1936 LB marking

[34fordy]

If a 1936 engine has an LB marking, is it visible with the intake manifold installed? Is it always at the front of the left bank?

[petehoovie]

On the ones I've looked at, the LB marking is visible with the intake manifold in place - front of the left bank....

[Kurt in NJ]

I have 3 lb blocks, none marked---- perhaps the oil pan can tell by shape or hammer dents out to clear front main bolts

[flathead34]

I have a LB engine in my '34 PU. There are no marking (LB) stamped on the top of the engine. Another LB engine we have has the LB stamped on the top of the block. Who knows what Ford did? Mike

[Ronnieroadster]

The LB blocks i have seen the stamping on was visible with the intake in place and location of the stamping was near the front but not sure what side.

[cajunfirehawk]

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All I have seen written on these LB blocks I have never seen any pics of the actual LB stamping on a block...

[Chris Haynes]

I have to ask, what is a LB block?

[Ron Pilger]

Chris, it's a 1936 21 stud flathead with insert bearings versus babbitt. 36 was the first year that the changeover started taking place.

[Teltruck]

Does anyone know the correct meaning of the term LB Engine?

LB LATE BLOCK ?
LB LARGE BEARING ?
LB LARGE BLOCK?
I’ve heard different people say different meanings.
Bob

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

I have to ask, what is a LB block?

One that excepts insert bearings, verses the earlier babbitt bearings.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Teltruck

Does anyone know the correct meaning of the term LB Engine?

LB LATE BLOCK ?
LB LARGE BEARING ?
LB LARGE BLOCK?
I’ve heard different people say different meanings.
Bob

Another is "loose bearing (s)"

I also have several '36 LB engines that do not have LB stampings on intake deck.

[V12Bill]

Originally Posted by Teltruck

Does anyone know the correct meaning of the term LB Engine?

LB LATE BLOCK ?
LB LARGE BEARING ?
LB LARGE BLOCK?
I’ve heard different people say different meanings.
Bob

I have heard tthat it means Large Bearing as the cap bolts are farther apart.

[V12Bill]

Beware of frauds stamping a reg block to get a better prrice.

[Willit Stop]

From what I've read,the LB main bearing studs are 4-1/4 inches apart on center.

[KiWinUS]

Okay I hope I get this right but hopefully Brian will chime in to correct me. New Zealand 36 LB engines out of Canada have a hole in the front of oil pan rail about 1/2 diameter at front between water pump & crank seal casting opening in front of block. Very easily distinguished

[rotorwrench]

That sounds like the crankcase vent. The venting was added in 1935 which was the same year that the large bearing change came about in late 1935. Water pumps were in the head unless you mean the engine mount spigot for water inlet to the engine.

Main bearing bolt or stud distance apart is the best way to know for sure.

[KiWinUS]

Not crank case vent
It’s in casting space between water inlet & crank seal

[Yoyodyne]

I think it means Liner Bearing.
I also have one with no LB stamp.

[RobR'35]

It's been said they were only marked with "LB" if the engine was serviced in a rebuild or such after leaving the OEM factory.

[cajunfirehawk]

Great info guys!

[deuce_roadster]

The LB marks can be all over the place. Mine is on the RH side in the back by the fuel pump stand and can be seen with the intake on. I always understood that it was for Large Bearing as the crank main are larger then the earlier babbit ones.
And the main studs are 1/4 inch wider then the earlier ones.

[Brian]

KiWinUS is correct as regards Canadian blocks; all Canadian blocks since and including the 36 LB block, have an approximately 5/8" dia hole in front of oil pan mating surface, behind the pulley. They also have another similar hole at rear of oil pan mating surface which is only visible with the pan removed. I can only assume these two holes were machined to locate the block into fixtures for subsequent machining operations in the factory.Anyway, as that front hole is easy to see/feel, if a early style block, ie pump in head, is found that carries said hole, it is a 100% sure indication that it has liner bearings [LB block]. No babbitted main bearing engines carry this identification.
Again, USA LB blocks do not have this feature, Canadian only!

[RobR'35]

In the '36 production year babbit and LB blocks were both produced. Who knows the percentages..... It was Oct. of '35 that LB blocks started into production.
With the introduction of '37 production and all the changes involved there who really knows if LB type blocks were produced into the '37 production year.
Interesting subject.

[KiWinUS]

Here is a basket of LB blocks in Christchurch NZ & if you enlarge you will see the hole in pan rail of block front left of pile

[richard crow]

with the intake manafold off if it,s a babbit block you will see holes where the main bearing bolts are held with a squre nut

[Willit Stop]

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Sorry guys. Correction.Main bearing studs, center to center on an LB should be 3-3/4".

[rotorwrench]

The 78 block was a change for the 1937 engine production with the low mounted water pumps so that would have started with 1937 production. The LBs were started up in late 1935. They likely just had a lot of older blocks to use up in the assembly line process at various assembly plants so both were around in late 1935 and early 1936. This is why they stamped them so they could tell the difference, not that it made all that much difference. Either block would work in that time frame.

Ford of Canada always did things differently even if the differences were subtle.

[RobR'35]

Thing is though, there are a lot of LB blocks out there with no stamping "LB"
All in U.S. Ford manufacturing were produced at the Rouge. How are so many LB blocks not stamped?

[KGS]

Originally Posted by RobR'35

All in U.S. Ford manufacturing were produced at the Rouge.

Where were the Canadian engines made? Did they have a foundry and

an engine plant?

[RobR'35]

I believe they were manufactered in Windsor, Ontario.

[rotorwrench]

Ford of Canada was a separate company from Ford Dearborn. They did things a lot like their counterpart but they made plant changes in a different way than Dearborn did. Windsor or Walkerville was where they set up their own foundry. The River Rough plant was just a ways down and across the Detroit River from there but it was a separate operation in every respect. More aluminum was used for castings and they marked things differently were just a few of the manufacturing differences.

[G32]

Originally Posted by Willit Stop

From what I've read,the LB main bearing studs are 4-1/4 inches apart on center.

See Thread 5-3-19 titled :

" Re: Engine Block ID pictures " Post # 14

LB main studs are 3 1/4 " center to center ---- poured babbit

21 stud mains are 3" ctr to ctr.

I like all these Flathead Fords! Fun! Keep them running!

Thanks Gene Tulsa

[G32]

Originally Posted by richard crow

with the intake manafold off if it,s a babbit block you will see holes where the main bearing bolts are held with a squre nut

Richard ;

1932, 1933, 1934 only . Stopped in still babbit 1935 - 1936 (need to pull

pan to be sure of LB).


Thanks Gene Tulsa

[Willit Stop]

Looks like I screwed up again.Please ignore #14 and #26. W-w-w-ong.
3-1/4 inches is correct for LB. Sorry.

[G32]

Originally Posted by Willit Stop

Looks like I screwed up again.Please ignore #14 and #26. W-w-w-ong.
3-1/4 inches is correct for LB. Sorry.

No sweat man ---happy you're here---happy i'm here too.

I usually figure out something I didn't know or wasn't clear about

when I make a post. Trying to learn.

Nice Ford day in Tulsa.

Gene

[50droptop]

Originally Posted by cajunfirehawk

All I have seen written on these LB blocks I have never seen any pics of the actual LB stamping on a block...

LB photo

[RobR'35]

That's the usual placement of the stamp.
It's been said that those stamps were placed once an engine was overhauled or some major service work performed after leaving the factory.
It could be why so many aren't stamped to this day.
Food for thought....

[Scott/Mn]

Here is another picture of an LB block stamp, in this ad-
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181366


My '34 has an "LB engine", however the top of the block is not stamped.

[50droptop]

Originally Posted by 50droptop

LB photo

Not sure about the LB being stamped after overhaul, but this engine was std bore from a 40K mile ‘36 5W. Engine was torn down, cleaned, new valves/lifters and new STD rings and bearings added. No machine work was required. The rebuilder even commented what I was doing was overkill as engine was all within tolerances and surfaces were excellent.

[Bored&Stroked]

Beings we're talking about LB blocks - what is the current situation as far as finding bearings for them? Are there any current manufacturer's, or is it a situation of having to find NOS stuff? Are there issues as far as certain sizes being unobtainium?

[Yoyodyne]

Ebay is a pretty good indication of availability, and I haven't seen squat for 36-38 main bearings for the past half dozen years, except for standard size.



I have 2 pairs of flanged rods bearings .040 u/s, have looked for others to get a price range to sell them, haven't seen any of them either. Lots of std rod bearings, a few .010, not many others.


No new ones that I know of, you'd be one of the people I'd ask to find a source.

[Talkwrench]

xxx

[Talkwrench]

[QUOTE=Talkwrench;1768333]"Beings we're talking about LB blocks - what is the current situation as far as finding bearings for them? Are there any current manufacturer's, or is it a situation of having to find NOS stuff? Are there issues as far as certain sizes being unobtainium?"

Finding flanged bearings are getting much harder. Mains not too bad ..
----------

[deuce lover]

Last yr I got the mains from C&G($187),the rods off EBAY.I needed .030 over was the issue On the rods and I had to settle for -.030 and +010 ($147.50 the set) .Some sellers want nearly $500 for the rod bearings.The rod bearings are the hard ones to find-at least for me.Reds is another source.Chuck Kuntz on here is another source.