Model a diamond block number

JRShaw

JRShaw

Senior Member
My roadster project has a "Diamond" block marking on it in the proper location. However, the number plate (looks like the one online) only has four numbers. They are "1226". Does anyone have any additional information other than what is online? The resource is excellent one but does not cover my case. Does anyone have any thoughts about this number? Thank You in Advance!!
 
Most of those blocks I’ve had were original to equipment not auto. One on hand now has
“AC” prefix. I’m assuming…know how that goes!….that it may be Allis Chalmers farm equipment.
 
JR: Your pasting of 1226 is interesting as mine is C 5 7 meaning March 5, 1937. Perhaps Ford changed the process or yours has been re stamped. Also possible that what you read as a 1 is really a I which would mean September second but surely not 1926. Bill
 
I believe these blocks were used in Gleaner Combines. They had a special manifold and carb. There was a picture of the carb on the Barn some months a go.
 
JRShaw said:
My roadster project has a "Diamond" block marking on it in the proper location. However, the number plate (looks like the one online) only has four numbers. They are "1226". Does anyone have any additional information other than what is online? The resource is excellent one but does not cover my case. Does anyone have any thoughts about this number? Thank You in Advance!!
Click to expand...
this may help or go to Ford Garage for info on other markings Great site with a wealth of info Thanks to supplier.
Model A Ford Garage ~ Diamond Engine Block and Date Code Markings
 
Diamond blocks are aftermarket replacements made after the Model "A" was out of production, and these parts were not necessarily made by Ford. Diamond blocks went into cars, trucks railroad, industrial, farming & aviation products. I have one in my Coupe that was used in a boat yard to run a winch. The one in my Victoria spent its life so far in a Model "A".
 
springerpete said:
JR: Your pasting of 1226 is interesting as mine is C 5 7 meaning March 5, 1937. Perhaps Ford changed the process or yours has been re stamped. Also possible that what you read as a 1 is really a I which would mean September second but surely not 1926. Bill
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Springerpete - Good thought!! I will have to take a closer look at the number pad. Thank You Very Much! Best Regards, Joel
 
Bigsnapper43 said:
I believe these blocks were used in Gleaner Combines. They had a special manifold and carb. There was a picture of the carb on the Barn some months a go.
Click to expand...

Some of the Gleaner combines also had an overhead valve setup. I also visited an old sawmill in Louisiana that had three pieces of equipment that were model a powered. A large circular saw, an air compressor, and a winch.
Ed
 
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springerpete said:
JR: Your pasting of 1226 is interesting as mine is C 5 7 meaning March 5, 1937. Perhaps Ford changed the process or yours has been re stamped. Also possible that what you read as a 1 is really a I which would mean September second but surely not 1926. Bill
Click to expand...

I just re-checked the Diamond block marking. It is indeed a "1" without the tiny top & bottom (horizontal) line. Evidently this may have had an agricultural origin. It still should be a better block, as I am told that a higher grade of steel was used in these castings. A Thank You to all that have commented on this topic.
 
Many diamond blocks were not stamped at all, but I believe (?) they were made by Ford. There were also Diamond A/B heads, rear trans mounts and who knows what all. They went into all sorts of farm machinery, power plants, water pumps, etc.
 
The diamond shape marking is for foundry identification but the foundry that cast them was never identified in Ford publications. I've looked at a lot of foundry makings and some were similar to the diamond. Ford quit casting the 4-cylinder blocks after 4-cylinder car production was over so they subcontracted the blocks after that. They had an assembly line for them at the Rouge till 1940 or 41 for industrial use. They ran water pumps, saw mills, generator plants, and air compressors as well as agricultural use like the Baldwin Gleaner pull behind combine harvesting equipment. Bare blocks were sold as replacements and could be stamped with the original number of what ever vehicle it was going into. They also sold complete new long & short blocks as replacements.
 
springerpete said:
JR: Your pasting of 1226 is interesting as mine is C 5 7 meaning March 5, 1937. Perhaps Ford changed the process or yours has been re stamped. Also possible that what you read as a 1 is really a I which would mean September second but surely not 1926. Bill
Click to expand...
I'm thinking your looking at the raised cast numbers. He's talking about numbers that have been stamped not cast. Serial numbers are stamped as they change for each engine. Casting numbers are for a whole series of engines and the date cast changes daily - sometimes for each shift or hourly.

Ford has pretty much followed the same casting and part number sequencing since the Rouge opened.
 

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