Help identifying early Ford V8 motor.

[flathead_jr]

Trying to identify an early motor but have not been able to find any information on it. The only markings on the heads are L2 can't find any other markings?

[Charlie Stephens]

You might want to start with this. I am sure others will chime in. After you read this post what you find so others can narrow it down further.

Identification of the early flatheads is best approached in terms of the block. There is an unbelievable amount of interchangeability for the accessories over the years. Count the number of head studs.
1) If there are 17 studs it is a V8 60 used in vehicles between 1937 and 1940. This engine was also used in the French built Simca in the sixties but I don’t know what occurred between these two periods. Look for casting numbers and stamped steel water jackets in the side of the block. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine.
2) If there are 21 studs the block was built 1932 to 1938. The transition to 24 studs was late in 1938. Check the water petcocks on the front of the block next to where the lower hose from the radiator enters either an inlet fitting (1936 and earlier) or the water pump (1937 and later). It the petcocks point straight down it is a 1932 block. If the block is not a 1932 next look for a vent from the crankcase area out through the front corner of the oil pan. If there is no vent the block is 1933-34. If there is a vent it is 1935 or later. As a matter of interest, the 1936 engines were the first to use insert bearings. Both insert and babbitt bearings were used throughout 1936. The insert bearing engines can be identified by LB cast at the top of the left front face of the block or by the letters LB stamped into the surface where the intake manifold attaches. Some engines were not stamped and in other cases people tried to inflate the price of their blocks by stamping LB into them when they were sold. Be careful. Now check for the location of the water pumps. If the water pumps mount on the block the engine is 1937 or later. All engines beginning in 1937 were inserts. Frequently you will encounter a 1937 block with factory block off plates held on by two bolts over the water pump passage at the front of the block as it was common for Ford dealers to install this engine as a replacement in the earlier cars. Of course there will be slight transition periods at model change over with the older blocks usually going into the commercial vehicles. There may be subtle differences between the 1933-34 and the 1935-36 engines but I am knowledgeable enough about these years to know what they are. The casting numbers on the flywheel housing will also help identify the exact year of the engine. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine.
3) If there are 24 studs the engine was produced between late 1938 and 1953 (1954 in Canada). If the distributor is mounted on the front of the block the engine is late 1938 through 1948 (1947 for trucks). If the distributor comes up at an angle and appears more like a modern distributor it is a 1949 (1948 for truck) through 1953 (1954 in Canada). The casting numbers on the flywheel housing will further identify the exact year of the engine. Post what you find and someone can probably further identify the engine.
4) There are a lot of additional foreign and industrial applications of these engines but the preceding covers the domestic US automobile production.

Charlie Stephens

[deuce_roadster]

If you are new to this you might not know that the 17,21,24 stud number is for one head not both. Charlie pretty much covered it.

[flathead_jr]

It is a 21 stud motor for sure, the water pumps are mounted in the heads with no housings cast in to the block. No number found anywhere on the bell housing. Pan looks like the later style as it has the small vent in the right front corner, doesn't mean it wasn't changed along the way. Usually there are numbers on the heads, I have never seen the L2 casting number before.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by flathead_jr

It is a 21 stud motor for sure, the water pumps are mounted in the heads with no housings cast in to the block. No number found anywhere on the bell housing. Pan looks like the later style as it has the small vent in the right front corner, doesn't mean it wasn't changed along the way. Usually there are numbers on the heads, I have never seen the L2 casting number before.

You could take the pan off and see if the block matches the passage in the pan.

Charlie Stephens

[jimTN]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

pictures are worth a thousand words

[JM 35 Sedan]

Take some digital pictures and post them on this thread. If you have trouble posting them, email them to someone here who would be willing to post them for you.
Are the heads on your engine cast iron or aluminum?

[David J]

The block ID thread by 38 coupe should help and it is back up .

[rotorwrench]

L2 sounds like a basic date code. Material is important whether aluminum or cast iron. The size of the plugs and the shape of the combustion chambers tell some of the story. Without photos, it's just a guess for us.

[flathead_jr]

Cast iron heads with 18mm plugs, I'll see what I have for photos.

[flathead_jr]

I don't know if these images tell enough.

[1942deluxe]

Pre 1937. Take some degreaser on the head and see if there is a number on it. Can be kind of faint and not easily visible if it's got a film of dirt,oil, ect. covering it.

[rotorwrench]

The front mounts look like 1933 or 34 since they are low mounting types. That manifold looks like a special application or a governor set up for truck or industrial.

[V8COOPMAN]

Do you possibly live in Europe or South America? Those almost looks like some early, foreign castings. DD

[flathead_jr]

Nope I'm from south east Idaho and the motor came from eastern Montana.