Hot Rods Frozen 8BA Revisited...

Good read. Lots of good pictures.

 

C0BA would mean Canadian 1950 design.

 

Yes. It seems to be more defined on my second block...

 

Not sure about that as it doesn't seem to have separate valve seat like my first block which has the hardened seats.

 

Okay,,mine is a 49 Mercury (8BA ),,,,like Alchemy said,,,,yours should be a 50 Canadian 8BA .
And somewhere around 1950 was when they quite using hardened seats .

Tommy

 

Tommy, I'm going to double check regarding my first block that has C8BA cast into it but had the Merc crank. The heads were Merc and with the Merc crank I'm going to look at the transmission as there is a difference between Merc and Ford. I bought the engine and tranny and the fellow did say it came out of a Merc. With your engine info I may just find that this is a C8BA outfitted to Merc specs.

Now the C0BA block shows less wear than the first one, C8BA, so I have to decide which would be a better overall choice. Both will need a sleeve but the C8BA needs a little more stitching. However the C8BA has the hardened seats I believe whereas the C0BA doesn't appear to. So economically I have to decide which one to use. (The C0BA only cost me $20 a few years back...). I'd say I'm pretty lucky to have two rebuildable blocks which aren't in too bad of shape considering what is out there!

 

I can’t blame you for that,,,,,which ever you choose,,,you have two good prospects.
And getting one for 20 bucks can’t be beat,,,,great deal !

Tommy

 

Well I got the last three valves out today. Had to use the fire axe and die cutter on then. Total casualties are three bust valves, three destroyed valve springs, and one valve guide. I did nick the deck a teeny bit with the die grinder so it may require one stitch.

So now I'll have to seek guidance from the machine shop as to which one to use though I'm leaning towards the C8BA.

BIG mistake... I've been referring to the second block as a C0BA but in reality it is a C1BA but could be a CIBA... time to research this ID.

I'll been posting a bit more on my other thread "Flathead Top Loader trans"

 

The "8" in 8BA means it was designed in 1948. It was produced later, obviously not introduced til 1949 in most places (didn't some trucks get the new engine earlier than the cars did in some locales?). The "0" or "1" on 0BA or 1BA would mean designed in 1950 or 1951. Again, probably not produced for months or maybe the following year.

 

Thanks for that. I did some more research and found that out last night. I was mistaken as I thought all '49-51 flatheads were referred to as 8BAs except of course the mercy and trucks. I've never seen one referred to as a 0BA or 1BA. I think the last couple of years they were known as EACs.

Learning something every day.... as I told my students over the years we are all students, we are all teachers.

 

Yes,,,,,8BA was put in trucks in 1948 ,,,,then cars in 49 .
All of the engines from that series were referred to as 8BA .
My engine has 9CM cast into the heads,,,49 Mercury,,,,,but,,,,inside the block all casting marks are 8BA ,,,the oil pump has 8BA cast into it as well.
And I’m pretty sure the Canadian engines were cast with the C0BA and other numbers as a casting number only,,,and to designate them as Canadian .
Also,,,I think you could still special order them in 54 in Canada,,,,they were produced in Canada that year as well as the new YBlock .

Tommy

 

Yep, used until '54. All CDN blocks had a "C" before the 8,0,&1BA. I read on numerous sites that after '49 they did away with the hardened valve seats, first Intake and then exhaust.

For that reason I'm leaning towards the C8BA for the rebuild. But like I say I'm lucky to have a couple of fairly good blocks. The machine shop showed me a '52-48 car block that doesn't have a single crack in it!

Still have to get the '40 Ford differential number to get advice on the use of the LZ gears in my trans...

 

Well,,the good thing is,,,you can always put hardened seats in later,,,,at least it is good usable block .
You,,or whoever might get it someday ,,,,,at least it can be repaired for not too much.

I got lucky with my engine,,,,it was crack free too,,,,I couldn’t believe it .

Tommy

 

I guess I've only been living half as well as I thought I was...