Canadian parts number decode needed

[4tford]

Can someone with a Canadian parts catalog decode this number for me please. C38A-6303 All I know is that it is a crankshaft. Thanks Bill

[V8COOPMAN]

As Bruce L. stated in your other thread........."I think that would translate to 1943 221 application, a WWII motor." That "38" is such an oddball number as far as Ford codes go. The "3" would indicate YEAR, and the "8" would indicate some oddball application or internal code that I've never been privy to. "Wartime Thing-a-ma-jig" comes to mind. And Bruce is pretty good about utilizing knowledgeable reasoning when it comes to this kind of informed W.A.G.-ing........FWIW. DD

[Bruce Lancaster]

The 221 application was my take...it should be confirmed by simply measuring a rod throw, which would determine whether 221 or 239. The 8 is a bit strange...a 1 or 9 would be expected. Just the 3 in itself says a lot, since they were building 1939 and 1942 basic engines and any number later than those indicates a wartime change. This MAY indicate a locked rod bearing application used as a wartime simplification and to facilitate interchange with British built (basically modified 1937) wartime 221's.
The cleanouts...perhaps also relate to locked bearings? Perhaps the lower flow there made them more prone to collecting crud?
I think '43 was a big year for military mods...I have found indications that PCV and full flow filters may have been introduced then.

[retep]

Is it possible the number is c88a-6303?
My book shows that to be a 1949 Monarch (Canadian version of Mercury) passenger car 110 h.p.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by retep

Is it possible the number is c88a-6303?
My book shows that to be a 1949 Monarch (Canadian version of Mercury) passenger car 110 h.p.

There's no doubt it's a "38". DD

[4tford]

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I agree with Bruce as to a 221. The one in the motor on the rack is 221 +.060 The one I brought home is a 221 with a big overbore. I would like to get more exact info as to the year of the crank. Seems strange I have 3 of them and can not find anyone else who has seen one.

[Bruce Lancaster]

the 1943 is the year of design, so it is a wartime pattern for sure and its oddities had some mysterious connection to military needs. Ford Canada was the biggest source of all sorts of trucks, carriers, and armored cars for the WWII imperial armies.

[Bluebell]

I notice lots of the engine parts have an "a" after the model number as in an 91a 6303 crank, which incidently was fitted to the first 200 carriers built by Ford of Canada. They then went over to a crankshaft CO1UC 6303
Number means: C = Canada
0 = 1940
1 = 85 horse power
U = Universal
C = Carrier
The Canadian Bren carrier was in fact a "Universal Carrier"

Most of the canadian built vehicles had their own model designation like this.

I don't understand where the "8" comes from in in the C38a 6303 part number.
The parts book does not explain it. Anyone know and can explain?

[RalphG]

Here is a page from my Ford fast moving parts catalogue explaining the numbers. Hope it shows up big enough to read here.

[4tford]

Going by that, the C is Canadian and the 3 is 1943 but the book does not tell us what the 8 signifies. It does say the 1 is for 85 hp, 2 is 60 hp and 9 is 95 hp. skips the 8

[Bruce Lancaster]

I used that book looking for wartime numbered parts, which generally were limited to the oddball rod bearings. The numbers I found all fit normal Ford system with 1 for 221 engines and 9 for 239...prefixes like 49A and 31 A. Nothing to match that 8... The fast moving catalog doesn't have crankshafts, so no luck on seeing if the usage would be listed. Need to search the basement...lats more Canadian literature down there somewhere.
The "A" in prefixes like 91A means passenger car was the original design intent. On engine parts, this is pretty close to meaningless, because most engine parts got the A as Ford's usual primary product, but engine parts generally were used on all models with only a few being unique to trucks.

[rotorwrench]

That "8" in the 38 looks a little odd ball. It would be nice to see a stencil of a number 9 in order to compare it to an 8. It may very well be C38A but C39A would make a lot more sense.

[4tford]

The number is an 8 for sure.

[4tford]

The more checking I do, the more I lean toward the 43 Military use. Pulled the pan from the engine off the shelf and it is a two piece and does NOT have a front breather.