Model A Vs Model B advice

[jack backer]

Originally Posted by DavidG

When you look carefully, most engine parts are not the same (unless you count fasteners), starting with the blocks, valve chamber covers, cylinder heads, water pumps, crankshafts, connecting rods, oil pump, camshaft, tappets, timing gear cover, oil pan, flywheel housing, and distributor.

Yep, you’re correct , the head is higher compression (slightly), the crankshaft has larger journals ( later ones were 40% counterbalanced) basically curing the center main bearing issue the A has. the camshaft is a superior grind to the A for engine breathing ( later B cams best) Distributor is mechanical advance, insuring proper timing at all rpm ranges, impossible with the A manual advance.. you forgot a lighter flywheel and superior carburetor. Oil pump fits 28 to 34


Those excellent Ford engineers that designed the A engine were forced to save a lot of their noticed improvements till they won the battle to release the improvements in ‘32

[Benson]

Stock A head was 4.22 to 1.

"The Head with the large B" was called the Police head was 5.2 to 1.

The Model B head with the Large C installed on the Model B engine had three bolt water pump was 4.6 to 1. Same heart shape chambers as 1931 Police head.

The Police Head or any of the present day "Higher compression heads" with 4 bolt water pump can be installed on the B engine. Problem is that the 4 bolt water pump is too long if engine is installed in the 32 - 34 Model B car.

Therefore the higher compression heads for the Model B car are limited to "The head with the Large C.

As I remember the fan will hit the Model B 's slanted radiator.

At one time Todd Butterworth was going to cast 4 bolt water pumps with shorter housings and shorter shafts so that the Higher compression heads could be installed on B engine in the Model B cars and trucks.

Did Todd ever make any of these water pumps?


Since 1976 I have a had a Model B engine installed in the 29 Sport Coupe with a Police HEAD


Updates are in Green Text

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Benson

Stock A head was 4.22 to 1.

"The Head with the large B" was called the Police head was 5.2 to 1.

The Model B head with the Large C installed on the Model B engine had three bolt water pump was 4.6 to 1. Same heart shape chambers as 1931 Police head.

The Police Head or any of the present day "Higher compression heads" with 4 bolt water pump can be installed on the B engine. Problem is that the 4 bolt water pump is too long if engine is installed in the 32 - 34 Model B car.

Therefore the higher compression heads for the Model B car are limited to "The head with the Large C.

As I remember the fan will hit the Model B 's slanted radiator.

At one time Todd Butterworth was going to cast 4 bolt water pumps with shorter housings and shorter shafts so that the Higher compression heads could be installed on B engine in the Model B cars and trucks.

Did Todd ever make any of these water pumps?


Since 1976 I have a had a Model B engine installed in the 29 Sport Coupe with a Police HEAD


Updates are in Green Text

Just a few comments. The four bolt water pump used on the Model is the correct length for a '32 Ford and thus any of the speed equipment designed for the Model A can be used on a '32. The problem is that the pump is too long to fit in a 1933-34 vehicle due to the sloped radiator. The '32 radiator does not slope.

I don't know if Tod made any short water pumps but he made some heads for the Model B Ford that looked original but were higher compression.

The first photo shows my Model B roadster and the second photo shows the difference between the '32 and the '33-'34 water pumps.

[Benson]

Charlie,

Thanks for the correction.

I have not seen very many Model Bs with 4 OR 8 cylinders.
I have seen lots of B engines in Model As and in parts yards but not many installed in Model B cars.

[DavidG]

CWPASADENA,


While it is correct that "most" '32 commercial vehicles and trucks were four-cylinder-powered, the V8 engine was gradually released for all '32 vehicles. In the case of the subject pickup, about 10% of them were built with V8 engines worldwide, but curiously less than 10% of those were produced in the U.S..

[jack backer]

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Ford had a 96% casting rejection rate with the V8 in ‘32, those that did make it into production has a variety of issues, from burning oil to casting failure in use. The B engine casting had its own issues, cracking between the exhaust seat and cylinders #2&3 is common. 1932 was a rough year for Ford..