I was just looking at a 24 stud flatty given to me by a customer that didn't want it. The long block came complete with a free Stromberg 97 on it. The top of the bellhousing has "E8644" cast in it. I'm not familar with this block nomenclature. It has a 3 3/4 crank in it and factory relieves on the block. I don't know more than that. Is this block good for overboring?
Yes, these blocks can safely be bored .125". Best to get it baked cleaned and Magged, before you invest in it. If it checks out, worth 500+ bucks
Well .. "son of a gun!" THE Ron Holleran! (hope I'm right!) Welcome to the HAMB! Believe it or not; I have been "following" your advise for years. Mike Bishop speaks about you often. (I know him from Bonneville) I am a "died in the wool" flathead fan and every time I see a post about "flatheads" I try to give some guidance or places to find more info. (often refering to you) dmarv, sorry for "hijacking" your question. I was just so surprised to see Ron on here, I just had to "speak up!" If your not aware of it, Mr. Holleran is considered one of most experienced "Flathead" builders around. Many say "The Guru!" dmarv, if the site I listed in my first response doesn't yield enough information on I.D's; I have LOTS more! Just ASK!
Thanks for the help! I checked out the VanPelt site earlier but it didn't mention the E86 block specifically. I'm familar with the 59 blocks but not the E86 blocks. This block has the raised area where the intake manifold bolts on. I guess I should pull a head off and check the water p***ages to get a better look at the block. I should ID the bore also.
Ok, I took the head off this morning. 3 1/16 inch bore with 3 3/4 inch stroke. The intake area is not raised (the raised part I saw yesterday was the intake gasket). The water cooling p***ages in the between the two center cyinders are round. The top p***age is about 3/4 of an inch in diameter the center p***age is about an inch in diameter and the lower is only about 7/16 of an inch in diameter. It does not have any triangular or keystone shaped p***ages, also the engine is aluminum not cast iron????
I doubt that it's aluminum, Henry reportedly made 10 of aluminum and all of these except 1 were melted down from what I have read. If it is indeed aluminum it's prolly worth it's weight in gold and then some!
, also the engine is aluminum not cast iron????[/quote] It's cast iron, I was wondering if anyone was paying attention. Everything else is as described. I'm thinking it could be an early 24 stud engine?
It's cast iron, I was wondering if anyone was paying attention. Everything else is as described. I'm thinking it could be an early 24 stud engine?[/quote] Nasty man!! LOL!! It's not nice to poke fun at the flathead people... Flatman
Well, if you had said aluminum intake manifold and aluminum heads; I might have though you were "playing" with a Canuck version! But if you have the coin (and patience) there IS an ALUMINUM BLOCK (yeah, flathead) on the horizon!! Methinks "dmarv" knows a lot more that he is lettin on!
But if you have the coin (and patience) there IS an ALUMINUM BLOCK (yeah, flathead) on the horizon!! Methinks "dmarv" knows a lot more that he is lettin on! [/quote] I know about the new aluminum blocks from MCF. I think bills, lots of bills, not coin would be the correct term ! Of course if you look at the work MCF has done it really isn't that much more than finding a good original block and having it done the same way.
If it's 3 1/16 and has round water holes with no t****zoids...you have something strange. Look at the area between front of intake manifold surface and top of timing cover flange. Does that slope down in one swoop or is there a tightish curve leaving a sort of ledge on the block over the timing cover?? The cl***ic test here is whether you could rest a pencil there across the front without it rolling right off... I'm thinking this might be the mysterious 41A postwar replacement block...also, it is probably NOT the super thick 99, and is likely to be a 3 3/16 or so max... On early engines, 99's (3 3/16) and 81A's (3 1/16) generally look just the same in the same year groups. The 81's have boe castings made much smaller on OD, though.
I know about the new aluminum blocks from MCF. I think bills, lots of bills, not coin would be the correct term ! Of course if you look at the work MCF has done it really isn't that much more than finding a good original block and having it done the same way.[/quote] MCF's Q&A suggests the block will be grey cast iron and not aluminum with sleeves for a 3-1/2" bore. Will have special pistons; you will prolly have to buy their heads and head gaskets as well as some more from them. No price listed yet but you can bet it'll be HIGH$$$$ The following link was updated on 4/24/06 by Mark Kirby and lists a lot of Q&A's http://www.motorcityspeedequipment.com/qa.asp
The area between the intake manifold surface and top of the timing cover comes down with a slight angle toward the timing cover then kicks out right before the the timing cover. I would say you could balance a pencil on the "lip". Watch ya think Bruce?
Bruce? Were you able to ID the block pics I sent you last week? Sounds like something similar to my '41 (?)
When I said "coin" I was meaning it was BIG BUCKS!! Rolls and rolls of silver dollars (lots) still fall in the catagory of "COIN!!" The aluminum block I was refering to was NOT MCF's. Someone else is (going to) produce an aluminum block.
No pics came in Email--blancast@drew.edu. The lip is a prewar indicator...round holes are postwar. Your block doesn't exist, so no prob...
I never got any pics in email..blancast@drew.edu That ledge is pretty much a prewar indicator, the round holes postwar...so there ain't no such block. Easy. I'll have to see what i can locate on 1942 and wartime stuff...I know at least Merc heads changed in '42, but believe they were still keystone blocks... We might just have to check actual valve angles on this thing...is it a bare block?? I'mm pretty sure angles will tell for sure whether it's pre or post 1945. There were 59A based 221 replacement blocks, though the ones I've heard of had the 59. Likely these are the ones designated "41A" in the catalog. The E86 is not a block designation...I'm pretty sure that is just some foundry code, likely a date. I believe date castings on pre-49 American blocks usually appear on replacement blocks cast after that block type went out of production line use.
The block is not bare, but I do have one head off. I probably have some goofy wartime block they cast using different patterns thrown together. Would some pics help? I have a 221 59A replacement block and it has the 59 on the bellhousing. This block has me at a loss.
I'll post some pics tomorrow. My camara is at home and the block is here at work. Thanks for your help Bruce!
I've heard yarns also of early 59's having some prewar molds, like the front slope area. What I'd really like to know here is included valve angle...I think that will tell for sure what this thing fundamentally is.
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