Help with Engine dating

R

renobill

Junior Member
Good Morning, I am new to the Barn and would like to get some thoughts regarding my new project to put together a street rod. I have '30 Vic with a later model flathead. The bore measures 3.22 and bell housing has a "59" with a stamp "D163 X".
 

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Most likely somewhere in the 46 to 48 time range. In general the "59" blocks were post WWII and used up until the 8ba block came out. Be sure to have the block pressured tested before sinking any money into it! All flatheads are prone to cracks, some of which can be repaired and some not. Sounds like a fun project and welcome to the Ford Barn.
 
Some Ford blocks have a date code stamped into the intake manifold deck but it usually only a short number letter sequence. The number letter sequence followed by CAT is an unknown but may be Canadian, military, industrial, or something of that nature. VINs were different in the USA during that post war time frame and they are rarely stamped on the engine.
 
I'm sure you can find lots of old threads on the Ford parts system. Briefly, the '5' in 59 indicates the year that the part number was released for production. In this case, 1945. The '9' indicates that it was a Mercury part number. So, your block could be from 45 through end-of-production. The 59 blocks are generally considered to be 46-48, although we know there are exceptions. And, just to be clear, both Ford and Mercury used the 59 block, 46-48.


Edit... 59 blocks generally came as 3-3/16 bore (3.1875). A few came with a 3-1/16 bore, and per info you will find in old threads, the 3-1/16 bore blocks are thought to be 'replacement' blocks, bought at the dealer parts counter, intended for replacement in pre-war vehicles. So, probably, speculating here, your block could have had a .030 re-bore, with some wear out to 3.22. Or, maybe standard bore with LOTS of wear. Look at the tops of the pistons for a stamp, like 'std', or '.030'
 
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It is interesting that the number stamped on the top face, although it means nothing to me, it appears to use the distinctive Ford number stamps.
 
Mart said:
It is interesting that the number stamped on the top face, although it means nothing to me, it appears to use the distinctive Ford number stamps.
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That IS interesting... the 6, and the 9, and the 1, are dead give-aways. Those stamps were, and are, generally not commonly the ones WE have.
Good 'catch'.
 
Your engine also appears to have a factory relief, as does mine, which has the 59 casting number on the bell housing.
ckh
 
bobH said:
I'm sure you can find lots of old threads on the Ford parts system. Briefly, the '5' in 59 indicates the year that the part number was released for production. In this case, 1945. The '9' indicates that it was a Mercury part number. So, your block could be from 45 through end-of-production. The 59 blocks are generally considered to be 46-48, although we know there are exceptions. And, just to be clear, both Ford and Mercury used the 59 block, 46-48.
Click to expand...

The "9" in 59 I believe comes from the Mercury engine displacement, 239 cu. in. The first year Mercury used a '99' designation: The first 9 for the year, 1939; the second 9 for the displacement, 239.
 
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