hi ya'll, so im replacing the water pumps on my 37 panel which has a 59AB flathead. i have a set of new pumps from a 8BA truck engine and from what i have read, it seems they are interchangeable. is that correct? also, i'll need new gaskets. it seems like the gaskets are the same too. is that also true? thanks!
Mounting should be the same. I think the only difference is pulley and snout sizing can be different. Your new pumps might have a extra coolant bypass hole. Someone more experienced might correct me.
You're better off using new correct '38-'48 pumps, or have your take-offs rebuilt by Skip Haney in Fla.
Nope. Different mounting surface with extra port on top, different offset of pulleys, and mount legs are slightly higher I think. Just get the right pumps. You could even get repros with a more modern bearing instead of the bushing, if you want.
ok thanks. so the issue is that a bought the panel with a 59AB that was a runner but not for about 6 years. all indications is that this was a pretty fresh or at least, a well taken care of motor. when i started it, it was squealing very loudly so i removed the belt and turns out the water pumps were stuck. i was able to break them free but i thought i had a replacement set and would just change them. well now it seems i don't have a set so can i just remove the old stuck ones and work them free or just buy new ones and be done with it? thanks
Buy new pumps. Don't forget the bolt inside the water outlet. When you reinstall the pumps use a stainless bolt with anti seize for the bolt inside the water outlet.
You will need the correct year pumps, the later pulleys are pushed outwards 1.5" in order for the belt clear the late distributor and there is an additional water port in the pump body that your block won't have.
ok thanks nick but, how do i date the engine? i was under the impression that its really difficult to date these engines. was that correct?
You can date it within a few years just by the block type. After over 75 years, I would think that is close enough. Ford had a system of numbering blocks in those days. Essentially, the first digit of the type is the last digit of the year the engine was introduced, while the second digit is the last digit of the displacement. Thus : 81A - 1938, 221 ci 91A - 1939, 221 ci 99A - 1939, 239 ci 21A - 1942, 221 ci etc. 59A - 1945 - 239 ci Later flatheads (8BA series) had assembly dates stamped into the intake manifold surface on the right rear of the block. It is a rather arcane method, but can be decoded if you have the "secret code".
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