Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical Help!!! What year flathead do I have

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by paintslinger805, Jul 21, 2015.

  1. Hello I need alittle help here. I have two 59 series flatheads but both have the 3 bolt divers helmet style distributors. Everything I read about them says they should have the two bolt style crab type. Any clues would be helpful thank you.
     
  2. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Any flathead timing cover fill fit any flathead block. A completely stock 59A would require a little cam extender piece as well, a simple part Ford sold for the eventuality of late replacement motors foing into earlier cars while keeping stock accessories, or a 1941-earlier cam. No sweat.
    This was a frequent occurence, as the 59 became Ford's univeral replacement motor for all '32-48. Ford even supplied a detailed drawing in 1942 to allow field machine shops in WWII make the little adaptor*****ons as 1942 pattern engine started arriving in the African desert...

    (edit...actual answer...if it says "59" on the bell, it's a '46-48 design engine, though I think many were produced for a few years after that as the replacement engine demand was very high after WWII. A few were produced with 221 type bore size, again as replacement engine for earlier Fords. Replacment engines, much more often than not, were purchased as short or long blocks and used with accessories from the engine they replaced.)
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2015
  3. Thank you for your help. I guess ford was very smart in the way to use up all the parts he had made. So again thank you
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.