Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead ? its is definitely a 49 to 53,it has NOT been bored and has a 3 3/16 bore with a slight lip from the rings on top of the cylinder bore, clean valve springs but it is stuck, so we cant measure stroke yet. and idea from the pictures ? there also seems to be some green original paint on it also, any ideas ? thanks

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

1CM is 1951 Merc. Paint color is Merc, too (I believe).

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

I guess I'm looking at the rear camshaft cover plate. I have found those 1CM numbered plates on several Ford V8 motors even though it sounds like a Merc number.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

thanks tony..........

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Looks like the crankshaft is out. Why can't you measure the stroke?

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

How do we measure the stroke if crank is out ? And piston are stuck ?

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

With the crank out you can measure the counterweight cheeks. Mercs are near 6-inches across and Fords are 5 1/2-inches. It seems like the cam gear covers were made for clearance on the automatic transmissions so either Ford or Mercury might have that cover. It has truck water pumps and many of the later pickup engines were green.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

http://www.flatheadv8.org/boomer/crank.htm an article I wrote a few years ago

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Size of the oil plugs in the crank is another way to figure out if its ford or mercury. But I have been told thats not always true.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

You guys are all geniuses ! I never would have thought of measuring a counterweight ! Now if I only had the crankshaft that was originally in the block ! Lolololol.......no crank.....

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Then it's really just a standard bore FH, why would it matter it matter to be ID'ed?

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

So the stroke will be whatever you want.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Note! Canadian Nerc 4" cranks had the small clean out plug in most of them. Second the blocks were all the same for cars and trucks. However, early blocks had hardened seats in the exhaust up to mid 51, after that they had rotators on the valves.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Just curious I guess ???

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

I worked in an engine shop for many years, did all the model A's and the v8 flatheads, did hundred's of em. Best job in the shop. The block IS a Merc block.
Bruce Remington

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

The block IS an 8BA block. There is no difference in the blocks. The only exception is whether it is late with no exhaust stellite seats or early with stellite seats

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Hey Bruce......Welcome to the 'Barn. You seem to be pretty adamant in your statement about this being a MERCURY block. As rotorwrench aludes-to above, both Ford and Merc blocks '49-'53 are identical. I'm curious as to what you're basing your belief ("block IS Merc") on? DD

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

It seems to have Merc water pumps.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Nope! Looks like Truck pumps circa 48' and up.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Crap! I was hoping for a 4" Merc crank outcome! I love those stories!


Lonnie

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Well thank everyone for there input and the mystery has been solved, it is a mercury block. ! The original crankshaft has been found, it's a mercury !

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Not sure it's solved for me, what is a Mercury block and how do you ID one? I was under the impression that all the blocks were the same Ford/Mercury, so how do you know a Mercury block from a Ford block?

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

Just a case of one who believes what he or she wants to believe. We've been trained here on the id of 8ba blocks for many moons, by some real good experts, and we mostly all know that a crank does not identify a block. Over a long period of time, I've yet to see info on where blocks were cast and machined (8ba-era), and any identifying features that would make a block one or the other (ford or merc). It's a little like trying to debate a 59A block as being Ford, or Merc. It (59A) is clearly a Merc part number, but I don't see anyone trying to convince me that they didn't also come in Fords.

Re: Can Anyone I.D. This Flathead
 

bobH........You have a great way with words. You speak with authoritative reason, verifiable facts, and you make good sense as well as staying on-point. None of that rhetorical obfuscation being thrown-around as of late. DD