The Ford Barn

mrtexas · 12-16-2015, 08:25 PM

Can someone tell what year this flathead is by the distributor mount or ???

It is in my 41. It did have a distributor drive adaptor on the distributor.

What year did they go to 2 mount hole distributor?

59AB heads are later aren't they?

59 on top of bell housing means 46-48?

41Joe · 12-16-2015, 08:27 PM

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the 3 bolt was from 37-41 and the 2 bolt 42-48.

Lawson Cox · 12-16-2015, 08:31 PM

Two bolt distributor came out in late 35 along with flat top coil.

Basically the three bolt was used 32 through 48

BUBBAS IGNITION · 12-16-2015, 08:58 PM

# 3 bolt mount distributor was from 1932 to 1941 with a couple different versions. Early one has three holes in mounting and later ( 60 series engines ) had four holes in back but only used three of the (ie 39 to 41). Also different coils and mounting was used thru these years.

1942 to 1948 was two bolt with 42-44 being a flat crab cap and 45 to 48 using the rabbit ear round cap and bail.

1949 to 1953 was post mount with vacuum only advance etc......

May be off a year or two but we stock all the versions.......

38 coupe · 12-16-2015, 10:09 PM

The engine in the pictures is a 46-48 block and heads. It could be a 221 or 239 from the factory. The timing cover is 1941 and older. Either the camshaft in the engine was swapped to work with the earlier distributor or a "button" was used to make up the distance from the shorter post-war cam.

It also looks like the engine has 1941 generator, crank pulley, fan, and exhaust manifolds.

flatjack9 · 12-16-2015, 10:35 PM

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Looks like a short nose cam which was used from 42 to 48. Someone could have switched the front cover to the 3 bolt and then the button adapter would have had to have been used to use the 3 bolt distributor.

JSeery · 12-16-2015, 10:45 PM

Appears the engine is a mixture of parts (years) which is common.

12-16-2015, 08:25 PM	#1
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,395	year of flathead Can someone tell what year this flathead is by the distributor mount or ??? It is in my 41. It did have a distributor drive adaptor on the distributor. What year did they go to 2 mount hole distributor? 59AB heads are later aren't they? 59 on top of bell housing means 46-48? Last edited by mrtexas; 12-16-2015 at 08:57 PM.

12-16-2015, 08:27 PM	#2
41Joe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 284	Re: year of flathead Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the 3 bolt was from 37-41 and the 2 bolt 42-48.

12-16-2015, 08:31 PM	#3
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: year of flathead Two bolt distributor came out in late 35 along with flat top coil. Basically the three bolt was used 32 through 48 __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

12-16-2015, 08:58 PM	#4
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: year of flathead # 3 bolt mount distributor was from 1932 to 1941 with a couple different versions. Early one has three holes in mounting and later ( 60 series engines ) had four holes in back but only used three of the (ie 39 to 41). Also different coils and mounting was used thru these years. 1942 to 1948 was two bolt with 42-44 being a flat crab cap and 45 to 48 using the rabbit ear round cap and bail. 1949 to 1953 was post mount with vacuum only advance etc...... May be off a year or two but we stock all the versions....... __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

12-16-2015, 10:09 PM	#5
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,631	Re: year of flathead The engine in the pictures is a 46-48 block and heads. It could be a 221 or 239 from the factory. The timing cover is 1941 and older. Either the camshaft in the engine was swapped to work with the earlier distributor or a "button" was used to make up the distance from the shorter post-war cam. It also looks like the engine has 1941 generator, crank pulley, fan, and exhaust manifolds.

12-16-2015, 10:35 PM	#6
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,527	Re: year of flathead Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Looks like a short nose cam which was used from 42 to 48. Someone could have switched the front cover to the 3 bolt and then the button adapter would have had to have been used to use the 3 bolt distributor.

12-16-2015, 10:45 PM	#7
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: year of flathead Appears the engine is a mixture of parts (years) which is common.