OK. I need help here. I have read various posted info here (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177357), as well as all the info i can find on the internet on the subject, but still can't positively ID my Flathead. On the block in the rear corner where the number (i.e. [SIZE=+1]G 20 B would be an engine manufactured on January 20, 1952) SHOULD be is ... nothing. Clean metal. On the OTHER side though, (driver side) on the block ARE numbers - VM43875 C A L. On the block casted on the passenger side by the bell housing is L1094: (Canadian blocks have C here) - in the center same area by bell housing is a 'Y' The heads are the only part I have confirmed ID on (EAB = 1949-1953) annd bear the FoMoCo script. I have heard of industrial stationary motors Ford supplied to companies for non-automotive purposes. Anyone know if the block castings differ from auto-bound engines? The gentlemen I purchased this engine from said he bought it from the mining company he was employed by to replace the one in his F6 that was shot. The mining company he states, had used the engine I now have to run a mine hoist. It had a forward and reverse transmission hooked to a spool of cable and it would lower and retrieve this mining apparatus (akin to a small cargo elevator i gather) as needed. This was done at low RPMs he said, so it was a good buy for his truck at the time. He drove the truck a few months then the company shut down. He parked it under a tree where it sat many years until I bought motor and trans. One more interesting note: On the front of the block, under the generator mount is a metal tag, clearly legible (aside from dust, the motor is amazingly clean, including the inside which looks like a fresh rebuild) the tag reads DURA - BUILT CYL [060] MAIN [010] RODS [010] MFG # [T 947] 7500 MAIE AVE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (INFO IN [ ] BRACKETS IS STAMPED INTO TAG ) I have not been able to find Dura-Built company info anywhere, and the address is now a CARSCO. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. [/SIZE]
I looked in some engine building books and all I found was a ref saying 59a,59ab, 59l, 59c, x,y,z or 8ba are almost identical in casting thickness so I would start looking up the info with "Y" but I am just learning flattys. hope that helps
sounds like an aftermarket reman'd 49-53 engine. blocks were all the same car,truck mercs and industrial. ive got one that ran a waterpump and was rebuilt by KRW and has similar rebuilder markings stamped in the intake deck.
yep 49-53(54 in canada) blocks like you have are all pretty much the same. only difference is maybe you have the 4" merc crank in there. if you can spin it, pull a head and check the stroke. it will be 3 3/4 or 4"
What difference does it make? You have one, build it. Its an early, or a late. Screw it together and drive it like you stole it.
thanks guys.. Guy I bought it from said it was a '52 - so I'll take his word for it (just wouldn't mind knowing for sure). I'm not tearing into it anytime soon. It runs like a champ - started right up when i went to look at it and its spotless inside, so yeah, I'll drive it like I stole it for sure. 060 over lets see that 248.5 CI... fun stuff
The date stamping business was far from universal. The CAL number looks to me like a California DMV assigned serial stamped into the block, as though the engine once lived in a vehicle whose original title was lost--there must be a lot of people on here with assigned California numbers to compare. In actual blocks, the only significant difference in late ones is whether or not the engine had hardened seats for valves, usually a big benefit on rebuild. This depended both on date and usage of original application.
Ford Dealer here laid this to rest. Guy was around in the 60's and is familiar with Dura-Built (evidently a part of Day & Night Auto Parts) they were an Engine rebuilder. As far as the block, it is an American block built for Industrial Use (The adapters attached to the mounting bolts confirm this as well, fabricated when it was moved to vehicular use.). A great find especially for the $750 I paid for it and the attached 3 speed trans - and it runs like a champ!
The Jalopy Journal
