Model A engine in a 32 Model B

M

M&M

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I'm helping a friend with his 32 Model B woody. Of course the engine block has cracks around the exhaust valves. He has had this engine out 3 times over the past few years, sent off to a big name Model A engine repair place, comes back later supposedly repaired, and it still steams. The guy who was pulling the engine and replacing it has retired and now it's my project. Anyway the owner has had enough of this and would like to drive his woody while he is still able. This has been going on for several years. He has given up on the B engine and he and I want to know is it possible to put an A engine in the 32 B without too many problems. Or better yet does anyone have or know of a good B engine we could drop in to get this guy back on the road? Thanks!
 
Dave Delmue (408) 722-2518 can provide the adapter that fits on a stock Model A rear main cap that enlarges the groove for the cork gasket at the rear of a Model B oil pan.

This allows a Model B pan to be used on a Model A engine without modifications to either.

The attached pictures show the adapter in blue assembled to the rear main cap of the "New" Model A engine and the adapter also fits on an original Model A engine.
 

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I know a guy up in VA who has at least one B engine, maybe two. He says he isn't going to need them and was trying to get me to buy them. I believe they're in running condition. If VA is close enough for you I can try and hook you up.
 
You could use the A pan, it would look a bit odd on the outside but would work. You could also carefully remove the rear section of the B pan by drilling or grinding the spot welds and weld it to the A pan. The bolt pattern is the same on both engines but the B has a bigger rear main bearing so that gap would have to be filled in when using the B pan, the adaptre suggested by Terry Burtz would be the easy way to make the conversion. The new Burtz Model A engine would be, IMO, the best solution.
 
Problems:
It will drop the value of the car about 4K.
You will have 10 less HP.
You will need a fuel pump.
I would put a 4 cylinder Chevy II or Burtz engine in before I would put in a Model A engine.
My advice, DON"T DO IT!

Charlie Stephens
 
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I would guess the 4 cylinder Chevy engine would affect the value a lot more than a Model A engine.....


Frank
 
It sounds more likely the radiator is the problem
Usually when there are cracks you will have water in the oil or worst water in a cylinder

Just an observation

J
 
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