The Ford Barn

Sparky · 04-29-2026, 12:34 PM

I took my cylinder head off and found this number stamped on the block next to a cylinder. What do you suppose it is? Machine shop mark? I know the engine has been worked on sometime in the past because it has .080 oversize pistons.

gdmn852 · 04-29-2026, 01:46 PM

Hello, not sure what “54” would mean. But authorized Ford engine rebuilders would affix a tag usually near the oil filler on block that had crank undersized and bore oversize. Did have an engine that had oversized bore and was stamped on top surface of block .

Sparky · 04-29-2026, 01:51 PM

No, there is no tag, but one of the pistons is stamped .080 on top. Strangely, none of the other pistons have a stamp.

Benson · 04-29-2026, 02:07 PM

Could be the amount of cast iron removed when they re-surfaced the top of block!

Measure from oil pan rail to top of block:

11.500 minus .054 = 11.446 INCHES

OF COURSE THAT ASSUMES that block was only re-surfaced ONE TIME!

ModelA29 · 04-29-2026, 05:12 PM

Probably the shop stamped it to keep track of the work done on it. I'd wager the last 2 digits of the invoice was 54. Only one piston stamped means only one hole got bored. These were budget cars rebuild and keep running at the lowest cost.

mcgarrett · 04-29-2026, 06:36 PM

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Also possible that after machine work had been done an inspector stamped his number there.

nkaminar · 04-30-2026, 05:17 AM

1954?

Fullraceflathead · 04-30-2026, 09:32 AM

I'm guessing 1954 is the reason for the stamp they either did a head gasket or some other work to the engine.

gdmn852 · 04-30-2026, 11:36 AM

Hello again, not too unusual in that era just to do what was necessary to get it back on the road, I have a Model a engine that two of the connecting rod journals are.010 and other two are .020 . Recall reading about a car from the 1920 s had a broken connecting rod and they drilled it and with a piece of strap steel, bolted it together!

Sparky · 04-30-2026, 04:32 PM

You made me curious so I measured the bores with calipers, and they are all .080 over. Apparently the machine shop just stamped one of the pistons and didn’t bother with the other three.

04-29-2026, 01:46 PM	#2
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 1,114	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block Hello, not sure what “54” would mean. But authorized Ford engine rebuilders would affix a tag usually near the oil filler on block that had crank undersized and bore oversize. Did have an engine that had oversized bore and was stamped on top surface of block .

04-29-2026, 01:51 PM	#3
Sparky Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 661	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block No, there is no tag, but one of the pistons is stamped .080 on top. Strangely, none of the other pistons have a stamp.

04-29-2026, 02:07 PM	#4
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Highlands, Cen~Col Posts: 2,895	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block Could be the amount of cast iron removed when they re-surfaced the top of block! Measure from oil pan rail to top of block: 11.500 minus .054 = 11.446 INCHES OF COURSE THAT ASSUMES that block was only re-surfaced ONE TIME! Last edited by Benson; 04-29-2026 at 02:20 PM.

04-29-2026, 05:12 PM	#5
ModelA29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,596	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block Probably the shop stamped it to keep track of the work done on it. I'd wager the last 2 digits of the invoice was 54. Only one piston stamped means only one hole got bored. These were budget cars rebuild and keep running at the lowest cost.

04-29-2026, 06:36 PM	#6
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Corsicana, Texas Posts: 1,551	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Also possible that after machine work had been done an inspector stamped his number there.

04-30-2026, 05:17 AM	#7
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,855	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block 1954? __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

04-30-2026, 09:32 AM	#8
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,852	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block I'm guessing 1954 is the reason for the stamp they either did a head gasket or some other work to the engine. __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

04-30-2026, 11:36 AM	#9
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 1,114	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block Hello again, not too unusual in that era just to do what was necessary to get it back on the road, I have a Model a engine that two of the connecting rod journals are.010 and other two are .020 . Recall reading about a car from the 1920 s had a broken connecting rod and they drilled it and with a piece of strap steel, bolted it together!

04-30-2026, 04:32 PM	#10
Sparky Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 661	Re: Found a number stamped on top of my block You made me curious so I measured the bores with calipers, and they are all .080 over. Apparently the machine shop just stamped one of the pistons and didn’t bother with the other three.