[Bored&Stroked]

You mentioned the 59T looking more like a 41 engine . . . you must be talking about heads and other "bolt-on" stuff . . . as the blocks are nearly identical between all 59x versions.

I can see no issue with using a 59 series block and putting every last 41' part on it . . . it should all work just fine. One potential issue -> I don't remember if the cam snout on a 59T is the same as the 41 Ford? This is the only thing I can see as a potential issue (due to the distributors between 41 and post war possibly being different as far as reach to the cam face).

Question: Did the 41 have the 'Divers Helmet' style distributor and a 3-bolt timing cover or did they already go to a crab?

Appearance: The only way somebody could possible tell is that the 59 will not have a "raised intake" area in the block intake surface casting (which is almost impossible to see anyway). My guess is that the 41 most likely had the raised intake surface (though not sure with Ford 221 motors - I've only worked on Mercs?).

The later engine has more cubic inches and this should make up for the little loss in compression, though my bet is the original 41 heads will have tighter chambers than the 59's anyway - so you'll be ahead of an original 221 Ford engine anyway.

Feel free to post any questions my way.