So I’ve been slowly collecting parts for a full fendered and hooded ‘29 Model A Coupe build. Early 60s type build. 4.50/4.75 x 16’s up front 7.50x16’s in the rear. As low as I can get it without the tires rubbing too badly. 4” or so chop top. Louvered hood and most likely splash aprons. Cut down ‘51 Merc dash. ‘40 column and wheel. Something along these lines… I want to run a full hood so I can hide the intended SBC and A/C compressor. With a low mount compressor and good hose routing, you shouldn’t be able to even see it with just the driver side hood side open. Still want to cover it up. Originally going to use a stock frame, boxed, make my own x member. And build my own rear crossmember to fit a ‘40 Ford front spring. ‘36 bones on the rear. Totally traditional ch***is build. That plan changed a bit when I found a deal I couldn’t refuse on a new Pete & Jake’s frame. Not a big fan of running coilovers on the rear. But it’ll get me on the road quicker and let me put that ‘40 front spring in the rear of a real hotrod. Now comes the curve ball. ***uming this doesn’t blow up during break in. Found another deal I couldn’t p*** up… Which has me wondering if it’ll fit (even somewhat) in a ‘28-‘29 Model A with stock wheelbase and stock length hood? I searched pretty hard and can’t find any pics of it done. I see a few ‘30-‘31’s done. But the ‘28-‘29 hood is I believe, 3” shorter? The engine has the hot heads water pump which I think is a little shorter than the stock pump setup? Fear not, that billet pulley won’t be utilized as-is. So, any pics or first hand experience on the matter? Making the hood sides clear the valve covers is no big deal. Just worried about the length and whatever else I may be missing.
There was a stock bodied 28 A that had a big block Chevy in my town. But he never used hood sides. Is your hemi wider than a big Chevy?
Sorry I can't help you about a Hemi but, I'm getting ready soon to shoehorn a FE into stock wheelbase 29 Tudor. Obviously, there isn't much room in a coupe. All big blocks must be similar in size though and the ones I have seen, used blisters in the hood sides or cut holes etc. Keep us posted, cheers
I've got a 351W shoehorned into a stock '29AA and I haven't yet attempted to put on the hood but it sure looks dicey at this point. Even with a 4-inch tunnel in the firewall, it's gnat's-*** close, radiator to bell housing and header to header. I just can't see how you can even get a Dodge red ram or DeSoto firedome in there without the heads spilling out over the hood latch rails. A full-size Chrysler hemi -- good luck with that, but who needs a hood anyway when you've got the elephant in the room?
Yeah you absolutely can. Now how far You have to shove it back is dependent on wether you want the front corner of the valve covers to breach the hood sides. but length wise you can absolutely Fit one under a stock hood with stock wheel base. It won’t have a stock fire wall but even a chevy it’s a nip tuck to fit.
Dan, Yes- it's possible, but you'll need to move the stock firewall back approximately 4". That would position the distributor & rearmost exhaust ports under the cowl, as well as consume 4" of legroom. Stock A WB is 103". My '28 is on a '32 frame with the front x-member moved forward an inch for a total WB of 107". My firewall is stockish, with a crescent cut out of the flange between the top & bottom firewall, for distributor clearance. My 354 Hemi has a Black Mountain timing cover/adapter (similar to HotHeads), SBC water pump and mechanical fan. My radiator & grille shell are directly over the front x-member. M/T valve covers stick out are a lot wider than the stock steel Firepower valve covers. Here are some pic of my setup. I can take more tonight if you want. Whatever you decide to build, I know it'll be totally *****in'.
Also a good time to point out early hemis come in all different shapes and sizes. Some of which are the same length roughly as a sbc
Im sure there was a thread on the H A M B, that listed all dimentions, weights etc of different engines.
Well the Hemi break in went great. It’s ready to drop in and drive. Now it has me thinking about ditching that Pete & Jake’s frame. And going back with the stock frame, transverse rear spring and ‘36 bones. Such problems to have
nothing in the cup holder.....what's up with that? .....you have to record the liquid sloshing or mimicking lake placid.....
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