The Ford Barn

38 coupe · 01-08-2011, 05:46 PM

I keep seeing posts about identifying a flathead motor. I have been waiting for someone to do a nice post, or thread, with pictures identifying each style of flathead V8 block. In the absence of that, I'll do the next best thing; I volunteer to put the list together. I can provide pictures of an 8BA block, a 39 Mercury block, and probably a 36 LB block. I need pictures of the other blocks. If anyone has a bare block, or pictures of a bare block, could you post, or message me with the pictures?

A list of the production line blocks, this list does not include replacement blocks:
1932 - straight down drain cocks, no recessed area at front of motor
1933 - early had angled drain cocks, no recessed area at front of motor
late had angled drain cocks, start of recessed area
1934 - same as late 33
1935 - start of crankcase ventilation, late castings have insert mains
1936 - insert mains
1937 - relocated water pumps
1938 - early, same as 37
late, 24 stud heads
1939 - Ford similar to 38 with larger mains
Mercury larger bore
1940 - same as 39 both Ford and Mercury
1941 - No freeze plugs in oil pan rail, intake area now looks raised
1942 - same as 41 both Ford and Mercury
WW2 - no one really knows
1946 - the 59 series engines, valve angle changed, fails pencil test, etc
1947 - same as 46
1948 - cars same as 46-47. new pickups get 8BA
1949 - 8BA: removable bell housing, changed water passages
1950 - 8BA sometime around here the intake valve seats were eliminated
1951 - 8BA
1952 - 8BA sometime around here the exhuast valve seats were eliminated
1953 - 8BA
1954 - Austrialians and others used 8BA for last year, no USA flatheads

What I would like for pictures is: a front picture, a top picture, and a rear picture.

If this goes well, I would like to do the same with heads, intakes, carburetors, distributors, etc.

Thanks!

01-08-2011, 05:46 PM	#1
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,631	Engine block I.D. pictures I keep seeing posts about identifying a flathead motor. I have been waiting for someone to do a nice post, or thread, with pictures identifying each style of flathead V8 block. In the absence of that, I'll do the next best thing; I volunteer to put the list together. I can provide pictures of an 8BA block, a 39 Mercury block, and probably a 36 LB block. I need pictures of the other blocks. If anyone has a bare block, or pictures of a bare block, could you post, or message me with the pictures? A list of the production line blocks, this list does not include replacement blocks: 1932 - straight down drain cocks, no recessed area at front of motor 1933 - early had angled drain cocks, no recessed area at front of motor late had angled drain cocks, start of recessed area 1934 - same as late 33 1935 - start of crankcase ventilation, late castings have insert mains 1936 - insert mains 1937 - relocated water pumps 1938 - early, same as 37 late, 24 stud heads 1939 - Ford similar to 38 with larger mains Mercury larger bore 1940 - same as 39 both Ford and Mercury 1941 - No freeze plugs in oil pan rail, intake area now looks raised 1942 - same as 41 both Ford and Mercury WW2 - no one really knows 1946 - the 59 series engines, valve angle changed, fails pencil test, etc 1947 - same as 46 1948 - cars same as 46-47. new pickups get 8BA 1949 - 8BA: removable bell housing, changed water passages 1950 - 8BA sometime around here the intake valve seats were eliminated 1951 - 8BA 1952 - 8BA sometime around here the exhuast valve seats were eliminated 1953 - 8BA 1954 - Austrialians and others used 8BA for last year, no USA flatheads What I would like for pictures is: a front picture, a top picture, and a rear picture. If this goes well, I would like to do the same with heads, intakes, carburetors, distributors, etc. Thanks! Last edited by 38 coupe; 01-12-2011 at 07:28 PM.