Performance upgrades for a new owner

[rmak]

I am finally getting back into cars after 40 years (the last car I worked on to any extent was a 33 Dodge coupe with a 55 hemi in the 60's)
I've always wanted a roadster and finally bought an unfinished 29 Model A. The previous owner was making a 'banger' which is a new term to me meaning keeping the four cylinder, but hopping it up a little. After hearing his descriptions of the crusing speed of a stock motor, the idea of a few more horses appeals to me. Plus, there are no fenders so I might as well build it with that theme.
What performance upgrades are available for these engines? Which ones make sense without totally redoing the engine? Can anyone suggest a catalog or website to help me out?
I know someone will suggest the hamb, but I really prefer the easy going, slower paced friendly atmosphere here. Thanks.

[just plain bill]

Originally Posted by rmak

I am finally getting back into cars after 40 years (the last car I worked on to any extent was a 33 Dodge coupe with a 55 hemi in the 60's)
I've always wanted a roadster and finally bought an unfinished 29 Model A. The previous owner was making a 'banger' which is a new term to me meaning keeping the four cylinder, but hopping it up a little. After hearing his descriptions of the crusing speed of a stock motor, the idea of a few more horses appeals to me. Plus, there are no fenders so I might as well build it with that theme.
What performance upgrades are available for these engines? Which ones make sense without totally redoing the engine? Can anyone suggest a catalog or website to help me out?
I know someone will suggest the hamb, but I really prefer the easy going, slower paced friendly atmosphere here. Thanks.

Google " History 101" By Jim Brierley, 4 bangers. You may have to include all of that to bring it up.

[Charlie Stephens]

Check out the "1928-34 Model A/B Speed" catalog from vintageford.com. They don't make the equipment themselves but there catalog is extensive. I don't know how easy it is to navigate their on line catalog so you might want contact them for a hard copy. You might want to give us a description of the car you are going to build and your budget.

Charlie Stephens

[tuneman]

Dollar for dollar, The biggest bang for your buck is a high compression head!

[Mike V. Florida]

It's all a matter of money!!!

Give the group a budget and they will suggest things that will use every penny.

Please remember that this site is, by design and stated by the owner, is for the restoration of model A's.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

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Originally Posted by tuneman

Dollar for dollar, The biggest bang for your buck is a high compression head!

I used to believe this too but now I am starting to believe that an IB340 camshaft from Bill Stipe is a better value and drivability gain simply because most original camshafts are severely worn. The other reason I say this is because of the torque that comes from this camshaft over so-called "Touring" cams. We all know that a Model A was capable of 60 mph when it was new so speed is not the issue but being able to have strong and wide torque band to be able to pull the hills in high gear and to keep momentum is crucial due to the transmission gear ratio spread.

[dustyp489]

RMAK

Check out Red's Headers, he has a lot of performance parts for A motors.
You may want to look up F.A.S.T. and and SOSS This will show you what to look for then start checking Here and HAMB parst for sale and Craig list along with swap meets .

I have had good luck finding parts for my 31

Have fun

Skip

[pick]

I, along with many others on this site, strongly suggest a high compression head and an overdrive trans. My preference is Brumfield or Snyder 5.9-1 head and the Ford F150 4 speed overdrive from Dave @ modelaonly.com

[Tinker]

rmak, have you been on the hamb for a while? Since you are a hamb'er have you checked out the monthly banger thread? Always starts with a wealth of information on hoppin' the banger and all the links to the how to's and venders. Pictures to boot. I watch it all the time and it's a good one. I'm not trying to say see the hamb but it's right up your alley. It may NOT start with everyone answering or giving you a complete how to build your A, but it's all there.

Link

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ghlight=banger

Good luck! Many good answers already here.

[Milton]

The three C,s

Carburetion
Compression
Camshaft

rmak - "but I really prefer the easy going, slower paced friendly atmosphere here. Thanks."

I too noticed this. The fourth C, camaraderie.

[just plain bill]

Originally Posted by rmak

I am finally getting back into cars after 40 years (the last car I worked on to any extent was a 33 Dodge coupe with a 55 hemi in the 60's)
I've always wanted a roadster and finally bought an unfinished 29 Model A. The previous owner was making a 'banger' which is a new term to me meaning keeping the four cylinder, but hopping it up a little. After hearing his descriptions of the crusing speed of a stock motor, the idea of a few more horses appeals to me. Plus, there are no fenders so I might as well build it with that theme.
What performance upgrades are available for these engines? Which ones make sense without totally redoing the engine? Can anyone suggest a catalog or website to help me out?
I know someone will suggest the hamb, but I really prefer the easy going, slower paced friendly atmosphere here. Thanks.

Before you start bolting on speed or power stuff I would suggest you find out just what is the condition of the lower end. Nothing will destroy a nice running old stocker quicker than bolting on more compression with out taking up the slack in the galloping bars. Oh sorry I meant connecting rods. And while your at it check the mains. Wouldn't hurt to do a wet and dry compression check either. See if them old valves are sealing. If it ain't in the car so much the easier. You can just roll it around.

[Tom Wesenberg]

A counterweighted crank would be at the top of my list. This is mainly for the life of the mains.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by Tinker

rmak, have you been on the hamb for a while? Since you are a hamb'er have you checked out the monthly banger thread? Always starts with a wealth of information on hoppin' the banger and all the links to the how to's and venders. Pictures to boot. I watch it all the time and it's a good one. I'm not trying to say see the hamb but it's right up your alley. It may NOT start with everyone answering or giving you a complete how to build your A, but it's all there.

Link

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ghlight=banger

Good luck! Many good answers already here.

Tinker,
THANKS for the heads up on this link/thread! Just what I've been looking for!!

[Tinker]

Your welcome Hardtimes. The hamb threads can go by quickly and there is always so many different topics that the monthly banger thread gets lost in the mix... or should I say it's a stealth thread! One of my favorites on the hamb that goes on every month.

rmak, the guys that post on the banger thread on the hamb are easy going guys. I would assume alot of them are over here as well. I agree with you, it's like a peaceful country road over here compared to the LA freeway of the hamb. But if you get in to the right lane, the freeway can get you where you want to go.

[Logan]

The basic way to describe an engine is getting air in and out fast. In my opinion a weber 2 barrel carb (around 7 hp) a high comp head (around 10 hp) and aries muffler is all easy bolt on performance parts that are worth the money. All these help the engine breath better, and air flow better. You can easily put these 3 items on in a couple hours and there will be a huge noticable difference

[Jim Brierley]

The 3 "C"s as stated by Milton, in that order. F.A.S.T. web site is www.hotforhotfours.com, or e-mail me for a free sample copy of our magazine. [email protected]

[just plain bill]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

Tinker,
THANKS for the heads up on this link/thread! Just what I've been looking for!!

You can read my latest rant about valves. One thing about this forum on the HAMB they don't care if you are a purist just lurking or a beginner or a hard core hot rodder every one is welcome!

[Mike V. Florida]

Funny thing, I often get bashed for pushing restoration on this board and suggesting that for modified stuff one might find better answers on the HAMB board and here you have a poster that when given a thread to go to on HAMB states,

"Tinker, THANKS for the heads up on this link/thread! Just what I've been looking for!! "

[Kevin in NJ]

The start of building a great Model A motor comes from understanding how Ford built it in the first place. If you take the prints to a machinist an told him to rebuild the motor back to factory he will tell you that you are building a race car engine.

You can lose a lot of horse power to vibrations due to imbalance issues. Ford built the crank so the center lines were on center so the flywheel was less than .001" off center. The crank was dynamically and statically balanced, as well as the flywheel. Good luck finding one ground today that has the mains ground on center, or even the same centers and then balanced correctly. Yes, there are guys that make it pretty close and you have to search to find them.

The rods were balanced +- 1 gram at each end. The piston rod assemblys would be within 4 grams of each other. The rods today are done in the 4 gram total weight at some shops. I have a set of pistons that are 50 grams different in a set.

So start with balancing the engine.

Of course you can expect up to 50,000 miles and beyond with properly done babbitt.

For the rest of the engine you have the same details to consider. A new cam from Stipe will let the engine breath properly. Proper original parts in the properly restored distributer will lit the spark be even and regular. A carb that is rebuilt to the correct specs and maybe adjusted a bit for the increase in alcohol today will feed you cylinders properly.

So start with the important original details and then tailor the parts to what you really need. A little higher compression certainly is a welcome enhancement. An Aries muffler gives the original back pressure.

Then there is learning how to trim the car as you are running. You have to keep the spark adjusted correct for driving conditions and realize babbitt is fine with a well balanced spinning crank at higher rpms, but does not like pounding situations.

There is no reason why the car should not be comfortable running at 60 MPH and you should expect to see in the low twenties for fuel mileage. With the changes in the cam angles that Stipe offers you can have a car that is a bit more spunky at different RPM ranges. Lots of simple stuff you can do to get a great running car without spending lots of money and doing more extensive changes.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

Funny thing, I often get bashed for pushing restoration on this board and suggesting that for modified stuff one might find better answers on the HAMB board and here you have a poster that when given a thread to go to on HAMB states,

"Tinker, THANKS for the heads up on this link/thread! Just what I've been looking for!! "

How true Mike. Forums are funny like that. I've been a lurker on the Hamb for only 3yrs. It takes time to find the good threads over there. Thought maybe some of the people that have been coming here with mod's may not be aware of them. Asking a question on the main board can be like writing it on a piece of paper and throwing it to the wind.

Good answers on both forums. Good luck rmak