CMP Ford V8s

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Howard

Tony, My engine (which I believe to be the original) is/was a chrome sleeve bore 3 1/16". I always thought the 3 3/16 bore became available in '42?? Isn't the 3 3/16 what the old timers refer to as the "Mercury Engine"?
I await your
Thanks M8
HH

The 3 3/16 bore is a Mercury engine, being released in 1939 as the 99A (or the Canadian version C99A). It is the engine size used exclusively in Ford CMPs from the prototype. There have been variations; the C29A in 42, the C39A in 43, and some F15As had US-built 99TF Mercury truck engines but they have all been 239ci.

In 1942, the Ford 221 (3 1/16 bore) updated the main and rod bearing sizes to be the same as the 99A/29A Mercury, but remained 221ci until the "1946" models were released for the civvy market in late 45.

If your engine has a blitz engine number (like 2G1234F, etc), then it has been resleeved down to 3 1/16 for some obscure reason, like road tax, motorsport or availability of pistons! If it has no engine number on the block (remember 'Ol Henry put the number on the gearbox bellhousing!), then your engine is likely a replacement from a Commercial truck or a car.