The Ford Barn

Turner · 09-21-2010, 11:19 AM

Is a Model B "diamond" block superior to a 32-34 block? If so, what are the differences? Thanks.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 09-21-2010, 11:21 AM

If you are trying to sell one, ...Yes they are. If you are trying to buy one, ...No they aren't.

Theoretically, maybe a little, ...but I personally have not seen it proven.

.

Bruce Lancaster · 09-21-2010, 12:27 PM

Almost every speck of information on these is speculative...even a serious attempt at comparison by weight (allegations of more iron in the diamond) in Secrets failed to produce results, with 2 significantly different weights appearing.

OHV DeLuxe · 09-21-2010, 02:40 PM

My impression is that they were sought after in the post war era for beeing newer than the regular B`s, and therefore maybe better shape, but today the age difference allmost is insignificant and i feel a good B block is a good B block..
Just my thoughts..

ursus · 09-21-2010, 07:05 PM

Brent's comment is mirthfully true! I have seen a lot of Diamond-B blocks and found them not to be superior at all, in comparison to the original Ford blocks. The castings often have problems with core-shifting around the upper deck, so the metal is thicker in one section and way too thin in another. In this instance they are beyond repair.

Ice man · 09-21-2010, 10:49 PM

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I have a good one and think its great. Its definatly not as Henry made it, and it runs rings around any A block that cared to put the pedal to the WOOD. I also run a T-5 trany and hi gears with 16 wheels and she is pretty fast for an old Gal. Iceman

Geo. H · 09-22-2010, 12:36 AM

I have one of each. If there's a significant difference, I haven't found it.

Jim Brierley · 09-22-2010, 10:12 AM

The diamond is a foundry mark, they were made after regular production of the A and B blocks, mostly for commercial use. The only thing better about them is they had hard exhaust seats when new. Value is determined by condition.

Bruce Lancaster · 09-22-2010, 10:24 AM

So far, no one has found documentation on any production changes, including DeAngelis, a mighty hunter of Ford information. A diamonds are based on the last production block with stronger rear wall and stronger bellhousing, but I don't think anyone has found anything further on them either. Somewhere there must be specifics on foundry and something that would indicate whether there were core changes...
Someone reporting in Secrets weighed a few blocks and got very mixed results...one of the diamonds was heavy, others not as I remember. Weighing is probably pretty dodgy, as overbores, jacket metal lost to rust, and weight added by water jacket crud would have to be accounted for.
I think they come with and without hard seats, and that probably depends on date and when Ford started using hard seats in the V8 productuion engines.
Almost all the B's I have found recently are diamonds. All of them, including one that still had wornout standard bore, had early B cranks, for whatever that might be worth!

09-21-2010, 11:19 AM	#1
Turner Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 17	Model B Diamond Block Is a Model B "diamond" block superior to a 32-34 block? If so, what are the differences? Thanks.

09-21-2010, 11:21 AM	#2
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,534	Re: Model B Diamond Block If you are trying to sell one, ...Yes they are. If you are trying to buy one, ...No they aren't. Theoretically, maybe a little, ...but I personally have not seen it proven. . __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

09-21-2010, 12:27 PM	#3
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Model B Diamond Block Almost every speck of information on these is speculative...even a serious attempt at comparison by weight (allegations of more iron in the diamond) in Secrets failed to produce results, with 2 significantly different weights appearing.

09-21-2010, 02:40 PM	#4
OHV DeLuxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Posts: 298	Re: Model B Diamond Block My impression is that they were sought after in the post war era for beeing newer than the regular B`s, and therefore maybe better shape, but today the age difference allmost is insignificant and i feel a good B block is a good B block.. Just my thoughts..

09-21-2010, 07:05 PM	#5
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,377	Re: Model B Diamond Block Brent's comment is mirthfully true! I have seen a lot of Diamond-B blocks and found them not to be superior at all, in comparison to the original Ford blocks. The castings often have problems with core-shifting around the upper deck, so the metal is thicker in one section and way too thin in another. In this instance they are beyond repair.

09-21-2010, 10:49 PM	#6
Ice man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Southern Pines, N.Carolina Posts: 210	Re: Model B Diamond Block Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have a good one and think its great. Its definatly not as Henry made it, and it runs rings around any A block that cared to put the pedal to the WOOD. I also run a T-5 trany and hi gears with 16 wheels and she is pretty fast for an old Gal. Iceman

09-22-2010, 12:36 AM	#7
Geo. H Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 374	Re: Model B Diamond Block I have one of each. If there's a significant difference, I haven't found it.

09-22-2010, 10:12 AM	#8
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,095	Re: Model B Diamond Block The diamond is a foundry mark, they were made after regular production of the A and B blocks, mostly for commercial use. The only thing better about them is they had hard exhaust seats when new. Value is determined by condition.

09-22-2010, 10:24 AM	#9
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Model B Diamond Block So far, no one has found documentation on any production changes, including DeAngelis, a mighty hunter of Ford information. A diamonds are based on the last production block with stronger rear wall and stronger bellhousing, but I don't think anyone has found anything further on them either. Somewhere there must be specifics on foundry and something that would indicate whether there were core changes... Someone reporting in Secrets weighed a few blocks and got very mixed results...one of the diamonds was heavy, others not as I remember. Weighing is probably pretty dodgy, as overbores, jacket metal lost to rust, and weight added by water jacket crud would have to be accounted for. I think they come with and without hard seats, and that probably depends on date and when Ford started using hard seats in the V8 productuion engines. Almost all the B's I have found recently are diamonds. All of them, including one that still had wornout standard bore, had early B cranks, for whatever that might be worth!