Help identify this motor

Hi I have what I think is a 1953 Mercury Flathead engine as i read the date code on one head J23 3 as October 23 1953 EAC and the other head as J21 3 as October 21 1953 EAC am I correct ?

 

Bttt

 

Pictures might help.

 

Not sure, re; date codes,...but a Merc will have a 4" stroke, Fords have 3 3/4 " stroke.

4TTRUK

 

I think a Merc would be ECM. Pretty sure an EAC is a '53 Ford. Still a good engine if it's rebuildable..

I'm a rusty on the codes so I might be wrong....check out VanPelts site. You might find a definitive answer there.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm

 

J in Ford code is September. There is no "I"

What you have are Merc heads. You'll have to pop the lid to measure the stroke to be sure. I have Ford heads "EAB" on my Merc to increase the compression.

You just never know what's in there.....

 

MTFLAT Thanks I forgot about the I because it looks like a 1. Then the heads are Sept. 23 and Sept 21st 1953. The engine is a runner and i will not take it apart until I need to. I found it in a 51 2 door sedan that was worked on back in the day. The car sat for about 40 years and was completely rotted out but the owner kept the engine well oiled and full of anti freeze and turned it over ( once in a while ) he said. Thanks to all that replied. Jim.T.

 

They are MERC. Heads. Thanks.

 

Thanks. Jim.T.

 

I've got the "flat head bug" so bad right now it's crazy. I know my next ride will have one. It's just hard to take that first step.

Congrats on finding one... Keep us posted and don't forget pics....

They even LOOK COOLER than an overhead valve V8

 

Yeah, but they don't RUN cooler!

Before you embark down the flathead path, consider taking the "Flathead Ford and/or Jaguar Potential Owner Test"............it consists of taking a handful of $100 bills, standing in front of a commode and throwing them in, then flushing them. If you can stand that.....you may be a contender

Ray

 

Jim, scrape some paint clean on the side of the block; if it's green, it's a Merc...if it's red, it's a Ford. (heads too, but the paint stays put on the skirts of the block better than it does on the heads)

Does it have a flywheel on it? If it has the clutch bolts evenly spaced, it's Merc. If the clutch bolts are spaced in 3 pairs, (two close together, then 120 degrees apart another two, etc.; bolts would be 3-4" apart) then it's Ford.

One is a 'Long' cover drilling, the other is Borg & Beck. (forget which)

Nice to get excited about the color the block was. Then remove the pan, measure that big counterweight at 6" and know you have a Merc! (happened to me a lot)

 

I will check it out tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Do you mean its like owning a boat. " A hole in the water you just keep throwing money into "

 

Will do.