cyl heads

B

blackchevy3de

Member
my v8 flat head has a 29A head on the rt side and a 59AB head on the left side , whats the differents, the numbers on top of hellhousing are B20611, don't see listed anywhere , really don't know what I have, I changed the dist has a helmet type,with a adapter button, need help ID this motor. thanks jim
 
blackchevy3de said:
my v8 flat head has a 29A head on the rt side and a 59AB head on the left side , whats the differents, the numbers on top of hellhousing are B20611, don't see listed anywhere , really don't know what I have, I changed the dist has a helmet type,with a adapter button, need help ID this motor. thanks jim
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There is little physical difference between the two heads. The 29A head was originally installed on engines produced in 42 - 44. The 59ab head was '47 - '48.
The numbers on the bellhousing are casting numbers... you won't find them in any parts book.
 
The 29A head started in 1939 on Murcury and truck 239 engines. I don't have any information on the combustion chambers. The early 39/41 engines had a different valve angle and using these early heads on a later block may interfere with the valves. The 21A heads have a smaller combustion chamber. They too must bechecked for valve clearance, just a small amt must be ground off the top of the valve chamber.
 
If there is no large "59" on the back of the block, it may be a 1942 29 block with one original head and one replacement. It may also be a 1938/42 221 block with two replacement heads. The cylinder deck water port hole shapes would verify 221 from 239. Bore size may also help ID.
 
Ol' Ron said:
The 29A head started in 1939 on Murcury and truck 239 engines. I don't have any information on the combustion chambers. The early 39/41 engines had a different valve angle and using these early heads on a later block may interfere with the valves. The 21A heads have a smaller combustion chamber. They too must bechecked for valve clearance, just a small amt must be ground off the top of the valve chamber.
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"29A" did not appear until 1942. If memory serves correctly, 1939 Merc heads were 99t.
 
The 29A started with the 239 engine in 1939. Hence the 29A/99A rods. bUT i COULD BE WRONG.
 
39 Merc heads were indeed labeled 99. 29 heads would have been introduced for the 42 Merc. I don't know what might be different between the two.
 
Ol' Ron said:
The 29A started with the 239 engine in 1939. Hence the 29A/99A rods. bUT i COULD BE WRONG.
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Ron, I have all the respect in the world for you and am envious of your knowledge. However, this time, you are incorrect.
After every single post of yours I have ever read, I'd say this is a first.
One wrong out of hundreds... well, you put my knowledge level to shame.
 
JSeery said:
He did say he could be Wrong, so guess that makes him correct after all!
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Of all the guys that post here, I'll tell ya, OlRon has got to be one of the very sharpest. Pretty easy to see he has lived this stuff for a long time and knows more than I can imagine.
One "wrong" out of the hundreds, well, a darn good record!
 
Yes, I guess I just thought that because the 29A connecting rod was a 39 product, The 29A head waz too. I was waitink for Bruce Lancaster to jump in. I think he knows every part number in the book. Just remember one thing, Pobodys Nerfect.
 
Ol' Ron said:
Yes, I guess I just thought that because the 29A connecting rod was a 39 product, The 29A head waz too. I was waitink for Bruce Lancaster to jump in. I think he knows every part number in the book. Just remember one thing, Pobodys Nerfect.
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Pobodys nerfect? Funny as heck and incredibly accurate!
Yep, Bruce knows his stuff...
 
99A 1939, 09A 1940, 19A 1941, and 29A 1942. The old Green Bible lists cylinder assembly (engine blocks) but it was published in 1950 so many of the numbers that were one year only were skipped for the replacement part numbers. The 99A rods were used from 1939 thru 1941 and the 29A rods were used from 1942 thru 1948.
 
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