32 counter balanced crank

[serf2]

When did Ford start counter balancing the 4 cylinder cranks?

 

[Newc]

Hi; There have been many good articles on this. SSOS Secret Society of Speed 4cyl group; their article said that it started with Ford factory rebuild engines. I don't have a link. Newc

 

[DavidG]

Not so. The Model B counterbalanced crankshaft was gradually phased into production during the '32 model year and all fours commencing with engine number *B-5175104* built on November 29, 1932 had the new crankshaft. (This according to the Rouge Engine Plant production log in Ford's archives at the Benson Ford Research Center.)

 

[Kurt in NJ]

I think it's the large shrunk on weights that got installed during factory rebuilds

 

[serf2]

Is there a way to tell without pulling the pan?

 

[DavidG]

If you pull out the oil filler tube you should be able to see at least one partial counterweight with a well-focused light.

 

[40 Deluxe]

Or look through the fuel pump opening with a bore scope.

 

[serf2]

Didn't have a chance to pull fuel pump but did copy down the engine # BB5183372. If DavidG is correct I am guessing this would be a late 32. Is that right?

 

[Bob C]

Looks like January 1933

Bob

 

[serf2]

Than that brings up more questions. The engine # matches the title which states it as a 32. Was there any differences between the 32 BB or the 33 as far as cab and front sheetmetal?

 

[skidmarks]

Firewall is the first give away. Then the hood and grill . Dash changed. Fenders are different around the front crossmember area.thats just a few differences

 

[jim1932]

Check out Vince Falters web site. David can correct me if I am wrong (I usually am) but model 4 cylinder engines were not stamped when new, I thought. If it is a rebuild they tended to stamp the numbers on it. pull the fuel pump and use a flash light. Make sure you know what one looks like though. I have a second model B motor that is stamped with a model A 1929 number. It is a diamond block with the counterbalanced crank (no it is not for sale).

 

[DavidG]

The '32 and up fours' engine blocks were not numbered as Jim indicates, only the flywheel housings. In some jurisdictions the blocks were stamped with a number (not necessarily Ford's number) when rebuilt.

 

[rockfla]

David
Did the "C" stamp on some heads have anything to do with nothing an engine with the counter balanced crank....OR I guess more direct to my inquiry IS why is the 33/34 4cyl cars seemingly associated as "Model C"?

 

[scooder]

A Model C is a British small Ford, looks like a mini 35 Ford. Has a 10 horse (tax) power 1172 cc engine, the engine kinda looks like a Model B engine in mirror, but without a water pump from factory.
The C cast into some of the heads is not an indicator of a counter balanced crank.
Why do folk call 33/34 four cylinders a Model C? I have no idea, but they ain't Model C's. See above.
Martin.

 

[rotorwrench]

I'm sure it was just the head marking. A lot of folks call the 59 series engines 59AB and that is also just a head marking.

 

[Charlie Stephens]

David
Did the "C" stamp on some heads have anything to do with nothing an engine with the counter balanced crank....OR I guess more direct to my inquiry IS why is the 33/34 4cyl cars seemingly associated as "Model C"?

There was a high compression head available from Ford for the Model A (often called the "police head") When the '33 came out Ford don't call it a "Model C" but that is what people did since that was the pattern they were expecting to continue. To keep stock straight it had a letter "B" cast into the head. When the '32 Ford came out the just used the next letter which was "C". It has sure caused a lot of confusion over the years.

Charlie Stephens

 

[DavidG]

Robert,

Charlie and Scooder have nailed it. A further confusing ingredient is that at least some Ford of Canada-made heads had no "C" cast in.

Many of the surviving Model B (the car) heads have cast-in Ford script as well as the "C" and all of NOS ones I have seen do as well. The irony is that the script was added in August, 1934, three months after those engines were no longer available as an option for U.S. vehicles. (Model B engine production continued on to 1941.)

 

[jim1932]

A lot of people incorrectly refer to the "diamond block" engines with counter balanced cranks as a "C" engine. Falters site can explain diamond blocks better than I can

 

[big deuce]

I stumbled across this crank the other day, it looks like a B but the mains/rods are that of an A. Was it a thing to turn down a B crank for an A block?