More power

Brian T

Brian T

Well-known member
I am seeking help to give Maggie a kick in the butt when ascending hills, (Maggie is our double A), she starts and runs very well, and is not overly stressed at 45 MPH with occasional spurts above that.
The engine is stock with an overbore of .090”, Zenith 2, lightened flywheel, timed to the letter and jetted correctly, spark plugs have a light brown color.
On the grades where speed drops off I shift the High-low unit to low 3rd gear with little lose in momentum (to big a gap if shifted to 2nd) this works for the most part, I would like to retain the stock look, and know that the 5.5 head would be my best option for more power for not much outlay.
However I am thinking a downdraft manifold with a Holley 94 for better breathing may do as well, does anyone have any real world experience in this upgrade as an improvement in low end torque, I am not interested in more speed.
Any comments welcome, Thanks Brian T.
 
My experience is if you open up a intake for better breathing it benifits higher RPM HP not torque. Typically the smaller the venturi and the higher the intake air velocity the better torque, along with higher compression. Snyders also makes a 6.1 head, but it is on backorder. Good luck, I don't own a AA but I love them all.
 
spyway1,

The gearing on the double A hampers top speed not hill climbing, unfortunately Mitchell does not make an Overdrive for the worm drive axle, only the bevel axle.
 
Thank you all for the input , now you folks have got me wondering how things would go if did both, the carburetor and the head.

With this engine bored out to .090" can anyone estimate what the compression pressure would have risen to over the stock 4.2, I have not done a compression test, just curious not wanting to over do it.
Thanks again.
 
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In our Vicky, i have installed a Lion Speedhead 111, a Scalded Dog single downdraft intake with a stromberg 97, and a high flow exhaust. I know thats all against the model a purist rules, but man can she go!
 
On my own car plus the half dozen I have installed on other cars their is no better bang for the buck. You be climbing hills in third with throttle left over with a 5.5 head.
 
Brian T. Find a 3-speed Warford aux trans that fits in place of the Dual High and it will give you under,direct & overdrive.What ratio rear end do you have?The low speed ratio of 7.25-1 is best for power. the high speed ratio is 5.17-1 and is best for speed. The low speed ratio is stamped with letter "A" on LH hsg near rivets on the bell. the high speed ratio is stamped with letter "B" at the same spot.This is for the worm drive rear end.
 
columbiA said:
Brian T. Find a 3-speed Warford aux trans that fits in place of the Dual High and it will give you under,direct & overdrive.What ratio rear end do you have?The low speed ratio of 7.25-1 is best for power. the high speed ratio is 5.17-1 and is best for speed. The low speed ratio is stamped with letter "A" on LH hsg near rivets on the bell. the high speed ratio is stamped with letter "B" at the same spot.This is for the worm drive rear end.
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Hello Columbia,
I do have the 5.17 axle,and a Warford would be great but finding one is tough enough, not knowing if it is a yard ornament is another, for the time being some extra grunt to pull her 3.900#s up hills would be nice.
 
Years ago Layne posted that they were going to make a Warford for the AA and I got on the
mailing list for it but nothing ever came of it that I know of, I checked back a couple of
times and nothing just the T Warford.

Bob
 
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