Water Jacket Thickness

[Bob Bidonde]

I plan to move the side water inlet on the engine from its current position between Cylinders 2 & 3 to Cylinder 4.

Does anyone know how thick the water jacket is at Cylinder 4?

[Joe K]

Someone here (and certainly on Youtube) has divided the Model A engine up for "demonstration purposes." Yunno. "Cut away" to see the various parts for training.

Check out "Model A Engine" on Youtube. The vid shows a cut-away Model A engine and he runs it without cooling water on one or two cylinders for short periods of demonstration.

Joe K

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

I plan to move the side water inlet on the engine from its current position between Cylinders 2 & 3 to Cylinder 4.

Does anyone know how thick the water jacket is at Cylinder 4?

I think this would be a mistake. If all the junk is removed from around the rear cylinders, then the engine will do fine. Unfortunately someone used plain water in my block and created a lot of rust that settled in the rear and caused a hot spot. Now that I have it flushed out my engine doesn't have the easy ping like it used to and it cools fine.

If you still want to increase the rear flow even more (even though I don't think it's neccessary) just tap into the left rear of the cylinder head like you are going to connect a heater core. Then either connect a heater core or run the hose to the cast water outlet at the front of the head. This will make more coolant flow to the rear.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

I plan to move the side water inlet on the engine from its current position between Cylinders 2 & 3 to Cylinder 4.

Does anyone know how thick the water jacket is at Cylinder 4?

I have modified several for water manifolds. The average thickness has been
.230.
As long as you are modifying the water path, here is a pic of what I do on my race engines.
If you don't acid strip the block so there is no scale and rust in the water jacket, any mods are a waste of time.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Pete, interesting what your hose sizes are. People are worried about the thermostat or a filter restricting coolant flow, but my 1950 Studebaker with a 245.6 cu. in. flat head six has the same 1 3/4" water inlet to the block, but has only a 1 1/4" outlet, while the Model A has a 2" outlet. So the filter or thermostat don't hurt the Model A.

BTW a 2" outlet will flow alomst 3 times the coolant as the 1 1/4" hose.

[Joe K]

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Originally Posted by Pete

As long as you are modifying the water path, here is a pic of what I do on my race engines.

Quite a rig. Lemme guess. Separate water pump at bottom of radiator and the upper pump has the impeller shaved off to save horsepower?

Neet thought. I always thought the aftermarket Model T pumps is what Henry should have put on the Model A.

Joe K

[Hicktick]

Pete , what do all the master cylinders do ??

[Pete]

One master cylinder for the clutch, one for rear brakes, one for front brakes.
All Wilwood stuff.

Only one water pump, the one you see in the stock location.
Modified from a stock pump with high volume curved impeller vanes.
All ball bearings with ceramic seal.

This water management system not only works for race applications but is more than adequate for street use.
When I was in Riverside for the 2002 MAFCA national meet hill climb we toured all over LA that week and during the day the temperatures never got below 105. The water temp. never got over 190.

[Hicktick]

Shifting and stopping , all part of going fast .

[colin1928]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

I plan to move the side water inlet on the engine from its current position between Cylinders 2 & 3 to Cylinder 4.

Does anyone know how thick the water jacket is at Cylinder 4?

Back when these engines were used for speedway racing this was very common I remember as a teenager seeing my father and uncles doing these on all their engines so I know it works quite well and must have thick enough jacket wall
also seen set ups simular to Petes
I think they may placed it more between 3/4 then straight on No 4
wish I had photos or paid more attention