Engine rebuild.

J

jhowes

Well-known member
I am in the process of building another engine for my A. I want the idle and sound to be the recognized Model A. In the past I had Snyders 5.5 head, a reground cam, and larger intake valves but I never thought that it sounded correct for a model A. I guess I want the best bang for the buck without destroying the recognized Model A sound. Speed is not a consideration, but power for the 327 rear ratio makes hill climbing an issue, therefore a bit more power would be nice. Jack
 
Someday I will have a 5.5 head and hopefully a 3.27 rear end. Everything else will be stock. I have an Aries stainless exhaust that I bought years ago when they used to have the half price scratch and dent sale.

Remember, the exhaust has a lot to do with the "right" sound.
 
Minerva had stainless valves/"B" cam/counterbalanced crank/stock flywheel/Weber carb/Mallory single point distributor/Timing set @ 7 1/2 degrees BTDC & idled like a stocker in parades ! DON'T know what the compression ratio was???
OH, & she climbed mountains, like a GOAT!
Bill TADA-TADA-TADA-TADA !
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
Someday I will have a 5.5 head and hopefully a 3.27 rear end. Everything else will be stock. I have an Aries stainless exhaust that I bought years ago when they used to have the half price scratch and dent sale.

Remember, the exhaust has a lot to do with the "right" sound.
Click to expand...

After running my #2 engine on a test stand with a cobbled up muffler, I can certainly agree about the sound compared to my car with an Aries exhaust.
 
Yep, the 5.5 and higher lift cam made an ever so slight sound difference in my Roadster.

Sure flattens out the hills, though.
 
Years ago while working on my car someone stopped by with what appeared at first glance to be a restored Model A. It definitely had the classic Model A sound. When he lifted the hood it had a 4 cylinder Chevy II engine. That convinced me, the classic Model A sound comes from the muffler, get a good one.

Charlie Stephens
 
Last year when i pulled in to model A days event, someone said oh your car is so quiet! That with a warmed up motor,6.0 head,330 stipe cam,larger valves,balanced crank,lighter flywheel,aries muffler. I hadn't retarded the spark for shutting off, it will idle down and sound like stock. The Aries muffler is so much quieter than what i use to have, old muffler was a straight through round truck muffler!
If you want we could traded rear gears, iam stock 3.78, if you think that would help for your sound :-) I do reply to PMs
 
jhowes said:
I am in the process of building another engine for my A. I want the idle and sound to be the recognized Model A. In the past I had Snyders 5.5 head, a reground cam, and larger intake valves but I never thought that it sounded correct for a model A. I guess I want the best bang for the buck without destroying the recognized Model A sound. Speed is not a consideration, but power for the 327 rear ratio makes hill climbing an issue, therefore a bit more power would be nice. Jack
Click to expand...

The further you get from stock, the further you get from the Model A sound. Just common sense ax I see it. Do you want an A or a race car? If you ant a faster antique car, buy a Chevrolet! Wayne
 
A properly tuned and efficiently running A motor with the idle set very low is imperative to getting the right sound...

Yes as mentioned the more modifications will change it some
 
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Mitch//pa said:
A properly tuned and efficiently running A motor with the idle set very low is imperative to getting the right sound...

Yes as mentioned the more modifications will change it some
Click to expand...


Simply stated Mitch and true! If they want it to sound stock keep it stock!
Larry
 
To muddy up the water, if you ever have the opportunity to listen to Marco's Roadster as it pulls out for the mandatory tour, note the tone and then listen to a Model-A with an Aries muffler to compare, (--or one equipped with the Aries muffler and a hi-comp head), your ears will likely detect a difference.

Ironically back in the 60's & 70's, folks considered the the Midas-manufactured muffler the true sound of a Model-A. Compared to Model-As equipped with a tractor muffler, it did sound correct. Then when the Aries muffler came out, THAT was the correct sound we all touted, however when you compare those mufflers to an original OE Model-A muffler like on Marco's Roadster, none of them sound the same. :eek: So what's a guy to do? :D Just understand that compression ratios & cam timing are going to alter the exhaust sound.
 
When I bought my 1929 Phaeton, the exhaust was dented where the engine pipe enters the muffler. After many thousands of miles, the perforated pipe that runs inside for the length of the muffler broke off at the front and at the baffle half way back. It rattled around in there making one awful ruckass so I made a Tee shaped cut in the front, removed the offending piece of hardware and welded it up. It was from then on I had people coming up to me regularly saying how good he car sounded. I described it a the typical Model A sound but with attitude.:D
I kinda liked it myself!
 
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