Model B engine question

BirchRidge

BirchRidge

Member
Hi, I recently bought a model b engine that I want to put in my model a, the info I have found is I have to modify the rear of the oil pan and use the a flywheel housing and of course the front motor mount.. Is there anything else that needs to be done?
 
The stock "B" oil pan has the lower part of the flywheel housing welded to it; which you'll need to remove. It will probably be easier to remove it opposed to modifying an "A" pan to fit. Then you can use the "A" flywheel housing.
 
If you plan to use an "A" distributor, you may want to change the front timing gear cover to an "A" cover as then the timing pin will line up for conventional timing methods. If you are using a "B" distributor, keep the "B" front timing cover as it has the timing pin indexed for timing the "B" distributor. There are variations on the B timing cover that places the timing pin in different locations. Make sure you have the correct one.

I just finished a "B" engine yesterday and installed the "A" front timing cover as the owner was keeping his "A" distributor.

Good Day!

www.durableperformance.net
 
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You can also drill the timing gear for the B distributor position and have the option of using an A or B distributor, provider you know how to find each with the timing pin. That is what I did. Note that some engines have come from the factory with two different timing marks for use with different grades of fuel. Many of the Volkswagen air-cooled engines came that way.
 
A couple of more thoughts. When I removed my pan I left a strip of metal rather than trying to remove the spot welds. It doesn't show and there is less chance of leaks. See first picture. I am running a high compression Model A Police head (with the letter B on it). If you run one of the current aftermarket high compression Model A heads there is probably not a problem, but check. If you run a stock Model A head there are a couple of water passages you heed to plug. These holes are usually plugged by drilling them, threading them and screwing in a plug with sealer. If you run a Model B distributer (which is what I am doing, you can make a condenser from a Model A condenser (buy the best one). Elongate the tab on the end and make a pig tail for the other end (see photos 2 and 3). If you run the Model B intake there are two types available. I prefer the look of the one with the vacuum line at the rear (see photo).

Charlie Stephens
 

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Thanks for the pictures Charlie I will run a modern winfield head that I've had on my A engine for three years, not sure about the water passages on it will check when I pull it of that engine.. I got a B distributor that I will run and an ansen intake a holley 94 and a 4 into 2 header
 
BirchRidge said:
Thanks for the pictures Charlie I will run a modern winfield head that I've had on my A engine for three years, not sure about the water passages on it will check when I pull it of that engine.. I got a B distributor that I will run and an ansen intake a holley 94 and a 4 into 2 header
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What gasket do they tell you to run with the Winfield head? If it is a Model B gasket you are probably OK. The passages you are worried about are in the block. If you run a Model A gasket the water holes in the block are too close to the edge of the gasket.

Charlie Stephens
 
Charlie Stephens said:
What gasket do they tell you to run with the Winfield head? If it is a Model B gasket you are probably OK. The passages you are worried about are in the block. If you run a Model A gasket the water holes in the block are too close to the edge of the gasket.

Charlie Stephens
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Ok, I've been told to run a B gasket
 
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