flathead question

[4d]

Okay gurus of the ford flathead. I just sold a flathead,and there were speculations on the year. Most ask me to check a casting on the bell, and gave examples of 54 or 59. I did and the cast # was G147. What if anything did this # represent?
Larry

 

[rotorwrench]

The big "59" on the 59A type block puts it in the 1945 to 1948 range or there abouts but the G147 doesn't mean much that I'm aware of. Is it one of the blocks with the integral partial bell housing or one with no bell housing?

Kerby

 

[Russ/40]

Okay gurus of the ford flathead. I just sold a flathead,and there were speculations on the year. Most ask me to check a casting on the bell, and gave examples of 54 or 59. I did and the cast # was G147. What if anything did this # represent?
Larry

People have been trying to derive meaning to those casting numbers for eons. The end result is they tell you nothing.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Most years have to be identified by a fairly close study of block details. There are no clear cut markings like "59" that correlate with Ford's codes on most.