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Canadian Flathead Block Identification By Fred Mills
Useful information on identifying Canadian Flathead engine blocks from Fred Mills over at the Flathead Ford Support Group.
A list of the production line blocks, this list does not include replacement blocks:
- 1932 – straight down drain cocks, no recessed area at front of motor
- 1933 – early had angled drain cocks, no recessed area at front of motor
- late had angled drain cocks, start of recessed area
- 1934 – same as late 33
- 1935 – start of crankcase ventilation, late castings have insert mains
- 1936 – insert mains and poured mains mixed in production
- 1937 – relocated water pumps
- 1938 – early, same as 37
- late, 24 stud heads
- 1939 – Ford similar to 38 with larger mains
- Mercury larger bore
- 1940 – same as 39 both Ford and Mercury
- 1941 – No freeze plugs in oil pan rail, intake area now looks raised
- 1942 – same as 41 both Ford and Mercury
- WW2 – no one really knows
- 1946 – the 59 series engines, valve angle changed, fails pencil test, etc
- 1947 – same as 46
- 1948 – cars same as 46-47. new pickups get 8BA
- 1949 – 8BA: removable bell housing, changed water passages
- 1950 – 8BA sometime around here the intake valve seats were eliminated
- 1951 – 8BA
- 1952 – 8BA sometime around here the exhaust valve seats were eliminated
- 1953 – 8BA
- 1954 – Canadians and others used 8BA for last year, no USA flatheads
Here is the 221-239-255 cube flathead block story with pictures, to the best of my knowledge and ability to collect pictures so far.
Read the rest of Canadian Flathead Block Identification By Fred Mills here
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