are the 39 ford flatheads 24 bolt heads or are they the earliest version that are 21 bolt? the reason im asking is i am looking for another block for my flathead build because the one i have is in pretty rough shape and my engine builder wants me to find another one. i have a chance to buy a 39 flatty but am not sure if that will work or not. the one i have is pre 48 so its 24 bolt and has the water outlets in the center of the heads. if this 39 wont work anybody know where i can get a block that will?
39 flathead is 24 stud center outlet with bellhousing cast into it. It's not a 59A block so there would be nothing cast into the bellhousing.
The pre-War block can't be bored out as much as the 59, and is only 221 cubic inches to start with. If you're OK with less displacement, any speed parts you want will bolt on just like the later 24 studs.
I have a complete '40 engine available for sale. I'm in Annapolis. Exactly the same as a '39. It is stuck, but I was told that it was a good running engine approximately three years ago before it was removed from the car. e-mail me if interested - stewart.may@comcast.net
Another difference is that the decks where the heads bolt on,on a 46 thru 48 are flat and the 39 thru 41 is raised a little. It's an easy way of determining the difference.
Allright, here goes my first post (I did searching on this topic and didn't find any specific info about it, so go easy on me). Why can't you bore an early block as far as a late block? I am starting a build on a 40 flathead and want to bore it, but all I seem to hear on the topic is that I can't bore it because of core shift and/or the walls aren't as thick as the later blocks. Was the core shifting really that bad in the pre-war blocks? Does anybody have actual data or experiences to back this up or is it just "what everybody heard". I would like to go to 3+5/16", is this possible? Later, Wally
81A blocks were produced starting in 1938 and were 221 cuin. 59A blocks were produced starting in 1945. See the pattern? 8=1938; 5=1945. Some blocks (99'sin 1939) were first produced in 1939 and were 239 cuin for the Mercury cars. These 99 blocks were raised on the intake manifold deck, not the heads deck. Valve angles were different from 1932 to 1945. 49 degrees p***enger side and 52 degrees drivers side. From 1945 thru 1953 (USA) or 1954 (Canada) the valve angles in the block were 50 degrees both sides. I'd have the cylinders sonic checked to see if there is enough wall thickness to go 3-5/16". If not you may be stuck with only going to 3-3/16".
I was curious about this myself. i have a block that has nothing cast in the bell and I was wondering which one it was. I will be going home to check some of these ID suggestions tonight. I have also heard that if it is a factory replacement block it won't have anything cast into it. Any thoughts?
I have a 81A which has the No. in the block just in front of the head. Also have a factory replacement block manufactured in 1947 with the No. in the same place, the 47 also has No's on the bellhousing which give this information. btw the specification is for 85HP instead of 100HP which all car motors were at that time, so Ford were still suppling original specification motors to cars that were originally equipped with 85HP motors. These blocks came from Canadian cars exported to New Zealand.
not to take anything away from the orginal post,just a question about 39 blocks.can those be resleeved.I have one I want to re build,but it needs a new sleeve. flathead A
Well, can't win all of them try as might. That is why we ask questions right? Pick and choose the best answer.
hey its cool i ask stupid questions and give retarded answers all the time. **** happens, oh and welcome aboard from one newbie to another.
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