1931 engine blocks

[M2M]

Are 31 or late 31 engine blocks any different to earlier blocks?

[Charlie Stephens]

There are a lot of small differences but changing from a 5 main bearing camshaft in the earlier to a 3 bearing camshaft is the first one that comes to mind. Also check out Steve Pluckers site, http://www.plucks329s.org/40hb.htm

Charlie Stephens

[Synchro909]

Pity they didn't go from 3 main bearings to 5!

[Bob Bidonde]

The most significant changes in 1931 blocks are the addition of an oil feed hole to the rear camshaft bearing, and stiffening of the rear wall.

[rotorwrench]

The engine production at Ford was always in a state of flux. They even made improvements to the later B blocks during its production. At some point they stopped casting the blocks at the Rouge plant and started farming the casting process out. These were the Diamond blocks that folks mention now and then. Ford still assembled engines for replacements and for industrial applications long after the model B replaced the model A.

[Jim Brierley]

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Pluck did a study on blocks several years ago. From memory, the later the block, the better they are. Added reinforcement at the rear main, thicker iron in some places, etc.

[Brian T]

I used Plucks study for a re stamped block and it placed it between March and September 1930.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

Pluck did a study on blocks several years ago. From memory, the later the block, the better they are. Added reinforcement at the rear main, thicker iron in some places, etc.

That is to be expected as weaknesses showed themselves through the sometimes harsh treatment handed out by people. Gradual, usually unannounced improvement during the life of any car, even today, is normal. I was always told to never buy the first of a new model if I intended keeping it for that reason. It is waaay better to buy the last of a model.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

That is to be expected as weaknesses showed themselves through the sometimes harsh treatment handed out by people. Gradual, usually unannounced improvement during the life of any car, even today, is normal. I was always told to never buy the first of a new model if I intended keeping it for that reason. It is waaay better to buy the last of a model.

That’s what I tell all the model Aers that drive the prototypes.
Mines a late 31 BTW