'36 eng. idetification.

[Terry K]

I have a complete '36 engine I have for sale. This is the year they came with 2 different styles of bearings. Buyers want to know which style mine is, Is there a way of telling without opening it all up ??? Selling it as running when pulled from the car, I hate start tearing it down...... Hope for some help !!!!!!! Thanks Terry

[RobR'35]

On the driver's side,top front of the engine between intake manifold and the head there could be an LB stamped.
Not all LB type blocks were stamped.
Only other way I know of is to measure the main bearing studs. 3.25" on an LB type block.

[Willit Stop]

This should help:https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1
Basically,you'll have to drop the oil pan and measure the main bearing studs,center to center.If it's a 1935-36 LB block,the measurement should be 3 1/4 inches. I believe (according to the link) all 1936's were LB's.Only some of the 35's were LB's.
LB's are getting hard to find and pretty expensive.

[mercman from oz]

I am not sure if this is true on engines in the USA, but I have been told to look for a small Hole on the right hand side of the engine between the Engine Mount and the Timing Gear Cover. In this picture, (centre of picture) you can see the Cork Sump Gasket is visible. This Engine is the LB engine with the Slipper Bearings.

[mercman from oz]

Here is a larger photo showing the Hole that I refered to.

[Kurt in NJ]

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If the front section of the pan(about the area covering the front main) if it is round without dents pounded out from inside it is most likely babbitt---dents were put in the clear the large bearing block studs when using earlier pan, the large bearing(insert) the front section was more rectangular to clear the wider stud placement
Page 364 of the 36 service bulletins has a picture

of the 3 "LB" blocks I have none have "LB" stamped anywhere between the headsand manifold

[RobR'35]

I've read here on the barn that the hole that mercman from oz meantioned was on Canadian blocks

[RobR'35]

Do u have any pics of these dents to show us Kurt in NJ?

[Kurt in NJ]

All I have at home is the pic from the service bulletins --and it looks like the phone turned it

[RobR'35]

I have never seen that before. Very cool!
1936 service bulletins?

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Willit Stop

This should help:https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1
Basically,you'll have to drop the oil pan and measure the main bearing studs,center to center.If it's a 1935-36 LB block,the measurement should be 3 1/4 inches. I believe (according to the link) all 1936's were LB's.Only some of the 35's were LB's.
LB's are getting hard to find and pretty expensive.

Not all '36 engines were LB's. During my quest to find some '36 LB engines, over 50℅ of what I purchased turned out to be babbited mains engines. Soon after I gave up the search, I stumbled across several insert main engines. One came in a 35 5w coupe purchased in 2012. This was not the original engine to this car. Another came in a '35 3w coupe purchased in 2014. This is also not the original engine for this car. Have another that was originally in a friends 35/36 pickup, and was given to me when he decided to install a SBC engine. The last one came with a group of '36 parts purchased in 2015. So, that makes a total of four that I have now. Two of these LB engines have no visible marking on intake deck, the third has what appears to be a very light LB stamping on intake deck, and the fourth has not yet been checked for any type of marking/stamping. None of these LB engines have the hole at right front motor mount area as shown in mercman's picture post. Attached are some pics of the last engine purchased. Removing the oil pan and measuring the mains studs center to center distance is the only fullproof way, that I am aware of, to really confirm an LB block.

[Terry K]

Great information !!! Thanks I'll be looking at this motor tomorrow. Anyone else ??

[36tudordeluxe]

Here's picture of my '36 block with LB stamping.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Terry K

Great information !!! Thanks I'll be looking at this motor tomorrow. Anyone else ??

Terry, it might be a good idea to post a few photos of your engine so the experts here on the Barn have a better idea of what you have. Now you know the areas to get the photos of to help with the ID!

[Hoop]

I've always had extra interest in "LB" engines ... probably because I've always had extra interest in '35 Fords. Unfortunately more misinformation is routinely posted about the subject which causes confusion.

"I believe (according to the link) all 1936's were LB's.Only some of the 35's were LB's."

Not to pick on anyone, but that is incorrect.

My experience and research indicates that "LB" engines were introduced for the beginning of the 1936 model year. Production of the engines began in September 1935. If anyone has any credible evidence that 1935's came from the factory with "LB" engines it would be good information. There is more wrong information on the internet than correct information ... folks just keep repeating the stuff that's wrong.

I personally have had an October 1935, based on serial number, "LB" engine that came out of a 1936 model.

I have had 4 "LB" engines ... still have 2 with one on the stand right now. None have or had stamps.

Great posts by "38 coupe" and "Kurt" ... some of us get too deep on details ... I don't think it hurts. I can be wrong and hope that the discussion will refine my/our knowledge.

[Willit Stop]

Oops...Sorry guys.I misread #14 in the link. 38 Coupe stated that production of the LB's started in '35 and that in 1936,both blocks were used.My bad.
Hoop....Where is the serial number that you mentioned? Are you referring to the stamp on the transmission bell housing?

[Hoop]

Transmission stamp plus car history directly from owner.

[RobR'35]

Over all the LB was a short lived run wasn't it?

[Hoop]

Here's a good pic showing the profile of the "LB" pan. Maybe someone has a babbitt pan and can post a similar photo for comparison.

Rob, surprising that some are still around. My coupe was owned by a Ford dealership mechanic who knew what to tweak ... "LB" engine, '39 gears, later steering, but well within MY idea of what's acceptable original modification.

DON'T ever sell your car!!!! That is a "forever" car.

oilpan.jpg

[Hoop]

Rob has offered the following pic ... babbitt on right.

oilpans5.jpg