Stock '41 Engine?

[Anteek29]

OK guys...my research efforts have had mixed results. I now turn to you experts...
Do I have a 221 or 239 flattie as the stock V8 in my '41 P-U?
Would it be 85 or 90 HP? What tech feature(s) contributed to the 5 horse boost?

Alan

[JSeery]

How about some photos of the engine? Does it have the "raised" intake area on the block?

[Russ/40]

Stock would be the 221.

[38 coupe]

With the heads on you can't be sure. If it is the original engine (huge if) then the serial number will tell you. 81 is 85 horse, 99 is 95 horse.

The big difference in motors is the block. The 85 horse block has a 3 1/16 inch bore. The 95 horse has 3 3/16 inch bore.

This thread covers the differences in the blocks: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...5301&showall=1

[flatjack9]

Not that it can't be changed, but Fords were green and Mercs were blue.

[grumppyoldman]

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You can take the floor pan screws out. lift it up as high as you can. Look up high on the back of the bell housing (it's hard to see) the no. should be the same as your VIN that is stamped on the driver's side of the frame. Mine is the same and it'[s a 221 CI, 90 HP., but it has been overhauled, so the HP. could have been changed. It's green also, and has an A cast in the center of the heads. Al

[JSeery]

I can't see in the photos if it is the "raised" intake or not!

[alanwoodieman]

look on the heads for part numbers--should read 81A-6050 and 81A 6049 those would be the correct heads for 40/41 althought they were first used in 1938

[grumppyoldman]

Where would those no. be on the heads? Mine only have an A cact on center of both heads. Al

[JSeery]

Talked to Alan and he says his block has the "raised" edge around the intake, so it is most likely the original 41 engine.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by flatjack9

Not that it can't be changed, but Fords were green and Mercs were blue.

Nope. In 1941 both the Merc and Ford engines were green.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by grumppyoldman

You can take the floor pan screws out. lift it up as high as you can. Look up high on the back of the bell housing (it's hard to see) the no. should be the same as your VIN that is stamped on the driver's side of the frame. Mine is the same and it'[s a 221 CI, 90 HP., but it has been overhauled, so the HP. could have been changed. It's green also, and has an A cast in the center of the heads. Al

Nope. No number on the block.
Rather, the number was stamped in to the transmission housing.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by grumppyoldman

Where would those no. be on the heads? Mine only have an A cact on center of both heads. Al

The part number was cast in to each head near the back - adjacent to the intake surface.
Of course, if the heads were installed reverse of proper (it happened a lot) then the number will be to the front.

[Anteek29]

Jerry: Thanks for that photo showing the intake raised edge...that's how mine looks.

Alanwoodieman: Looked at my heads...they are both 81A.

[grumppyoldman]

I'll go along with the transmission stamping because I was doubled over like a pretzel trying to see the no. thought it was back of block. It does have the raised intake deck as the 221"s were in 41. Everything else looks stock and original. When I pulled the gas tank out the trunk floor bottom has red paint on it, and some is still visable on the rest of the floor pans, Don't know if it was painted like that by Fore or not, looks like red lead paint. Al

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by Kube

Nope. In 1941 both the Merc and Ford engines were green.

I'm confused. I always thought the Mercs were blue to distinquish them from Fords. I checked in the V-8 Times and Bob Thatcher, the 41 to 42 advisor states this to be true. ???????

[Kube]

[QUOTE=flatjack9;1516218]I'm confused. I always thought the Mercs were blue to distinquish them from Fords. I checked in the V-8 Times and Bob Thatcher, the 41 to 42 advisor states this to be true. ???????[/QU
I stand corrected. Mercury engines were green through 1940.
You are correct in that in '41 they began to be painted blue.
Sorry for my mistake...

[Cometeguy]

41 pickups came with either 95hp or 85hp flathead (or 4 cylinder). Main difference is the bore. If your chassis number (and transmission) begins with 18 it was originally an 85 hp engine. Chassis numbers for pickups with 95hp engines began with 99. Heads on 85 had a raised "A" on them. Heads on 95 had a "T" or were stamped 81T 6049 or 81T-6050. 95hp engines had a raised deck for intake.

[Anteek29]

Thanks Guys! I now know my '41 is correct with the 85hp 221 with the raised A heads.

[Barn Junk]

Originally Posted by Anteek29

Jerry: Thanks for that photo showing the intake raised edge...that's how mine looks.

Alanwoodieman: Looked at my heads...they are both 81A.

Actually nothing is "Raised". That area around the valve ports is "voided" or if you prefer "Lowered" with respect to the rest of the block casting and crank centerline. The block surface for the intake manifold and the crank centerline are the same distance on all the 221, 239 and 255 blocks.