Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-04-2017, 11:48 AM   #1
tinkirk
Senior Member
 
tinkirk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 363
Default Horsepower

Just throwing this out there for idea's.

Whats it take to get one of these little F4's to make more horsepower let's say up there around the 70 number mark?

Thank You in advance
Tinkirk/Terry
tinkirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 11:54 AM   #2
J Franklin
Senior Member
 
J Franklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,947
Default Re: Horsepower

Why?
J Franklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-04-2017, 11:59 AM   #3
tinkirk
Senior Member
 
tinkirk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 363
Default Re: Horsepower

Quote:
Originally Posted by J Franklin View Post
Why?

because just curious what it would take to get it up there somewhere close
there has to be more than just adding a H C head

Tinkirk/Terry
tinkirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 12:07 PM   #4
johnneilson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 34.22 N 118.36 W
Posts: 1,044
Default Re: Horsepower

can be done with overhead valve conversion.

try the Miller High-Speed head, great quality and works very well for Touring cars.

Of course you can get more HP, but the limit will be your wallet.

John
__________________
As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.
johnneilson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 12:09 PM   #5
Sparky
Senior Member
 
Sparky's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 649
Default Re: Horsepower

HC head, better cam, modern carb, overhead-valve head, etc. Check out the dyno charts here: http://modelaparts.net/
Sparky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 12:35 PM   #6
tinkirk
Senior Member
 
tinkirk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 363
Default Re: Horsepower

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparky View Post
HC head, better cam, modern carb, overhead-valve head, etc. Check out the dyno charts here: http://modelaparts.net/
what i'm seeing for the simple part of it is a stock model A with very little upgrades does not produce a lot maybe 10 hp
so it looks like again all it takes is cubic dollars how much a person want's to spend

Tinkirk/Terry
tinkirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 12:42 PM   #7
Sparky
Senior Member
 
Sparky's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 649
Default Re: Horsepower

Hey, 10HP is about a 25% increase in power!
Sparky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 12:51 PM   #8
Rex_A_Lott
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 794
Default Re: Horsepower

" Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?"
That's been true since the first hop-up part was made, and still true today. A lot depends on what your goal really is.... a hill-climber, vintage race car, "touring" motor, etc.
As far as what can be done, all the normal speed tricks. High Compression head, bigger valves, boring w/ lighter pistons, cam, multiple carbs/downdraft carbs, header, cutting the flywheel, V8 clutch and pressure plate.
If you really have deep pockets, you can buy an aluminum block, 5 main crank, overhead valve conversion, some fuel other than gas.
I'm sure I left out some things.
Let your conscience be your guide. Good Luck
Rex_A_Lott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 12:57 PM   #9
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Senior Member
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,486
Default Re: Horsepower

Quote:
Originally Posted by tinkirk View Post
Just throwing this out there for idea's.

Whats it take to get one of these little F4's to make more horsepower let's say up there around the 70 number mark?

Thank You in advance
Tinkirk/Terry
To answer you specifically; a 6½:1 high-compression head, a Stipe IB340 camshaft, oversized ( 1.750" ) intake valves with the valve bowls opened up, port match the intake and open up the draw-tube to 1.250" with a flowed Model-B carb, and a rebuilt distributer with a Stipe cam and a good coil will get you very close on a dyno. Other items such as an exhaust header, 2bbl carburetor, hotter camshaft, etc. will give you a little more power, but in my opinion look for ways to increase torque instead of adding Hp. Torque will allow you to pull a higher gear ratio which increases mph.
__________________
.

BRENT in 10-uh-C
.
www.model-a-ford.com
...(...Finally Updated!! )

.
BRENT in 10-uh-C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 01:05 PM   #10
hardtimes
Senior Member
 
hardtimes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South California
Posts: 6,188
Default Re: Horsepower

Quote:
Originally Posted by tinkirk View Post
what i'm seeing for the simple part of it is a stock model A with very little upgrades does not produce a lot maybe 10 hp
so it looks like again all it takes is cubic dollars how much a person want's to spend

Tinkirk/Terry
Hey Terry,
'a stock model a'
If that is your starting base, putting equipment like OHV head(more compression and more hp) is , most likely down the road, going to cost you more $ to do it right. That is, if you start with a stock base rather than a strongly rebuilt base, then the stock base will likely come undone at weakest parts first (cam gear/bearings, etc).

If you just want to see how long a stock a engine will last with MORE hp, than I'd like to see results of that experiment also !

This is why 'cubic dollars' become involved, to buy parts and labor for base that will (possibly/maybe/should) take the added hp and make you happy driver.

If you really want to know what is takes to make more hp , think breathing !
An engine with the most/best breathing capability with be capable or making more hp, i.e.- exhaust piping, intake type and improvement, carburation improvement, valve improvements, bigger bore , porting and on/on. ALL these take $ for equipment and labor....good luck.
hardtimes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 01:47 PM   #11
denis4x4
Senior Member
 
denis4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Durango CO
Posts: 1,309
Default Re: Horsepower

This 1931 engine put out 40hp at the flywheel when new. After spending thousands of dollars, I have dyno'd 60hp at the rear wheels. I suspect that I could have purchased at least four SBC crate engines for the same money I have in the A. As everyone has said, "speed costs money...how fast do you want to go"
Attached Images
File Type: jpg image.jpg (63.5 KB, 207 views)
__________________
No restorable Model A's were harmed in the building of this truck!
denis4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 01:53 PM   #12
PC/SR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Posts: 1,276
Default Re: Horsepower

Bolt on stuff, HC head, single downdraft carb, good ignition, ARIES muffler will get you up to around 60. Add a decent cam, dual downdrafts, will put you up in the 70 range. Beyond that....Check out Jim Brierely's book. He has a new edition coming out soon.
PC/SR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 02:13 PM   #13
George Miller
Senior Member
 
George Miller's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 2,975
Default Re: Horsepower

Remember you have that little flimsies crank shaft down there. We just got back from the hill climb with my home built over head on a model A engine. With 6 guys driving it it broke 3 flywheel bolts.That was turning 4,000 to 4500 rpms.

You can make them fast but it could also shorten there life.
George Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 02:39 PM   #14
Chris Haynes
Senior Member
 
Chris Haynes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
Posts: 2,830
Default Re: Horsepower

Quote:
Originally Posted by johnneilson View Post
can be done with overhead valve conversion.

try the Miller High-Speed head, great quality and works very well for Touring cars.

Of course you can get more HP, but the limit will be your wallet.

John
I have been told that the Miller head requires firewall modification.
__________________
1921 Runabout
1930 Tudor
Early 1930 AA
Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?
Chris Haynes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 03:07 PM   #15
40 Deluxe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,774
Default Re: Horsepower

Quote:
Originally Posted by denis4x4 View Post
I suspect that I could have purchased at least four SBC crate engines for the same money I have in the A.
But what fun would that be??
40 Deluxe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 04:12 PM   #16
tinkirk
Senior Member
 
tinkirk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 363
Default Re: Horsepower

Yes i agree on the sbc
As could build on of those I have more than enough parts to build a lot of fun power but
I'm looking at the F4as a challange
What i have so far
4" bore
New rods & pistons from AER
Insert mains and rods
1.730 intake valves 1.5 exhaust
Counter weighted crank
Stipe 340 cam
Hoping to get at least 20+# off the flwheel
The one thing I will be missing right now is the induction part
I just wanted to see what other people would think
tinkirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 04:24 PM   #17
Dodge
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sonoma, CA.
Posts: 1,491
Default Re: Horsepower

Throw on a higher compression head at least 6-1, bore out the manifold and put a B carb on it and you wil be very happy.....
Dodge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 05:20 PM   #18
todd j
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 49
Default Re: Horsepower

Here's a short video of mine 86HP and MORE money than I care to admit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZltcMaPHj4
todd j is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 06:36 PM   #19
Bill Wright
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: California
Posts: 76
Default Re: Horsepower

I put a K&N air filter on mine. They promised 5-10 more horsepower. I sent them an email but as of now hey haven't sent me the additional hp!
Bill Wright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2017, 06:48 PM   #20
MikeK
Senior Member
 
MikeK's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Windy City
Posts: 2,919
Default Re: Horsepower

Quote:
Originally Posted by tinkirk View Post
. . . Stipe 340 cam. . . I just wanted to see what other people would think
Which Stipe 340 cam? If it is the Stipe IB 340 you won't be making that much horsepower with what you've spec'd. (IB stands for 'Improved B'). If you get one of the the Stipe Road Runners, like the RR340, which is a more agressive cam, you may reach your coveted 70hp. You can see the spec's for the IB340 and the RR340 cams on Vince's website.

Keep in mind a lot of horsepower or torque in an A is useless unless it has a very wide power band, necessary because you have only three widely spaced forward gear ratios. Unfortunately, mods to increase power inevitably raise the RPM for power peaks and narrow the band as a percentage of operating range. Increased HP also becomes diminished in effectiveness if the power peaks are thousands of RPM above stock because you will not be able to shift that non-synchro trans quickly enough to keep on top of that power band.
MikeK is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:39 AM.