The Ford Barn

Ghost of elmirage · 05-26-2010, 11:17 AM

How does somebody tell the year the block was actually cast ?

Bassman/NZ · 05-26-2010, 05:20 PM

Thanks Bruce.

ford38v8 · 08-11-2015, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost of elmirage

How does somebody tell the year the block was actually cast ?

Carbon dating.

Capn John · 08-11-2015, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost of elmirage

How does somebody tell the year the block was actually cast ?

http://automotivemileposts.com/ford/...rtnumbers.html

http://flatheaddrag.com/birthday.html

http://flatheaddrag.com/links.html

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/bboogaar/engine.htm

http://www.mustangtek.com/FordDecode.html

twostickmutt · 11-02-2016, 02:45 PM

someone told me (he said, she said) that when ford did the motors over ,like the factory branch that was in boston they had set the crank up for insert bearings instead of the floaters. any truth to that ?

Bruce Lancaster · 11-02-2016, 03:47 PM

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On the "99" stamp on early Mercury...I have an early '39 merc engine, removed from a nice car that was savagely streetrodded. It has the 99 (just the designation, not a serial) on the right front of upper deck/manifold surface. Stamped, not cast, presumably so assembly line for trucks and Mercs could verify they were putting a 239 into a vehicle that was supposed to have one. Otherwise there was NO visible difference from 221 in appearance or color. Allegedly, the conversion to Blue as the color for 239s (with 221's still green) replace the 99 stamp as a more vivid identity mark on the line.
59 A, AB, more...The block was a 59A, just meaning its first design purpose was for passenger even though it was used in all vehicles. The B, which appears only on 59 AB heads after some time during 1946, is from the OTHER end of the part number and indicates a design change, namely smaller chamber. The number would have been 59A-6050B

rotorwrench · 11-02-2016, 05:01 PM

Ford farmed out the overhauls to "authorized" facilities. If they had to change a crankshaft due to crank & rod damage, it may have been easier to install an 8BA crank & rods. There was also the C69A Canadian engine that had insert bearings in the mains & rods from new. I'm sure they used what they had to keep the costs low & profit high so I imagine they would use the floaters on an engine that still had a good rotating assembly. These shops would have had to take care and use appropriate bearings for a crank that had only one oil port per con rod throw. Insert rods would have to go with a crank that had two ports per con rod throw or there would have been a warranty problem for sure and no one likes the problems.

05-26-2010, 11:17 AM	#21
Ghost of elmirage Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcester , Mass Posts: 300	Re: Difference between a 59ab and stock 46-48 Flathead How does somebody tell the year the block was actually cast ?

05-26-2010, 05:20 PM	#22
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: Difference between a 59ab and stock 46-48 Flathead Thanks Bruce.

11-02-2016, 02:45 PM	#25
twostickmutt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: hinsdale,ma Posts: 200	Re: Difference between a 59ab and stock 46-48 Flathead someone told me (he said, she said) that when ford did the motors over ,like the factory branch that was in boston they had set the crank up for insert bearings instead of the floaters. any truth to that ? Last edited by twostickmutt; 11-02-2016 at 04:26 PM. Reason: change

11-02-2016, 03:47 PM	#26
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Difference between a 59ab and stock 46-48 Flathead Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) On the "99" stamp on early Mercury...I have an early '39 merc engine, removed from a nice car that was savagely streetrodded. It has the 99 (just the designation, not a serial) on the right front of upper deck/manifold surface. Stamped, not cast, presumably so assembly line for trucks and Mercs could verify they were putting a 239 into a vehicle that was supposed to have one. Otherwise there was NO visible difference from 221 in appearance or color. Allegedly, the conversion to Blue as the color for 239s (with 221's still green) replace the 99 stamp as a more vivid identity mark on the line. 59 A, AB, more...The block was a 59A, just meaning its first design purpose was for passenger even though it was used in all vehicles. The B, which appears only on 59 AB heads after some time during 1946, is from the OTHER end of the part number and indicates a design change, namely smaller chamber. The number would have been 59A-6050B

11-02-2016, 05:01 PM	#27
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: Difference between a 59ab and stock 46-48 Flathead Ford farmed out the overhauls to "authorized" facilities. If they had to change a crankshaft due to crank & rod damage, it may have been easier to install an 8BA crank & rods. There was also the C69A Canadian engine that had insert bearings in the mains & rods from new. I'm sure they used what they had to keep the costs low & profit high so I imagine they would use the floaters on an engine that still had a good rotating assembly. These shops would have had to take care and use appropriate bearings for a crank that had only one oil port per con rod throw. Insert rods would have to go with a crank that had two ports per con rod throw or there would have been a warranty problem for sure and no one likes the problems.