The Ford Barn

mainiac239 · 05-11-2013, 03:27 PM

Don't remember seeing many with just an "A" , also what does the number (50) indicate on bottom center?
thanks

flatjack9 · 05-11-2013, 05:33 PM

Very common head. Started in 1939 and went to 1942.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 05-11-2013, 05:36 PM

The A heads were on the 40-41-42 221 engines. They are good heads. If you bore those engines 1/8in. to 3-3/16 and use those heads, you can really feel the differance in torque in seat of the pants when taking off and lugging on a hill in high gear. Walt

merc40 · 05-11-2013, 08:25 PM

walt. i have a good set of A heads. would they do anything for my 59ab in a 40 merc. reguards dick t.

Ol' Ron · 05-11-2013, 10:28 PM

Absolutely, but you'll have to clearance for the valves. Just lay the 59 head gasket on the A head and remove a small amount at the top of the valve ares. Then have the heads milled for 40-50 thou piston to head clearance. Works real good, have a set on my 8BA.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 05-12-2013, 07:43 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by merc40

walt. i have a good set of A heads. would they do anything for my 59ab in a 40 merc. reguards dick t.

Do as Ron says. It will really wake up that 59AB engine. After carving a little meat out the top of the valve chambers, check the heads for pistons clearance before you mill them. they may have been milled before and if you take off another .050 thou the pistons will hit the heads. BUT if they haven't been milled they will stand .050 mill. You'll be surprised at the low end torque over the 59AB heads. Walt

Ol' Ron · 05-12-2013, 08:56 AM

I use little aluminum balls on top of the piston to check piston to head clearance. This eliminates the guesswork on how much to mill the heads. Just in case you want to know how much clearance you have in your running engine. use some solder feed it into the spark plug hole and rotate the engine. Remove the solder and measure the clearance. A friend of mine tole me that, works great.

merc40 · 05-12-2013, 08:59 AM

thanks ron&walt.i am going to do this. going to tahoe ev8 meet in june, so wont do anything till i get back. car is runing good now. only 60 miles up the road,but i don`t needto tear into now. other things to do on it before then. reguards dick t.

05-11-2013, 05:33 PM	#2
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,527	Re: "A" cylinder head id? Very common head. Started in 1939 and went to 1942.

05-11-2013, 05:36 PM	#3
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: "A" cylinder head id? The A heads were on the 40-41-42 221 engines. They are good heads. If you bore those engines 1/8in. to 3-3/16 and use those heads, you can really feel the differance in torque in seat of the pants when taking off and lugging on a hill in high gear. Walt

05-11-2013, 08:25 PM	#4
merc40 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: grass valley ca. Posts: 75	Re: "A" cylinder head id? walt. i have a good set of A heads. would they do anything for my 59ab in a 40 merc. reguards dick t.

05-11-2013, 10:28 PM	#5
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: "A" cylinder head id? Absolutely, but you'll have to clearance for the valves. Just lay the 59 head gasket on the A head and remove a small amount at the top of the valve ares. Then have the heads milled for 40-50 thou piston to head clearance. Works real good, have a set on my 8BA.

05-12-2013, 08:56 AM	#7
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: "A" cylinder head id? I use little aluminum balls on top of the piston to check piston to head clearance. This eliminates the guesswork on how much to mill the heads. Just in case you want to know how much clearance you have in your running engine. use some solder feed it into the spark plug hole and rotate the engine. Remove the solder and measure the clearance. A friend of mine tole me that, works great.

05-12-2013, 08:59 AM	#8
merc40 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: grass valley ca. Posts: 75	Re: "A" cylinder head id? thanks ron&walt.i am going to do this. going to tahoe ev8 meet in june, so wont do anything till i get back. car is runing good now. only 60 miles up the road,but i don`t needto tear into now. other things to do on it before then. reguards dick t.