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Old 03-31-2018, 03:51 PM   #1
Randy1944
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Default 8BA engine

I just picked up a 1951 v8 Flathead and have a question. I have viewed and reviewed previous posts with little success. On the rear of the block at the top is an “L”. Over at about the 2 pm place is “K1384”. Could someone help me what they mean? Thanks
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Old 03-31-2018, 05:56 PM   #2
texas webb
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Default Re: 8BA engine

Manufacture date?should be a series of letters.
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Old 03-31-2018, 06:22 PM   #3
rotorwrench
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Default Re: 8BA engine

On the right or passenger side rear of the intake manifold deck surface should be a date code stamping. Those are about the only numbers on the block that mean anything in this day and age. Meaning of all the block casting numbers has been pretty much lost to us. The 59 series of post war engines nearly all had a "59" cast number on the back bell but none of the older wartime or prewar engines had anything like that.

Canadian engines have more identifier casting numbers than US manufactured L-head V8s have.
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Old 03-31-2018, 09:55 PM   #4
51 MERC-CT
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Default Re: 8BA engine

As stated the only translatable markings are an engine build date code on the rear passenger side of the intake mount surface (and not all engines had them)

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Old 04-10-2018, 08:48 PM   #5
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Default Re: 8BA engine

I haven't seen that decoding chart before, where is it from?
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Old 04-11-2018, 06:37 AM   #6
51 MERC-CT
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Default Re: 8BA engine

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i haven't seen that decoding chart before, where is it from?
'C-y-b-e-r-s-p-a-c-e'
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Old 04-11-2018, 07:15 PM   #7
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Default Re: 8BA engine

Well, just for clarity, that decoding chart doesn't work on a Canadian 8BA motor either.


See attached pictures of my 1950 8BA stampings.


Kirk
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Old 04-11-2018, 08:32 PM   #8
51 MERC-CT
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Default Re: 8BA engine

Quote:
Originally Posted by kirkf View Post
Well, just for clarity, that decoding chart doesn't work on a Canadian 8BA motor either.


See attached pictures of my 1950 8BA stampings.


Kirk
And for further clarity, the chart is for 8BA US engines and I don't believe it is meant to be used for C8BA Canadian engines.
And just why don't you think that the '0' in the stamping does not represent 1950 as stated in the chart dialog referencing Canadian blocks?
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Old 04-11-2018, 08:45 PM   #9
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Default Re: 8BA engine

The above decoding chart is out of an book called How to build the high performance Street Flathead by the Aussie Author Mike Davidson of Flatattack Racing.
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Old 04-11-2018, 09:14 PM   #10
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Default Re: 8BA engine

Since all 8BA Ford and Merc blocks are basically the same, I always wonder why the year is important. The only difference is in whether the block has hard seats or not.
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Old 04-12-2018, 11:28 AM   #11
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Default Re: 8BA engine

From what is says in that chart, it appears to be referencing Canadian motors. However maybe there was some other text on a previous page that said otherwise.


Motors for Australia, New Zealand etc were all shipped form Canada, as they were in the commonwealth.


I don't particularly see how my code of JCC50 can be decoded from anything above. I've always assumed the 50 was the production year, and the rest of the meaning has been lost over the years.


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Old 04-12-2018, 11:40 AM   #12
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Default Re: 8BA engine

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Originally Posted by kirkf View Post


I don't particularly see how my code of JCC50 can be decoded from anything above. I've always assumed the 50 was the production year, and the rest of the meaning has been lost over the years.


Kirk
The chart is for US manufactured 8BA engines and not for C8BA Canadian manufactured engines.
Most likely there is a code for Canadian engines that would apply.
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