The Ford Barn

thirt4 · 10-23-2011, 02:08 AM

Howdy Barners,
Ok, here is what I think is a good question. I have 3 flatties sitting in my shop.
I know one is a 1953 Mercury, all decked out. Nice. Still in the crate it came in when I got it in 2000.
I know the second is out of a 1952 Ford F-1 pickup and I saw it running moments before it was extracted and I bought it. It is in a nice stand where it has been since 2005.
Neither have ever been started by me, but that will be the question I will ask in a few weeks.

Now for the third and my question - It is a bare, cleaned inside and out, magnafluxed, stock bore 8BA style block.
How do I tell if my bare 8BA style block is a Ford or a Mercury? I know about the numbers stamped on top where the intake sits but that only tells me when it was built according to the VanPelt website.
Is there any way to identify it further?
Thank you.

f1builder · 10-23-2011, 05:14 AM

my understanding is the blocks are the same except possibly the canadian ones.

rotorwrench · 10-23-2011, 08:58 AM

There is no way to tell that I am aware of. A date code is the only thing that might give usable information if it has one on the right rear of the intake deck. The raised casting numbers only meant something to FoMoCo back in the day and no further information about them has ever been established. Other changes to valves and valve seats can be determined but that only helps with dating since these changes were done in all of the blocks manufactured.

Kerby

JM 35 Sedan · 10-23-2011, 01:25 PM

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The Ford and Merc blocks are basically the same in those years. Measure the stroke. Ford = 3-3/4" and Merc = 4". Pistons are also different.

10-23-2011, 02:08 AM	#1
thirt4 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 288	Engine block identification Howdy Barners, Ok, here is what I think is a good question. I have 3 flatties sitting in my shop. I know one is a 1953 Mercury, all decked out. Nice. Still in the crate it came in when I got it in 2000. I know the second is out of a 1952 Ford F-1 pickup and I saw it running moments before it was extracted and I bought it. It is in a nice stand where it has been since 2005. Neither have ever been started by me, but that will be the question I will ask in a few weeks. Now for the third and my question - It is a bare, cleaned inside and out, magnafluxed, stock bore 8BA style block. How do I tell if my bare 8BA style block is a Ford or a Mercury? I know about the numbers stamped on top where the intake sits but that only tells me when it was built according to the VanPelt website. Is there any way to identify it further? Thank you.

10-23-2011, 05:14 AM	#2
f1builder Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 554	Re: Engine block identification my understanding is the blocks are the same except possibly the canadian ones.

10-23-2011, 08:58 AM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: Engine block identification There is no way to tell that I am aware of. A date code is the only thing that might give usable information if it has one on the right rear of the intake deck. The raised casting numbers only meant something to FoMoCo back in the day and no further information about them has ever been established. Other changes to valves and valve seats can be determined but that only helps with dating since these changes were done in all of the blocks manufactured. Kerby

10-23-2011, 01:25 PM	#4
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Engine block identification Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The Ford and Merc blocks are basically the same in those years. Measure the stroke. Ford = 3-3/4" and Merc = 4". Pistons are also different. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*