. If you're experienced with 4 bangers, imagine that you aren't, and what good book (or books) with complete instructions & information would you want laying on the table beside you if you just put the block on the stand and were going to put it together this afternoon ? I've had a few different hot rods over the years, but never drove an original banger. I just bought another body and with gas the way it is decided to put to use some of these parts & motors I've got around here. They've came with other projects and packages I've bought. I've got about 6 blocks, some with cranks already in them, 2 are complete short blocks that turn over good. I've got boxes of new valves & springs, rings, rods, gaskets, heads w/redone water pump & fan ***y's, etc. One block is even newly machined, babbited, bored, seats done and all that, it's going to go to hell if it doesn't get together. Mainly though I've got a Zephyr dual intake, a header & a Mallory & Wico magnetos. It just dawned on me while moving this stuff around that with gas the way it is, and literally tripping over this stuff that at least a couple of them need to be together and running. I'm almost positive they're all A motors though. I've built motors in the past so I understand the principals and have measuring tools, calipers, micrometers, ring gapper, piston inst. tools, etc. It's just a matter of knowing if there's any tricks or good tips and a book or two.
Basic musts: Model A bulletins Page's Model A book Riley 100 MPH Model A book Sacramento Vintage hotrod banger catalog all available reprint Goodies: All available Secrets of Speed mag Websites of Dan price, H&H, other builders, speed equipment sources., FAST website... BUT--serious banger building is overrun with high dollar nutcases, and dream engines become ridiculously expensive fast--and you have a ready to go engine and basic speed equipment--just screwitalltogehter and start running--they ain't delicate, they don't need all the trick$, and you already have enough to keep up with traffic... Go look here for inspiration: http://users.aol.com/gmaclaren/dyno.html And look into a NEW B cam from Bill Stipe--most regrinds are down to little nubbins of lobes now, and often make less than stock HP...
Bruce- Excellent post. The references are spot on, and I couldn't agree more with your ***essment of those who are willing to spend $8 - 10K on a banger motor.
What Bruce said...plus...Model A Mechanics Volume 2 by Les Andrews has a very good and informative couple of chapters on basic banger upgrades (lightening a flywheel, counterweighting the crank, carbs & cams etc). As well as Bill Stipe, you can also get good cam grinds from Jim Brierley at F.A.S.T. (Ford A Speed Technology). You can normally reach Jim via the Ahooga website. As Bruce said, it can get seriously expensive, especially when getting a bottom end c/weighted, inserts fitted and getting full oil pressure, but they are so damn torque-laden when tuned up that they are an addiction. Over here in the UK we are just starting up a quarter-mile cl*** specifically for flathead four-bangers and we've got guys getting their steel A coupes into the 18's.
I don't know what it's like over in the US, many of the cars I've seen over there are owned by old guys that have doing it forever (Jim Brierley at many of the H4H4's club), but over here the young guys running serious bangers are just total enthusiasts into the very earliest days of rodding history and all of them have gone into serious amounts of debt to get the engine of their dreams in their gow-jobs.
Thanks everyone. Figures on the Volume 2 , I've got Vol. 1. A friend has the other one though, I'll get it tonight, as for the others I'll get started rounding them up. Also, I understand about the overboard thing, like most everyone else though I've got too much going on and not enough cash or time to try to make 300hp with a no oil pressure havin' , 3 journal , 70yo motor Just interested in ***embling a couple or 3 that run right, and tune a little from there. Thanks again.Jim.
You don't have to worry about one thing... I doubt you will EVER see the day you can build 300 hp out of a banger with your $10K budget!! All kidding aside, I would watch what you read as gospel because there are too many people that have written articles that have never "walked the walk" if you know what I mean. Things change moment by moment in this industry ...and even though I make my living with Model A's, race them, and hang out with some real legends that have been there and done it, ---I don't even pretend to know it all. On the other hand, there are some pretty big egos out there that will fill you full of fluff. Might I suggest you list your priorities ...and your goals with your engine, and then talk to ones that have "walked the walk" in what you are wanting to do. I gotta tell you that most of the true gurus that I know and race with (the ones that KNOW how to make serious horsepower --not just read about it somewhere) are usually a little tight-lipped about telling all of their "secrets". In other words they tell you just a little of what you want to know. Then if someone gathers all of the info from the different sources and just 'jumbles' it together, then what have you got?? With that statement said, why don't we compile a list of the top 5 or maybe 10 'Banger Builders' out there. Now I am not necessarily talking about a "rebuilder" who 'could do it' ...but someone that actually has built a banger that makes serious horsepower.
For the basics of 'A' building I would start off with the Best of Secrets Vol. 1. Has all the info you want and written by people who have, as Brent said 'walked the walk'. Its avaiable from Charlie Yapp at www.secretsofspeed.com
Yes, what everybody has said. These are low rpm torque motors. Go with 6:1 cr on babbit and keep the revs at 3000 max and have a ball. The 12 volt modern point set up that most suppliers sell is a good way to go. I use a 67 (12 volt) VW coil with built in resistors. If you are getting a new head go with the modern plugs-14mm. Many more choices for heat range and a lot cheaper. They make adapters to go in the bigger holes. An overdrive unit is nice! Don't really need a 5 speed. Don't be afraid of your local Model A club-well, maybe a little! They are nice guys and most would be helpful.
Didn't say you did. Maybe I should re-phrase what I said. In MY opinion the people who wrote the articles in 'The Best Of...' are guys who have alot of experience with bangers.
Model A Mechanics vol. 1 . I refer to that more than ony of the others, they still have tons of info, but for actually ***embling the motor thats the way to go. by the way...BRENT are we gunna see you racing at Zephyrhills in Nov. and Feb. or Hershey? Loved talkin with you last time.
I don't plan on running at Zephyr as it is now. Too far to pull for little on-track time. Used to be different. Last race of AARA season is in Celina, Ohio this weekend. Also have a HillClimb in Highlands this weekend. I will be at Hershey in spaces C40 3&4 which is right behind Roy Nacewicz Ent.
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