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rotorwrench · 03-08-2023, 10:47 AM

The VIN stamped on the intake deck is not common. The number indicates a 1946 commercial VIN. Some states required a serial number be stamped on the engine but I'm not sure which state or when that was the case. The VIN was generally stamped on the half bell of the transmission. It was then stamped on the frame when the engine was mated during production.

There were two different types of blocks that were cast with the "59" on the top of the rear bell. The 41A 221 block started production before the 59A 239 engine started in civilian production. The 221 was a replacement for pre-war engines beginning in mid to late 1944. Both types were produced in 1945 but I don't know how long the 41A block was produced. The 41A block had characteristics of the prewar engines while the 239 did not. This leads to confusion when a person finds a "59" marked block with small bores of a 221.

03-08-2023, 10:47 AM	#15
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,409	Re: 59 block questions The VIN stamped on the intake deck is not common. The number indicates a 1946 commercial VIN. Some states required a serial number be stamped on the engine but I'm not sure which state or when that was the case. The VIN was generally stamped on the half bell of the transmission. It was then stamped on the frame when the engine was mated during production. There were two different types of blocks that were cast with the "59" on the top of the rear bell. The 41A 221 block started production before the 59A 239 engine started in civilian production. The 221 was a replacement for pre-war engines beginning in mid to late 1944. Both types were produced in 1945 but I don't know how long the 41A block was produced. The 41A block had characteristics of the prewar engines while the 239 did not. This leads to confusion when a person finds a "59" marked block with small bores of a 221.