needed ect
Any help!! books, pictures ,, measurements , ect
Thanks Ron
When I got it wired up and running I was so excited I never took the time to ever put any exhaust pipes on it I was running straight off the manifolds and it sounded really mean. That little engine would really scream in low and second gear but when you shifted in to high gear it would be almost like it was idleing. It needed a 4.44 gear ratio. I played around with it for a while and I replaced it with a 1940 85 horse engine. I had to shorten the front mounts. The exhaust manifold had to be removed to clear the steering box. I made up a set of pipes and I almost forgot I had to split the front wishbone and fab up a pair of brackets that I bolted to the frame.
Its been a long time ago and I was only 17 . It was fun while it lasted but I have always regretted ruining the Town sedan. I have often wished that I could get it back like it was before I changed it up.