Rare 21 stud 59A ?

[37 Coupe]

Ebay item # 120831357764. Seller claims he knows complete history of 1937 Ford farm truck and the engine replacement in 1946. He states that engine does in fact show the 59 on bellhousing which would note a 1946-1948 engine ,but claims it has 21 stud heads and everything internally bore cam etc was manufactured with 1937 specs. Either a very rare engine or he can't count. I asked him for a recount and he still comes up with 21 on block and heads and says it was "special cast" for the farmer.

[donald1950]

on the picture with the 2 heads, on the that is head right side up, i count 24 studs.. don

[David J]

I wonder how they come up with 21 ?

[Tinker]

Easy way to tell 21 from 24 blocks is the center studs. 3 down the middle = 21. 2 = 24.

[37 Coupe]

I see two=24.

[flatjack9]

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Also 5 along the bottom - 21 stud, 8 - 24.

[rotorwrench]

I think the guy was getting mixed up with the 41A replacement blocks. They were based on the 59A and had all the indications of being a 59A except they were a 221 CID block with 24-studs. They were a wartime replacement for engines used on the home front but Ford kept making them at least well into the later 40s.

His memory played tricks with the 21-stud versus 221 CID.

Kerby

[Mart]

Here's my quick method:

I just look for three bolts close together between no's 1 and 2 cyls, and 3 and 4 cyls.

3 bolts close together = 24 stud.

Mart.

[V8COOPMAN]

Three along EITHER end of a head = 24 stud. DD

[jimTN]

It must be made of unobtainum if it was special cast for the farmer!

[blown49]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

I think the guy was getting mixed up with the 41A replacement blocks. They were based on the 59A and had all the indications of being a 59A except they were a 221 CID block with 24-studs. They were a wartime replacement for engines used on the home front but Ford kept making them at least well into the later 40s.

His memory played tricks with the 21-stud versus 221 CID.

Kerby

Not to argue but I believe the 41A blocks were 21 stud. Ford had a cutter to enlarge the valve pockets on the left head so the old heads (81* series) could be used on the new 41A block. The cutter was needed because of the valve angle change post war.

Jim

[von birch]

Originally Posted by blown49

Not to argue but I believe the 41A blocks were 21 stud. Ford had a cutter to enlarge the valve pockets on the left head so the old heads (81* series) could be used on the new 41A block. The cutter was needed because of the valve angle change post war.

Jim

that's very interesting! i never knew that.


besides the cool info coming out on this thread, i think the dude selling it just was sick the day they went over basic counting in kindergarten. unless of course it really was "cast special for the farmer." how many times have we seen that scenario played out...am i right?...happens all the time...

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by blown49

Not to argue but I believe the 41A blocks were 21 stud. Ford had a cutter to enlarge the valve pockets on the left head so the old heads (81* series) could be used on the new 41A block. The cutter was needed because of the valve angle change post war.

Jim

Jim, The need to flycut the 81A heads for use on the 41A short blocks is correct, however, both were 24 studs. You may be confusing the fact that Ford continued the production of 21 stud engines alongside with 24 stud engine throughout 1938.

[blown49]

Originally Posted by blown49

Not to argue but I believe the 41A blocks were 21 stud. Ford had a cutter to enlarge the valve pockets on the left head so the old heads (81* series) could be used on the new 41A block. The cutter was needed because of the valve angle change post war.

Jim

Don't know what I was thinkng when I wrote this. The 41A was a 24 stud engine. Sorry for any confusion.

Jim

[Mike in AZ]

maybe he figured 'cause it's 3 1/16" bore, then it's a 21 studder.....there are 59s with that bore, as they were replacement for the 221 engine.....Mike

[bobbooth]

I have a wartime 221 ci 21 stud manufactured sometime between 42-45

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Jim, The need to flycut the 81A heads for use on the 41A short blocks is correct, however, both were 24 studs. You may be confusing the fact that Ford continued the production of 21 stud engines alongside with 24 stud engine throughout 1938.

I always thought the reason for the mid/early-year change in 38 was because they were using up the 21studs from 37. But I guess production could mean just that, apposed to casting new 21 blocks in 38.