The Ford Barn

Jakno · 02-02-2021, 12:33 PM

Trying to identify the year of this 59 Engine, It may have the wrong Distributor and timing cover. It has 24 stud heads........... Thanks

rotorwrench · 02-02-2021, 12:51 PM

Date codes on Ford engine blocks cast at the Rouge plant were stamped on the right side rear area of the intake deck. Not all are stamped though so there is no guarantee. The nature of the Ford flathead design allows a lot of things to be interchanged between series types. Some items require modification to fit a different series but most can be made to fit. The timing covers can easily be changed from a two bolt to a three bolt type.

In the immediate post war era, Ford made two different types of blocks within the 59 series. They made a dedicated replacement 41A 221 block and the normal 59A 239 block. Both may have the "59" cast on the back bell so a person has to check it for characteristics to be certain of what they have.

59 series production started as soon as the War Department allowed Ford to change over to civilian production in 1945 but some 41A engines were manufacturer as early as late 1944 to allow for farm and business repair parts at the time. The early ones are likely not marked as 59 series. War time V8s of both displacements were not marked either but usually have war time characteristics and are somewhat rare unless a person collects war time equipment.

Mart · 02-02-2021, 04:54 PM

That looks like the 59 series motor I am currently rebuilding. It has the same "anomalies" of 3 bolt cover and long nose cam. I don't know if they came from the factory like that, or yours and mine have both been retrofitted with earlier cam and 3 bolt cover.

A pic of the deck surface without the gasket would be helpful because the shape of the holes in the deck is part of the identification process. That said, the 59 on the half bellhousing is as good an identifier as anything.

Mart.

rotorwrench · 02-02-2021, 07:32 PM

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There were adapters made in order to use whatever cam was in the engine. The different engines could be adapted either way with the right parts. The 8BA cam would have to be changed to use the early crab or helmet designs but it can also be done.

02-02-2021, 12:51 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: Year of Engine Date codes on Ford engine blocks cast at the Rouge plant were stamped on the right side rear area of the intake deck. Not all are stamped though so there is no guarantee. The nature of the Ford flathead design allows a lot of things to be interchanged between series types. Some items require modification to fit a different series but most can be made to fit. The timing covers can easily be changed from a two bolt to a three bolt type. In the immediate post war era, Ford made two different types of blocks within the 59 series. They made a dedicated replacement 41A 221 block and the normal 59A 239 block. Both may have the "59" cast on the back bell so a person has to check it for characteristics to be certain of what they have. 59 series production started as soon as the War Department allowed Ford to change over to civilian production in 1945 but some 41A engines were manufacturer as early as late 1944 to allow for farm and business repair parts at the time. The early ones are likely not marked as 59 series. War time V8s of both displacements were not marked either but usually have war time characteristics and are somewhat rare unless a person collects war time equipment. Last edited by rotorwrench; 02-02-2021 at 01:01 PM.

02-02-2021, 04:54 PM	#3
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,750	Re: Year of Engine That looks like the 59 series motor I am currently rebuilding. It has the same "anomalies" of 3 bolt cover and long nose cam. I don't know if they came from the factory like that, or yours and mine have both been retrofitted with earlier cam and 3 bolt cover. A pic of the deck surface without the gasket would be helpful because the shape of the holes in the deck is part of the identification process. That said, the 59 on the half bellhousing is as good an identifier as anything. Mart.

02-02-2021, 07:32 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: Year of Engine Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There were adapters made in order to use whatever cam was in the engine. The different engines could be adapted either way with the right parts. The 8BA cam would have to be changed to use the early crab or helmet designs but it can also be done.