39 flathead, question, Walt

Walt Dupont--Me.

Walt Dupont--Me.

Well-known member
Het guys, question and answer time. I just received an engine from Alaska. The guy is restoring a 39 pickup. I have a little doubt that the engine is not a 39. It's a 221 and has the steel sleeves like the 40-41. One head has the A in the center and the other head is plane. I accually haven't cleaned the other head to find numbers on it. BUT, did 39 have the steel sleeves? I didn't think they did. I thought the sleeves were only in the 40-1-2. Thanks guys, Walt
 
Walt Dupont--Me. said:
Het guys, question and answer time. I just received an engine from Alaska. The guy is restoring a 39 pickup. I have a little doubt that the engine is not a 39. It's a 221 and has the steel sleeves like the 40-41. One head has the A in the center and the other head is plane. I accually haven't cleaned the other head to find numbers on it. BUT, did 39 have the steel sleeves? I didn't think they did. I thought the sleeves were only in the 40-1-2. Thanks guys, Walt
Click to expand...
Some of the engines in '39 were in fact sleeved.
That head without the "A" may signify it's a very early 39 or a 38. However, as you no doubt realize, the heads could have been swapped in the past 70+ years so you can't go on that alone.
 
I have had several engines from 39s that had steel sleeves. I think they are quite common, especially in later 39 engines. Supposedly they stamped HS on the intake manifold surface, generally left front.
 
Hi Walt, the engine that is in my '34 3 window coupe is a '39 and it has sleeves.(The engine you sent me is going in there) I was going to send it back East to Main so you could pull the sleeves bore it and perform another miracle.
 
Thanks guys, I guess the consencis (spelling) is that some 39's had sleeves and some din'nt. I guess the ones I've seem didn't. Walt
 
flatjack9 said:
I have had several engines from 39s that had steel sleeves. I think they are quite common, especially in later 39 engines. Supposedly they stamped HS on the intake manifold surface, generally left front.
Click to expand...
Well guys, I think I jumped the gun the gun a little on this engine. I hadn't looked it over very good, it was so covered with crap. This morning I went out to scrap the top of the block to look for that HS and soon as I started to scrap the crap off I noticed it has the raised intake surface. I believe that is only in 42, is that correct? Also I dosen't have the core plugs in the oil pan rails. So my guess now 42, what do you think? Thanks Walt
 
I think it would be called the 41A engine replacement with the raised intake surface and no core plugs.
 
'41-42 and wartime production.
In the years with sleeves, engines were made both ways, and pistons and rings differed between sleeve and no-sleeve engines.
 
Bruce Lancaster said:
'41-42 and wartime production.
In the years with sleeves, engines were made both ways, and pistons and rings differed between sleeve and no-sleeve engines.
Click to expand...
Hey Bruce, are you saying that some 41's had the raised intake? I wouldn't be suprised if the late 41 had the raised int. The engines were getting ready for the 42 cars. Walt
 
I believe so...some dates on this change are given in the back of the '38-9 resto book in the change-letter section. I don't have access to that right now.
 
Speaking of marking's ,have a flathead with a small raised diamond ahead of the cylinder head on the passangers side. Poss. a 38/39:confused:
 
39portlander said:
Speaking of marking's ,have a flathead with a small raised diamond ahead of the cylinder head on the passangers side. Poss. a 38/39:confused:
Click to expand...
Scott, they say the diamond blocks are made of heavier materal. Some people jump on those diamond blocks. I have a couple of of Model B 4 baggners with diamond blocks, One is in my 31 A. Walt
 
I think the diamond on the front of the block was a good indicator of a replacement block on the A & B 4-cylinder engine blocks but I don't know about the V8 types.
 
I have a 1941 Mercury motor with a raised intake. I thought it was just the 41 flathead that had the raised intake.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top