I just inherited a 1978 Licoln Towncar that was in an accident. Luckily, engine, tranny, rear-end are all okay. I am toying with the notion sticking it all in my Model A/model A rails, but have no expirience with an engine this big and am looking for help/instructions on boxing, mounts, etc. I know that this set-up has been done before and I need some help. Anyone?
I've got a 460 in my litte A roadster. They're pretty bulletproof motors....I couldn't stand the C6 and swaped in a four speed a few years ago. The things a fucking mean tractor, nothing'll slow it down. I think that 9" will be way too wide though as is.
Ya... I friend of mine builds high-end competition rockcrawlers and said we will narrow the 9" for me for $50. Which brings up another question: How wide should the 9" rear-end be for a Model A? This is all new territory for me.
Pick the rear wheel width and offset first, then decide how close you want the inside of the tire to the body. With the width of the body figured in, you can get your "flange to flange" distance (where the wheels bolt on). This should be all your builder needs to know. Center the pinion on the flanges when you have it narrowed. Stock 9" Fords have it offset to one side. Overkill? "If it blows up with a 4 barrel, go dual quads, if that breaks, inject it...fix it FASTER." Name that movie...
A buddy of mine is putting a 500 inch Caddy in his model A coupe so no it's not too big. Just box those rails.
HOT ROD!!! I love that movie!! I only wish I could pull Hemi's out of old AMC Matador cop cars, though!!! Hahaha!!!!
Damn, somedays I sure do miss that sucker. I was fun, but the new bigass garage is worth it. The guy I sold it to that put the blown 460 in it had to sell it too, rumor is it went out to Jersey or somewhere back on the east coast. Anyone out there seen it?
There is no kill like overkill. Kill it. KILL IT!! KIIIILLLLL IIIITTTTTT!!!!! Uhm, yes by all means, use that lively combination of big motor and light car.
does a bear shit in the woods? does michael jackson like little boys underpants? does a happymeal come with a toy? did you keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times? is 3" long and 6" thick wrong? should you put a 460 in your power hole?
Not even close to overkill yet...... I have a 600 horse 460 in my A sedan, running a c/4 though.....much smaller...and can handle more horse when built right...and a 9". You'll need a touch chassis though... even stock, that 78' 460 puts out gobbs of torque. Do it....its a hot rod...its suppose to be overkill.......
462" late Buick, single quad, mild cam, T-400, 3.70 nine inch rear axle. About 520# torque and 2400#. Fun.... Will be a 462" late Buick, dual quads, big cam, T-400, 3.25 nine inch rear axle. About 540# torque and 2200#. More fun....
Man it still wrecks my dad's ass for getting rid of the C4/460 bellhousing. Anyway, I've got a 429cj in my f-100 and it runs hard. A 460 in an A ought to be fun. Go for it.
I thought about this one years ago, but shied away from the engine offered to me ($500 with C6 transmission) after I found it was pulled from a demolition derby car. A buddy of mine installed one in his 79 Ford full sized Bronco and it was a torquey mutha. My advice is, don't waste your time with a stock A chassis. they're great if you restore a Model A. Even with boxing, you are still working with old steel and cracked rails and elongated rivet holes. Build a new one from 2 x 4 tube steel. New front crossmembers are available from Chassis Engineering in West Branch, IA A new chassis is safer and a lot cheaper in the long run. When you make this frame, engineer it for a longer engine bay so you won't have to cut into and recess the firewall in the A. Model A's are chummy enough. Some of those old Lincolns had a rear end that looks like a 9" but it's actually a 9 3/8" ring gear. Different enough and parts are hard to find. So the best way is to get a 9" rear end set up by one of the many street rod specialists who specialize in this type of rear end. They're a big engine, and bulletproof. Not sure how you're going to fill the tank at $3 a gallon gas, but I figure you've got that part already covered.
too much?! OVERKILL?!?! BLASPHEMY! 455 Buick, TH-400 from a caddy... in a 52 Willys PU... i think it should be able to at LEAST get out of its own way anyhow
It'll get out of it's own way and then some. Did that air cleaner come on that engine or is it from another engine? Seems like the earlier 400's and 430's had that cleaner . . . and it is a cool one. Any chance you have a 430 instead of a 455? Easily determined by looking at the cast in numbers on top of the bell housing. They're about 1" tall and will say, "430 or 455." Not sure if the 400 has this same cid cast in indicator.
the cleaner is an olds. . . round back, not a cad cause i believe they had a flat section in the rear... got it off one of the suedes up in NoDak... yaknow, lmao i gotta look at the casting now or its gonna bother me, cause alla sudden i wanna make sure! should be tho. . . '72 year 455 from a "granny driven" 225 Electra
No such thing as overkill, I ran a blown 427 in my old 32. 1800hp, ok so it had a full race chassis and cage but you can never have too much HP!
It probably is, the rocker covers don't look like a few sets I've had, but there were several different designs. Cool air cleaner, now I want one. Another place you can find a 455 casting mark is right behind the starter. If I remember right you have to pull the starter to see it. These are also cast numbers and about 1/2 - 5/8" tall.
looked last night and there it was right behind the intake, cast into the back of the block. .. great BIG numbers "455" as the valve covers go, got a set of Kenny Bell aluminum covers off erape that are goin on... i like a little "bling bling" with my big block
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