The Ford Barn

Chris · 11-20-2012, 02:02 PM

I recently bought this engine, I was told it is a 1941. I took the intake off and noticed the raised intake area. I was told this could be Mercury?? Can anyone shed any light on what is it, or if it is anything special?

Bruce Lancaster · 11-20-2012, 02:04 PM

'41-42-wartime engine. Referred to as raised, but actually the shoulders are lowered!
Lift off a head and look at center vertical row of water passages: If lower 2 are trapezoidal it is a 221, if only lowest is trapezoidal and others round it is a 239 Mer/truck.

Chris · 11-20-2012, 04:29 PM

Thanks Bruce! Trying to get the heads off now, fingers crossed it's a 239!!

Bruce Lancaster · 11-20-2012, 04:43 PM

A 221 can go to 239 bore with pretty good safety but not a whole lot farther.
If it is an original 239, look into the trapezoidal hole where it approaches a cylinder... the wall at least at the top there is almost shockingly thick!

Fe26 · 11-20-2012, 04:44 PM

Keep us posted...

Mike in Mass · 11-20-2012, 04:50 PM

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you want this ! ! ! I busted two studs betting my heads off , drilled an retapped ,no biggy . I allso heated up a couple bolts that would not budge . ,not cherry red, just to get things movin its like hittin the lottery if you have the raised deck its a merc 9 out of 10 times. I have heard stories of one without the other. good luck !

Chris · 11-20-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fe26

Keep us posted...

I will...heads will not budge and I'm trying to be really gentle with em and not dig between them and the deck. I've been soaking the studs with PB-blaster since Saturday, may hook a battery to it and wing it over...see if that pops em up.

jack in san diego · 11-20-2012, 05:31 PM

Try hooking up a battery and turn the engine over with plugs in, it should pop uf free. If not, use lots of penetrating oil and let it set and fume overnight, then try again. Good luck

B-O-B · 11-20-2012, 05:45 PM

Get some wax & melt it on the studs after you heat them up.

Ball and Chain · 11-20-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

'41-42-wartime engine. Referred to as raised, but actually the shoulders are lowered!
Lift off a head and look at center vertical row of water passages: If lower 2 are trapezoidal it is a 221, if only lowest is trapezoidal and others round it is a 239 Mer/truck.

helmet dist is 41?
crab is 42?

I have one of these motors too, is there anyway to tell without pulling a head?

Walt Dupont--Me. · 11-20-2012, 08:34 PM

I've had alot of those blocks come in my shop and I've never seen a 239, every one I've had were 3-1/16 = 221ci. I've never notice the water holes. I always remove the sleeves and bore another .045 to 3-3/16=239ci. It makes a seat of the pants differtance useing the A heads. Walt

Ball and Chain · 11-23-2012, 03:51 PM

black friday bump?

Chris · 11-29-2012, 01:39 AM

Looks like it's a 221 huh? I gotta get an inside micrometer to be certain...

Henry/Kokomo · 11-29-2012, 06:18 AM

How'd you finally get the head off? Looks like one down, one to go.

Chris · 11-29-2012, 11:50 AM

I measured the bore this morning with a caliper and it's right at 3 3/16, so maybe someone bored it to 239? I'll get an inside micrometer and find out exactly what it is!

Chris · 11-29-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry/Kokomo

How'd you finally get the head off? Looks like one down, one to go.

Made a head puller. Still gave me a lot of grief but I finally wrestled it off. Now I gotta do the other side

Bruce Lancaster · 11-29-2012, 12:34 PM

The water hole configuration is 221 type. Next check...look into the lower trapezoid hole at the third cylinder: If block was a 239, the outer wall would nearly reach the hole, showing absolutely massive thickness at that point. If 221, thickness would just look kinda normal..

Chris · 11-29-2012, 03:42 PM

Bruce,

Looks like a regular one I guess. I also checked piston size and they are standard. I'm really leaning twards a 221 that has been punched to 239

Bassman/NZ · 11-29-2012, 04:18 PM

Nothing wrong with a 221 bumped to 239.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 11-29-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassman/NZ

Nothing wrong with a 221 bumped to 239.

I think you'll find that was a sleeved engine from the factory, the sleeves were .040 thick. The sleeves have been removed and the block bored another .045 to 3-3/16 std. I've done alot of those. with the 221 heads and the bigger bore you can really feel the differance in the low end torque. Walt

11-20-2012, 02:02 PM	#1
Chris Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2,976	What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area I recently bought this engine, I was told it is a 1941. I took the intake off and noticed the raised intake area. I was told this could be Mercury?? Can anyone shed any light on what is it, or if it is anything special? __________________ Thee Inland Emperors

11-20-2012, 02:04 PM	#2
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area '41-42-wartime engine. Referred to as raised, but actually the shoulders are lowered! Lift off a head and look at center vertical row of water passages: If lower 2 are trapezoidal it is a 221, if only lowest is trapezoidal and others round it is a 239 Mer/truck.

11-20-2012, 04:29 PM	#3
Chris Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2,976	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area Thanks Bruce! Trying to get the heads off now, fingers crossed it's a 239!! __________________ Thee Inland Emperors

11-20-2012, 04:43 PM	#4
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area A 221 can go to 239 bore with pretty good safety but not a whole lot farther. If it is an original 239, look into the trapezoidal hole where it approaches a cylinder... the wall at least at the top there is almost shockingly thick!

11-20-2012, 04:44 PM	#5
Fe26 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 949	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area Keep us posted...

11-20-2012, 05:31 PM	#8
jack in san diego Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: El Cajon CA Posts: 73	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area Try hooking up a battery and turn the engine over with plugs in, it should pop uf free. If not, use lots of penetrating oil and let it set and fume overnight, then try again. Good luck

11-20-2012, 05:45 PM	#9
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area Get some wax & melt it on the studs after you heat them up.

11-20-2012, 08:34 PM	#11
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area I've had alot of those blocks come in my shop and I've never seen a 239, every one I've had were 3-1/16 = 221ci. I've never notice the water holes. I always remove the sleeves and bore another .045 to 3-3/16=239ci. It makes a seat of the pants differtance useing the A heads. Walt

11-23-2012, 03:51 PM	#12
Ball and Chain Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 720	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area black friday bump? __________________ Throttle Benders Est. 1949

11-29-2012, 01:39 AM	#13
Chris Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2,976	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area Looks like it's a 221 huh? I gotta get an inside micrometer to be certain... __________________ Thee Inland Emperors

11-29-2012, 06:18 AM	#14
Henry/Kokomo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kokomo, Indiana Posts: 1,731	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area How'd you finally get the head off? Looks like one down, one to go.

11-29-2012, 11:50 AM	#15
Chris Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2,976	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area I measured the bore this morning with a caliper and it's right at 3 3/16, so maybe someone bored it to 239? I'll get an inside micrometer and find out exactly what it is! __________________ Thee Inland Emperors

11-29-2012, 12:34 PM	#17
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area The water hole configuration is 221 type. Next check...look into the lower trapezoid hole at the third cylinder: If block was a 239, the outer wall would nearly reach the hole, showing absolutely massive thickness at that point. If 221, thickness would just look kinda normal..

11-29-2012, 03:42 PM	#18
Chris Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2,976	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area Bruce, Looks like a regular one I guess. I also checked piston size and they are standard. I'm really leaning twards a 221 that has been punched to 239 __________________ Thee Inland Emperors

11-29-2012, 04:18 PM	#19
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: What is the story with this flathead block? Raised intake area Nothing wrong with a 221 bumped to 239.