39merc block
 

:)ok gurus tell me whati need to look for to make sure its a 39merc block i have been looking at a block that has no markings on it except someone has stamped on the top of where intake sits 99a13545789 these seem to have been put there after manufacture now ford had no serial#s on engines so what gives here thanks trev :)

Re: 39merc block
 

The center water passages in the top of the block are round. The Ford is a trapizoid. The 39 block has a dime size freeze plug on both sides in the bottom of block where the oil pan bolts on.

Re: 39merc block
 

The Canadian ones down here have 99A cast in the block behind the RH water pump.

Re: 39merc block
 

yep know thyat but this is a usa block no dam #s cast anywher

Re: 39merc block
 

Also should be 3 3/16 bore instead of 3 1/16.

Re: 39merc block
 

The serial is VERY odd, as it is FAR beyond the total produced with 99 seials 1939-48.
26 Lakes has the essential points for American 99's. It is common but not universal for '39-40 99"s to have a "99" only stamped at right front of manifold surface on block. Stamoed numerals are about 1/4" high.
The two freeze plugs can be spotted even on an assembled motor, because there is a long bulge up the block right above each to create enough room on the pan flange to house the plugs.
221 and 239 blocks will look very much the same, and the 221 can be bored to 239 bore, but on 221 lower and middle water holes are trapezoid, on 239 lower only, middle one is round.
Also the upper cylinder area of the 239 is astoundingly thick...you can see and feel this at the trapezoidal hole, where the cylinder wall almost reaches the hole.

Re: 39merc block
 

thanks bruce it has 99a stamped on the top of valley with a few #s there is no cast # on the block anywhere were usa blocks 99a? as the canada ones? ive been into flatheads along time and have never seen a # stamped on top of valley

Re: 39merc block
 

I have one of these blocks lying in the shop floor . I will do some scraping around on it this weekend to check for numbers on it. Now my curiosity is up.

Re: 39merc block
 

USA flatheads before the 59 lack block ID casting. The stamped 99 at front was JUST the 99, not a serial...the number shown here looks like a Ford serial, but is way too high for '39-48 239 series...
A few early flatheads DO have apparently original serial stamped on block. Perhaps some were done to meet a state or local legal requirement...? Others may well have been industrial engines sold without transmission. Ford put serials only on completed and tested complete engines, normally putting the # on trans which went out to assembly plants as a ready to install engine trans unit...but industrial engines were available without trans as well as with car or truck trans, and I would think those would have gotten serial numbers.

Re: 39merc block
 

right update bruce ive just been down to check it out cleaned up around serial #
*99A 1331022* is stamped on rear of valley however 59 cast on rear bell housing no i repeat no frost plugs ddnt pull head ????????????????

Re: 39merc block
 

Sounds like a 59A to me.

Re: 39merc block
 

The 59 on the bell is a dead giveaway.

Re: 39merc block
 

Just took a quick look when I got home at the block I have . The water holes between the center cyls have a almost triangle hole at the top ,round hole in the center and a trapezoid hole at the bottom. It has the core/freeze plugs in the pan rail and has a 3 3/16" bore . There is no 59 or other designation on the bell housing. I will clean the intake surface good and look for any numbers there. I have been wanting to build this engine and put it in my 40 .

Re: 39merc block
 

That would be a '39-40 99 block, Ken, a VERY good block and one that will look exactly the same as a 221 1940.

Re: 39merc block
 

Here are a couple of pics of the engine I have. I think I might have another one, I need to dig it out.

Re: 39merc block
 

This could also be a 99T block. They were in the large Ford trucks. The Mercury and the larger Ford blocks were the same.

Re: 39merc block
 

THIS IS A GOOD THREAD . I have the same motor in my celler . came out of a 40 big fire engine. 99 on the top corner . no reaised intake deck . . has 9T on the heads . nothing on the bellhousing . I soaked the baby for a month sprayin pb blaster down the cylinders . my brother Chuck came over ,an just for the heck nof it ,tried to spin it over an "smooooze" it turned over , I just got all the valves to open an close.

Re: 39merc block
 

Allegedly...no confirmation, but a good yarn...the "99" stamp on '39-40 239's was to distinguish 239 from 221 on the assembly line, since they looked exactly alike once assembled. Then somewhere in '41 or 2 Someone hit upon the idea of painting 239"s blue to distinguish from the mossy green 221, and of course the blue carried over postwar when all v8's were 239 '46-48.

Re: 39merc block
 

Didn't the Mercury's(early ones) also have 29A marked heads, as opposed to 59AB? I found a motor in a junk yard here in a big cabover truck. I did some research and came up with the Mercury designation. That would also fit in with the truck use mentioned earlier.
It turned over, and I wanted to buy it, but the guy thought it was worth a whole lot more than I did.

Re: 39merc block
 

29A is 1942 Merc. Any early number with a 9 in that position is 239, the 2 is the intro year. A '42 Merc would have the "raised" intake pad.
I think 99 Mercs used the 221 truck heads...don't have merc catalog handy. Trucks got 99T I think...