The Ford Barn

19-c · 05-19-2010, 10:37 PM

I have a 24 stud Flathead with the "Divers Helmet" distributor. the heads just have an "A" stamped in them with no number before it. Ive never seen just the letter with no number. the tranny is a 39 Any idea what year it might be? thanks

Mr 42 · 05-19-2010, 11:33 PM

Picture??

JM 35 Sedan · 05-20-2010, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19-c

I have a 24 stud Flathead with the "Divers Helmet" distributor. the heads just have an "A" stamped in them with no number before it. Ive never seen just the letter with no number. the tranny is a 39 Any idea what year it might be? thanks

Is the transmission original to the engine? If so, what are the serial numbers above the clutch inspection plate on the flat area at top of transmission bell?

jerry grayson · 05-20-2010, 08:10 AM

"A" heads are usually found on39,40 and 41 engines. If the transmission is a 39 by the serial number, then it's a good bet that the engine is a 39.

oldcars · 05-20-2010, 08:58 AM

Goggle vanpeltsales, then go to flathead. That should give the information you need to ID your motor.

Joe KCMO · 05-20-2010, 09:03 AM

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Freeze plugs just above the oil pan means it is a 39 or 40. That is how I tell the difference for the motor. Heads come and go. The block is what would mostly be interested in.

blown49 · 05-20-2010, 10:05 AM

Does the block have what appears to have a "raised deck" under the intake manifold? If so it may be a 99 block, very desirable as the cylinder walls are supposedly thicker than a standard 239 block.

Jim

19-c · 05-20-2010, 12:09 PM

Wow thanks guys! I have identified the trans as a 39 so i think i have myself a 39 motor also but i am not positive thats the original trans either anything is possible. I can not find any frost plugs above the oil pan. here are some pics. thank again

Bruce Lancaster · 05-20-2010, 12:26 PM

Swho a pic of the side of the block...you can see the bulges for said plugs with pan on. Does look like a '39 type.
Look around RF of the block top, general area shown with rust on in first pic, for "99" stamped, not cast, into surface. Some '39-40 239's are marked that way.
Next step is measuring bore to see if 3 1/16 or 3 3/16 engine.

19-c · 05-20-2010, 12:59 PM

no luck with a "99" there is a triangle with a 9 or a 6 in it also a circle with a K in it. Towards the rear of the intake surface on the passenger side there is a circle with a 9 in it

Bruce Lancaster · 05-20-2010, 01:13 PM

Look at sides of block...if you have the freeze plugs you will see two vertical ridges leading to the location of the plugs, which are out of sight on the pan gasket rails.

19-c · 05-20-2010, 01:22 PM

yes two bumps in block at the pan gasket area

Bruce Lancaster · 05-20-2010, 01:53 PM

That ID's it as about '39-40. Next pull a head ans see if 221 or 239.

Joe KCMO · 05-20-2010, 02:31 PM

If your block has bumps it is not a 39 or 40. The bumps came after the freeze plugs were eliminated. Those are the only years with 24 studs and freeze plugs except maybe late 38. If your willing to take the intake manifold off you can see the serial number which will also help with the year identification.

Straightpipes · 05-20-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe KCMO

If your block has bumps it is not a 39 or 40. The bumps came after the freeze plugs were eliminated. Those are the only years with 24 studs and freeze plugs except maybe late 38. If your willing to take the intake manifold off you can see the serial number which will also help with the year identification.

I thought flatheads didn't have a serial number.

Bruce Lancaster · 05-20-2010, 03:11 PM

The bumps are the casting fairings that allow room on the pan rails for the freezeplugs. They were eliminated in 1941 when the freeze plugs went away.
The plugs themselves cannot be seen until pan and gasket are off.

19-c · 05-20-2010, 04:05 PM

Why did they put freeze plugs inside the pan?? wouldnt u want them to be on the outside of the motor? im confused (which is not hard to do) lol

Joe KCMO · 05-20-2010, 04:11 PM

They are not in the pan, but on the edge of the block which the pan bolts too. I would imagine, if frozen, they give more than the block

19-c · 05-20-2010, 04:13 PM

strange it just appears to be a bump in the block i see no plug whats so ever ill get a pic

19-c · 05-20-2010, 04:20 PM

The infamous bump. Nothing I can see resembles a frost plug as I am familiar with

05-19-2010, 10:37 PM	#1
19-c Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 457	Help with Flathead Identification I have a 24 stud Flathead with the "Divers Helmet" distributor. the heads just have an "A" stamped in them with no number before it. Ive never seen just the letter with no number. the tranny is a 39 Any idea what year it might be? thanks

05-19-2010, 11:33 PM	#2
Mr 42 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sweden Posts: 427	Re: Help with Flathead Identification Picture??

05-20-2010, 08:10 AM	#4
jerry grayson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta area Posts: 833	Re: Help with Flathead Identification "A" heads are usually found on39,40 and 41 engines. If the transmission is a 39 by the serial number, then it's a good bet that the engine is a 39.

05-20-2010, 08:58 AM	#5
oldcars Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 63	Re: Help with Flathead Identification Goggle vanpeltsales, then go to flathead. That should give the information you need to ID your motor.

05-20-2010, 09:03 AM	#6
Joe KCMO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 423	Re: Help with Flathead Identification Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Freeze plugs just above the oil pan means it is a 39 or 40. That is how I tell the difference for the motor. Heads come and go. The block is what would mostly be interested in.

05-20-2010, 10:05 AM	#7
blown49 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Union, Ohio Posts: 113	Re: Help with Flathead Identification Does the block have what appears to have a "raised deck" under the intake manifold? If so it may be a 99 block, very desirable as the cylinder walls are supposedly thicker than a standard 239 block. Jim __________________ Visit my Blown '49 Merc website @ http://www.blown49.com

05-20-2010, 12:26 PM	#9
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Help with Flathead Identification Swho a pic of the side of the block...you can see the bulges for said plugs with pan on. Does look like a '39 type. Look around RF of the block top, general area shown with rust on in first pic, for "99" stamped, not cast, into surface. Some '39-40 239's are marked that way. Next step is measuring bore to see if 3 1/16 or 3 3/16 engine.

05-20-2010, 12:59 PM	#10
19-c Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 457	Re: Help with Flathead Identification no luck with a "99" there is a triangle with a 9 or a 6 in it also a circle with a K in it. Towards the rear of the intake surface on the passenger side there is a circle with a 9 in it

05-20-2010, 01:13 PM	#11
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Help with Flathead Identification Look at sides of block...if you have the freeze plugs you will see two vertical ridges leading to the location of the plugs, which are out of sight on the pan gasket rails.

05-20-2010, 01:22 PM	#12
19-c Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 457	Re: Help with Flathead Identification yes two bumps in block at the pan gasket area

05-20-2010, 01:53 PM	#13
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Help with Flathead Identification That ID's it as about '39-40. Next pull a head ans see if 221 or 239.

05-20-2010, 02:31 PM	#14
Joe KCMO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 423	Re: Help with Flathead Identification If your block has bumps it is not a 39 or 40. The bumps came after the freeze plugs were eliminated. Those are the only years with 24 studs and freeze plugs except maybe late 38. If your willing to take the intake manifold off you can see the serial number which will also help with the year identification.

05-20-2010, 03:11 PM	#16
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Help with Flathead Identification The bumps are the casting fairings that allow room on the pan rails for the freezeplugs. They were eliminated in 1941 when the freeze plugs went away. The plugs themselves cannot be seen until pan and gasket are off.

05-20-2010, 04:05 PM	#17
19-c Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 457	Re: Help with Flathead Identification Why did they put freeze plugs inside the pan?? wouldnt u want them to be on the outside of the motor? im confused (which is not hard to do) lol

05-20-2010, 04:11 PM	#18
Joe KCMO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 423	Re: Help with Flathead Identification They are not in the pan, but on the edge of the block which the pan bolts too. I would imagine, if frozen, they give more than the block

05-20-2010, 04:13 PM	#19
19-c Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 457	Re: Help with Flathead Identification strange it just appears to be a bump in the block i see no plug whats so ever ill get a pic