Projects Timm builds a model A

Nothing new on the A other than Sarah bought some more supplies for the interior. She’s got a really neat idea for it. It’s kinda hard to come by in the condition we need so she’s been picking away at it.

46’ has a new trans waiting to go in and we are poised to go threw the engine this weekend.

@Blake 27 posted some LARS photos and I caught this rpu with a 153/181. I liked the alternator mount/ placement so thought I’d save it/share it also snagged a gauge panel on the way home from our trip to the trans shop and think it’s gonna land in the 394 pile

 

I like that you have a pile based on an engine instead of a car to put it in lol

 

I mean to be honest the first piece in the pile was some tail light lenses lol. But it didn’t really start turning into a “pile” until I had the engine.

“it’s all… part of the plaaaaan”

 

That gauge cluster is Chevy pickup 40-46ish

 

Yup! I first thought it 40 ford but for what I paid and the direction this pile of random parts is heading it’ll work perfect on the note of a pile of parts I found this set of photos of a wood kit going in and kinda gives me some ideas on how to replace some - the B pillars- with box tube

 

Been laid up sick all week, been thinking about cross flow heads for the banger again. Must be the fever lol

@Six Ball did you end up with an ansen or anything? Seem to recall you having your hands in something similar or maybe @justabeater37 had come across something? Can’t recall

 

Yes I have an Ansen with a Hilborn injector. I need to get the head repaired from some carnage in it's past life then I am thinking my 29 A roadster may be its home.

 

That would be awesome! I’ve been trying to find photos of the modified side covers for the v8 head swap but I’m coming up dry

 

A friend had the patterns for the Dugan 4 & 6 heads and most of the other pieces but I think they went to South America. In Leo Santucci's book on six cylinder power there is a chapter on building a six cylinder head from 2 V8 heads. A lot of the information there would be of use for putting a V8 head on one of our 4s. I think my modified stock head will be fine for my build. I got the carbs back from the rebuilder a few days ago.

 

@Six Ball that's great news!

do you happen to have that book?

 

Yes. It's this one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/144622954103?epid=71798843&hash=item21ac332677:g:SUsAAOSweHpf~kDS
There is a brief mention in the book about using 2 181 eight port heads to make a 12 port head for a six but it gives no detail.
Tim I have 2 books one of each addition. You can have one if you like.

 

Thats generous, I was just curious if they showed the side plate in the book where they do the head swap?

 

Tim, i hope you’re feeling better soon and the case is mild.

 

I'll look at it and post a picture if there in a good one. As I remember the V8 head is quite a bit wider so the side cover is pretty wide at the top. I think the push rods may be outside the block at the top? I don't know what clearance issues there is with the distributer. You might get by with one of the late tall big cap HEIs. Or you may have to run a front mount distributer off the coming cover. Good luck finding one of those. It's not pretty. I think there is a picture of one in a roadster in one of the several threads here covering Chevy II /MerCruiser 153-181 fur cylinders.

 

I think I’m rounding the bend and should be back at work next week thankfully

@Six Ball i think that the rods stay inside the block but the indentions in a stock side cover interferes. I e also seen reference to having to go to a front drive distributor but wonder if the smaller mech advance only cap would fit any better? Maybe just extend the shaft and make like a pillow block/ extended collar to support it?

there’s an active hamb guy that did one decades ago but his name slips me and he has no photos. I’ve seen plenty of photos of the heads on the blocks but this side plate is illusive!

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/153-chevy-with-a-small-block-chevy-head.394890/

This post makes mention of using Harley push rod covers because. Rods were out in the breeze. I’ll have to go back and read closer

 

Sounds like a lot more work than it would be ti just drop a small block in the same hole for even better performance and greater parts availability. The mention of the Dugan head mentions Joe Deppe. That is who CNCDude here got that stuff. Sadly Peppe left some of the patterns at one or more foundries he owed money to & they were destroyed. I now have what I think is that 4 cylinder valve cover.

 

If I wanted performance I wouldn’t be building a 4 banger model A lol

it is fun to explore these odd ball options and tricks though

I’ve heard tale of a cross flow marine head but I don’t think I’ve actually ever seen one

 

I thought a lot of this over before I settled on my engine build. A lot of my ideas came from a Chevy roadster I almost bought right after high school. It had a hot rodded early Chevy four and a near new 153. Years later when I found my roadster I decided to build it like I might have done that one so the engine choice was made for me. Just incase I have a couple of '28 engines & a 3 port Olds head.

 

In the back of my head I always think either A: there’s enough room for a blower or B: a 181 is an almost 30 extra inches that would bolt right in.


I also think, shit I’m glad I added all that extra stuff to my build thread while I was thinking about it or it would be a lot of extra work to figure it out when I actually need it

 

I have enjoyed your thread as you worked out the issues. Real hot rods are never finished. If you think it is, sell it and see what the next owner does.
I think we said early on that a very cool 283 that sits in the corner of my shop will bolt right in where the 153 sits. I want to see how you like the 153 in your A and see how the performance compares to other cars you've owned or built. I've never ridden in anything powered by one of these but I've seen several. 100-150 hp is 100-150 hp no matter where it comes from. Less weight is a +. I added the 181 crank to mine when just finding a 181 would have been easier.

 

Hey, I know that guy! He has been tp my house

He is always buiding something. His IG is a great resource.

That is great reference material for sure. Wood kits can be a bit mystifying, particularly when you start mixing it up. Keep at it!

 

Nothing new to post. Tore the motor down in the 46 while it was out and found it to be trash. Found a fresh 283 for it and am still raising funds to pay for it and bring it home. Looked last night, the A is still over in the corner.

so much for my summer of driving the 46 and working on the A. Havnt done any of either lol

 

@Tim but you have two bad ass hot rods in the garage!

 

@Kelly Burns sure do! Haven't been in the garage in close to a month other than taking out the trash. Last night I popped my head in and took stock of how cool it really is

 

I have a shop full but not a hot rod on the road. I am building a waiting list, so life is truly good even with the lack of a running hot rod. Blessings are disguised as work sometimes.

 

@justabeater37, I like the way you said that!

 

I guess I can show you how I fund raise for hot rod parts. Thankfully me being able to take a good photo of the paintings isn’t a life or death skill because I can’t ever get them just right

 

I'm going to be an artist when I grow up! At least that's what my instructors said in 1968.

 

Perfect opportunity to install AC on the 46!