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 08-21-2020, 10:31 AM   #1
David R.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 430
Default Terms?

I am not a young guy but fairly new to model A world. Currently working on a AA. On some of the model A sites I keep seeing the term “banger” referred to a lot. What does that mean? An engine with babbit worn out maybe? Excuse my ignorance please.
David R. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 10:38 AM   #2
Jim/GA
Senior Member
 
Jim/GA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Young Harris, GA
Posts: 1,808
Default Re: Terms?

It refers more to the overall state of the vehicle. It is a rough looking car that you don't feel bad about banging around in, for fear of scratching paint, etc.

Some guys will make their bangers very powerful and reliable mechanically, have good steering, electrical and brakes, etc., but have the body and upholstery look like they just pulled the car out of a barn, where it had been sitting for 50 years. Kind of a fun look.

__________________
Jim Cannon
Former MAFCA Technical Director
"Have a Model A day!"
Jim/GA is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 08-21-2020, 11:03 AM   #3
David R.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 430
Default Re: Terms?

Well thanks for clearing that up. Around here we called them beaters. Same idea I reckon.
David R. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 11:10 AM   #4
Flop
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: pittsburgh pa
Posts: 576
Default Re: Terms?

Where I say banger I’m referring to the 4 cylinder motor . Never used it to describe the condition of a car before.
__________________
Please call or email while website is down!
412 867 1659
[email protected]


https://www.facebook.com/flop.custom
Flop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 11:19 AM   #5
Jack Shaft
BANNED
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,196
Default Re: Terms?

Hopped up ford flathead 4 cylinder..there are cats who do the body and paint capable of fine point,some dont..no restoration guidelines or judging standards.
Jack Shaft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 12:48 PM   #6
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,711
Default Re: Terms?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I agree with the above two about referring to the engine.
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 01:13 PM   #7
Ruth
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Glide, Oregon
Posts: 1,334
Default Re: Terms?

We always used banger with reference to a four cylinder engine, usually with a '4' proceeding it. As in "4 Banger". Didn't matter if it was O/H or Flattie.
__________________
Ruth
"Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread"
Ruth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 01:32 PM   #8
California Travieso
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Moreno Valley, CA
Posts: 940
Send a message via Yahoo to California Travieso
Default Re: Terms?

I agree with Flop, Jack and Bob C. that the the term “4 Banger” shortened to “Banger” refers to a modified 4 cylinder engine. Jim Brierley’s book which deals with his experience in the modification of 4 cylinder engines is entitled “4-bangers! And me!” and includes a history of such engines in racing especially when they went up against the 8 cylinder engines.

David Serrano
California Travieso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 01:42 PM   #9
Harpkatt
Senior Member
 
Harpkatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Long Island
Posts: 171
Default Re: Terms?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flop View Post
Where I say banger I’m referring to the 4 cylinder motor . Never used it to describe the condition of a car before.
Agreed. Usually a "hopped up" 4 cylinder.
Harpkatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 02:09 PM   #10
Purdy Swoft
Senior Member
 
Purdy Swoft's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 8,099
Default Re: Terms?

There will be a bang in each cylinder on the power stroke when the spark ignites the gas and air mix in the combustion chamber . The model A has four cylinders . Four banger is a slang term for four cylinder engines .
Purdy Swoft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 03:47 PM   #11
David R.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 430
Default Re: Terms?

I get the 4 banger slang but I see the banger only reference a lot and it didn’t register. Wouldn’t every internal combustion engine be a banger then? ... and if you only say banger with out reference to number of cylinders couldn’t you assume it was a single cylinder?
David R. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 04:08 PM   #12
California Travieso
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Moreno Valley, CA
Posts: 940
Send a message via Yahoo to California Travieso
Default Re: Terms?

Quote:
Originally Posted by David R. View Post
I get the 4 banger slang but I see the banger only reference a lot and it didn’t register. Wouldn’t every internal combustion engine be a banger then? ... and if you only say banger with out reference to number of cylinders couldn’t you assume it was a single cylinder?
You’re over thinking this.

I’ve never heard people with V-8 or 6 cylinder engines refer to their engines as Bangers. It’s normally a term used by car guys so you wouldn’t find anyone with a one cylinder car engine unless it’s a very early “horseless carriage” or a European Micro car made after WWII.

David Serrano
California Travieso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 04:22 PM   #13
Bill G
Senior Member
 
Bill G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Walla Walla, WA
Posts: 1,044
Default Re: Terms?

It's a very technical term with a precise meaning.
Bill G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 04:26 PM   #14
David R.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 430
Default Re: Terms?

I’m having fun with it anyway. I’ve had some six cylinder engines with worn mains that were ‘bangers’, especially on a hard pull.
David R. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 05:44 PM   #15
Pete
Senior Member
 
Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wa.
Posts: 5,373
Default Re: Terms?

I can trace the term “banger” back to the teens. (WW1) My Dad raced model T’s as a teen ager. It means a MODIFIED 4 cylinder engine, generally used for some type of racing. It did or does, not have to be any specific brand or type.
JUST 4 CYLINDERS AND MODIFIED SOMEHOW.
In the 30’s snd 40’s my Dad was transferred all over the country with his job so I got to meet many well known pro racers and I can’t recall ever meeting any that didn’t know instantly what “banger” meant.

Different slang terms can mean different things in different areas and different time era’s. It is no big deal. It is always interesting to me to know where they came from originally. It is all “keen stuff” and it was a “neat” time to
grow up….lol
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2020, 07:03 PM   #16
Licensed to kill
Senior Member
 
Licensed to kill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Alberta
Posts: 930
Default Re: Terms?

Quote:
Originally Posted by David R. View Post
I get the 4 banger slang but I see the banger only reference a lot and it didn’t register. Wouldn’t every internal combustion engine be a banger then? ... and if you only say banger with out reference to number of cylinders couldn’t you assume it was a single cylinder?
Being slang, it means whatever you want it to mean. To me, it's a 4 cylinder engine, stock or modified. Interestingly, while the 4 cylinder is a "4 banger" a 1 cylinder is referred to as a "one lunger". I think it has more to do with how it rolls off the tongue. You want an interesting discussion of "terms" go to the HAMB and discuss what constitutes a "TRADITIONAL hotrod" .
Licensed to kill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2020, 10:09 AM   #17
Purdy Swoft
Senior Member
 
Purdy Swoft's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 8,099
Default Re: Terms?

If it was a four stroke one cylinder motor cycle , it might be called a thumper .
Purdy Swoft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2020, 11:00 AM   #18
DannL
Senior Member
 
DannL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 184
Default Re: Terms?

Or in the case of my dad's motor bike which he referred to as "a one-lunger". As if it was missing one lung.
__________________
Not a Purist.
DannL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2020, 11:36 AM   #19
Jim Brierley
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,066
Default Re: Terms?

When I started racing Model A's in the 50's, the 4 cyl. engine was referred to as a '4 barrel'. In the mid 50's, new cars could be equipped with a 4-barrel carb, so racers changed to the word 4-banger, meaning 4 cylinders. This was in SoCal. The term applied only to the engine.
Jim Brierley 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 05:01 AM.