Late 21 stud 85 with 14 mm plugs

1

#1Oldfordman

Junior Member
Has anyone else on here found '38 engine with 21 studs and 14mm spark plugs instead of the 18 mm? My engine is original to the car and the engine number as stamped on the bell housing shows it was made in the November 1937 week or two before they officially changed to 24 stud and smaller plugs.
 
>>>Has anyone else on here found '38 engine with 21 studs and 14mm spark plugs instead of the 18 mm?>>>


I haven't. But with a set of 18mm-14mm spark plug adapters from Amazon, i probably could find you one in my garage. 8^) Jack E/NJ
 
#1Oldfordman said:
Has anyone else on here found '38 engine with 21 studs and 14mm spark plugs instead of the 18 mm? My engine is original to the car and the engine number as stamped on the bell housing shows it was made in the November 1937 week or two before they officially changed to 24 stud and smaller plugs.
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As stated in post #2 1938 engines were actually built in 1937 as 1938 models.
 
>>>My info is right out of the Ford records.>>>


What Ford records? Please post a link, reference or image of these records that you have access to. Are they aluminum heads? Could be aftermarket? Jack E?NJ
 
The DeAngelis/Francis book has the monthly engine build by engine numbers summarized from the Dearborn Engine Plant log wherein the data was posted daily. They are also available at the Benson Ford Research Center.


However, the normal numbering practice was to stamp the engine number on the transmission bell housing, not on the engine block itself. If that is the case here, you basically have no way of knowing with certainty that the engine itself is the original (unless you are the original owner and never had an engine rebuild).
 
#1Oldfordman said:
Has anyone else on here found '38 engine with 21 studs and 14mm spark plugs instead of the 18 mm? My engine is original to the car and the engine number as stamped on the bell housing shows it was made in the November 1937 week or two before they officially changed to 24 stud and smaller plugs.
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#1oldfordman:
It sounds like the answer to your question is no.

No-one that has read your post has seen 21 stud heads with 14mm plugs. Some pictures showing what you have would be very interesting to see.

Mart.
 
D4BAC718-A918-47C5-852B-3A5514EB36F6.jpg

F4906BC9-3803-4F09-A14F-26D1297F8C79.jpgJust as a matter of interest,Ford used 14mm plugs in 1936 in the English 22hp 15 stud heads.
 
Engine number stamping and car frame stamped same number. It is original to car. Motor was made 2nd week of Nov, 1937 as a #78 just weeks before the 24 stud engines started. I got the motor records from Ford Village.
 
#1Oldfordman said:
Engine number stamping and car frame stamped same number. It is original to car. Motor was made 2nd week of Nov, 1937 as a #78 just weeks before the 24 stud engines started. I got the motor records from Ford Village.
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What i think youre missing , is that no flatheads were stamped with numbers . Only the frame and trans were . So if so state required the number on the block it would of been stamped . So if your engine is stanped then it could be the first ( original) or the fourth engine to be in your car and restamped each time it was installed or required.
Hope this makes sense . And yes ive got a couple of 21 stud lb engines with cast iron replacement heads 14mm and if I remember correctly they have what looks like a alph numerical code that looks like a D46 .
 
Suggest you get a copy of the Early Ford V8 Club of America 1938-39 restoration manual. It can answer many questions. the book is sold on their web site.
 
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