1936 Cylinder head question

[mikebishop]

I'm in need of reliable information about the external factory finish of aluminum cylinder heads. Were they presented as-cast (natural) or were they painted engine color?

Vern Tardel and I are reviewing the final "proofs" of our forthcoming how-to Flathead rebuilding and modifying book being published by Motorbooks and this is a question for which there seems to be some disagreement.

Thanks in advance for setting us straight.

Mike Bishop

[KiWinUS]

Mike my 36 was as cast but it cam out of Canada & shipped to New Zealand . Say G'Day to Vern for me I have met him several times .
Cheers
Tony

[Don Rogers]

1935 and 1936 Aluminum heads were natural aluminum and not painted engine green.

[koates]

Hi there, that's pretty easy to work out, Just look at original ford factory photographs of the assembly lines 1n 1933 to 1936 and see the aluminium heads shining out in their natural glory. Of course trucks had painted cast iron heads. Regards, Kevin.

[fordscript]

I have a mint nos alloy 34 head, and it has a natural cast finish, quite shiney, and some pretty rough grind marks where it appears to have had excess metal ground off.

[Fe26]

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There is a process alum. heads may have gone through prior to leaving the Foundry. Sometimes parts are given a quick clean-up by blasting with a media, but which one.

[Dave D]

Originally Posted by koates

Hi there, that's pretty easy to work out, Just look at original ford factory photographs of the assembly lines 1n 1933 to 1936 and see the aluminium heads shining out in their natural glory. Of course trucks had painted cast iron heads. Regards, Kevin.

And by "trucks" you mean large trucks, "pickup's" and panels were Commercial Vehicles and came with aluminum heads.

[koates]

Dave, Yes trucks are TRUCKS, that's what I said. Regards, Kevin.

[Don Rogers]

1935 pickups and panel deliveries had aluminum heads while 1936 pickups and panel deliveries had cast iron heads.