Reprinted with permission from "Secrets"
July 1995
Secrets of Speed Society, Box 957436, Hoffman Estates, IL
60195-7436
Ron Kelley can be contacted at telephone (972)
771-1911.
The following excerpt highlights the muffler
results; click
here for the entire article.
wanted to find out how the engines I rebuild compare to
a stock Model "A" engine. I decided that dynamometer
testing would best show the improvements made to the engine.
The tests were done on a Super Flow 901 Dynamometer. It
is a computer machine and is calibrated on a yearly basis.
Testing on the dyno is done at
full throttle. The computer increases the load until it
brings the RPM to a lower preset limit to start the test
cycle. When the test cycle is started the computer eases
the load to allow the RPM to increase. It then takes measurements
at preset intervals until it reaches the upper preset RPM
limit and then returns the engine to the lower limit. That
completes the test cycle.
For these tests I needed an engine
that was as near to stock as I could find in order to set
a reliable base line from which to measure any improvements.
I borrowed an engine from a past customer who had removed
a rebuilt stock engine with only 2000 miles on it. This
engine was in good condition and had been sleeved back to
standard bore. The valve train was rebuilt using reproduction
stock parts. The camshaft had been reground with a stock
"A" grind. The crankshaft and flywheel were stock.
This was what I needed for a base line comparison, a basic
stock engine with no modifications. This engine will be
referred to as engine #1.
I rebuilt two more engines for
comparison testing at the same time. Engine #2 was rebuilt
with insert bearings and my preferred parts list. Engine
#3 was also rebuilt with inserts, but was stroked .360",
Which is almost 3/8".
Engine #2 was rebuilt using parts
and services that I have found over time to work very well
together in a Model "A" block. The engine had
insert bearings in the rods and mains and a counter weighted
crankshaft. It was dynamically balanced and had a lightened
flywheel with a harmonic dampener installed. The pistons
were from a Ford 351 ci V-8, which required a 4" bore.
The valves were from a GMC truck with one piece valve guides
from a Buick. The engine had a mild performance camshaft
and the ports were enlarged and polished.
I also wanted to test some other
bolt on items such as heads, distributors, carburetors,
spark plugs, mufflers, fans and fan belts. I wanted to see
how these things compared to the stock Ford equipment.
The preceding excerpt highlights the results
of the muffler tests;
for the entire article, click
here.
Contact your local dealer or
Aries
Limited, 14510 Big Basin Way, Suite 112, Saratoga, CA
95070-6082
Email: Sales@amuffler.com
or call 650-948-6424
In Canada: contact Steve Latimer,
stocking dealer in Ontario,
at 613-498-1647 (evenings).
In New Zealand: contact Roger
Anderson, Model A & T Parts and Accesories
Meeanee, Napier, New Zealand, www.model-a-autoparts.co.nz
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