Hey all, I’m working on building my Model A and I have some transmission and front axle questions. What transmissions can I run behind a pretty hot Model A four banger without altering the torque tube? Building on that, will I need some sort of adaptor plate depending on the ******? Would a V8 60 trans work or would that not handle the power I'm pushin? Now for front end, I wanted to split my wishbone, thinking I would need to if I run a different ******. Again will any other ford transmissions bolt up in the same location to the torque tube and engine, so I can continue using a model an axle and wishbone? I dig the look of the split wishbone, so I might just do it anyway, but if I were to drop the axle, then would I have to cut the mounts off of the frame and relocate them to achieve the correct KPI? I want to drop the front end a little bit, so what is the process of reversing the eyes on the main leaf? And what other leaves do people recommend taking out? Phew, that was a lot. If you made it through that, thank you.
I'm using a 39 Trans with a Clings adapter and still running the torque tube. Clings is no longer around. I think Snyders has their patterns and is selling the adapter now.
I've used the Snyder's adapter kit on two warmed up A engines and it's a bolt on with the 30's ford V8 transmission, the 39 has better synchronizers all the V8 transmissions will work. I had a V8 60 in a 28 A with the stock transmission and it will bolt to the adapter but I'd go with the regular V8 transmission since its stronger. I ran a V8 transmission behind a counter balanced A engine with a Winfield head, Mallory dual point distributor, Ansen manifold with a Holley 94 carb with no problems.
The reality is the model a banjo rear axle is probably weakest link. Keyways and keys are suspect. Most hopped up hot bangers are lucky if they make more than 75 real hp. It takes a lot like really hot cams, stroker cranks and overhead valve conversions to break the 100hp mark. Getting rid of the stock 3 speed will defiantly improve drivability.
Pretty much everything other than a Model A transmission will take some modification of the driveline. Mitchell takes a Model A transmission and gives you synchro 2nd and third....pricy Best modification, in my opinion is turning down, lightning and modifying the A flywheel for a flathead V-8 clutch or pop for Bertz flywheel....or I have several...but there is shipping...roadtrip I have two A's with stock banjos and close to 100 HP to the rear wheels....trouble free for 10's of thousands of miles but they were gone thru and very carefully set up. I have upmost confidence in them...and they have been dirt dragged and hill climbed.... plus lots and lots of road miles I have TK-5 (mazda transmission made for Ford) in one with a homemade adapter behind an AA bellhousing, homemade adapter with open driveline to a Ford 8" TKO-5 New Process 4wd Jeep transmission and a Vintage Precision bell housing...I love this one...an enclosed torque tube and driveline....to a Model A diff... An other banger that has a Mitchell transmission and driveline OD to a stock 3.78:1 rear end...again, driven hard and ten thousands of miles.... it has the Snyders outer bearing fix on it that uses later model bearings and loc***e affixed bushings....keep them greased and check the axle shaft fastener routinely....did I mention to keep the outer axle bearings greased and fastener tightness checked routinely....that reminds me, I need to check them before my trip to California next month and Oklahoma in October. making sure that you have full contact with the hub taper to the shaft taper is paramount too... along with good keyways and key stock Good luck
In my last Model A there was a Jeep T150 4 speed. My car came that way so not sure what was involved in it getting fitted.
Here’s another one with a Volvo M40 transmission; it fits neatly into the original transmission location using an AA Truck bell housing and the conversion kit. Best regards, Harald.
modified torque tube to A banjo in this one but i have one with ford 9 inch and another with A banjo with open drive conversion.
I put a Volvo M40 4 speed in my model A, without any modification to the torque tube. No ch***is cutting or welding. Makes it so much fun to drive There’s a guy in Germany doing kits for this installation Piston-knockers.com You need a Model AA truck bellhousing, they are shorter, or a bellhousing for a t5 installation, Clings make one, I think
I just looked those Burtz flywheels up. $400 is a lot of money to stomach at first glance, but I got a quote for $250 to lighten an A flywheel plus $145 to resurface (not even including drilling for the V8 clutch), so I’m actually pretty sure I’d be ahead just buying one of those… Really depends where you are and what kind of friends you have.
For those of you familiar with the Volvo transmission. I'm under the impression that the output shaft can be fine or course spline. Is one more common than the other or year dependent?
My Volvo M40 transmission has the co****r spline pattern; the Piston'Nockers conversion kit includes both versions, so you can choose the right one. Incidentally, a Swiss driver used this kit and the Volvo M40 transmission in a Model A to complete the 15,000 km Peking-to-Paris rally and made it all the way to Paris, so it certainly holds up. Best regards, Harald.
That's interesting, I have close to a dozen of the transmissions, and all seem to be the course spline. Most have a flat plate coupler on the output, but a few have a regular u joint. I will have to check what i have.
I just picked up a 4 speed Ford and adapters - 4th is OD. It uses an AA bell housing and the closed driveline with an adapter for the clamshell. There are different installs for this trans (I don't know which kit I have). Some say "bolts right in" others note Ttube & shaft need to be shortened. I'll mock it up once the engine is done and measure. https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/TremecT170FT.htm
Don't forget to add shipping and they will also charge you sales tax. I opted not to buy a Burtz because by the time it would arrive there was about $1,200 in additional charges.
I thought Burtz had a warehouse in Southern California where you could pick it up? Maybe one of the California firms listed here has a block kit for pick up. https://burtzblock.com/pages/distributors-builders
Nope tried that angle. The Burtz company doesn't touch the stuff. A logistics company handles the import, warehousing and shipping. Any distributor would have probably paid a shipping fee to get it to their shop. They may have saved some on the shipping by ordering several units. I've heard there is no bulk discount.
I have a '32 B case with '48 gears and the correct top. It all bolts right up. You have to figure out how to hang the pedals and e-brake lever though. They used to make a kit. Let me know if you'd like to give it a shot and I can talk you through it.
https://modelastore.com/collections...-for-installing-1932-1934-transmission-engine https://modelastore.com/collections...or-installing-a-1932-1934-transmission-engine Here are the parts
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