How to ID early & late 49-53 engine.

W

wiretwister

Member
Can you ID a late 49-53 by the size of the intake runners of the block?

Help an old mans memory. I seem to remember that the late 8BA (53) engines had a larger intake port than the early 8BA (49-52). Is that true? What size and you measure across what part of the port?

Thanks for your help, wiretwister
 
There is a code marked on the pasenger side back of the block between the head and intake. Wigth this code it will tell the month _ Da_Year I am hunting the code book. If the code says 51vmore than likely the engine was installed in a 52. Some times it is not stamped very deep hard to see.Looking for my book now.On a phone please forgive the spelling big fingers little hands.Lyle
 
I amlooking at a 53 right now It is a mercury and is not apart. I have a early mercury Intake I can mike the intake if you won't. The 3 fords are good running engines and I can't take them apart. Also a mercury block it is 49 or 50.
 
I have never heard of a difference in port sizes. Also there are a lot of blocks with no stamping. This was not a universal thing. 51 and later blocks will most likely have 1BA cast in the block, usually in the valley. Also the later blocks phased out valve seat inserts.
 
The only outward form of indication is the cylinder head raised casting numbers but heads can easily be mixed & matched. 52-53 Ford EAB & 52-53 Mercury EAC. Some 51 Mercury heads were 1CM but not all.

Mercury manifolds have 4-bolt flange and Ford 8BA had 3-bolt flange for carburetor attachment. Some of the big trucks also had a 4-bolt carb flange.

As was mentioned earlier, there were code numbers stamped in the intake manifold parting surface but not on all engines.

All of the late flathead blocks are pretty much the same except in late 51 they went to rotator type valves and many of the blocks had no hardened seat inserts. Some 52-53 blocks (mostly trucks & pickups) had hardened exhaust seats only. Oil pans, water pumps, & bellhousings can also be clues if you know which are which.

Kerby
 
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