hi, i jsut got a flathead ford out of an old old shack and the guy knows absolutly nothing about it, so i tore it all apart , it did turn over , it has been rebuilt to .030 over , clevitte 77 bearings all around , gaskets looked newer , but im going to redo it all again , it has been ran on the rebuild. i was wondewring if there was a stamp of the year or anything on the block. it is made in the US, single carb, 3 studs hold carb on , 24 bolt heads.There is a bunch of stamps on the intake flat on the block , not sure what they are all for , i just want to know waht year it is so i can order rebuild stuff , thanks

 

The place to start
www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm
The numbers stamped on the rear outer intake surface on the passengers side COULD be the Birthdate of your flatty.
Did you measure the stroke? that will count

 

Here's the link for dating last series flatheads:
http://flatheaddrag.com/birthday.html

Dick gave you a great link where you will find what you're looking for.

For a quick tip, head description helps - do the water outlets come out the middle of the head? If so, look at the bell housing area and see if you find a "59" cast on the bell. While you're there is there a half-bellhousing cast as part of the block? This is the middle series and you want to order parts for a "59" or "59A" or "59AB" or any other series of letters. These were cast from 1945 thru 1948 for cars.

If the water outlets are on the front of the head and have a thermostat housing the bolts to the head, it's the late series and is known as the 8BA used 1948 thru 53 (and '54 in Canada) It has a no bell housing cast on the rear of the block (like modern engines)

1948 is the crazy year and easy to mix up. Cars used the model 59 that year, but trucks rec'd the 8RT(same as the 8BA). Confused yet?

 

hey guys , this is helping me out alot thank you much . haha well not really confused , i have somewhat of an idea of what it is but not to the dot yet , the water outlets are on the front with the thermostat housing so its in the 48-53 range but it does have a casting on the rear of the block by where the bell housing bolts up i cant read much of it though , ill try and get it but thank you alot guys

 

It sounds like you have an 8BA engine. That number is cast on the cylinder heads. It is a 49-53 if it is an 8BA. It is rated at 100 HP.