8BA block production code

[41LjH]

Just picked up a 8BA with this Casting number.
Can anyone tell me the production date ?
Thanks and
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

[JSeery]

Do not believe you can date these block that easily.

[51 MERC-CT]

If there is a date code (not all had them) it's located on the right rear of the intake mounting surface.

[rotorwrench]

The casting marks that were included in 8BA family of blocks may have some meaning to the foundry personnel but those meanings have not yet been translated to restoreres who want to know their meaning. Canadian Ford foundry products have different markings and also have some meaning but only a few are known to the public at large. Stampings, as above, are the only dating that is deciferable. Some were stamped too lightly and are no longer visible after many years of use. Some were likely stamped after process completion by the employee that performed that process but they are usually only very small stampings like the hexagon E in the above photo.

[mtflat]

Do any of you know where this code originated? I mean before Flathead Jack posted it.... it just doesn't line up with Ford's truck frame vin codes/firewall stampings during the same time period 48-53 and I'm surprised they aren't consistent.

A - January; B - Feb; C - March; etc.

[51 MERC-CT]

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Originally Posted by mtflat

Do any of you know where this code originated? I mean before Flathead Jack posted it.... it just doesn't line up with Ford's truck frame vin codes/firewall stampings during the same time period 48-53 and I'm surprised they aren't consistent.

A - January; B - Feb; C - March; etc.

These are engine date codes only and have no connection with vin No's

[rotorwrench]

Ford published codes in some but not all of their body parts catalogs after 1949. The trucks didn't really have a good body parts catalog except maybe the Canadian ones. I't's too bad they didn't. A person has to collect information the slow way. One vehicle at a time. Registers are out there for some vehicles but usually only the most popular.

[Ross F-1]

Right below the foundry mark in the OP, on the back face of the block, there may be a casting number near the oil pump drive cover. If the block was made in late-50 - on it will have 0BA or 1BA cast in there, indicating it has rods with squirt holes and/or valve rotators. Another clue is whether it has hardened inserts for the valves, on either the exhaust-only or on both. You can narrow down the genre by these kind of clues.

[Ol' Ron]

I've checked dozens of blocks and have never found this. Eyes were pretty good back then. Yes, I use natural reader now

[mtflat]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

These are engine date codes only and have no connection with vin No's

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

Ford published codes in some but not all of their body parts catalogs after 1949. The trucks didn't really have a good body parts catalog except maybe the Canadian ones. I't's too bad they didn't. A person has to collect information the slow way. One vehicle at a time. Registers are out there for some vehicles but usually only the most popular.

I understand and agree but I wondered was if this particular description of engine codes (in 51Merc's post) was from Ford or if it appeared aftermarket. Just curious about the origin....

I've been collecting 48-50/52 truck vin codes for 15 yrs and think I can sort most of those out. I've recorded 1300 or so and have learned tons about Ford's eccentric numbering systems.

It still seems odd that by this late date they didn't have a more uniform numbering system across the company. It doesn't help that a bunch of stuff was burned in/about '67.