What motor fits model A no cutting firewall, full hood

Besides a flat head or banger, what V8 will fit in a 30-31 ford that is running a stock hood and stock uncut fire wall? I do not want to cut the fire wall because the truck doesn't have much space for 3 pedals as it is and loosing 4 inches for a sbc is to much.

I was thinking a flat head but they are so slow and expensive. There has to be an alternative V8 that will fit.

 

Early Chevy V8 will fit I believe. 265 283 327 etc. The 265/283/327's are vintage period engines that will tear the tires off that truck and when dress properly they look just as good as anything. I have one going in my '35 right now.

You might be able to fit an early Cadillac engine as well.


Don't rule out the flathead. You can find runners for $500 and throw them in. They might not be the fastest engine but you won't give a shit because you'll be so proud that you're running one...I promise!!! If you threw a t-5 trans behind it you would really have fun!!!

 

If you limit yourself to v8's your list will become quite small. are you going to run an electric fan? how thick of radiator? Short water pump?

how about something a little more interesting? OHV 4 bangers are short, cheap and easy. some even look like little offys. and, some of the newer ones even put out more power than an old school v8...

honestly, you can fit a sbc/sbf in there if you want. slimline electric fan and short water pump. but the 2 or 3 inches you save for your pedals will probably not be worth the trouble of dealing with pulling/working on the motor. what about reversing the firewall? thats a fairly no-obtrusive way to gain a little more room for the motor?

 

A Daimler Hemi

 

buick V6/HEI/Q-Jet/th350/all GM in a "T"

 

how bout that lil Olds 215 aluminum motor ? saw one posted for sale all rebuilt with cool rocker covers too

 

I always wanted a flat head in a model"a". It has not happened. I installed a Riley two port on my model 'A". It was not too bad of a project. The cooling problems went away. The old model 'A' fan broke and went through the new brass works radiator. The radiator did not leak. The carbs on mine stick above the hood but you can use updrafts or side drafts. The room in the cab is a little cramped for me, but I never notice it until I try to get in or out. This is a picture of the engine. The only thing I regret was that the brass spark plug wires could not be used. I think I have a solution to this problem. I run babbit bearings and the rpm is about 3000. There is no problem with doing 65mph. This is a roadster pickup. Secretes of speed is selling Roof heads plus the Riley. There are several other heads on the market. I went with the Riley because it is steel or cast steel.

Model "A" engines have a lot of torque. A Mitchell overdrive unit and a overhead conversion will give you plenty of speed.

The Riley head was first designed in 1928. The old advertising reads" 100 HP right out of the box".

 

I like the idea of a flathead, I have a 39 sedan complete and my wife thinks I should run that in my PU but almost everyone else says I shouldn't.
'It's not the one you want, it's hard to get running right bla bla bla" everyone has a thought of why I should get the later flatheads.
I don't know if it runs but it is still hooked up factory and has a Stromberg 97 on it. It turns over by hand and was said to run 7 years ago.

I had a restored late 31 PU several years ago and it was a blast to drive. I sold it and bought an OT 34 outlaw kit and built it. It has it all,,,including all my money,,, will drive anywhere and any speed, in comfort, and is a beautiful car. It is boring to drive except everyone looks and gives great comments. It is like driving any current car. Kinda boring. So I am building another 31 PU but want to be involved while driving. Having another chevy small block doesn't turn me on but I don't know much about flatheads and I think I want a T5 instead of the 3 speed 39 trans thats in the sedan now. I have read so many articles about T5's that I don't know what I would need to look for. If some one could tell me the exact one to get so the shifter would be in the right spot so I don't have to change the tail shaft or what ever so I wouldn't be so confused. When I read too much, I get apprehensive and end up shying away.

So, any way,,,,I figured I would ask what V8 would have more HP than a stock flathead and still fit in without needing to cut the firewall. I also want something that is older instead of a V6 or common sbc. Don't get pissy about my SBC comment, I have them in rods now and have had them in rods before and will probably do it again. Just not on my PU.

Thanks for all the comments guys. The more the merrier.

 

That is a beautiful motor! I am thinking back about when driving my 31 PU it wasn't a tire burner but it went fast enough, people wasn't waiting on me to get going or out of their way. Didn't stop so good but I have that fixed on this PU with new juice brakes. I didn't like the trans in my old PU, ratios were to far apart etc. Maybe a flathead with the right T5 would do it.
Killer motor though! I see it and automaticly think "thats over my head, I couldn't work on that or build that. At least I know a few guys near my home who knows something about flatheads and will help me" I suppose I could buy a banger already done..... I have that V8 60,,,, just thinking out loud.

 

Sorry to go off topic, but this chart is not correct- at least for Pontiacs. It's showing a 350/400 being smaller (by a lot, in some cases) than a 455. They are all the same size externally!
I don't know if other engines are dimensioned correctly or not.
Sorry, didn't want to interrupt this, but I'd hate to see someone reference this chart and build from it, only to get a nasty surprise.
Back to the topic at hand...

 

Daimler hemi is a seriously cool engine. The 2.5 litre is only 25 3/8" long from snout of water pump to rear of block, which makes it shorter than the original model A engine. The 4.5 litre version is a couple of inches longer. limey Steve runs the bigger one in his deuce roadster.

 

What did the Daimler Hemi's come in?

 

try a 302/289 ford . good fit , smaller than chevy .......... steve

 

I had a complete Dodge Red Ram Hemi setting on my stand for a while but some one wanted it WAY more than I and offered me so much cash I couldn't pass it up. I know of one that does run and is relativly cheap but again,,,it is so expensive to go through and I know no one who knows anything about them so I shy away. Plus don't they stick out the sides of the hood? I want my PU to look stock except for it being lowered with steelies or the later wire wheels. Like Reddys on here.

 

Daimler hemis are narrow at just under 24" at the widest point for the 2.5 litre and 26" for the 4.5 litre. The baby Daimler is narrower than a Dodge 241/270 Red Ram/Super red Ram, lighter because of the aluminum heads. That means the little one fits under a stock Model A '28/'29hood - no hickeys, warts, cutouts, bulges dimples or anything else - just the stock hood. The big one may be a tad tight as it is 27" overall length and 26"overall width. I don't have a Model A to measure.

The little one came in the Daimler SP 250 and then the Daimler 250 V8 sedan from 1959 thru 1969. The bigger 4.5 litre came in the majestic Major and DR 450 limos from 1960-1968.

 

Here's the baby Daimler hemi in it's natural habitat....

 

I do. One in my 29 RPU and one in my old 31 Sedan . Both i had to move the center of the firewall back about 2 1/2"

 

Here is a question for you guys. Should I use the 39 sedans X member and rearend and motor? Will the rearend fit with my PU running fenders? I figure I should run a T5 instead of the 39's trans. Yes---no? Maybe I should shorten the torque tube and run the whole drive train from the 39 sedan except the front end because I have a drop axle setup from speedway with lincoln brakes. I just want to be able to run in the high ways at speed.
All opinions are appreciated.

 

No shit? I thought a Y block was way longer then a SBC.

 

my friend has 2 . uses electric fan , etc .................. steve

 

I really think you could do the sbc without that deep of a set back

is it because you dont want the space out of your cab taken, or just the work to do a set back on part of your lower firewall?
'cause i think you could get away with a small area set back about 2.5 to 3"

 

Correct,and length is your sore spot. You can only do so much with a short water pump, pulleys and fan. Even with a SBC you have to use the short pump flat faced fan and locate the engine with the firewall and radiator in correct location before you finalize motor mounts and weld them in.

Frank

 

Does anybody have the exact measurement between the back of the radiator and the stock firewall on a 1928/29 Model A? Inquiring minds wish to know....

 

Stock radiator core to firewall at closest point measures 28" on my 31 coupe.

Russ

 

There is a 30-31 A around Dayton Oh running a 1984 thunderbird V6 , they were carberated. He said it ran great got 30mpg. It fits like it belonged with no cutting.

 

stock 4 banger
any year flathead
small block chevy
small block ford
hemi
2.2 2.3 pinto 4 banger
pretty much anything

 

Guess a lot of people cut up their firewalls for nothin' then?

Mine currently has a 2.0 Pinto motor with no cutting, so I can vouch for that one fitting however. hoping to put the 215 Buick in it in a month or so, with 4 speed and no cutting (I hope).

Russ

 

Yeah, it's because of losing the space in the cab. I have been pitting this cab together from several different cabs and am not worried about the work of cutting the firewall or anything like that. I don't want my gas pedel on top of the trans tunnel. I've seen lots of people have to do that.

So can my 39 rearend fit with fenders on my PU or is it too wide? Should I use my X member out of my 39 even though i'll be going with a T5 and exactly which T5 has the shifter in the correct position?

 

Im not sure on the overall length but I think the dodge hemi with the chevy water pump will clear. Look at Hot Heads web site for more info.

 

The 3.8 (and 4.1) Buick (and Cad.) V-6s are plentiful and fit easily. I've had one in my '28 Mercury Torpedo Salon for almost 20 years now. Use the factory turbo valve covers (cheap) and bolt-on block-hugger headers. Not a lot of HP, but reliable and cheap. I use the stock gas tank (with an electric pump) and in a pinch I think I could make it down the road without the pump. I updated to the 4.1 Cad. manifold over the Et'l-break I had. Saw some improvement, not much, but better than a stocker. Gas mileage is okay, but pushing the box at 70-75 on the way to Bonneville nets about 18 or so. Enough to get worrisome on the leg back from Ely to Tonopah.

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