starters

4tford

Well-known member
Before I get these rebuilt, I need to be sure they are the right ones. Is the left one for a 59a and right for a 8ba or are they all the same? I have built lots of short blocks but these guys want more. Thanks Bill
 
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I believe the difference between 8BA/EAB engines and 59 engines is the thickness of the front bushing housing. The Thick one is 59 style and the thin one is for 8BA/EAB engines.
The later ones usually have data plate riveted on also.
 
I think they'll both work on eather engine. I have a 1/2doz. kicking around my shop, when I want to start an engine on the floor I just grab one. Walt
 
When I got the one one the right it was marked 1950 ford. No idea who marked it.

The one on the right is the same style that is in my '50. I recently had it out to repair the bendix/drive. I believe they will both work on the 59a.
 
The one on the left is more likey for a 1950 because of the bronze paint. 50/51 8BA starters were painted engine paint (Bronze). 52/53 EAB starters were engine color (Orange). 49 and earlier were Black.
The thin bushing plate was used starting 1949.
Ray
 
The one on the left was removed from a 39 to 41 merc engine with factory relief. Even the 3 Strombergs were painted copper.
 
Before I get these rebuilt, I need to be sure they are the right ones. Is the left one for a 59a and right for a 8ba or are they all the same? I have built lots of short blocks but these guys want more. Thanks Bill
The one to the right of your photograph is a correct 1939 - 40 starter. That "wide" end plate was authentic to those years.
Both starters will fit and function just fine through at least 1948. The starter with the "thin" end plate was a later (around 1941) redesign.
I can tell you with certainty that among all the speculation within these posts, both starters will work just fine with your engine. And, to reiterate: the "thick" front plate design was pre 1941, the "thin" post 1940 through 1948.
I am not certain what Ford did after 1948 but identifying a starter (any part) by color, well, that's a new technique on me.
 
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The one on the left is more likey for a 1950 because of the bronze paint. 50/51 8BA starters were painted engine paint (Bronze). 52/53 EAB starters were engine color (Orange). 49 and earlier were Black.
The thin bushing plate was used starting 1949.
Ray

This could be correct. I just checked the '49, '50 & '51 service manual and the thinner end plate is shown in the starter photos. The bronze paint makes sense, however mine (thick end plate) was painted bronze sometime during it's life.
 
The one on the left was removed from a 39 to 41 merc engine with factory relief. Even the 3 Strombergs were painted copper.
 
The one on the left was removed from a 39 to 41 merc engine with factory relief. Even the 3 Strombergs were painted copper.
You had asked what the starters were from. What they came out of, what color they are - has nothing to do with their identity.
 
If the stater is still factory painted or if there are traces of factory paint the color can help ID the year pf the starter. After 1949 Ford started painting passenger vehicle engines that were equipped with manual transmissions with the starter mounted on the engine. Therefore factory Bronze paint means the starter was on a 1950 or 1951 vehicle and Factory orange painted starters are off 1952 or 1953 vehicles. Ray
 
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