"Z" Block - Anything Special?

[svm99]

We've got a 24 stud block with a "Z" on the bell housing. Is there anything special about this block? I've heard the "L" block are sought after and wondered about this one. It's had some crack repair done in it's earlier days so it's only fair.

Have an honorable Memorial Day.

Thanks Paul

[19Fordy]

Yes. According to this article the "Z" block was used in military vehicles and is made of a very hard alloy.
http://www.btc-bci.com/~billben/basic.htm
And this article says they were "industrial" blocks and also harder. Could be
bored to 3 7/16 in.
http://www.flatheadv8.org/rumblest/engine.pdf
Here's a photo of one. The "Z" is on the left side of the bell housing. The owner says in the add: "100 hp 24 stud Ford Z Block engine. The engine was removed from a 1935 ford pickup."

[Mike in AZ]

does it also have the 59??....Mike

[svm99]

Yes,
It does have "59" on the bell housing.
Thanks, Paul

[Ol' Ron]

I did a Z block a few years back. It had 3 1/16 bore with 1.8" sleeves. I bord them out, but had to take another .030" out to clean uo the bores. Had the block sonic tested and the bores were over .170" in their thinist spots. Deffinately a thick one.

[JWL]

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Another Flathead myth. There is no material difference.

[Bruce Lancaster]

And military use is pretty unlikely in a postwar engine. The post WWII military (which was busy selling tons of 29A flathead parts anyway) was rapidly converting all its lines of tactical vehicles to specialized military only stuff. Normal civilian based stuff was used only for non-tac uses (like on well developed bases) and had no need for any super iron.
I have always suspected that the 59 blocks with all thiose numbers as shown above are engines or blocks made for the parts counter and not assembly line, probably post-1948 when Ford was still catching up with the huge demand for fixing early Fords. I strongly suspect many of these were made with the post-1948 cost saving stuff like locked bearing 8BA cranks and no hard valve seats.

[Ol' Ron]

I have to agree with John, all the blocks I've worked with seen to be the same, But there is the exception to every rule the Block I did for Jim Harvey was the thickest I've ever seen. It was NOT a 59 deries block Just a "Z" block. I posted pictures of it on the old barn asking if anybody evver saw one of these, Sonic testing is the only way to make sure.

[Chris/Mass]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

I have to agree with John, all the blocks I've worked with seen to be the same, But there is the exception to every rule the Block I did for Jim Harvey was the thickest I've ever seen. It was NOT a 59 deries block Just a "Z" block. I posted pictures of it on the old barn asking if anybody evver saw one of these, Sonic testing is the only way to make sure.

Ron, I think that's the same motor I bought from Carl Carpenter years ago. I thought it was dsomething special.

[Ol' Ron]

One thing about Henrys parts, there were always some odd balls. I saw that X8 engine at his Museme in Detroit, glad he never made it.