Fun Friday - Help pick a powertrain for a '31 Model A hot rod

Saw a '26 Pontiac 2-door sedan rat rod that was running a Weber-carb'd 12a with nitrous and a Supertrapp muffler. I'm sure that was a rowdy ride. Can never go wrong with rotaries

Late 30's Chrysler flathead straight eight.

In reply to chuckles:

Isn't getting 300+hp out of any of those old straight 8s kinda spendy and problematic, if at all possible? I'd guess the 9 main Packard engines might be up for it, but they also weigh half a ton.

flat 6 from an svx, keep awd. Blow minds

Magnum V10, only manual trans options I can think of are NV4500 or Viper T56 though.

EDIT: at what point do we suggest E36 M3 like two Ford 2.3s?

In reply to Chadeux:

I considered suggesting a Honda K series on either end, but that would be ugly.

In reply to maschinenbau: Seems like a transversely-mounted Honda 4 or 6-cylinder, mounted mid-engine, has all the ingredients for annoying hot rodders.

Subaru engine of your choice (twin turbo jdm starts at 600)

Built vw bus trans flipped mounted mid engine in the bed

It doesn't meet your horsepower parameters of course, but I've always thought that a Miata powertrain would be perfect for a nice light little Model A pickup. Should be an easy swap too.

BrokenYugo wrote: In reply to stuart in mn: I think it's more combating snobbery than flat out annoying people. I find I agree with the idea less as I get older, but that's the reasoning.

That's probably because there is ultimately no difference between the two.

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I think a 350z has the potential to make an interesting single vehicle donor for a pretty unique, capable, and reasonably priced hotrod build.

In reply to Woody:

There is actually some work being done on a Speedway Motors fiberglass T-bucket 'pickup' kit that would use a Miata as the donor.

All of my ideas have already been suggested

Now I'm just here to find out what happens.

You notice how free we are with the OP's time and money? We're really generous that way.

BrokenYugo wrote: In reply to Hal: Is that a Chevy 153? Or the 3.0 liter/181 mercury variant?

Chevy. Not sure what size.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I'm kinda leaning towards 2JZ N/A with ITBs, Megasquirt, and a lake pipe header. Might be a little low on power, but I can always go turbo later.

Or quad-rotor if I can make that happen cheap enough. Doubt it though.

I probably won't touch this project until after the Challenge though.

maschinenbau wrote: Or quad-rotor if I can make that happen cheap enough. Doubt it though.

Turn a FWD transaxle sideways, hook a 13b up to each axle shaft...they like to spin. Then use the original input shaft to run back to your rear differential...might need to work on the gearing there though.

I like the 2jz idea. Should sound amazing with the ITBs.

You might consider the Audi 4.2 v8 as well. Widely available for cheap.

Why not a straight 8 Buick? Updated with modern EFI and ignition. You could build a killer exhaust header for it. They aren't that expensive if you can find one. I have one in a '46 Roadmaster. It ran when parked (1965)

His next project should be to find a blown up M5 and swap a 454 into it. Paint it to match the Vette. Then he could just piss everybody off.

Madhatr wrote:

MadScientistMatt wrote: BMW V12 would have a lot of visual impact. For angering crotchety old men at car shows, I like the idea of a rotary - particularly if you did a lakes pipe style easily uncorked exhaust, or a Honda K or J series. Although picturing it with Subaru cylinder heads poking through each side of the hood might be even better.

You really want to tick off the crochety old men, put a BMW V12 in a 71 Corvette convertible... like my friend Richard is doing! As far as the model A goes... I can't help much. My ideal DD would be a model A sedan high boy with a flathead and a T-5. It would sound good. Look good and be dead nuts simple. I have the drive train sitting in my garage, I just need the model A Edit: with V8 not an option I would vote turbo four flavor of the day

BrokenYugo wrote: In reply to curtis73: I know a guy who put a mechanical pump from something older on a OM606, he had a stick behind it too, not sure how you get to 300+HP from there, though he was planning on doing that somehow the last time I heard.

The nice thing about diesels (including the 606) is that they're simple. Adapting a P-pump or VE rotary to it is pretty simple. Kinda like putting a 4 barrel on a small block. The most I've seen from a 606 was 360 hp/545 tq. At that level they like to turn the main caps into putty, but billet mains can take you a lot further.

Give it fuel and pick a turbo that gives it enough air, and the mains are your only restriction.

Late model 4 cylinder Ecotec - LNF or later turbo motor. easy to get 400 bhp+, without even going into the engine, though above that you'd get some peace of mind with a good set of forged pistons and new rods.

Here is a non-turbo version in a TR4