I was at a local old car parts store today that has some good Old Ford parts on occasion and mixed in with all the other stuff was this complete V8-60. It is hiding under some fibergl*** 30's chevy body panels and needs a good home. What a neat little engine, I'd never really looked at one closely. I can't help but imagine how easily it would drop into my current AV8 project. Kind of pricey at 3K, but apparently it's all fresh and it looks like it's a bolt in piece.
Neat...but very low torque engine. I think in the real world this thing needs a lighter home than a model A, and if possible a trans with lots more gears...low rear and high overdrive. Get some service bulletins and look over the torque curves on a B and a 239 and a 60... I think the 60 would be superior to a stock A only at highway speeds, and slower around town. Think Model T type weight for one of these. It looks to have interesting characteristics a high end...at 4000 where a stock 85 is leveling off and starting to drop, the 60's HP curve is still climbing where the chart ends! Clearly Ford could have rated it at more than 60 by simply buying some wider graph paper...but at low speed a banger would eat it alive.
Great for someone building a midget in that area! I started my 60 hp Saturday...just to hear it run. Bart
nothing sounds like a 60 with a high compression, a wild cam and FUEL! they sound like a wild animal on speed!
I agree with Bruce. I have always wanted to build one, but I think it would be like driving a stockish Model A around power wise. I can't immagine one of those luggin a 40 sedan around or similar.
I poked my head under the hood of a 37 coupe at LARS with a V8-60 that was running and honestly if the fan had not been turning I would have not known it was running, VERY QUIET.
That must have been the one my dad sold about 30 years ago. We had to put a hand on the fender to feel if it was running; couldn't hear it. Gee, you think they might all be that way? BTW, it had no trouble getting the '37 down the interstate at 65-70. Stopping it was another story as its brakes were ba-a-a-d. fearless
This its my son's Ford Y (GB)with 60hp V8 and Ford Vedete(France) 3 on the floor Org I-beam with Volvo544 spindels and Volvo P1900 brakes in front!!! 64 Ex made! A really Junior car.
While I understand all the nostalgia over the V8-60, I just can't imagine why anyone would want it for anything other than for use in a midget! It is woefully underpowered unless some serious dollars are spent on nearly unobtainable speed goodies. Spending a minimum of $3000 to have something that, at best, is really only a conversation piece, just seems to be not well thought out. I say this because my '40 came with a V8-60 when I bought it - back in 1962. I took it out and put in a real full sized flathead because I got tired of getting whipped by bone stock VW's!!! It was humiliating, to say the least. However, if as you say, you are looking to put this engine in a model A and you are only going to use the car for around-town cruising, and you don't mind spending $3000, then go ahead and get after it. It is your car after all is said and done...
Now that is the size Ford a 60 belongs in! Just looking at the stock 60 dyno curve again; really interesting. Torque curve is all below 100...a Model A or B would murder it at lower speeds. The horsepower curve is startling...it crosses the 60HP line at just below 3500, still rising at a steep angle. The chart goes to 4000, where it somewhat above 65HP, and it is going up at a 45 degree slope as it exits the chart! The 60 might well be a 70 or so, stock. Seems like it has better breathing in relation to size than the big flatheads.
I love mine. Know its not a road car, but around town and close cruise-ins its a fun ride. Speedo is off (I think), does keep up with traffic. I have a 39 transmission and thinking about an overdrive.
Hey 31fordV860 how did you drop that 60 in the 31? did you use the 60 trans and 31 shaft or did you use the 31 trans and shaft and adapted it to the bell housing? I am trying to do the same thing but need a Model A first Any info would be great, thanks!
Semi, The original owner who I knew, but was only 5 yo at the time, dropped the 60 in this A in approx 1951 ...Car has V860 Trans with "A" Rear end adapted. I will get more info for you on the transaxle fab.. I have been reading alot of the "underpoweredness" on this thread of the V860, which is true...RH the original owner made this A into a little soup job back then and juiced brakes and added the 60,etc.. Keeping the A like he started back then. The A sat in his garage for 48+ years until he p***ed in 2002, my father and i were fortunate to get out of his garage then. My father p***ed last year.. Both were Vets... "A" Owner was WWII Pilot in Pacific , my Father was a plane captian on carriiers in Korea. I could have changed everything to a full blown hot rod, but chose the latter to honor them both..Steve Dennish at Limeworks and his awesome team in Whittier, Ca have performed a "p***ive restoration" on the A, and perserved the integrity of RH's (owner) work he did to it in the fifties once he returned from the War..
Flat head newbe question. If you wanted to build a 31 roadster would you use a V8 Flatty or a Four banger? Thanks Please be gentle.
Either one can be done, cheaper to build an 8 and will have more power, but the 4 bangers are cool too, depends on what you want to build and how fast you want to go
Headed back to the UK in May for 2 more fun-filled years. I intend to get a Model-Y and bring it back with me this time (sold the last one before I left) - plans are V8-60 and T5 in front of a narrowed A banjo w/QC! I figure a cam, some heads, dual carbs, headers, some mild port work and I should be able to pull 75HP out of it!
Interesting point ... check the pictures in the original post. Looks like the "big" commercial transmission. Not that it makes a difference power-wise, but a big advantage gear-wise and Model A-wise. Mentioned this to "semiauto" in another thread. If so, it sure adds a few bucks to the value.
Semi, on the transaxle .... The trans crossmember is part 34 Ford with part 36 Ford for the pedals , the actual trans mount is 34 Ford bolted to the 1940 V8 60 transmission. Hope this helps...
I drove my 31 Coupe with the Stk V860 / wSingle Barrel Carb ...does keep up with traffic ...What a hoot...
Thanks for the info 31ford Sorry to hear about your Dad You're doing a lot of good with the car and it looks great, keep it up!
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