81T Heads on a 59A Block??????

[Chuck Kuntz]

A fellow brought me a 59A motor to assemble with a pair of 81T heads (38 truck). I always thought that this was a no no because interference. The block is bored .083 oversize and the heads have no sign of combustion chamber modifications. I need some input from the many experts on this site. Thanks for any help.
Chuck

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Chuck Kuntz

A fellow brought me a 59A motor to assemble with a pair of 81T heads (38 truck). I always thought that this was a no no because interference. The block is bored .083 oversize and the heads have no sign of combustion chamber modifications. I need some input from the many experts on this site. Thanks for any help.
Chuck

You will need to modify the heads in the area surrounding the valves as the 59 block has a wider center to center dimension between the valves and cylinders than the earlier blocks.
If you do a quick search on Ebay of KR Wilson tools, you'll find numerous kits that were designed to do precisely this modification.

[ford38v8]

Fly cut for valve clearance

[flatjack9]

Easy enough to check for clearance.

[Ol' Ron]

Put the 59 gasket on the heads and mark the area over the valves, Then take a die grinder abd grind alittle clearance. Using an 1 1/2 stone should doit. Didn;t have fancy tools back in the day so a 1.4 drill dis most of the work. Have fun. By the way. these are truck heads and have a lower compression, but not much

[Tinker]

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Just curious, why not just put some 59a heads on it, not hard to find ironheads (could even mill them to add compression). Or a set of aftermarket aluminum with a compression bump??


38 fords had center head water outlets. I don't see the advantage.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Tinker

Just curious, why not just put some 59a heads on it, not hard to find ironheads (could even mill them to add compression). Or a set of aftermarket aluminum with a compression bump??


38 fords had center head water outlets. I don't see the advantage.

The advantage is to dress out the engine with the early bolt-ons to match the vintage of the vehicle. These details are important to lots of guys, and most observers won't know or won't notice that the block itself is incorrect.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

The advantage is to dress out the engine with the early bolt-ons to match the vintage of the vehicle. These details are important to lots of guys, and most observers won't know or won't notice that the block itself is incorrect.

Guess I missed what vehicle this is going in. It's still a 59a. No matter the the heads. OP said a 38 truck. Maybe I read it wrong.


" A fellow brought me a 59A motor to assemble with a pair of 81T heads (38 truck)"



I get it also... I run a 37 engine block with water block offs on my 36 coupe. You could put a buick engine in a 38 and 90% wouldn't know the difference, heck you could have a 50s Chevy and tell them its 38 ford at least 50% would agree. Then the 9% that matters maybe, ...and then the 1% that knows the rest.


next time you are at a gas station and someone goes "nice car" tell them its a 1952 pierce arrow.

[flatheadmurre]

Back in the days it was common to put back your older heads on a new "crate" shortblock.
I still have the KR wilson tool to "ream" the valvepockets for it to work.
And you don´t see the 59 on the bellhousing as easy as the markings on the heads...

[alanwoodieman]

I did a ream out job on a set of "A" heads using a KR Wilson tool recently so a 59 block could appear original in a 41 fire engine.

[RalphM]

And if you really wanted to hide the fact it’s a “59” block grind the #’s off the bell housing.

[Ol' Ron]

Sn ?????????