Suggestions on performance upgrades for 225

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DelrayA100

65 A100 - 225ci
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
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Hey fellow FABO!
I have a 1965 A100 w/a stock 225, 3spd on the column, Sportsman Camper. It is a solid van with a great running, shifting, motor. But, I want to up the torque and hp a little...nothing serious since it's mostly a "around town" driver, but I would like to get her on the highway but not with it's current configuration.

I've recently found Clifford Performance and their combo-package (intake/exhaust/2bbl carb set-up) and thought that is wasn't far from my budget and everything is pretty much "bolt on". THEN - I found FABO and everything I've been reading is fairly negative about Clifford's intake and exhaust manifolds.

So now I'm back to square-one and hoping for some sound advice and suggestions for easily obtained performance parts that come recommended from the community. *I'm open to additional performance suggestions like gearing, cam's, 4bbl over 2bbl, etc.

Thank you in advance for all your help.....I'm super stoked to be a part of this community!

DelrayA100 (SE-Florida)
 

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That's a beautiful looking van you have there.
If I was wanting to get that slant six on the interstate
keeping up with traffic. I would replace the 3-speed
with a A833 overdrive. It has an extra .73 or .78 overdriven
gear. In my opinion it is a better choice than going after
higher engine output.
I have had bad luck pushing a slant six at the speeds
people drive on the interstate around here.
Threw the rods on a couple that way.
Better for in town use.
 
Bigger exhaust piping and or dual conversion. Get a 2 barrel on it at least and make sure you get a good advance curve set up in the distributor. An electronic ignition conversion is a good idea as well.
 
the design of these engines allow for a massive cylinder shave in the order of .100 thou. the 318 exhaust valve fits with some machining and a new seat insert. we used to race these things on dirt tracks up here in Canada. torquey little guys with a mild cam upgrade.
 
I'd say increase compression and head flow as the best gains. A feller name Joshua Skinner over on the slantsix(.org) forum has went 17 something in the 1/4 with a stock cam. Cam (small, like 215@.050 or smaller if it were me), carb (again, stay small. Smallest autolite 2100 for me), and exhaust upgrades will all help as well (for exhaust, go 2.25 single with muffler of choice)
 
mguner said:
Bigger exhaust piping and or dual conversion. Get a 2 barrel on it at least and make sure you get a good advance curve set up in the distributor. An electronic ignition conversion is a good idea as well.
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This ^^^^^^ You might also want to check in over at slantsix.org and do some searching. Lots of good info about increasing the torque to get that brick moving and keeping up at highway speeds. You won't be able in use even an A Body 833OD without mods to support the transmission (what you have is mounted from above with the transmission mount built into the transmission!) and the driveshaft is liable to be less than a foot long (or shorter)!
 
Thank you everyone for the great responses. So if I'm getting this right, a 2bbl carb versus a 4bbl is recommended, with dual exhaust?

I'm hesitant to do any cam work until I can find a mechanic that can accommodate the work.

Any recommendations on a manufacturer for both intake and exhaust manifolds? And who makes the best 2bbl carbs for molar?
 
DelrayA100 said:
Any recommendations on a manufacturer for both intake and exhaust manifolds? And who makes the best 2bbl carbs for molar?
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I'd probably contact Doug Dutra over at .org for one of his Dutra Dual set-ups -new front 3 casting modified rear 3 exhaust maniflod - let's you keep current exhaust and add new for the front 3. IIRC SlantSixDan has (or had) new slant 2 barrels he was selling - new is hands down preferred over rebuilt (that's a crapshoot!).
 
For your aerodynamic-as-a-brick van,more compression is paramount.
A free-breathing intake/exhaust will get you to cruising speed faster.
The tune will make it shine.
That long stroke motor can take advantage of more cam, but the Dcr has to be set at the time of cam selection for best results.
Of course, just gears will wake it up,all by themselves.
 
That's a sweet lookin' A100,welcome to FABO !!Most of your questions have been
answered,and a search of this site will turn up many threads on this very subject.We always
direct members who are relatively new to the slantsix.org site,as this is a required stop for
anybody doing almost anything to the beloved slanty.I will throw My 2cents in FWIW;
1)2bbl Yes!, any is better than the single.You're not gonna need a 4bbl w/o cam/valves o/s
2)I would use a large single,single exh. works better on 6's,more flow not req'd w/o^^^^^
3)Definitely optimize the timing setting/total/&curve.
4)Have an O2 bung welded in the headpipe,have someone check&adj./jet w/an A/F meter!
5)Don't OD tranny that poor thing,unless it's got small tires &3.91's,If you overlug the eng.
it won't get better mpg,and will be a dog to boot!Pick the right gears for the job.
IF you get some help,or find you are willing,there are things to do taking the head off,that's
definitely worth the trouble.But it will require someone knowledgeable,and some special
parts, as well as a machine shop familiar/willing to do the job right.
 
Dual Holley set-up
 

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DelrayA100 said:
Thank you everyone for the great responses. So if I'm getting this right, a 2bbl carb versus a 4bbl is recommended, with dual exhaust?

I'm hesitant to do any cam work until I can find a mechanic that can accommodate the work.

Any recommendations on a manufacturer for both intake and exhaust manifolds? And who makes the best 2bbl carbs for molar?
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with the van you have tons of room and plenty of ground clearance for headers if you want. Dutra-duals are a decent choice and a member(waggin) on here makes another type of dual setup. less than Dutra-duals.
I know that a couple of members on here have a set (me included but mine are not on the motor yet) I think "memike" has a set on his car and it's been a while so you could pm him and ask him how he likes em.

x2 on a good (2bbl carb)one from slansixdan. for the super six setup
 
I'll just chime in from the 4bbl camp...I have an Offy intake and a holley 390 on my '68 and am very pleased with it. Admittedly I don't have to deal with aerodynamics quite as much as that beautiful a100, but my car will cruise at 70 all day long and get about 17mpg doing it. That's with stock everything and 2.76 gears.
 
My A-100, I have upgraded to a 2bbl manifold and use a Weber 32/36 carb and fabbed up a Go-kart throttle cable. If you don't want to do anything to the exhaust, at least upgrade to a 2 1/4" pipe with your choice of muffler that has the pipe exit before the wheel are the 2 quickest and best bang for the buck for starters and work from there. Good Luck
 
RustyRatRod said:
Upgrade to a V8.
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Or a turbo.

Anything else you are really pissing into the wind (and your money away)

I've had one, played the upgrade game. I.e. 4bbl, exhaust, ignition, intake, etc. It isn't worth it.
 
In number 11 ,That's my engine from last week, where did you get the picture, Hagley show?
 
desy500 said:
In number 11 ,That's my engine from last week, where did you get the picture, Hagley show?
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So you are out and about again in the ride?Wonderful.Lost track of the
thread,what was the culprit in the fuel system?Not wanting to jack the thread,just
the cliff notes version.

Lol,Rusty's probably right,tho' I'm not sure what bellhousing/flywheel/clutch
combo would work for a SB.You are basically driving a very stylish barn door down the
highway, it takes torque to push against the wind,and more cubes is the easiest
way to get more cruise rpm push for sure.As much as I love the slanty,it's best suited
to early A's, small and light,and certainly a better Cd than the A100 !!
 
You could have a 400 HP 360 for half what a hopped up slant would cost.
 
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