SBC in Model A-Engine too low in chassis?

do you have any pics of what you did to the firewall and the floor?

 

Long, long ago we were way into 'Drag Coupes' and sedans. The 'trick thing' was a 'motor plate', (sandwiched between engine & ******) then the front 'motor plate'!
This made a strong box section of the front rails from firewall forward, in Don Serventi's own words was "The Only Answer".

I had a 'motor plate' out of a Santa Clara sedan that I trimmed and gusseted...fit the roadster nicely, and bolted to my former flathead bisquits. Everybody marveled, a real 'genius act'!

A month later, Hurst came out with their SBC to early Ford engine mount! (with the handy little 'pre-load adjusters' that pulled up tension on the Ford drive train when the factory 'thrust-adjuster' rods were cut off...)

Simply lay out that Hurst mount, consider the stock fuel pump interference, and draw the outline to suit your desired height! S***ch weld the gusset and feet on, and paint it!
Uhhh, don't forget some stylish 'lightening holes'...

 

yeah i thought about modifying the hurst mount which is easy enough. i really want to use the stock chevy fan rather than an electric. i thought about different style frame mounts to raise it 2" also.

my thoughts are this: i'm not the first guy to put a SBC in a Model A ch***is before the invention of electric fans. i could build a shroud and hide a fan but there is still the issue of the engine looking too low in relation to everything else. i guess it will take some more thought to get a balance between function and me being happy with how it looks.

 

The frame side of those is mounted UPSIDE DOWN

Garagerat, look at how B*** built his in that A, it is the baremetal pic posted up top. AWESOME thread to read if you are building an A.

 

Here

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=263380&highlight=hurst+mount

 

the UPSIDE DOWN frame mounts i didnt notice. those pics arent of my project by the way. i will check out b***'s thread.

 

Or, if making something to fit is on the plan at this point, check out Elpolacko's thread on building a MF hot rod that is currently on the board. The last couple of pages have a look at what he is doing with his.

 

Some folks can't read all the thread apparently ?

 

I do think it looks too low. It's just one of my personal preference that the motor fill out the space in the engine bay as much as possible. I hate seeing that empty space above the engine. I like when the motor fills out the space to just below where the hood would be.

I'm also going to address this problem with my Model A if it arises but I'm not at that point yet.

I do have to admit, I liked the thought someone else had on here of putting a supercharger on it. That certainly would solve the problem.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

Look in the old magazines, flatties, SBCs in the late 50s early 60s predominately sat low. But, the cars also had real world ground clearance while maintaining good stance.

 

well if thats the case then i'm good where i'm at. my truck is not low. i'm trying to stay late 50's early 60's period with this project. which is why i wanted to avoid an electric fan. i wouldnt mind picking the engine up 2" but then my F1 crossmember will have to come up too.

 

My Tudor has a similar stance and setup. I think you are fine!

 

I don't think the engines sat that low in the 50's, 60's because they ran stock steel fan blades not electric or risers........

 

I guess the 2-300 magazines I just spent the last few nights going through were an illusion?

 

your engine looks to be sitting exactly like my 30 coupe, I use a front mount, steel fan and a short water pump. works fine, cooling is not a problem. I cut down a 15" four blade fan to 13" although I could have changed my lower hose and not had to do that.

not sure about the f1 crossmember I made my own

 

if the engine stays where it is the crossmember wont be a problem. do you have any pics you could post? side shots showing the frame/cowl/fan?

 

Yeah, I've got the same 200-300 mags and I do see something different.. I see metal fan blades mostly centered in the middle of the radiator.. If F-6 would just fix his mounting problem correctly I don't think there would be all these jerry-rig ideas.. But hey, it's just a thought.. You can see in his very first pic that his frame mounts are way to low and he has both sets of rubber biscuits on top of said mount.. But hey, just a thought.......

 

Putting the small rubber in the right spot does NOTHING for the height of his engine, plus he said his buddy just threw it in there.

What I did is a compromiseI made the frame side mounts level withthe top of the rails AND decided to do like B*** and others and use a riser allowing the largest mech fan possible. My car is going to sit as high as the Doane Spencer car so oilpan clearance is not an issue

 

These are side mounts but makes no difference, if you just raise your front frame mounts a couple of inches you will be able to run a real fan(17") and the motor won't look so low.. But hey, again just a thought.......

 

who the **** suggested any "jerry-rig" ideas? i'm askin questions lookin for input, not at***ude. my jack*** buddy put one rubber mount in the wrong place. still doesnt change my question or any possible solutions/ideas. i'm trying to be as peroid as possible cause thats what "I" want to do. i dont want to run a water pump riser or an electric fan (or motor mounts that sit on top of the frame) cause i think they look bad. so i asked questions. alright, i'm gonna go fix that bisquit before the "motor mount police" show up.

 

seriously, can you use the words "jerry-rig" when you'runnin that radiator cap setup? but hey, just a thought.

 

Good one.......

 

there are a couple different shots in the build thread,http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=509198

not sure why anyone would need more than a 15" fan using a sbc and a model A radiator, mine is just over 13" and handles stop and go rush traffic on san diego freeways with no issues.

It works fine, whether or not it looks right to you is a matter of opinion

 

Stock GM small block fans of 50's to mid 60's were all 17".. If your trying to be traditional.......

 

ok, now that we've all had a laugh. seriously, not trying to start ****. just tryin to build a nice hot rod that looks right. so i mean this, thanks to everyone for thier input.

 

That's a real stand up comment.. I apologize if I have offended anyone and F-6, that's going to be a really cool truck.. Good luck with your build......

 

back at ya s**** metal. thanks, my truck was an old hot rod i rescued, found pictures under the seat from 63-64. i just wanna do right by the ol' girl ya know. 5" chop when i got. cool coupe by the way.