The Diamond Block

B

Brentwood Bob

Well-known member
I'm trying to gather information to document the ford replacement motors cast at the Rouge in the 1930's following the end of Model A production. The end goal is to learn more about this motor, and in the process document as accurately as possible what these motors are. I have not been able to access the old Fordbarn archive, I am sure good information was shared, and now is lost. If you would throw me a bone, give me some help with this project, I would appreciate it.
Vince Falter has a good entry on his web site, Duece Garage. Thanks, Bob La Follette
 
A second block I looked at today has DVV---- where the "D" is stamped upside down. the casting date is C195, March 19, 1935. Denver? I have one more diamond block to look at (F125). Have to flip it over to see the serial number , but I think I filed that off years ago before I knew better. Bob
 
The diamond block I brought home this past weekend does not have a stamp and does not appear it ever had one. I have not pulled the pan to look at the casting #'s yet. Rod
 
Bob, If you run across an extra firewall mount (triangle shaped piece) for the Gleaner combine engine mount I could use one for the engine test stand I am building. Rod
 
Rod, For the casting date look below the valve cover toward the front of the block. See Vince's writeup for a good picture, and how to read it. Should be something like: C197
C(March), 19(19th day of month), 7(1937).Any picture of a diamond on the front of the head? somewhere on the casting for the neck going to the radiator. Would like a good picture of this if you have this head. The ones on my blocks don't have a diamond. Bob
 
Bob, I have afew of those heads, will get new batteries for the camera this weekend and see what I can do. Rod
 
Bob

I have a diamond block in my '31.
If numbers from it would help you I will get them.
I believe it came with no ser# stamped as it has the correct for the car number stamped on it with no A or stars..

PC250010.jpg
 
Bob,

Have seen and torn down a number of these engines over the past 40 years. I understand unstamped ones exist but have never seen one. All the engines I have seen or examined were stamped RF-**** or LB-***.

RF refers to new engine blocks built up by Richmond Ford, CA.
LB refers to new engine blocks built up by Long Beach Ford, CA.

These were new blocks with hard seats in the exhaust and rienfored webbing at the rear main.

The RF and LB engines I have torn down, when assembled by these plants had new B cams installed and all other parts new with exception of
the crankshaft which was a good used A.

One of our local members has a RF-**** in his 30 Roadster. We tore down the engine as he wanted to counterbalance the crankshaft. While down we set the B Cam in V blocks to check the lift on the lobes; using a dial indicator we found the following: Intake Lobes 331 thousands lift, Exhaust Lobes 339 thousands lift. After having the crankshaft and lightened flywheel and pressure plate balanced we reassembled the engine and installed a 5.9 Brumfield head.
We set the clearance on the intake valves at .014 and exhaust valves
at .018. Believe me this is a strong running engine.

Ron
 
Keep it coming. Thanks for the info. REM/MO the stamped numbers are not like factory stamps in my judgement. Would like to know the casting date, located in lower passenger side of block below valve cover. Heard last night at the club meeting these motors went into trucks as replacements along with all the other uses. I've seen a toro golf course rig that was A powered. It was 10+ years ago at the cemetary in Santa Rosa, Calif. I wonder what motor it had. Thanks, Interesting stuff. Bob
 
Brentwood Bob said:
REM/MO the stamped numbers are not like factory stamps in my judgement. Would like to know the casting date, located in lower passenger side of block below valve cover. Bob
Click to expand...

I agree that the numbers are not factory stamped.
My guess is that it was a replacement block or engine and the numbers were stamped into it when it was put in the car. It is the same nunber as the frame number.
The date code is J27 7.
The head is not a diamond head.
 
Bob here is a pic of the diamond on the head. Other than yhat nothing special about them. The real gems are the blocks themselves, possible B flywheels and the heavire made flywheel hsgs in my opinion. Rod
 

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Rod, thanks. Now I have more to look for. The fly wheel housing is unique. and It is hard to spot the diamond on the head. A great help. I wonder what the casting code on the flywheel housing is looks like? E77? May 7, 1937.haven't noticed these ribs on any of my housings. Bob
 
E77 is correct. The other tag has 1-20-38 on it, so I am thinking the E77 may be a design change date. I have 2 of these so far and both have the E77 tag, but different dates in plain form. Rod
 
There we go. I'll look for this casting. I remember one somewhere as I think about the pictures you posted. Thanks again for the effort to post the pictures. Bob
 
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