59AB verses 59

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

I know 46-48 Ford and Merc had 59AB heads. I have a complete engine, been in my barn for 20yr's and it just says 59 on the heads. I've been always going to strip it but the spirit has'nt moved on it yet. I cain't remember if it say 59 on the back bellhousing. Any one know the differance between 59 and 59AB? Walt

[59ab]

Walt, I have a factory relieved engine that has 59-a on the heads and 59 on the bell housing. It is my understanding this engine was made for 1945 trucks. It is 239 cid.
Eddie

My engine also has the ledge over the timing gear cover and will pass the "pencil test".
Also note some of the engines with 59 cast on the bell housing were 221 cid.

[G32]

Walt - Good question . Don't forget 59 A head. 59 VS 59A VS 59AB.
All are 6050 left side part # and fit both L & R sides.
59, 59A & 59AB are interchangeable too, I understand.
So --what are differences?
l Gene Tulsa

[flat-v8]

That is what I have! a 59A, I have no idea what year it is or what it was originally in, no aluminum parts, all cast iron, it's pretty tough! was totally stuck at one time, neglected in a damp pole barn for 16 years, I got it unstuck and have never even pulled the heads!

[G32]

Walt.
Were you asking about the 59 engines or the heads?
Do you have head/s cast marked 59 ( no A or AB)?
USA 59 blocks were all cast marked 59 no letter differences (as Canada engines) far as I understand.
Anyone have a 59 + letter A or AB cast marked block?
On these type questions I like to hear opinion of this engine builder called a-ah
DUPONT.
Comeback now Walt,, guys


Gene, Flathead Fever Tulsa

[ford38v8]

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Originally Posted by G32

Walt.
Were you asking about the 59 engines or the heads?
Do you have head/s cast marked 59 ( no A or AB)?
USA 59 blocks were all cast marked 59 no letter differences (as Canada engines) far as I understand.
Anyone have a 59 + letter A or AB cast marked block?
On these type questions I like to hear opinion of this engine builder called a-ah
DUPONT.
Comeback now Walt,, guys


Gene, Flathead Fever Tulsa

Gene, I haven't seen one, but i'm told the Canadian blocks of the period had a C prefix before the 59.
And don't forget the 59L factory relieved, and has anyone ever seen the 59X experimental?

[G32]

38v8
Canadian blocks seem to have clear, doubtless cast letters & numbers. Goods pictures on Hot Rod forum- with "search" function. IE canadian post war 221s were actually
cast correctly as 51 blocks --credit to others on this forum! USA 221s sneaked thru in
"59" 239 id'd blocks--all credit others on this forum.

Shades of the 350 GM engined Oldmoble! Not the volume tho.

I have 59L relieved clear cast. Have 59 with gauged marks could argue was X but
not clear cast letter. Mystery BS , not proof.

My understanding , I want to state, and confirm or be corrected is USA 59s are 59s, is a 59 block, not 59a, not 59AB, a59 block. Guys refer to 59 A engines
or 59 AB --only difference is letter on head. 59s are Ford/Merc engines no difference.
Post war Ford/Merc used same sequence serial #s with same 239 59 block

OK have at me , I Ford, you Ford , we all Ford here.

38v8 thanks for response. All others too.

Remember Billy Vessels? Who? How about Rock Café? Where?

My driveway is OLD RT 66 1928 concrete.
Bucket list- get tour of J Leno's garage--anybody?

Gene Tulsa





















shades of

[KiWinUS]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Gene, I haven't seen one, but i'm told the Canadian blocks of the period had a C prefix before the 59.
And don't forget the 59L factory relieved, and has anyone ever seen the 59X experimental?

I have a 59L that I am resurecting from the dead = NOT relieved !!! 3 & 3/16 bore factory thick wall sleeves with step around top of bore to secure sleeve just like for a thin wall sleeve, 8 ba insert rods & crank to suit . All original to the best we can tell .
But 59L & not relieved . Was very hard to drill to plug crack
Cheers
Tony
Has had tour of Jays garage !!!

[Ken/Alabama]

Hi Tony, I have a 59L block also that's not relieved .Its my understanding that most all of these blocks were factory relieved .

[rotorwrench]

Trucks generally always out lived there passenger car and commercial couterparts for heavy use. This also led to final production blocks to be geared toward the vehicles that were breaking them (trucks). I don't know how long after 1948 FoMoCo produced the 59 blocks but I'm sure it was at least a few years. They likely didn't relieve many more replacement blocks after production of the 48 models ceased but I don't know for certain.

[ford38v8]

I have a 59L, but have never confirmed relief or not. What i do know from road speeds is that it is a high reving engine, which I understand to be due to lower compression and cam grinds for trucks. My heads were ground smooth, deleting whatever marking, so no clue there anyway.

Bucket: White water Grand Canyon

[epw1949]

Walt,I understand the question,and I been trying to come up with a good answer,and I think I know the difference between the 59ab and the 59 engines. Its the ab,do I win anything.Take care EPW

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by G32

Walt.
Were you asking about the 59 engines or the heads?
Do you have head/s cast marked 59 ( no A or AB)?
USA 59 blocks were all cast marked 59 no letter differences (as Canada engines) far as I understand.
Anyone have a 59 + letter A or AB cast marked block?
On these type questions I like to hear opinion of this engine builder called a-ah
DUPONT.
Comeback now Walt,, guys


Gene, Flathead Fever Tulsa

I didn't think this thread would be so long. I'll go up in my storage barn tomorrow and look at this engine again. I'd like to pull a head but it 500 feet from my shop and no heat, and not enough energy in me. Let you know tomorrow. Walt

[Bruce Lancaster]

If heads...59A heads are early postwar, 59AB are later, with very slightly smaller chambers.

[Gary in La.]

Bruce is correct. The engine in my '46 is a 59A block with 59AB heads. It came from a '48 and was original to the car. The block is cast 59A. I have 2 spare blocks ,both have only 59 cast on them and are both 3 3/16". The heads are both cast 59A. These also are original engines and have not been reworked.
I have seen other blocks cast with the 59 only and were 3 1/16".

[flathead4dr]

Don't the pre-war engines have smaller main bearings ? Bill

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by flathead4dr

Don't the pre-war engines have smaller main bearings ? Bill

All blocks from 39-48 have the same main bearings, actually 8BA 49-53 have same size main brg the only differance is the rear main, diffreant width. Walt

[G32]

Gary--LA

3 1/16 59 221ci engines are rather an oddball --several have shown up
recently. Could you post some pictures? for we Ford followers to document their
history. Many here would greatly appreciate pics!
Front of block re pencil test pre war feature // or post war slope.
Intake surface flat post war or "raised" pre war.
Pan rail bumps / ridges re casting core holes/plugs pre war or none post war.
59 "A" on bellhousing. Canadian were C 59 A
Oil fitting ports rear driver side 3 ports or 2?
Any other features different than most 59 blocks
Thanks for you posting. Gene Tulsa

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by G32

...3 1/16 59 221ci engines are rather an oddball --several have shown up recently.... Gene Tulsa

Gene, not so oddball. These were postwar service replacement blocks for 3 1/16" bore.

[Gary in La.]

Sorry,These 59 blocks are in storage in a warehouse and will be hard to get to for photos. Visually outside they are the same as the 59A blocks. Only difference is bore size. ford38v8 is correct.