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Old 11-21-2016, 08:22 PM   #101
flatjack9
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

The round water hole in the center denotes it as a Mercury block - 3 3/16 bore x 3 3/4 stoke.
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Old 11-22-2016, 08:20 AM   #102
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ Chris View Post
Rather than start a new thread, I figured this would be a better place.

Recently got this block and trying to ID it. From everything I can find it appears to be a 239 from a 39-41 (closer to 41?) truck based on the stamp on the left rear of the block 99T-638628 and the lower water passage.

From what I can gather this is a good block but one question is whether parts for a "59" block will fit properly.




That block is usually a 41-42 Merc type block - or a block that was used in WWII for a variety of uses. There is a bunch of flathead lore about this 'keystone' block being thicker and the cat's ass for a big bore stroker motor. Truth be told, they are not really any thicker or better than other years - just another perpetuated myth. I just built this same block/engine for my 32 Cabriolet - only because I wanted a pre-war block and this is the best one. Mine was essentially a NOS block - came in a create from WWII - STD bore, had just been broken (the engine) then not ran/used.

I have my own sonic tester and have tested a lot of different blocks - can find no consistent correlation between block year/type/nomenclature and being thicker than others.

As some noted, it should have the earlier valve angles (32-42) - but they are only slightly different from the 46-53 engines. There is some debate whether or not the 39-42 Mercuries used the LATE valve angle or the early one - I've never been able to confirm this. (To move the valves further away from the bigger 3 3/16 bore).

Valve angle: 32-42 = 101.45 degrees, 46-53 = 100.026 degrees


It is always wise to check for valve to head clearances - especially if you're running the early (small chamber) heads and/or an unknown cam. You can do this with a gasket and some modeling clay - you'll want .060+ minimum over the valves at the top of the pockets in the heads (which is where they would hit if they are too close).
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Old 11-22-2016, 10:36 AM   #103
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

I haven't worked on any 41/42 Merc/truck blocks or wartime ones either but the 99 block that I have seen (1939) does have thicker walls. Maby not a lot thicker but noticably thicker through the water jacket ports than a 59 series. FoMoCo was changing the castings in the 41/42 time frame plus the wartime stuff may have been affected by shortages of materials. The most common wartime vehicles I've seen that had US built V8 engines were big COE transport trucks. I don't know how many were made for the war effort but I've seen pictures of them in Red Ball Express photos and others. These trucks were easy to maintain and the engines could be changed quickly if the maintenance facility had the cradle tools. Ford made a lot of G8T trucks but they were all 6-cylinder. Ford made other conventional cab big trucks for fire engines and they made the bomb loaders but I don't know if they had V8 engines or not. The bomb loaders resemble the CMP trucks made in Canada. My Pops outfit in Foggia, Italy had both the fire trucks and the bomb loaders. I just wish he were still around to answer questions about them. I'm sure all that stuff stayed in Europe & North Africa after the war.
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Old 11-22-2016, 10:47 AM   #104
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Thanks everyone. Much appreciate all the information!
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Old 07-14-2017, 12:33 PM   #105
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Btt
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Old 02-24-2019, 11:29 AM   #106
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

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Back to the top. Lots of good info here.
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Old 02-24-2019, 03:33 PM   #107
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Thanks for posting ..very good info ..sc
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Old 02-24-2019, 08:50 PM   #108
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac VP View Post
I like this idea! Someone did this some years ago....I think for an article in the EFV8 Club mag. Pics were a little grainy.
I wrote that article years (decades) ago long, before digital cameras. If I recall, the pictures were in black and white....anyone remember them?
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Old 05-04-2019, 11:57 AM   #109
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Bsck to Top

See 36 LB ID --post # 14
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Old 11-08-2019, 12:37 PM   #110
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

BTT Some questions currently this should help with .
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Old 04-04-2021, 05:31 PM   #111
38 coupe
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Well it has been a decade since I started this thread. Lots of good information and help was added during that decade. However, I hosted the pictures for the original postings of this thread on photobucket, and they changed their minds on how they operate (I never paid them money so I can't complain).

Since the early pictures are at best now only thumbnails, I have a question:
Should I attempt to update the original posts?
Should I attempt to duplicate the original posts here at the bottom of this old thread with attached pictures instead of linked pics?
Should I start a new thread instead of making new members scroll down through all of this one (I'm really conflicted on that idea since so many people contributed to this thread)?

At the minimum I can offer a chart with USA production line V8 engine identification as a sort of quick reference (see attached pdf).


Edit: I checked. I cannot edit any of my older posts in this thread.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf 32_53_USA_V8_blocks.pdf (23.9 KB, 50 views)

Last edited by 38 coupe; 04-10-2021 at 08:07 AM. Reason: Note about limit on editing old posts
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Old 04-04-2021, 05:58 PM   #112
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

I for one very much appreciate your research and have learned from your work. I'm sure many others have also. As Photobucket is no longer viable for this thread, whatever method you decide on that can refresh the info presented is above and beyond! Thank you!
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Old 04-04-2021, 10:37 PM   #113
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

@38coupe Thank you for posting the chart. It would be great to have the earlier pictures posted again, it would keep this thread as the "go to" place for block identification.
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Old 04-05-2021, 01:41 AM   #114
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Quote:
Originally Posted by 38 coupe View Post
Well it has been a decade since I started this thread. Lots of good information and help was added during that decade. However, I hosted the pictures for the original postings of this thread on photobucket, and they changed their minds on how they operate (I never paid them money so I can't complain).

Since the early pictures are at best now only thumbnails, I have a question:
Should I attempt to update the original posts?
Should I attempt to duplicate the original posts here at the bottom of this old thread with attached pictures instead of linked pics?
Should I start a new thread instead of making new members scroll down through all of this one (I'm really conflicted on that idea since so many people contributed to this thread)?

At the minimum I can offer a chart with USA production line V8 engine identification as a sort of quick reference (see attached pdf).
38 coupe,

I think update original pics would be best? This is great thread, thanks! Deserves to be at top, sticky? is that possible here?
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Old 04-05-2021, 08:37 AM   #115
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

I don't know if you can update the older posts. You might try it to see if it will work. If not, a person would have to repost these items with new entries.

This has been a problem with a lot of the older threads that predate the change from using links to photo sharing sites to posting directly to the threads.
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Old 04-05-2021, 09:15 AM   #116
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

I agree, you might not be able to update older post. If you can, might just add a note that the photos are added to the end of the thread.

Last edited by JSeery; 04-05-2021 at 02:49 PM.
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Old 04-05-2021, 02:25 PM   #117
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

I have a relieved 59 block which has no 'L' designation immediately after the '59' but rather slightly off to the left top side of the bell housing near the 1/8"npt tapped oil gallery & the 'L' is read while facing the block from the right side. Just curious if it is a bonified 'L' code block ? anyone able to i.d. ? it has what looks to be factory intact paint but a much brighter green than I'm familiar with.
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Old 04-10-2021, 05:57 AM   #118
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Allmost 59 marked blocks are equivalent. The exception is the over the counter replacement blocks cast with the smaller 221 motor size bore of 3 1/16 inches. All the speculation about different letter blocks being better has turned out to be just speculation. No metallurgical difference and no cylinder wall thickness has been found.
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Old 04-10-2021, 06:04 AM   #119
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

After thinking about it I decided to post pictures here at the bottom of this thread, and edit the old posts to reference the attached pictures. I'm planning on a post per engine group (1932 post, 33-34 post, etc).


Here is the post with 1932 engine block pictures. Many of the pictures were gathered from this thread, many thanks.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1932 #1 engine.jpg (96.4 KB, 20 views)
File Type: jpg 1932 65 hp.jpg (23.6 KB, 21 views)
File Type: jpg 1932 block.jpg (63.9 KB, 16 views)
File Type: jpg 1932 block bottom 2.jpg (105.6 KB, 15 views)
File Type: jpg 1932 block deck.jpg (65.6 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg 1932 block valley.jpg (119.5 KB, 15 views)
File Type: jpg 1932 motor mounts.jpg (103.5 KB, 17 views)
File Type: jpg 1932 petcock.jpg (137.0 KB, 94 views)
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Old 04-10-2021, 06:09 AM   #120
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Default Re: Engine block I.D. pictures

Here is the post with 33-34 engine block pictures. Again, many of these pictures were provided by gracious and helpful people earlier in this thread.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1933 75 hp.jpg (44.0 KB, 16 views)
File Type: jpg 1933 crankcase area.jpg (75.4 KB, 15 views)
File Type: jpg 1933 front flipped.jpg (61.4 KB, 17 views)
File Type: jpg 1933 fuel pump area.jpg (70.1 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg 1933 main stud spacing.jpg (61.3 KB, 16 views)
File Type: jpg 1933 valley main cap bolt holes 1.jpg (69.2 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg 1933 valley main cap bolt holes 4.jpg (71.9 KB, 11 views)
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