Projects My old coupe might be turning into an A-V8

Been gone a long time from the Hamb because life just got in the way. This might be a little long but it is important.

I was promoted at work, loved it at first and then it turned into my worst nightmare. My wife and I were constantly getting into it and I decided to make a change.

I just went to Brothers Custom Automotive in Troy, MI and said I need to save my marriage and begin being happy and I want to work here. Lol. They looked at my portfolio and offered me a job.

Things are drastically improved. I now work on some badass cars and call it my living. My coupe that I first posted on here back in ‘08 or ‘09 was a fresh barn find from California. Some of you may know it. I have done some little improvements but basically have been driving it as is since I got it.

I was offered a running ‘35 Flathead from Bill Jagenow, the owner of the shop and my boss. I happily took it and have been thinking of dropping it in my coupe. This has to be done right though. It has took look “always been in there”.

I already have a ‘39 box in it behind the banger and the car is mechanically awesome. Brakes, steering, suspension. It all is lovely, best A I have ever riden in. I want to leave it all and not touch a thing except for what absolutely has to be done.

No cutting of the firewall, no radiator change except for modifying it for the Flathead. Only possibilities are a cam and dual carbs ssince those are available to me. Not sure I want to do the duals yet. I want this to look like an A that came with a Flathead.

So now the ideas begin. If anybody has stuffed a 21 stud in a 28-29 without modifying steering or radiator feel free to post what you encountered. I am measuring up things and it is difficult because my coupe is pretty much all snuggled up for winter.

 

just for kicks look along the decking between the heads and intake... memory says if you see a capital LB stamped into the deck , it is a large bearing late '36 block …
the large bearing meant insert bearings instead of the babbit ... but will let you bolt the early stuff onto the '36 block... hot set-up...

 

I love that coupe.
r


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Thanks Raven, it is very special to me. I don’t believe this is an LB as it came out of a ‘35 and believe it was the original engine but I will take a second look.

 

Hey congrats on the new job. Bill is a very friendly and helpful person and I’m glad Brothers is in my neighborhood.

Always loved your coupe. I’m excited to see it’s probably getting a traditional flathead. Good luck dude!

Mike

 

I have put a few 21 studs in 29’s Model As only issues I had.... is the oil breather/fuel pump stand area had to modify the breather tube, for the steering box I moved it back about 6” to clear the headers or stock exhaust manifolds. Also I ran the gen the lowest I could to be able to run a fan of the gen, cut some of the fan blades down also

 

That is helpful news. Did the new angle of the steering wheel bother you at all?

 

Thanks Mike! I appreciate it.

 

Congrats on your new gig...if anyone will get ya motivated on putting a Flathead in your A it will be Bill

 

Did use a column drop, from lime works and shortened the column

 

Very nice!


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Glad that you work at something you love, not many get that chance. That little flatty should fit in there nicely, looking for more updates. Now get to work, Carp.

 

Setup at Detroit Autorama is pretty much done.

 

One of those flatties is mine.... I'll be there in the morning.

 

Great display, those engine "buggies" are Too Cool!

 

I put a 34 221 into a 29 roadster. But I did modify a few things. I put an F-1 box in it with an A flange welded on, in the stock holes on the frame. It is snug but it fit. I also used an F1 cross member and pedals...things you will have to consider beings the way the engine/trans/pedals mount on a stock A. For a radiator, a stock 32 V8 was used, cut down but the car used a 32 grill (also cut down to fit in line with the cowl). I would think you can probably get a new radiator made to fit a 28-29 shell, but set up for a V8. @leakyboatlouie is right about the breather, it, or the flange on the firewall, will need modified. There is simply no way to "bolt" a V8 into the car without some sort of modifications. But planning ahead and using the right combination of parts, you can make it look like it came that way.

Side note- My brother bought this car from me when I had it 75% done and had to finish all the small details to make everything work. I had it kind of mocked up, engine and trans in but he finished the pedals, radiator, steering, headers, etc. he finished the car, even raced it at TROG Pismo. It’s also coming out in the new HopUp. It’s a great running/driving car.

 

Thanks Chris. I have a 39 trans in it already and I am keeping the mechanical brakes, they work just fine ( I know I will catch hell for that but honestly they work awesome) so I do not need to do anything as far as that goes, except for making a mount for the trans as it just hangs in there now with the clings v-8 tranny to model a engine bellhousing.

I did pick up a banjo wheel and steering box at Autorama, think it is somewhere between a 35-37 but not sure because I have hardly looked at it. Does a early cross steer box provide more room? I bought it just for the banjo but maybe the whole thing could be used in my A.

As far as the radiator that will get taken out and have new outlets put in it for the Flathead. Still gonna run my original grill shell.

 

How are you going to mount pedals? Just use the clings set up? I used a clings set up with a V8 trans in my old A coupe, I can't remember what they do for pedals. And for the radiator, look closely at the bottom tank. It will need to be modified to accept an outlet on the pass side. It's not impossible, but not a bolt in either

 

As for the box, 35-36 are junky boxes, 37-48 are a lot better. Lots of guys swap 37-48 boxes into 35-36 Fords as an upgrade. If you post a pic I can ID it. I am not sure how a cross steer bow would work, but I would guess they take up a lot more room then a 34-eariler box, or an F series box.

 

Sweat coupe, does it have a drop axle or is that stock setup with 1935 wheels?

 

Reversed eye main leaf on the front spring

 

Clings pedals mount the stock A pedals to the 39 box via an adapter. As for the box turns out it is a 35-6 box. All I was really after was the banjo wheel anyway. The box has tons of play in it. The Wheel is fitting however as my engine is a ‘35 and so are my wheels so it seems I am going after a 1935 theme, lol.

 

Had a chance at lunch today to get the Flathead up on a stand. Going to pull the heads and pan and see what’s inside. It has adjustable lifters in it and has an old rebuild tag on the side. Also found that little stamp on the front that I thought I would not find. L-B. It is an insert bearing engine! Very nice to see that.

 

i have wanted a roadster like that my hole life. never have found one worth the money. got a 26 essex though, maybe i can trade that for one when i make a few small changes to it lol. nice cars fellers

 

Were exactly is the stamp located ? I can't tell from the picture. I've got a 36 that was supposed to have been rebuilt setting in the corner.

 

It is at the front driver side of the block between the intake and head.

 

The switch is no in progress. Ran a Winfield head on the banger for a total of 8 miles and it is just not what I want. Time to do the swap.

 

Front sheetmetal coming off.

 

Nice Car! Just Do It. You will be glad you did.
Good Luck!!

 

It fits. Lots of work to do now. It is already back out to mount a 32 wishbone on the stock front end to clear the pan. Then it will go back in to make engine and trans mounts.