B vehicles had blank serial number pads...serial was on bellhousing as with V-8s.
The only ones that should have gotten serials on block would have been complete engines sold without transmissions, like replacement or industrial uses...possibly some vehicles sold in places with a requirement for a numbered block.
In any case...that isn't a B or Ford number, so definitely not put there by Ford.
Since a B block would not have come from the factory with a number I agree it looks like some DMV assigned number. B engines were numbered on the flywheel housing.
The numbers do not look like the correct ford script, so I would agree with above, a number stamped in probably to comply with a dmv request.
Not particularly tidy, either, it has to be said.
Given that cast-in rectangle low on the side of the block, this is from very early '32 four-cylinder engine production. As stated above, Ford did not number '32 engine blocks, but rather the separate flywheel housing
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David
Go here: http://www.google.com/advanced_patent_search
And put in 2057774 on the patent number line...there's Henry's patent info on the vac setup. Click on PDF for the whole thing.
It must have almost made it into production, since earliest B's carried that boss, extra-huge vac port, extra holes on clutch lever, and of course the dent and bolt hole in early firewalls for one of the canisters...the late patent application is typical of '30's Ford stuff. I guess they had enough lawyers even in 1932 that getting patents nailed down wasn't a rush job.
The setup is a plumber's nightmare...reminds me of the tangles of ridiculous junk found under late '70's smogmobile hoods!