Engine identification

L

Lakewood

Junior Member
I have a 1940 Deluxe which would have been made in Canada then shipped to Australia, the ident numbers stamped on the body are 01A-73405, however I am fairly sure the engine has been changed way back in it's history.
The number stamped on the block is *2C3389F* and there is an 81 cast on the block just above the right side water pump. In addition to this the heads have 81T cast in the middle of the top face.
The heads of the genuine engine should have "Made in Canada" cast on them, so I assume it is now fitted with an American engine.
Could someone tell me what vintage this engine really is?
Rod.
 
You probably need to post some photos. I don't know anything about Canadian engines, but in general the numbers cast into the block or heads are not going to tell you much. Some fairly detailed photos of the intake to block area, water pump area and bellhousing would be helpful.
 
Thanks so much for replying, the engine existing in the car now is American, the Canadian one was taken out by a previous owner.
 
Well then the numbers mean even less! You will have to depend on different engine features to ID it. Several engine ID articles have been put together, this is one of them.
 

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It's an 81A according to the cast number on the block, so 221 cube. I'm gonna guess that the block could be original to the car. Engine's made in Canada often have the cast number above the water pump, I've seen quite. A few with 99 (239 cube) and a couple with 81 (221 cube) that were Canadian. The Canadian 99's turn up over here (UK) in "green ****" (a term of endearment) more politely referred to as military stuff.
Its not good to assume, just because the heads don't have made in Canada cast on them, doesn't prove or disprove the parentage of the block or anything else under the heads. Heads are very often swapped around, there was even a Ford jig setup to cut early heads to bolt on to post war engines.
Martin
 
Forgot to say, those 81T heads are junk, very low compression with huge chambers. A pair of car heads will make a difference to throttle response, torque and mpg. Canadian heads are often higher compression than the US heads.
Do yourself a favour and swap them heads out.
Martin
 
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