Diesel Powered Model A

[MastuhWaffles]

I though this was pretty cool, that thing must be insanely fast.
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/featu...iesel_powered/?sm_id=social_20140424_22617854

 

[tmcalavy]

That is way cool, and I bet they can get some of the diesel mod costs back by selling good parts off the old engine. I just hope the patch/adapter that hooks that plant to the old axle/diff is pretty stout. If they haven't done and suspension or steering or brake upgrades I wouldn't want to put that buggy down the road at 70 mph as claimed...60 mph might be plenty exciting since it was built for speeds of about 45 mph max given the roads of the time. Definitely cool and ingenious, too.

 

[ZMan]

That is way cool, and I bet they can get some of the diesel mod costs back by selling good parts off the old engine. I just hope the patch/adapter that hooks that plant to the old axle/diff is pretty stout. If they haven't done and suspension or steering or brake upgrades I wouldn't want to put that buggy down the road at 70 mph as claimed...60 mph might be plenty exciting since it was built for speeds of about 45 mph max given the roads of the time. Definitely cool and ingenious, too.

Suspension looks stock in the pics, they at least got rid of the torque tube, but I'm not seeing signs they upgraded to hydraulic brakes, which ya, I wouldn't drive it at 70 with the old linkage brakes for sure. I don't think I would say its "insanely fast" either considering the specs on the engine say 85hp and 132lbft of torque, but its better than it was lol.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Suspension looks stock in the pics, they at least got rid of the torque tube, but I'm not seeing signs they upgraded to hydraulic brakes, which ya, I wouldn't drive it at 70 with the old linkage brakes for sure. I don't think I would say its "insanely fast" either considering the specs on the engine say 85hp and 132lbft of torque, but its better than it was lol.

Its only 2,260 pounds though.

 

[adsm08]

I dunno, 70 on modern roads might not be so bad. Once Henry Ford drove his second purpose built racer across a frozen lake trying to set the world record for fastest mile in a car. He did that in 36 seconds, which I figure puts his actual top speed somewhere north of 150.

 

[Andy D]

The stock brakes on a Model A Ford were actuated by rods hooked to the brake pedal. Fords didnt get juice brakes until 1940. I wouldn't drive a Model A much faster than 35 mph, I don't care how gutsy the motor was.

 

[tmcalavy]

Yeah, but there aren't any ape sheet crazy drivers sexting, texting, yakking, drinking, doping, etc., etc., on frozen lakes. Any speed over 40 around today's drivers in that rig would be suicide and then a trip to the crusher.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, but there aren't any ape sheet crazy drivers sexting, texting, yakking, drinking, doping, etc., etc., on frozen lakes. Any speed over 40 around today's drivers in that rig would be suicide and then a trip to the crusher.

No, there were crazy farmers who would lay in wait, ambush you, and shoot you because they were afraid of your car.


EDIT: Well, not on the lake, but other places.

 

[tmcalavy]

Yeah, LOL, but most of the time it was their horses/mules that were afraid of your car/truck...that's why they laid in wait and did nasty stuff sometimes. Kinda like my lab and the vacuum cleaner...instant freak out and disappearing act. I wouldn't want 6,000 lbs. + of raw horsepower freaked out and dragging a sharp implement around willy nilly...you could trade chickens for health care back then, but your teams (work animals) were your life blood so you didn't take any chances...and who are these crazy bastids with those new fangled horseless carriages anyway???...fricking commies no doubt.

 

[bobbywalter]

have you guys ever driven a model a?


they actually work pretty good for what they are. i wouldnt think twice about running upgraded/refreshed unit 60 mph on todays roads with a modern four cylinder anything powering it..

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I dunno, 70 on modern roads might not be so bad. Once Henry Ford drove his second purpose built racer across a frozen lake trying to set the world record for fastest mile in a car. He did that in 36 seconds, which I figure puts his actual top speed somewhere north of 150.

Oh yeah, old race cars were really well thought out.

Warning: it is kinda graphic



I have a model A chassis with axles that was converted into a wagon running gear, it is kinda neat to see how simple they were made.

 

[tmcalavy]

Going fast would be way cool, stopping would not...brakes before hydraulics sukked big time.