Flathead identification

[RSVANAM]

I am having trouble identifying this engine. Pulled from a 49 F2, it has no casting numbers on the heads, only FORD ovals, and only 2 numbers and a letter stamped in the block back edge. 24 head bolts, front dist and bell housing unbolts. I haven't pulled the head and checked bore and stroke yet. I was told it was a 239. Any input would be appreciated. Wondering why the heads have no cast numbers.

[VeryTangled]

Welcome to the FordBarn Forums!

One rule is, if it bolts on, it doesn't difinitively ID the engine block year/generation.

More will come from other members soon.

Enlarging pics here...

[alanwoodieman]

look at how the oil filter is attached, no special boss. uses old style oil filter housing. check to see if they are aluminum

[RSVANAM]

Magnet sticks to the heads..

[flatford8]

That fan will move some air!!.......Mark

[Mart]

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As they say if it walks like a duck...

It is probably the correct motor for that truck, which is a 239 flathead of the 8BA series. Nothing fancy, just a stock 8BA wearing all of the accessories associated with it.

You don't really need to know any more than that.

Only a tear down will reveal whether it has been overbored and the crank ground undersize. While it is possible, the chances of it having been upgraded to a Mercury 4" crank are slim.

So what are your plans for it?

Mart.

[alanwoodieman]

truck oil pan?

[Scotty's 52 F3]

EXTERNALLY, it looks just like the original 8RT engine in my 52. 6 blade fan and all.

[Bob C]

As Alan mentioned, not a truck oil pan.

[RSVANAM]

Checked the heads are not aluminum. I'm mainly wondering why the heads have no casting numbers.

[Zeke3]

I see what I think is one of the additional bosses for oil filter mounting peaking out behind the corner of the oil filter bracket.

The cylinder heads on my 1937 21 stud engine just have Ford script and no part number or other casting identification shown. It seems that I read somewhere that the marking differences could be due using multiple suppliers for a given part.

[42merc]

The 1948 early 1949 version of the 8ba/8rt used the early (42-48) wide bolt pattern oil filter.

[scicala]

I know it doesn't mean much, but the carburetor has a passenger car type top on it. Not the truck "V" bead type. Doesn't mean anything after all these years though.

Sal

[Scotty's 52 F3]

You guys have an eye for the little but, important details. I missed them all. I have much to learn and appreciate the knowledge shared on this site.

[40 Deluxe]

Could the heads be aftermarket replacements? Outfits like Western Auto sold just about everything for a Ford.

[42merc]

After looking a bit harder, I think we have an EAB long block with the truck stuff bolted on, (bell housing, exhaust, water pumps, generator, fan & early oil filter). Plus there is an oil filter lug hiding behind the early filter can.
The heads with the oval, have FoMoCo within the oval (52-53). Probably a part number debossed & small under the crud.

[Bored&Stroked]

Looks like your question has been answered . . .

I hope you're rebuilding the truck and plan on going through this engine and will be putting the good ole' flathead back in it.

Everybody on this site loves these engines and automobiles/trucks, so you've come to the right place for help. We all hope you stick with the flathead that came out of it - you'll be glad you did!

What are your plans for the truck and the engine?

[rotorwrench]

The engine may have come from a salvage yard. Big trucks can use a car type oil pan and get away with it. Trucks generally have the deep rear sump pan with the bolt on seal flange between the pan and the cast iron type bell housing depending on transmission application. That one has the Ford center sump pan and the 49 to E51 Mercury stamped steel half bell housing with the Mercury starter plate. The heads could be early truck heads. Most truck heads have the 8RT part prefix on them but not all. Ford car and light pickup had 8BA prefix heads until 1952. The later EAB cars in 1952 & 53 have the big cast iron bell housing with swing pedal clutch release.

What transmission is in the truck?

[miniceptor86]

Asking here as this is a recent thread and no sense in starting another “what flat head do I have”. I haven’t seen any references to cast in numbers/letters on the block flange where the bell housing attaches. My motor has the letter “M” cast in the 12 o’clock position and “M2824” at the 10-11 position. On the intake deck passenger rear is stamped a box with a 4. It also has the Mercury heads. It’s in my ‘39 Tudor Standard with a Ford carb 94 with and Autolite tag 8RT 9510 F and a 8RT /8BA intake. So I know 8RT/8BA. Any comments would be appreciated.

[VeryTangled]

Originally Posted by miniceptor86

Any comments would be appreciated.

miniceptor86, Good to see you posting on the forum. Welcome.

I'm outta my depth here being a 21-stud kinda guy, but I gather that cast in numbers have been difficult to correlate.

It will forever be true that whatever bolts onto a Flathead block can not be used to determine a lot about the actual block. The parts were interchangable for a large number of years.

So for example whatever heads you can see do not help you ID the block they are on.

Let's see what others say.