The Ford Barn

V4F · 08-11-2015, 10:29 AM

on a flathead V8 ............ what does "59 a-b" mean ? ........... thanks .. steve

Bruce Lancaster · 08-11-2015, 10:40 AM

5...1945, year of introduction, kept as part number for the head as long as it was used in production
9...239 engine family
A...design's first intent was Ford passenger application, sort of meaningless because it was also used on trucks, Mercs, commercials, etc.

That stuff is all prefixt to the cylinder head number, then...
The B is the SUFFIX of the part number, indicating a changed specification. In this case, head capacity was slightly reduced during '46 to slightly raise compression over the 59A head with no suffix.

ford38v8 · 08-11-2015, 10:43 AM

59 appears on the bell housing, sometimes with a letter designation . It indicates year of introduction and type of block, 5 being 1945, 9 being V8 Ford/Merc. The 59A and 59AB appeared only on the heads, and indicated a version of the heads. As I understand it, both versions came in rapid succession in 1946.

19Fordy · 08-11-2015, 11:02 AM

This explains it all.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...2800&showall=1

Charlie Stephens · 08-11-2015, 11:47 AM

It is just a small thing but I would sure appreciate it if you were a little more descriptive in your title. I would not like to open fordbarn to find all threads with titles like" "Question", "I would like to know...", "Need Information", "Just a question" etc.

Charlie Stephens

SofaKing · 08-11-2015, 01:30 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

It is just a small thing but I would sure appreciate it if you were a little more descriptive in your title. I would not like to open fordbarn to find all threads with titles like" "Question", "I would like to know...", "Need Information", "Just a question" etc.

Charlie Stephens

Sucked me in too, probably does marketing or should have.

08-11-2015, 10:29 AM	#1
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	question on a flathead V8 ............ what does "59 a-b" mean ? ........... thanks .. steve __________________ V4f

08-11-2015, 10:40 AM	#2
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: question 5...1945, year of introduction, kept as part number for the head as long as it was used in production 9...239 engine family A...design's first intent was Ford passenger application, sort of meaningless because it was also used on trucks, Mercs, commercials, etc. That stuff is all prefixt to the cylinder head number, then... The B is the SUFFIX of the part number, indicating a changed specification. In this case, head capacity was slightly reduced during '46 to slightly raise compression over the 59A head with no suffix.

08-11-2015, 10:43 AM	#3
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,646	Re: question 59 appears on the bell housing, sometimes with a letter designation . It indicates year of introduction and type of block, 5 being 1945, 9 being V8 Ford/Merc. The 59A and 59AB appeared only on the heads, and indicated a version of the heads. As I understand it, both versions came in rapid succession in 1946. __________________ Alan

08-11-2015, 11:02 AM	#4
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: question This explains it all. http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...2800&showall=1

08-11-2015, 11:47 AM	#5
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,033	Re: question It is just a small thing but I would sure appreciate it if you were a little more descriptive in your title. I would not like to open fordbarn to find all threads with titles like" "Question", "I would like to know...", "Need Information", "Just a question" etc. Charlie Stephens Last edited by Charlie Stephens; 08-11-2015 at 11:54 AM.