"Police" modifications to Model A's ??

[Bugsy]

I've been wondering for a while if there were any, modifications that law enforcement agencies did to Model A's? I know that there are "Police" , high-compression heads and some things like that but what other things were being done to try to give them a bit of an edge or to at least keep up with the "other side". Any exhaust, intake or carburetor modifications or otherwise??

[Jim Brierley]

At least one PD installed the then new 2-port Riley conversions (heads) on their cars. This was an F-head with 2 intake valves per cylinder and the stock exhaust valve in the block. This approximately doubled the horsepower of the A engine.

[WTSHNN]

It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas.

[SkimmerBob]

Hey WTSHNN you're a singin my tune!!!!!!!!!

[Purdy Swoft]

I think that there was a smaller generator pulley that gave brighter lights at lower speed that was used on some of the model A police cars. This modification wouldn't give more speed.. The Trojan dual updraft manifold could have been used, it was available in the aftermarket in the last of the model A days.

[AL in NY]

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There was also a larger generator available with higher output amperage to help the charging when using radios and sirens.

[Paul from Maine]

Originally Posted by WTSHNN

It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas.

Ah, I don't think any Model As came with a 440 cubic inch plant. Dodge Polaras did though. May be you were thinking of the ex cruiser featured in that John Landis film that came out thirty sumtin years ago. I think Eddie Fisher's daughter and Cab Caloway were in it. Can't remember the name of it or who starred in it.

[Colorado Greg]

Originally Posted by WTSHNN

It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas.

Thats awesome! Gotta love the Blues Brothers!

[Milton]

"Use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers has been approved."

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by WTSHNN

It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas.

Fix the cigarette lighter.

[Bobs29ModelA]

Generally, the use of 2-way radios didn't come along in the US until around 1933, when the Bayonne, New Jersey police department successfully operated a two-way system between a fixed central station and radio transceivers installed in police cars. There was some testing and use prior to that, of one-way (receive-only) radios by various police departments. Since tube-type broadcast radios were available for installation in Model A's, it would not have been a problem to install a receive-only police-band radio in a Model A either, as long as you were careful to not deplete the battery of starting current. However, when the concept of the two-way police radio was introduced, the current draw of a tube-type radio (when in transmit mode) must have presented a whole new issue to the electrical system of the car. They certainly must have had to come up with higher-output generators to handle the load, I would think?

[roccaas]

The NC Transportation Museum has a 30's V-8 State Patrol Ford Roadster with a "bulletproof" windshield. I wonder if any A's were likewise outfitted?

[Jack '29 Sport Coupe]

Motorola introduced a two way radio in 1928. I believe it was first used in the
Detroit Police Department. I don't know what car it was used on, but I heard the
story from a Motorola executive back in the 80's.

Jack

[RonC]

right mounted sirens, low speed generators (delco?) and high compression heads

[Bonus Built Acres]

I have wondered the same things.
here is a blurb from Utah Early Patrols and a link with some interesting reading.

"These patrolmen were issued 1927 Harley Davidson motorcycles with a side shift lever and foot clutch. These early Harleys had exposed push rods and valve rocker arms. A red spotlight was mounted on the left handlebar with a white spotlight mounted on the right. A siren was also added. Within a few years, a first aid kit was mounted to the rear fender. In the 1920s, all Harley Davidson motorcycles were painted a dark color, usually a dark green or olive drab. The patrol did not repaint these bikes for several years. By 1931, the patrol repainted all issued motorcycles white with "Utah Highway Patrol" stenciled on the gas tank.
Patrolmen were also issued 1928 Model A Fords with dual carburetors which were capable of obtaining speeds of 60+mph. "


Wish they described more details here.

http://publicsafety.utah.gov/highway...ce_patrol.html

[RcT]

An extremely difficult accessory to find these days... the first GPS with a donut shop indicator.