Please help identify 49-53 block

[Cheaterpete]

Dear Flathead addict

I have a 49-53 block in the shelves , number on belhousing are C1414

Any idea ?

Thank you

Pete

[Bored&Stroked]

From what I know, that casting number won't tell you anything related to what year, car/truck or model of car/truck it came in. What are you trying to figure out?

[Cheaterpete]

I try to know if it s a ford or mercury...

[Elmo Rodge]

If it's just the block Ford and Mercury are interchangeable.
Wayno

[kurt v]

Bore is the same, crank is different, merc 4" and ford 3 3/4" stroke

[Bored&Stroked]

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As Wayno noted - the SAME blocks were used in both 239 Ford engines as the 255 Mercury engines, there are no differences.

[Cheaterpete]

I know, I was curious, wanted to know more about that numbers..

thank you

[19Fordy]

Pete: Where is that number located on the block? Is it stamped or cast into the block?
The above answers are totally correct. But, you could still have an earlier cast block installed in a later year car. The Merc block below appears to be a 1949 but, it has 1951 Merc narrow belt water pumps. 1949-50 Mercs had wide belts installed differently than 51-53 Fords and mercs..
There are no differences between the Merc and Ford blocks other than
the color they were painted. Even then, it could be a repaint.
Having the components that were bolted onto the block might tell you a bit more. For instance, the 49-53 Merc intakes and carbs were 4 bolt "teapot" style. Merc. oil pans were (rear sump) also different than Ford cars. Do you have the oil pan?
Plus, the 1951 Mercs had a cast iron oil pump idler gear cover. Fords had stamped steel.

[marko39]

Some of them have a number stamped on intake surface . It’s a date code. My 51 block does.

[Cheaterpete]

ihave that C1414 on the bel housing, and date stmped on the intake right side... but number had almost disapeared

Thank you all foryourhelp

The engine have a stamped rear idle gear cover so I assume it is a ford...

[rotorwrench]

Blocks cast in early 1951 usually have the 1BA casting identifier down in the valve chamber. They changed the type of valves to rotator types and added a larger bore in the back of the crankshaft for the automatic transmission. The earlier engines tended to have the stamped steel oil pump idler gear cover. External casting marks for US cast blocks are basically meaningless to us now. Only a stamped date code on the right rear of the intake deck would have any meaning. Canadian blocks that were cast in Windsor, Ontario will have external C8BA markings but not US blocks.