Help identifying NOS Flathead

[harrisoncarroll]

I bought a NOS Ford Flathead 1938-42 military surplus engine. Engine is clearly Ford of Canada. C81A heads. 81 cast in block. Pulled on head and is 3-1/16 bore, valves appear to be stainless with Ford script. “WC 1363” stamped on intake surface. Oak wood crate has “KG 225” stamped on outside. I think the intended application is British Univeral Carrier OR CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) truck. My intake looks like https://youtu.be/l_Wjej1lmWw but the driver’s side exhaust manifold is slightly different. Any help is greatly appreciated. I will try to post pics soon. Thanks, Josh

[cas3]

the universal carriers had a unique exhaust manifold, straight out the back i believe

[Kube]

It appears to be '38 - '40 block with some "oddities" that are most likely military application.
These NOS engines have a definite "cool factor" but from my experience need to be torn down and gone through completely. I've used four NOS engines to date and every one required at minimum a complete disassembly, cleaning and honing of cylinders.

[harrisoncarroll]

Completely agree on disassembly and cleaning before use including honing. I will try to post some more pics. I would love to know the intended application. My best guess is still the Universal Carrier / Bren Gun Carrier.

[cas3]

i had 2 T16's years ago, one pretty complete, the exhaust goes straight out the back. i never had a bren, i assume they were the same. john bizal at midwest military has a bren, and is quite sharp on this stuff, google it up, give him a call

[deuce_roadster]

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The NOS engine for my 40 coupe came in a Ford crate, from a dealer in Texas. The crate had a 1953 date stenciled on it. It is a 59 series engine but it had a 51 crank, 8ba rods and was 3 3/16 bore. As Kube said, it needed to be COMPLETELY stripped down and cleaned. The most odd thing about it was the bolt holes for the intake were 5/16 instead of 3/8. Re tapped them before the hot tank and rebuild. Weird thing.
I have a 41 Merc NOS bare block that is my spare.

[cas3]

plenty of 1.5 tons and staff cars went to war too

[harrisoncarroll]

Pic with head removed. Forgot to mention under the cosmoline and wood dust is darker blue paint. Also some cool red stencils on the back of block but really hard to read. Looks like a “-1- 63”. The intake surface as a very clear “WC 1363” stamped into it. This mean anything to anyone? Thanks, Josh

[harrisoncarroll]

Hopefully pic works this time....

[harrisoncarroll]

Pic of tag attached to engine. “S 234” mean anything?

[harrisoncarroll]

Pic of intake. It is broke where carb attaches. Maybe why it never got used?

[corvette8n]

Great part of history there.

[Mart]

Not sure but it might have the military spec pcv valve fitted(?????)
Mart.

[alanwoodieman]

I was in an old warehouse in Jacksonville, Fla. years ago and there were a lot of these engines sitting in crates that supposedly came out of a warehouse in North Africa. I tried to purchase a couple and was told there were already sold to someone in NC, wonder who that could have been?

[rotorwrench]

It's could be for a car, a truck, a universal carrier, or an industrial fixed mount application. It has what appears to be a plug where the oil cooler & filter set up would be plumbed in. It has the removable lower bell for a truck application. It may very well be an engine that went unused. I've seen where engines were removed from vehicles and put back into the crate that the replacement came in or it didn't function correctly and was reinstalled back into the crate. It would still be a good core. If it is still coated with cosmoline then is is more likely to be unused surplus or remanufactured surplus. They pickled military stuff pretty well whether new or depot overhauled.

The Ford T16 carrier used the 29A engines but most US built Ford trucks had the G series 6-cylinder. A lot of the Canadian Ford CMPs had a version of the 99A engines as well. Most universals had the 81A type like that one. Other trucks were built that may have had the 81A engine with 81T type heads.

[marko39]

Any rust in the bores? Have you tried to turn it over yet?

[35fordtn]

I have four of these that came from the same location as yours. They are good engines but need to be torn apart cleaned and bored. They are as kube say 38-40 engines. I have one on the stand right now recently removed from the crate. Supposedly they came from a Scat military vehicle.... whatever that is. You’ll also notice when you tear it apart it uses a 41A crankshaft. Does yours have the 4 plugs in the pan rail?


I am assuming yours came from Knoxville TN

[Admiral]

It's hard to believe NOS engines are still out there... maybe because every core I've been through has been a greasy or rusty mess! I'd love to get my hands on something like that, such history.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by alanwoodieman

I was in an old warehouse in Jacksonville, Fla. years ago and there were a lot of these engines sitting in crates that supposedly came out of a warehouse in North Africa. I tried to purchase a couple and was told there were already sold to someone in NC, wonder who that could have been?

I'm just guessing here but I'll bet the same guy I bought all of mine from

[harrisoncarroll]

Guys, thank you for the incredible response and help! Yes, I bought the last engine they had in Knoxville. The cylinders looked like they should cleanup with a hone as only one had a very small amount of rust in it. Others had some oil in them. Engine has definitely not been ever ran! I tried to call John today at Midwest Military but it was too late in the day (dark work getting in the way of hobby). I will try to post a couple more pics tonight. There is some cool red stencils on the back of the block but they are really hard to make out. Thanks, Josh