Engine Identification '34 Ford

[GThorpe]

Hello All- I have a '34 5-Window Model B. The car is in what seems to be original condition. I am wondering how I can tell if the engine is original to the car. It is a 4-cyl engine. The VIN's all match on the rest of the car, but I cannot find anything on the engine to check it. To my understanding it is more rare to have a car with the 4-cyl engine, which makes me wonder if this is the original motor, or if it has been replaced over the course of its life. Thanks in advance!
-Greg

[rockfla]

I don't have the 33/34 book in front of me BUT "IF" memory serves I think the number on the fours are on the right rear of the bell housing area near where it bolts to the block OR on the right rear corner of the block??? ALSO your frame number should start differently than a V8 I believe not sure if the "AB" followed after 32. What is the starting 4 or 5 numbers??? Others more knowledgeable I'm sure will correct ME!! And, yes, the 34's with 4 cyl engines are very limited in production numbers, even more so than 1933!!!


PICTURES TOO, We love pictures!!!! Post some pictures of that "4 banger" Coupe!!!

[GThorpe]

Okay got it! I will have to check those places tonight when I get home from work. The VIN is B526****... I will attach some photos of it as well in another post!

[DavidG]

Everything that distinguishes a '33-'34 four from a '32 four is a bolt-on part. The so-called short block (cylinder block, crankshaft, camshaft, pistons, connecting rods, etc.) is the same for all three model years' engines except for the crankshaft as only late '32 fours have a counterbalanced crankshaft.


In other words, if the engine in your '34 has a counterbalanced crankshaft, there is no way of knowing if it is the engine the car was built with or a rebuilt engine. (Obviously if it does not have a counterbalanced crankshaft, the engine is not original to the car.)


Your engine number (VIN) of B526XXXX) is in the ball park, but you won't find it on the engine block but rather on top of the flywheel housing which is a bolt-on component and may or may not be attached to the original engine block.


You're correct, '34 fours are rare as Ford stopped offering them in its U.S. cars, commercial vehicles, and trucks in April, 1934 as the demand for them keep declining throughout the '33 model year and into the '34 model year. I once had a four-cylinder '34 roadster and presently have a '33 four-banger coupe.

[GThorpe]

[GThorpe]

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Originally Posted by rockfla

I don't have the 33/34 book in front of me BUT "IF" memory serves I think the number on the fours are on the right rear of the bell housing area near where it bolts to the block OR on the right rear corner of the block??? ALSO your frame number should start differently than a V8 I believe not sure if the "AB" followed after 32. What is the starting 4 or 5 numbers??? Others more knowledgeable I'm sure will correct ME!! And, yes, the 34's with 4 cyl engines are very limited in production numbers, even more so than 1933!!!


PICTURES TOO, We love pictures!!!! Post some pictures of that "4 banger" Coupe!!!

What is the easiest way to post a photo as I have it downloaded onto my computer and it's looking for the URL link... Thanks!

[GThorpe]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Everything that distinguishes a '33-'34 four from a '32 four is a bolt-on part. The so-called short block (cylinder block, crankshaft, camshaft, pistons, connecting rods, etc.) is the same for all three model years' engines except for the crankshaft as only late '32 fours have a counterbalanced crankshaft.


In other words, if the engine in your '34 has a counterbalanced crankshaft, there is no way of knowing if it is the engine the car was built with or a rebuilt engine. (Obviously if it does not have a counterbalanced crankshaft, the engine is not original to the car.)


Your engine number (VIN) of B526XXXX) is in the ball park, but you won't find it on the engine block but rather on top of the flywheel housing which is a bolt-on component and may or may not be attached to the original engine block.


You're correct, '34 fours are rare as Ford stopped offering them in its U.S. cars, commercial vehicles, and trucks in April, 1934 as the demand for them keep declining throughout the '33 model year and into the '34 model year. I once had a four-cylinder '34 roadster and presently have a '33 four-banger coupe.

Thank you for all this! I will be sure to check on this when I get home!

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by GThorpe

What is the easiest way to post a photo as I have it downloaded onto my computer and it's looking for the URL link... Thanks!

IF you look at the "dash board" of the box you posted in, there is a black paper clip in the top center. Click on the black paper clip and you will have a box with about 6 lines where you can upload pictures from your computer. Be mindful that you cannot load "large" megabite pictures SO you need to make sure the file size is below Like 1G.

[GThorpe]

Originally Posted by rockfla

IF you look at the "dash board" of the box you posted in, there is a black paper clip in the top center. Click on the black paper clip and you will have a box with about 6 lines where you can upload pictures from your computer. Be mindful that you cannot load "large" megabite pictures SO you need to make sure the file size is below Like 1G.

Got it!! Thanks for the help! IMG_0021.jpg

[rockfla]

Wow, that's one sweet looking ride!!!! Thanks for sharing. THE "OTHER" contributing factor that is in NO books OR doesn't get mentioned IS.......How many people acquired a car like yours and "Converted" it to a V8. SO "HOPEFULLY" yours doesn't ever meet that fate!

[Mike34]

x2 Keep it as is!

[GThorpe]

Originally Posted by rockfla

Wow, that's one sweet looking ride!!!! Thanks for sharing. THE "OTHER" contributing factor that is in NO books OR doesn't get mentioned IS.......How many people acquired a car like yours and "Converted" it to a V8. SO "HOPEFULLY" yours doesn't ever meet that fate!

No plans on changing it at all! Love it the way it is, and just got it running perfectly. IMG_0761.jpg

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GThorpe

No plans on changing it at all! Love it the way it is, and just got it running perfectly. Attachment 473591

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by GThorpe

No plans on changing it at all! Love it the way it is, and just got it running perfectly. Attachment 473591

In the vein of "authenticity" and "as Henry built it" Its hard to tell from your second photo BUT it looks as IF you hub caps are "V8" which would be incorrect (IF you are looking for "correctness"). IF they are......They "should" have the script "Ford" oval caps!!!!


AND....Is it me OR it looks as if you are missing a (1) horn???? Can't see from the shadows

[GThorpe]

Originally Posted by rockfla

In the vein of "authenticity" and "as Henry built it" Its hard to tell from your second photo BUT it looks as IF you hub caps are "V8" which would be incorrect (IF you are looking for "correctness"). IF they are......They "should" have the script "Ford" oval caps!!!!


AND....Is it me OR it looks as if you are missing a horn???? Can't see from the shadows

It does in-fact have V8 caps. That is the way I got it. Also when I got the car it did have twin horns on the front, and sealed beam headlights. The originals were in the trunk so I swapped them back for the originals, losing the horns in the process. Under the hood there is a horn though...

[petehoovie]

Correct 1934 Ford Hubcap >





Looks as though GThorpe has '32 Hubcaps on his car >

[GThorpe]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Correct 1934 Ford Hubcap >





Looks as though GThorpe has '32 Hubcaps on his car >

You're correct, I just checked a few photos I have on my phone.

[rockfla]

NO V8 Caps, I am scrambling to find a better picture BUT here is a 34 Roadster with a 4 cyl that has the "Ford" oval hub caps, one feature line near the outer edge of the cap, Ford Oval in the center, close to the upper of the two caps posted by petehoovie BUT with the Script Ford Oval instead!!!!

[GThorpe]

Originally Posted by rockfla

NO V8 Caps, I am scrambling to find a better picture BUT here is a 34 Roadster with a 4 cyl that has the "Ford" oval hub caps, one feature line near the outer edge of the cap, Ford Oval in the center, close to the upper of the two caps posted by petehoovie BUT with the Script Ford Oval instead!!!!

Looks like I might need to get a set to swap out the V8 ones... This car sat in a garage for years only being driven once, maybe twice a year. I tried to buy it multiple times but the stubborn old timer never wanted to let it go. When he passed in 2016 I was able to get it from the son, who called me expressing it was left to him and he did not want it. I've had it since then and I even drive it to work pretty often (whenever the weather cooperates). Can't tell you how many people have followed me and asked if it was for sale. haha!

[rockfla]

Here you go