Help - Strange markings on 8 BA Block

W

wiretwister

Member
Just got my 8BA block home from cleaning and magnaflux.
Has only one crack that I believe is repairable. See last picture.

There are some unusal stampings on the machine surface where the intake manifold bolts down. Could some one interpet the markings for me please?

First picture is on left bank between the intake runners at front of the block. There is a W-3 in large letters. There is a single E. Then there is two A's or maybe 4's. The A's are not in a line like the W-3 is. I do not recall ever seeing this kind of marks on a Ford Block. What do they mean?

Second picture is a single L and one large 2 and one small 2, They are at very front of the block on the driver, left side in front of the first intake runner. What do these 3 marks indicate?

Third picture is a single C located between the intake runners at the rear of the block on right or passenger side. What does the C indicate?

Fourth picture is of the one crack in the block. I believe it can be pinned and a new valve seat cut in for a relativly inexpensive repair. Other wise the block is in excellent shape.

Background info: The block has been rebuilt some time during its lifetime so it could have come out of something other than the 50 Ford I knew about. That rebuild changed several things: Pistons are +.040 and the cylinders will clean up at .060 with no problem. There is no ring wear ridge at top of cylinders. The crankshaft has been cut to -.010 mains and -.020 rods it is good and will be reused with no changes to those numbers.

Sure hope someone in the Ford Barn Knowledge bank can help me to understand these numbers.

There is the possibility that at least some of the stamped markings were marks put on by the previous engine builder to idintify his work.

Thanks for all you help -------- bill
 

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One of those should be the birth date code. You can read more info about it here. I'm thinking that faint "2" may have been part of the birthday, but looks like it may have been removed if the previous builder decked your intake surface area.

http://flatheaddrag.com/birthday.html

Birthday will be on right rear of intake surface and will be a letter, number, letter Looking something like this..

date3.jpg


date4.jpg
 
The only markings on the right rear of the manifold mating surface is the C that is pictured. The C is quite deep and there doesn't appear to have ever been any other marks in that area.
Thnks for your help ----- bill
 
All of the various stamping are of no importance. Anything from manufacturing tracing to Joe Shitt putting his initials in it.
Some 8BA blocks have the date markings but not all. It doesn't mean much if you are doing a complete build. Some had hardened seats installed and others have the seats ground into the block.
The valve crack is your major concern. If you do it or have it done make sure it's done right.
 
No doubt it has been rebuilt before, and probably stamped/restamped by the rebuilder with no one else knowing his code.
 
Can't vouch for what went on in the Ford engine plant (or some rebuilder's shop) but many years ago I worked in the Chevy 6 plant in Flint where I saw many similar stamps in heads and blocks. Many machine operators and most inspectors had metal stamps with hammer handles with which they marked the parts to signify who had performed a particular operation or that the part had passed inspection at some point. None of those marks had any relevance as to dates of production.
 
Just out of interest, exactly how would you go about repairing that crack?
Mart.
 
i haqd a standard bore 8ba it had xxxxxxxx along both sides of the inlet valley no cracks ever didnt have any problems with it at all :)trev
 
Mart
The cracks are repaired using a process called stitching. Google cast iron stitching and read all about it.Repair is a sound one.Any good machine shop is able to do it.

Ronnie
 
I will repair it by pinning or stiching and then cutting in a new valve seat.
Believe it will be good as new.
Thanks to all for your imput. At 77 years old I seem to have forgottin most of what I learned about flatheads when I was a kid.

I attached the just completed project and added it to my collection. It is a 1930 LaSalle Fleetcliff Roadster.
 
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