“A” head flathed

[35FORDOR]

I have a flathead that has only an A on each head any input would be great. What is this head any year clues etc.

[Charlie Stephens]

How about giving us a clue with a picture?

Charlie Stephens

[deuce_roadster]

Most likely a 221, 39-40 but those heads can be made to go on later (59 series) engines by slight relief of the valve areas. Pictures of the front of the block, sides and belhousing, pan rail, will nail it down.

[Ol' Ron]

How many bolt/studs holding the head on???

[ford38v8]

Delete your duplicate post and post a few pictures here.

[JSeery]

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From the duplicate post: "I have a flathead 24 stud with just an “A”? Looking for any info."

[35FORDOR]

best pic of front i have trying to pick a flathead for a build between this motor and a 59ab? both turn over by hand i will load ab pics next

[35FORDOR]

pic of 59a-b trying to load more not working well

[flatjack9]

I'd go with the 59 AB. 239 cu in as opposed to the other probably being 221 cu. in. The thing is, you never know what parts have been changed on these engines without taking them apart.

[35FORDOR]

front sorta, best i can get right now.

Wanting to know which motor would be abetter starting point...

[35FORDOR]

i agree Jack that there is no way until tear down, just trying to educate myself. My first Flathead.....

[ford38v8]

Remove the heads from both, inspect for cracks and other obvious damage that would indicate the reason for removal from service. Consider the need for a valve job to be good news, but even a crack in the block visible from the top can usually be fixed. If both seem to be viable blocks, send both to be boiled out & magna fluxed, choose condition over displacement.

[Seth Swoboda]

The head is a 39-40 head. 221 cubic inch, 24 stud engine.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 35FORDOR

I have a flathead that has only an A on each head any input would be great. What is this head any year clues etc.

"A" heads began to appear on the 1939 Ford 85HP models. Early production had the "A" located between the two forward most spark plug holes. Very soon thereafter, the "A" was located between the center pair of spark plug holes.
The engineering drawings always depicted the latter location so why many heads were produced with the "A" forward remains a mystery.

These heads were used through the 1941 model year.
The left 1939 head can be identified through the water temperature sending unit threaded hole. It will have a lip for the capillary tube to seat against. In 1940, with the introduction of the electric sending unit, the hole is drilled and tapped straight through.

[Ol' Ron]

The distributor in the picture is from a 42/48 engine.