The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Atlas 4200 Anyone?

Hi, new guy here. I have the hots for a rod project involving an Atlas 4200 series inline six put into a custom built rod, or rat rod, or track rod. Whatever you want to call it. My vision is for a low slung car with very good track manners and not strictly a hot rod, but something closer to a road racer that looks a little like a rat rod. No rubber rats or spikes or dually wheels or other weird stuff but probably a 1940's to early 1950's pickup body that has been chopped and channeled. Equal sized wheels and rubber all around and track car proportions for wheelbase and wheel track. Something that grips the road and goes around corners really well.

I think there are a few of you folks who have explored this engine for HP use and I am eager to know all I can about how this engine (and appropriate transmission) could be forged into something fast and road worthy. Why an inline six? 'Cause I want to. :-)

So I am shopping now for a good used engine etc. My local Pull a Part yard has 50% off at the end of the month and I am ready to go. Right now I need lots of advice regarding engine electronic controls, transmissions, weights, and dimensions. I would prefer a manual trans but it appears that they were only available on the smaller 4 cyl and 5 cyl models and even at that the manual trans did not hold up to the 5 cyl model. So I need some help there. This will be a low buck project so I hope to source most of the car from wrecking yard pieces. I think it can be done.

Please direct me to what forum or Atlas enthusiasts which are out there to help me get going. And thanks for the help.

Randy

Grips the road, corners on rails, chopped, channeled and low dollar. If you get this done please send me a build sheet as I haven't been able to do it in the 68 years I've been building street rods. Choosing a pickup automatically penalizes the grip and handling and do you KNOW what channeling involves? Only the floor stays the same and everything else has to be re-positioned, modified, or scratch built---not a weekend project. The only easy chop is if you go old enough the windshield, top pillars, and rear window area are completely vertical---think Model A. How much can you do yourself because if any has to be subbed out it's NOT going to be low dollar. We have done a couple Atlas engine conversions and it is a good engine engine that a turbo will really wake it up to the tune of 450hp. The ones we used retained all the electronics including the drive by wire accelerator but several are working on a "dumb" version with carb(s) and distributor. Do a search on this and good luck.

That Rube Goldberg oil pan with the big hole through it is a definite buzz kill for me. I'm seriously considering dry sump oiling for the "dumb" engine I've got on the drawing board!
Jerry

When you lose sight of the objective, obstacles are all you can see. Was hoping for a little more constructive advice Evan. I can do the work and did I even hint this was "a weekend project"? I am doing the research, that's why I posted here and several other places as well. I would like to hear some of what you learned from your 4200 conversions. That's what I would like to hear.

Yeah, from what I have learned the "big hole" in the pan was retained for the 4WD models as well as 2WD models. Cost savings I guess. You can buy a better pan for big $$ or modify or reconstruct if you are handy. Or just live with it. Another "buzz kill" for me is all the plastic used on the engine. I recently heard that GM did produce an aluminum valve cover for this engine in certain years and am hoping they offered an aluminum intake as well.

Apparently GM had no specific vision for other uses of this engine which is a shame after doing so much involved engineering to make it a success. Given the low cost when bought at the local Pic a Part type scrap yards and the advanced technology it still remains a very interesting option for a rod, for me at least. I am trying to come up with a sturdy manual trans for the 4200. I really want a manual trans for road use. According to folklore the manual trans available for the 4 cyl and 5 cyl models did not hold up to even the 5 cyl output and was eventually available only for the 4cyl. Two other choices are a Corvette man trans and a Supra trans, neither is a cheap option though.

So I am weeding through all the info I am able to collect and helpful advice is what I am hoping for.

Randy

If you haven't already, check out the inliner's website. They have a section specifically about the 4200.

http://www.inliners.org/

Check Nissan CD009 6 speed

Manual transmissions- - - -acetyline headlights- - - - -a hand crank for starting- - - - -and tube type tires on clincher rims- - - - -they're all about the same degree of obsolete. An automatic trans is smarter than all drivers and most mechanics- - - - -impossible to get it in the wrong gear!
Jerry

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