Can anyone help me re id on a flathead, 24 stud heads, distributor at front of engine, starter motor on right side (if sitting in car)I think usa63 cast in left head other possible castings are co98 and engine number might be FS S6099A Castings are quite difficult to read due to dirt and dust. Looking to make sure not a truck engine - if this make a difference. Thanks for the ***istance
Distributor driven straight off front, not at 45 degrees up towards right side, yes?? Attack the part that has the "99A" in it with a wire brush and solvent--that's intriguing. This might be a very desireable flathead here. Truck origin means little--usual differences amount to fractionally lower compression ratio and sometimes an iron manifold instead of aluminum. Give me all the external info you can; Final identifiction normally involves at least pulling a head to verify bore, since all the external parts will go on just about anything. Practically all surviving flatheads have been rebuilt at least once, usually with some degree of parts mixing. Is there a transmission on it? That would have a serial number, perhaps a useful clue.
if the heads are original to the motor, then it is pre 49 in cars, and pre 48 in trucks is the motor stuck? if it is, it might be better to just find another one.
Check in at the FORD FLATHEAD V8 ENGINE website. There is plenty of identification info there. Some motors require close inspection of subtle details, plus a bit of mystery sleuthing to pin them down. With a couple exceptions, there is not a serial number on any flathead V8 motor to tell you what year it's from. Sometimes, you even have to tear one down to make 100% sure what you have..... www.flatheadv8.com
I didnt notice you are from over the ocean. Finding another flatty is probably harder for you than us. If it is stuck and you rebuild it, you are saving a piece of history that likely would have been left to rot. Have fun!
Hell your right it is a lot easier for you guys over there but that's half the fun Big thanks to all for the encouragement
Places to look/wire brush first: Top of bellhousing, central area of each head. Look for CAST numbers there, look for stamped numbers around front area of surface where intake manifold goes. Search crate for any stenciled numbers. Does distributor look like divers helmet?? If it's gone, are there three bolt holes or two bolt holes and a third unthreaded hole?
from personal experience, if you have access to a heated pressure washer, its an excellent way to clean off a greasy/dirty motor. In 10 minutes its clean enough to lick.
Go on you know you want it . Is it a new engine as he said ?Give us a shout if you need a hand getting it.
Story goes that three guys have a say in this engine so I've put my offer to one of them but one is out of country for next 10 days and will have to wait till he returns
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