The Ford Barn

grtmkr · 11-15-2016, 04:09 PM

I'm trying to identify the year of the engine that is in my 32 V-8. An EFV8 club member thought mine was from a later year in the 30s.

rotorwrench · 11-15-2016, 04:17 PM

This link is to the Ford Barn engine block ID thread.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1

Early ones are all babbitt bearing mains with 21 stud cylinder head attachment and head mounted water pumps.

grtmkr · 11-15-2016, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

This link is to the Ford Barn engine block ID thread.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1

It looks like a bad link/URL

Bob C · 11-15-2016, 04:20 PM

Works for me.

Bob

grtmkr · 11-15-2016, 04:22 PM

must have self-repaired. I tried about 6 times with 2 different browsers. It's all good. Thanks!

Charlie Stephens · 11-15-2016, 04:27 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Start with the following and let us know what you find.

Identification of the early flatheads is best approached in terms of the block. There is an unbelievable amount of interchangeability for the accessories over the years. Count the number of head studs.
1) If there are 17 studs it is a V8 60 used in vehicles between 1937 and 1940. This engine was also used in the French built Simca in the sixties but I don’t know what occurred between these two periods. Look for casting numbers and stamped steel water jackets in the side of the block. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine.
2) If there are 21 studs the block was built 1932 to 1938. The transition to 24 studs was late in 1938. Check the water petcocks on the front of the block next to where the lower hose from the radiator enters either an inlet fitting (1936 and earlier) or the water pump (1937 and later). It the petcocks point straight down it is a 1932 block. If the block is not a 1932 next look for a vent from the crankcase area out through the front corner of the oil pan. If there is no vent the block is 1933-34. If there is a vent it is 1935 or later. As a matter of interest, the 1936 engines were the first to use insert bearings. Both insert and babbit bearings were used throughout 1936. The insert bearing engines can be identified by LB cast at the top of the left front face of the block or by the letters LB stamped into the surface where the intake manifold attaches. Some engines were not stamped and in other cases people tried to inflate the price of their blocks by stamping LB into them when they were sold. Be careful. Now check for the location of the water pumps. If the water pumps mount on the block the engine is 1937 or later. All engines beginning in 1937 were inserts. Frequently you will encounter a 1937 block with factory block off plates held on by two bolts over the water pump passage at the front of the block as it was common for Ford dealers to install this engine as a replacement in the earlier cars. Of course there will be slight transition periods at model change over with the older blocks usually going into the commercial vehicles. There may be subtle differences between the 1933-34 and the 1935-36 engines but I am knowledgeable enough about these years to know what they are. The casting numbers on the flywheel housing will also help identify the exact year of the engine. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine.
3) If there are 24 studs the engine was produced between late 1938 and 1953 (1954 in Canada). If the distributor is mounted on the front of the block the engine is late 1938 through 1948 (1947 for trucks). If the distributor comes up at an angle and appears more like a modern distributor it is a 1949 (1948 for truck) through 1953 (1954 in Canada). The casting numbers on the flywheel housing will further identify the exact year of the engine. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine.
4) There are a lot of additional foreign and industrial applications of these engines but the preceding covers the domestic US automobile production.

Charlie Stephens

rockfla · 11-15-2016, 04:36 PM

To clarify what Charlie above posted, the 1932 blocks (when either looking from underneath or feeling from above) at each front corner of the block have drain petcocks at each front corner of the block just below each hose or could have one drain petcock and a pipe plug at each front corner, 1933 and up only have one!!

DavidG · 11-15-2016, 05:49 PM

Robert,

With respect, all of the '33-'34 V-8 engines I've owned have two pet cocks (at an angle outward immediately behind the water inlet at the front of the block on each side).

Charlie,

While rare, some early '33 Canadian V-8 blocks have cast-in provision for both the '32 and '33 drain cock locations to reflect the several months' delay in the Job #1 date for '33s in Australia. (Which followed a five month delay in the launch of the '32 models there.)

While not mentioned above, the other old 'rule of thumb' regarding the lack of cavities in the block casting on either side of the timing cover as being exclusive to the '32 is no longer 100% valid. I recently acquired an engine with no cavities on the front of the block and angled drain cocks without provision for the straight-down versions.

11-15-2016, 04:17 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: Identifying year of engine in my 32 V-8 This link is to the Ford Barn engine block ID thread. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1 Early ones are all babbitt bearing mains with 21 stud cylinder head attachment and head mounted water pumps.

11-15-2016, 04:20 PM	#4
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,360	Re: Identifying year of engine in my 32 V-8 Works for me. Bob

11-15-2016, 04:22 PM	#5
grtmkr Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Parkersburg, WV Posts: 26	Re: Identifying year of engine in my 32 V-8 must have self-repaired. I tried about 6 times with 2 different browsers. It's all good. Thanks!

11-15-2016, 04:27 PM	#6
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,305	Re: Identifying year of engine in my 32 V-8 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Start with the following and let us know what you find. Identification of the early flatheads is best approached in terms of the block. There is an unbelievable amount of interchangeability for the accessories over the years. Count the number of head studs. 1) If there are 17 studs it is a V8 60 used in vehicles between 1937 and 1940. This engine was also used in the French built Simca in the sixties but I don’t know what occurred between these two periods. Look for casting numbers and stamped steel water jackets in the side of the block. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine. 2) If there are 21 studs the block was built 1932 to 1938. The transition to 24 studs was late in 1938. Check the water petcocks on the front of the block next to where the lower hose from the radiator enters either an inlet fitting (1936 and earlier) or the water pump (1937 and later). It the petcocks point straight down it is a 1932 block. If the block is not a 1932 next look for a vent from the crankcase area out through the front corner of the oil pan. If there is no vent the block is 1933-34. If there is a vent it is 1935 or later. As a matter of interest, the 1936 engines were the first to use insert bearings. Both insert and babbit bearings were used throughout 1936. The insert bearing engines can be identified by LB cast at the top of the left front face of the block or by the letters LB stamped into the surface where the intake manifold attaches. Some engines were not stamped and in other cases people tried to inflate the price of their blocks by stamping LB into them when they were sold. Be careful. Now check for the location of the water pumps. If the water pumps mount on the block the engine is 1937 or later. All engines beginning in 1937 were inserts. Frequently you will encounter a 1937 block with factory block off plates held on by two bolts over the water pump passage at the front of the block as it was common for Ford dealers to install this engine as a replacement in the earlier cars. Of course there will be slight transition periods at model change over with the older blocks usually going into the commercial vehicles. There may be subtle differences between the 1933-34 and the 1935-36 engines but I am knowledgeable enough about these years to know what they are. The casting numbers on the flywheel housing will also help identify the exact year of the engine. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine. 3) If there are 24 studs the engine was produced between late 1938 and 1953 (1954 in Canada). If the distributor is mounted on the front of the block the engine is late 1938 through 1948 (1947 for trucks). If the distributor comes up at an angle and appears more like a modern distributor it is a 1949 (1948 for truck) through 1953 (1954 in Canada). The casting numbers on the flywheel housing will further identify the exact year of the engine. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine. 4) There are a lot of additional foreign and industrial applications of these engines but the preceding covers the domestic US automobile production. Charlie Stephens

11-15-2016, 04:36 PM	#7
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 4,806	Re: Identifying year of engine in my 32 V-8 To clarify what Charlie above posted, the 1932 blocks (when either looking from underneath or feeling from above) at each front corner of the block have drain petcocks at each front corner of the block just below each hose or could have one drain petcock and a pipe plug at each front corner, 1933 and up only have one!!

11-15-2016, 04:09 PM	#1
grtmkr Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Parkersburg, WV Posts: 26	Identifying year of engine in my 32 V-8 I'm trying to identify the year of the engine that is in my 32 V-8. An EFV8 club member thought mine was from a later year in the 30s.

11-15-2016, 05:49 PM	#8
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,601	Re: Identifying year of engine in my 32 V-8 Robert, With respect, all of the '33-'34 V-8 engines I've owned have two pet cocks (at an angle outward immediately behind the water inlet at the front of the block on each side). Charlie, While rare, some early '33 Canadian V-8 blocks have cast-in provision for both the '32 and '33 drain cock locations to reflect the several months' delay in the Job #1 date for '33s in Australia. (Which followed a five month delay in the launch of the '32 models there.) While not mentioned above, the other old 'rule of thumb' regarding the lack of cavities in the block casting on either side of the timing cover as being exclusive to the '32 is no longer 100% valid. I recently acquired an engine with no cavities on the front of the block and angled drain cocks without provision for the straight-down versions.