Ford Flathead information

[Mrs Vampire]

Can anyone nominate the various model flathead models fitted to the Blitz.

I also want to find the original colour. I understand early engines were a dark green colour and the Merc engines were dark blue.

I have only ever seen rust colored engines

I have picked up a spare for overhaul and would like to get it right

Gina

[Keith Webb]

Khaki is the colour of engines I've seen, also painted deep bronze green (vehicle colour) when they were repainted after the war.
Sometimes black underneath.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Gina - the other part of your question is that the motor was a 95hp V8 with a bore of 3 3/16th inch and a stroke of 3 3/4 inch with a total piston displacement of 239 cubic inches. The motor was a 24 stud one.

Bob

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Gina - the other part of your question is that the motor was a 95hp V8 with a bore of 3 3/16th inch and a stroke of 3 3/4 inch with a total piston displacement of 239 cubic inches. The motor was a 24 stud one

... which was known as the "99A" block, although in reality the engine with twin belt pulleys was the 99T Mercury Truck, and with changes to the crank bearings and distributor became the "29A".

[Mrs Vampire]

I found this link which is interesting but misses out on wartime production

http://www.35pickup.com/mulligan/fhtime.htm

I was also of the understanding the "merc" engine was used in the Universal carrier and some Australian Blitz .

I was hoping they were painted the deep green. Army colours on an engine is soooooo boring

[cletrac (RIP)]

When they were new they were the Ford green but after a rebuild they were khaki, brown, etc. depending on where they were.
Externally the Merc engines were the same as the Fords.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Gina Vampire

Can anyone nominate the various model flathead models fitted to the Blitz.

I also want to find the original colour. I understand early engines were a dark green colour and the Merc engines were dark blue.

I have only ever seen rust colored engines

I have picked up a spare for overhaul and would like to get it right

Gina

Here is some info but not all,...

Flathead Specifications
How to Identify the Ford Flathead V8



Casting Number

Split into two categories, 1948 and below and 1949 to 1954, the casting numbers are in different locations. They 1948 and below engines were manufactured in Canada, and the number is preceded by a "C." The number is located on the top of the bell-housing. On later models, it is located on the flange, where the bell housing bolts to the engine. The number is two digits, occasionally followed by a letter. Consulting a chart is necessary for code identification.
Mercury and Ford Differences

From the outside, Ford and Mercury differences cannot be made visually. On the forward crankshaft counterweight, the Mercury engine has a dimple located in the center, while the Ford does not. Also, Mercury has a longer stroke than the Ford engine, making it more desirable by auto restorers. Mercury engines were green from 1949 through 1951 and either green or tangerine in 1952 and 1953. The Ford models used these colors as well as blue and bronze.
Other Considerations

In 1948 and 1949, changes were made, including using 24 bolts to mount the heads to the engine, instead of studs and nuts. During these years, the bell housing was no longer directly cast with the block and was bolted on. These changes further identify the engine.



Read more: Flathead Mercury Engine Identification | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7295947_fl...#ixzz2DTcC0HES

YEAR


ENGINE TYPE


MODEL DESIGNATION

1932


V8-85


18

1933


V8-85


40

1934


V8-85


40

1935


V8-85


48

1936


V8-85


68

1937


V8-60

V8-85


74

78

1938


V8-60

V8-85


82A

81A

1939


V8-60

V8-85


922A

91A

1940


V8-60

V8-85


022A

01A

1941


V8


11A

1942


V8


21A

1945
V8 59A

1946


V8


69A

1947


V8


79A

1948


V8


89A

1949


V8

V8


8BA

8EQ*

1950


V8


0BA

8EQ*

1951


V8


1BA

8EQ*

1952


V8


2BA

8EQ*

1953


V8


3BA

8EQ*

1954


V8


3BA

8EQ*

* The 8EQ Engine was used exclusively in F-7, F-8 trucks and Lincoln cars, and it was a monster! This engine can easily be identified by the location of the distributor, which is at the rear, on top of the block, next to the fuel pump and by the external water bypass tubes. The 8EQ engine displaced 337 Cubic Inches and developed 145 horsepower!

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/bboogaar/engine.htm

[cletrac (RIP)]

You can put a 4" stroke 1949 and newer Merc crank pistons and rods in the 1948 and older 24 bolt blocks but you have to use the older timing gears and camshaft to keep the crab type distributor on the front of the block. The motor will end up looking exactly like the older motor but will be a 130 hp 255 ci motor.
On the prairies the 255 Merc engines are fairly common since farmers usually replaced the worn out motor in their trucks with a rebuilt Merc engine. I have several of them.

[John Mackie]

in australia the mercury used the 239 ci engine up to 1948. after that ford australia did not assemble the mercury. the 255 engine was used in the rear engine bus from 1939

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Gina Vampire

I found this link which is interesting but misses out on wartime production

http://www.35pickup.com/mulligan/fhtime.htm

I was also of the understanding the "merc" engine was used in the Universal carrier and some Australian Blitz .

That website is of US origin and does not relate to Canadian production!! While the US stopped making the V8 and concentrated on the 1GA six cylinder flathead, Canada continued making and evolving the V8.

The "Ford" engine (91A) was 221ci 85hp and was used in cars, Ford trucks (incl MCPs) and Universal Carriers.

The "Mercury" engine (99A) was 239ci 95hp and was used in all Blitzes (CMPs) and Aust LP Carriers.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Alex Blair

Here is some info but not all,...

"Flathead Specifications
How to Identify the Ford Flathead V8

Mercury and Ford Differences

From the outside, Ford and Mercury differences cannot be made visually. On the forward crankshaft counterweight, the Mercury engine has a dimple located in the center, while the Ford does not. Also, Mercury has a longer stroke than the Ford engine, ....

For the Wartime Ford and Mercury V8's (91A or 99A), the stroke was IDENTICAL at 3 3/4". The different capacity was acheived by a different bore size 3 1/16" or 3 3/16". When the US restarted V8 production after the war, all Fords got the bigger 239 engine which was still the Mercury numbered 59A.

It was the 1949-53 Ford (8BA) that had a 3 3/4" stroke compared to the 51-53 Mercury (1CM) stroke of 4".

[Corey Myronuk]

i have an 8EQ 377ci engine that im researching info on to hopefully replace the 239ci C59A thats missing out of my F60L.I think the outer bolt pattern in the engine plate at the back of the block is also shared with the early "H" series ford 226ci flathead six.If thats the case i may be able to use a truck bellhousing to bolt up the stock F60L trans to the big ford v8.

I'm also currently looking for a flywheel and drivers side water pump for the 8EQ if anyone has leads.

all my engines get a coat of green,similar to but a little lighter than detroit green non metallic.It looks minty fresh and shows any leaks really well.
I find it complimentary to O.D as well.
just my $.02

[Ken Hughes]

Engine colours up to 1942 were grey 1943-on kahki I stand to be corrected but this is the info i have learned over the years.

[ajmac]

Originally Posted by cletrac

When they were new they were the Ford green but after a rebuild they were khaki, brown, etc. depending on where they were.
Externally the Merc engines were the same as the Fords.

I can confirm that, I am rebuilding a 1941 24 stud 221ci flathead that spent most of it's post war life in a factory backup gen and then in a shed. It is olive drab, but when I dismantled the water pumps, behind the pulleys where the spray hadn't reached was original Ford Dark Green! A local vintage car museum has a 1939 flathead powered station wagon, in it's original unrestored condition it has a 21 stud dagenham manufactured engine which is painted grey, I have now seen three original 21 stud dagenham units that have been grey.

One of my 81A heads was cracked but I managed to get a pair of 81T heads, cast into the top is C81T... Thus I presume they are Canadian production, however 'Ford USA' is also cast into the head, just to confuse matters.

[Mike Cecil]

Gina,

Since you said you were looking to reco a Ford flat head, consider this:

The 3 3/16 bore 95hp engine as used in CMPs can be 'upgraded' internally by using some parts from a post-war 8BA engine:

Crank - two oil holes per journal. I think this was a late pattern 99A crank that I used, but it's a while ago.
8BA rods with fixed shell bearings
4-ring pistons (early wartime ones had 3 rings ; the fourth was added near the bottom of the piston skirt, below the gudgeon)
high pressure oil pump: they are visibly different, with an additional oil relief valve? cast into the side.

Have it balanced by an engine reconditioner.

For ease of maintenance, find a two-piece sump where the lower clutch cover bolts to the main sump. Much easier to work on the clutch with one of these installed.

Externally, the engine looks the same, but it will work so much better. My blitz engine was a lot smoother for having used these parts and had them balanced.

Mike C

[Mrs Vampire]

I am very grateful for all of the excellent information here. Mike I will take you advice.

I am looking for someone to do the short motor for me. I need to sleeve two cylinders and do piston rods etc balancing and line bore the crank with new mains and rod bearings. If I can .

I am looking to have an easy to run very reliable Blitz that I can take around without too much fuss.

Gina