31 conversion questions

F

Fordguy1964

Member
Long time lurker here. I recently bought a 31 Sedan. It is my intent to do an Early style V8 conversion with a 53 flathead. I want everything to be somewhat period correct. I know as in every group there are purists that won't like the thought and talk me out of it. Some might be ok with it...

So, am I in the right place to ask these questions or should I be looking at another place with fewer purists?

Hopefully the questions will be well received here.

Thanks!
 
For questions related to the Model A, such as axles, body, etc., you are in the right place. For questions related to the early V8 there is an Early V8 forum. A link to that is at the top under The Forums heading.
 
nkaminar said:
For questions related to the Model A, such as axles, body, etc., you are in the right place. For questions related to the early V8 there is an Early V8 forum. A link to that is at the top under The Forums heading.
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Thanks. I wasn't sure if conversions related to early would be handled here or there... Since the V8 is there but the body I'm putting it in is here.
 
The EAB/EAC flathead of 1953 will need changes to fit. The Tardel Book is good for the minimum frame changes to support the V8 but even that is quite involved. The HAMB has more info about engine changes, 32 K-frames or Modified F1 cross members, and all the other mods that it takes to get a relatively safe set up for the road. Radiators for the AV8 are likely pretty expensive now. Transmissions and rear axle/torque tube mods are way out there as well.

Intalling a 100+ horse power engine in a 40 HP frame is a lot of work and a lot of parts chasing to get it right. A person will only have a model A body and part of the frame that is original after all the upgrades. The HAMB can be searched for info or Google searched in some cases. A person can ask the questions about parts here with little or no backlash, Folks do that all the time in both the early V8 and this model A section.
 
rotorwrench said:
The EAB/EAC flathead of 1953 will need changes to fit. The Tardel Book is good for the minimum frame changes to support the V8 but even that is quite involved. The HAMB has more info about engine changes, 32 K-frames or Modified F1 cross members, and all the other mods that it takes to get a relatively safe set up for the road. Radiators for the AV8 are likely pretty expensive now. Transmissions and rear axle/torque tube mods are way out there as well.

Intalling a 100+ horse power engine in a 40 HP frame is a lot of work and a lot of parts chasing to get it right. A person will only have a model A body and part of the frame that is original after all the upgrades.
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The 31 I purchased already came with the frame boxing kit, mounts, and water pumps needed to fit the engine to the frame. It also comes with the radiator and a set of inside the frame rail headers.
 
You might try a V8 60. It fits a little easier into a Model "A". One of our club members had one years ago. While it's nothing I would ever do, it did draw a lot of attention.
 
I built an AV8 roadster using the Tardel book. It was a huge under taking.
I did some work that you would not need,but still it takes a real commitment.
To start you need to decide what brakes you want ,stock or hydraulic,how to locate the engine so it fits between radiator and fire wall. What transmission to use to adapt to flathead. The kit you have may help.


John
 

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There was a guy in our club who had the small V8 60 installed in his Model A. It fit beautifully, and kinda looked factree (as Derek Bieri would say).
 
Don't use a '60', they have no torque and you will be disappointed. You may need to convert the '53 to a '48 or earlier because the '53 distributer makes it longer. I think all flathead V8's have bolt holes drilled and tapped for '32 style front mounts, easily fabricated. You'll need to fabricate a rear trans mount. Have fun!
 
Fordguy1964 said:
The 31 I purchased already came with the frame boxing kit, mounts, and water pumps needed to fit the engine to the frame. It also comes with the radiator and a set of inside the frame rail headers.
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You have a slight advantage with fit in the 1931 body. It has a tad bit more room between the stock radiator location and the firewall. The Mike Bishop/Vern Tardel book is based on the earlier pre-war 239 and the post war 59 series block. The 8BA family has more complications on the front of the engine that the older units. The oil pan needed follows the oil pan needed for an 8BA family engine. The 8BA can be modified to the 59 series in the front but it involves the cam as well. The 8CM Mercury pan and transmission half bell is a must for fit in the relationship with the modified model A front suspension.

The model A transmission is not something I would want to use behind the V8 no matter the configuration. The rear axle is weak so I would use a later banjo as well. The 32 K member has pedals and a rear mount that can work plus it helps beef up the weakest area in the frame. Simply boxing it leaves no engine rear support to help with flex and twist. The F1 member can provide pedal mounting and some extra support but it would need K or X member additions for better support. I consider the K member support the minimum so any additional support is better. A lot depends on how the engine is set up. More power means more support and better brakes. The 32 wishbone radius rod unit works well with the 32 K member so it is also preferred. Split bones will hold the axle but it adds a roll control issue that isn't as good as a stabilizer bar. A lot of folks go that way but the ride isn't quite the same.

The more you research this alteration the better off you will be with the end product but that depends on the choices you make.
 
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A friend has one that was built in the 50's.We leave a local cruise night together,and there is a long hill we climb to get home.I fly by him with my stock A's climbing that hill,but he does fly by me on the flats.I had one in a punkin seed when I was a teenager,that little thing could really fly.Problem was it liked to go sideways as fast as forward,I put it on the beach a couple of times much further than I planned to.I have one in a welder too,but I bought that in the 70's as a block of rust for the exhaust manifolds,fan,and the magneto.
 
There is a book available on Amazon and elsewhere called "California Bill's Ford Speed Manual" that has seven pages on making an A-V8. The book is a reprint from 1952. It has lots of details, as well as the entertaining observation that "the easiest way to build an A-V8 is to use a 1932 V-8 Ford frame." That may have been true in 1952, but now that 1932 Fords are Expensive National Treasures while Model A's are still just old cars, you can't just find a cheap '32 chassis and put your Model A body on it.

The more you hop up the motor and the more aggressive you want to drive it, the more involved the project will become.
 
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