I'm in a bit of a pickle here... Last June I purchased a 1934 Model BB truck with the 4 cylinder engine. Removed the engine to have it rebuilt. Outfit doing the engine found a non-repairable crack in the exhaust port. So I supplied another B block. They found a crack in it too. So I supplied a third B block and they threw up their hands and said enough was enough. They couldn't get the valves out and in years past a crack had formed in the front of the block and it had been nickle welded. I'm out of B motors... I live in Alaska where nobody line-bores and B motors are extremely rare to come by. Does anybody out there have any advice or direction? I'm considering buying a little 4 cylinder diesel engine to maybe shoehorn into the truck but really want to stay stock. Thanks. Mark in Fairbanks Alaska
B Motor problems
- Thread starter Denali
- Start date
Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
My first choice would be a Model B or early V8 flathead. If I was considering a late model 4 cylinder engine I would look at the 153 cubic inch Chevy II engine and the engines that were developed from it. These include the Mercruiser marine engines and the GM Industrial engines. These both are available in 153 and 181 cubic inch versions. They have the same bell housing bolt pattern as the SBC engine, which makes adapters to early Fords readily available. They use all American fasteners. Attached pictures show the one I have in my ’32 roadster connected to a '39 trans which bolts right up to the original rear end.
Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens
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flatheadmurre
Well-known member
Isn´t the bellhousing bolted to the ****** with 4 bolts...
Taking a GM aluminum bellhousing and cutting/welding a plate that fits to the ****** wouldn´t be to much of a hassle....
Finding a good B block can´t be that impossible...i´m on the wrong side of the pond and i bet i can by phone get hold of one in MN for you if all other options run dry...
Taking a GM aluminum bellhousing and cutting/welding a plate that fits to the ****** wouldn´t be to much of a hassle....
Finding a good B block can´t be that impossible...i´m on the wrong side of the pond and i bet i can by phone get hold of one in MN for you if all other options run dry...
rotorwrench
Well-known member
I'm not sure if the Chevy II 153 or Vortec 3000 would be any easier to find up north or not. I know a lot of boats are used in the Ketchikan region but it depends on where the OP is located.
A model A engine could be used with an AA truck clutch cover. The model A casting has a bit more thickness of casting around the valves than the B engine does. An electric pump may be needed since there is no provision on the A blocks.
A model A engine could be used with an AA truck clutch cover. The model A casting has a bit more thickness of casting around the valves than the B engine does. An electric pump may be needed since there is no provision on the A blocks.
donald1950
Senior Member
153 chevy motors are hard to find especially with manifolds. just bought a new ($3200) GM Vortec 3.0 (188 cu in) forklift motor, that is essentially a bored & stroked 153. found an intake and exhaust for it, motor comes with a "high efficiency" 8 port head and an adapter plate to bolt the older type manifolds on. going into a restored 1930 Model A with a 39 top shift transmission. Clifford engineering makes intake manifolds and will make custom tube headers for the older style heads. Charlie Stephens told me the 153 head fits the newer motors. the 153 & 181 motors have boat and forklift applications since the 1960s.