found a good deal on a 1929

[duffer]

I went to a buddy's barn up north and he has a 1929 model a he wants to sell. He said i can have it for 2000.00. I took a picture of the engine number and the photo is here. I've never seen one like this.What do you think.

[Bob C]

A1, Does it stand for April 1

[2935ford]

possibly a re stamp?

[Bob Johnson]

Here is a picture showing a 1931 engine number pad and the one on the car you found. It looks like the pad is about 2" wide.

Bob

[ctlikon0712]

Ya know.... with it having the short stamp pad, seeing the early 28 wire harness tube, and the authentic stars makes me think that there is something to this one. The stamp pad has a casting surface to it also so it hasn't been resurfaced.... Hopefully someone like Pluck or one of the others who know more will chime in...

[James Rogers]

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That would be the find of a lifetime. It looks authentic but, I would like to see more of the motor and car before making a judgement.

[1931 flamingo]

For 2k how can you go wrong? Part it out. JMO
Paul in CT

[Fred]

I would have taken it with me, NO ??? ASKED !!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Look at the head nuts.

[duffer]

It actually was a 1928.

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by duffer

It actually was a 1928.

Duffer...

Can you verify the LENGTH of the Engine Number Pad?

If it is what it "appears" to be...then there are several other items on the engine block to substanuate, if in fact, it is the real and genuine "*A1*", as Mr. Jim Rogers said above...You have the find of a lifetime/century if it is the genuine thing!

(If this is someone's idea of a "joke"...as I said, there are several things that can possibably date this block in a certain time period to prove or disprove this very interesting block...I am hoping, as we all are, that this is the real deal!).

HOWEVER...A1 should be on the first style of engine number pads and not the rectangular shaped pads...

HOWEVER...We also know that Henry Ford, and a few others, are shown in a photo stamping A1 on an engine and this particular engine has the rectangualr pad as you have.

Can someone post that photo please?

Again...what is the LENGTH of the pad itself?

Pluck

[Bob Johnson]

Here is a picture of the A1 engine. It is not a real good copy but you can make out the pad.

Bob

[Steve Plucker]

Thanks Robert for posting the photo...But wasn't (or isn't) there another one showing Henry stamping the engine?

What are some thoughts on the stamping of "*A1*" on the rectangular pad thus the photo? I have my thoughts...what are yours?

My thoughts are on the photo is that Henry Ford wanted to "capture" the moment of stamping Model A engine #1. However he really couldn't because it was already stamped back on (or before) October 20, 1927 on the first style of engine stamping pad (this is when the engine was sent to Finial Assembly). Now these blocks had already been casted...almost 616-632 of them (suposedly), the last being stamped on November 17, 1927 (suposedly).

NOW, here is where it gets interesting (and confusing)...according to the engine block Part Release #3463, it was on October 12, 1927 that Ford made a change in the location of the pad...“Moved pad for engine number to top of block and reduced size"...We do not know just when this "move" actually occured but if I remember correctly, the photo with a date on the stamping may tell us...and the date on the photo is infact October 20, 1927 (Thanks again Robert!)

So even those first blocks with the first style engine number pad were set in motion to be assembled to be put into those first Model A's on October 20, 1927, FORD was already casting the "new" style block, the one with the rectangualr pad on about October 20, 1927 also...Thus the dated photo...thus the rectangular engine number pad block.

I hope this makes sence! Hmmmmmmmm.

Pluck

[Bob Johnson]

Steve,

Yes but does not show the pad very well

Bob

[Fred]

Duffer now says it was a 1928, Should be a real early one ?? Unless changed over the years... Would be nice to see a few more pictures & one of body rail #s..

[Arcieri]

In the picture Pluck is referring to , I believe Henry has his stamp high on the pad and to the left, just like the OP has shown. Can't find a really good picture though.

However, in the various videos on the Web the still shots of the pad show only a 1 and no stars or A. The 1 is perfectly centered. Henry is not in the photos of that pad.

Ray

[Arcieri]

OK, posted before I saw Bob Johnson's picture showing the pad centered with the head stud. Looks more like Henry was centered left to right. However, it still looks like he is high on the pad.

Ray

[Fred]

Originally Posted by Arcieri

OK, posted before I saw Bob Johnson's picture showing the pad centered with the head stud. Looks more like Henry was centered left to right. However, it still looks like he is high on the pad.

Ray

He is high on the pad, & the A1 show that on the pad also..

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Here is a picture of the head nuts on an early engine that I have, with a new one beside it. The head nuts could be changed, and as well the studs. I would some more proof to authenticate this as # A1

[Mike V. Florida]

A) Buy the car!
B) Investigate the engine number.

The early engines had a 5 bearing cam did they not? This could be used to help date the engine block. Plucks site has a great amount of information about blocks, too much to repost here.