Eab
 

Hi Gents

Two questions:

Is a EAB still a 239?
What years were they produced?

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Re: Eab
 

Yes, 239 c i

Issued in '52-'53 Ford

Re: Eab
 

It really just refers to the new part number of the cylinder heads. In those years the Mercury had EAC prefix heads. The Ford EAB prefix heads have a good compression ratio if a person wants to use stock heads for a street motor. The Mercury heads generally have a lower ratio to work with the larger displacement.

Re: Eab
 

Good info. How do the EABs compare to the aluminum heads for compression?

Re: Eab
 

Not to argue, but didnt the EAB have a higher lift cam? Guess I could google it to know for sure.

Re: Eab
 

Yes. .330 lift

Re: Eab
 

pulled down several EAB/EAC engines this past year and have found a variety of valve configurations, no inserts, inserts on exhaust valves and all inserts. Is there any rhyme or reason for this. These engines had stock bores and the one with no inserts will have to have them to be able to be rebuilt, exhaust seats were severely compromised

Re: Eab
 

What's the possibility that some of them were earlier engines with "EAB" heads? It has been common knowledge for a long time that the "EAB" heads were superior. A lot can happen to an engine in 67 years.

Did any of the engines have the date code stamped on the manifold deck? Also, did the engines without inserts have rotating valves?

I know these are minor points, but I like to know all I can about these beasts.

Re: Eab
 

I've read that as a cost cutting manoeuvre Ford left out the either the exhaust or intake seats in '50 or '51 and then did away with both in '52.

Re: Eab
 

It wasn't considered as being as necessary by 1951 due to the better fuels available at the time. The rotator valves that were introduced that year would give more even seat wear so they eliminated the intake inserts and even exhaust inserts for car engines produced late in the flathead era. Trucks kept them for the exhaust valves through the end of production. Both of my early 1951 Mercs had no rotators yet and still had the seat inserts so it was begun mid year sometime for the 51 models.

Re: Eab
 

last two engines available are at the machine shop, I will look for deck stampings when I get them back. the saying around here is they are in machine shop jail and will be out when they are paroled!

Re: Eab
 

I like the rotators for a street engine and they work with a .350 cam, like the Max#1. You must use the stock short valve and spring. I use a .060 shim on the spring.

Re: Eab
 

good info on the rotators, Ol' Ron

Re: Eab
 

For street engines that rarely see 4k revs, I know it works as I've had one running for several years with no come back. I'd like someone to try it with the 1007B. It has the same lift but faster lift rate. Should mave the valve seats last allot longer.

Re: Eab
 

Here's a shot to help show the difference between the "rotators" and the "non-rotator" assemblies!

Like Ron says, you need much shorter springs with the "rotators" in play!

"Happy Thanksgiving" to all!!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. Keep this in mind, you won't be able to use the 185 Isky springs/cam with the "rotators" either. We rarely use them on anything here!

Re: Eab
 

My engine is an EAB and has "1BA" cast into the back of the block near the oil pump drive. No hardened seats, with rotators. I believe that identifies blocks cast for use without seats.

After a rebuild including valves, my valve seats recessed during a long highway trip, within maybe 500 miles, to the point the valves were held open at operating temps. Rotators didn't help. I had hardened seats installed, no problems after 3 trips of 3500+ miles.

Re: Eab
 

That's interesting Ross. I have the original engine out of my July 1, 1951 build date club coupe on a stand in my shop. I'll have to check to see if it has that casting number and no seats. According to everything I've read, the change was made midway through 1951 production.

Re: Eab
 

I think 1BA also indicated that the crankshaft was usable with the automatic transmission. Both of these changes were in the 1951 model year.