The Ford Barn

4tford · 05-26-2015, 09:51 AM

A few years ago, we tried to ID a crankshaft with no success. The cleanout plugs on the outside of the counterweights. Well this weekend I ended up bringing home two more of them. One is NOS still in the crate. The crate has the lettering on it. C38A-6303. I can not find that in my books. Can anyone help out. C is Canadian, 6303 is crank shaft but I have no idea what the 38A is. Thanks Bill

Bruce Lancaster · 05-26-2015, 11:36 AM

I think that would translate to 1943 221 application, a WWII motor.

4tford · 05-26-2015, 12:04 PM

The complete short block I have had in the shop for years is marked 81, is a 24 stud and has the center trapezoid in water jacket. The block I brought home this weekend with the crank removed and the crank separate is a factory relieved 24 stud block and round center hole. Both are Canadian blocks. The block I just brought home is embossed 19 with a 5T cam. The other has a C21A cam. The block I have had for a while has glytol in the lifter valley as well as the underside of the block. Plugs in that one are brass.

Russ/40 · 05-26-2015, 07:46 PM

Interesting configuration for the clean outs.

38 coupe · 05-26-2015, 09:22 PM

Please post pictures of all this odd stuff.

4tford · 05-28-2015, 08:36 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

pics of the cranks and blocks

Bruce Lancaster · 05-28-2015, 01:13 PM

The 19 would be a normal wartime block, with the third oil port used for coolers in Bren carriers and full flow filter in trucks.

38 coupe · 05-28-2015, 06:48 PM

Those are great pictures. Can you do me another favor? Please post those pictures, and Bruce's identification as WW2 engine parts, to the engine block ID thread https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1.

4tford · 05-28-2015, 06:51 PM

I am confused with Bruce's reply as to the 3 ports. As far as I know ALL Canadian blocks had 3 ports. Need to find someone with a Canadian catalogue that deciphers the code C38A-6303

Bruce Lancaster · 05-29-2015, 10:47 AM

Don't know for sure...maybe I could tell from the plug count in one of the Canadian parts catalogs...but I thought the 3rd port came in during WWII. It seems to exist for the purpose of allowing block mod for full flow used to feed a cooler in the Bren carriers (armored and tracked vehicle, the flathead had to work HARD!) and full flow filtering for heavy trucks. It remained after the war for sure, but did it exist before??
During the war, USA flatheads (19's or 29's) picked up a cast boss there that also remained after the war, providing a place to drill the same feature. This may have been to allow easier mixing of USA and Imperial engines in the supply chain...I don't know if we ever added the PCV and full flow stuff the Canadians added for war vehicles.
On the USA angle...look at the Ford 1937-48 V8 overhaul manual. The photos in there are of a '42 type engine, and if you turn to the section where clutch and flywheel go on you will see that the engine has three ports, with mystery fittings of some sort showing that the engine had a functioning flow there in whatever vehicle it came from.
Perhaps it came from a Ford T-16, an American development of the Bren carrier. A flathead dragging around an armored box surely needed any cooling help it could get...

05-26-2015, 09:51 AM	#1
4tford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Regina Canada Posts: 1,337	crankshaft ID A few years ago, we tried to ID a crankshaft with no success. The cleanout plugs on the outside of the counterweights. Well this weekend I ended up bringing home two more of them. One is NOS still in the crate. The crate has the lettering on it. C38A-6303. I can not find that in my books. Can anyone help out. C is Canadian, 6303 is crank shaft but I have no idea what the 38A is. Thanks Bill Last edited by 4tford; 08-05-2020 at 08:01 AM.

05-26-2015, 11:36 AM	#2
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: crankshaft ID I think that would translate to 1943 221 application, a WWII motor.

05-26-2015, 12:04 PM	#3
4tford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Regina Canada Posts: 1,337	Re: crankshaft ID The complete short block I have had in the shop for years is marked 81, is a 24 stud and has the center trapezoid in water jacket. The block I brought home this weekend with the crank removed and the crank separate is a factory relieved 24 stud block and round center hole. Both are Canadian blocks. The block I just brought home is embossed 19 with a 5T cam. The other has a C21A cam. The block I have had for a while has glytol in the lifter valley as well as the underside of the block. Plugs in that one are brass. Last edited by 4tford; 05-26-2015 at 12:35 PM.

05-26-2015, 07:46 PM	#4
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: crankshaft ID Interesting configuration for the clean outs.

05-26-2015, 09:22 PM	#5
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,042	Re: crankshaft ID Please post pictures of all this odd stuff.

05-28-2015, 08:36 AM	#6
4tford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Regina Canada Posts: 1,337	Re: crankshaft ID Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) pics of the cranks and blocks Last edited by 4tford; 08-05-2020 at 08:01 AM.

05-28-2015, 01:13 PM	#7
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: crankshaft ID The 19 would be a normal wartime block, with the third oil port used for coolers in Bren carriers and full flow filter in trucks.

05-28-2015, 06:48 PM	#8
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,042	Re: crankshaft ID Those are great pictures. Can you do me another favor? Please post those pictures, and Bruce's identification as WW2 engine parts, to the engine block ID thread https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1.

05-28-2015, 06:51 PM	#9
4tford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Regina Canada Posts: 1,337	Re: crankshaft ID I am confused with Bruce's reply as to the 3 ports. As far as I know ALL Canadian blocks had 3 ports. Need to find someone with a Canadian catalogue that deciphers the code C38A-6303

05-29-2015, 10:47 AM	#10
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: crankshaft ID Don't know for sure...maybe I could tell from the plug count in one of the Canadian parts catalogs...but I thought the 3rd port came in during WWII. It seems to exist for the purpose of allowing block mod for full flow used to feed a cooler in the Bren carriers (armored and tracked vehicle, the flathead had to work HARD!) and full flow filtering for heavy trucks. It remained after the war for sure, but did it exist before?? During the war, USA flatheads (19's or 29's) picked up a cast boss there that also remained after the war, providing a place to drill the same feature. This may have been to allow easier mixing of USA and Imperial engines in the supply chain...I don't know if we ever added the PCV and full flow stuff the Canadians added for war vehicles. On the USA angle...look at the Ford 1937-48 V8 overhaul manual. The photos in there are of a '42 type engine, and if you turn to the section where clutch and flywheel go on you will see that the engine has three ports, with mystery fittings of some sort showing that the engine had a functioning flow there in whatever vehicle it came from. Perhaps it came from a Ford T-16, an American development of the Bren carrier. A flathead dragging around an armored box surely needed any cooling help it could get...