Here's a pic of a 226 cid L6. Hard to tell, but you can notice the head is bronze, and the block is green. The rebuild tag is dated 1957 (National Bushing & Parts co.).

 

That's the same number (0HA6050) stamped on my head, and my 226 is solid red...

I don't know much about flatheads, but is that the standard stamp for a 226?

 

Why the lock washers on the spark plugs?

 

None were two-toned from the factory. If it was from a 48-52 truck, it would have been red. A '50-'51 passenger car- bronze. If it was a 254" it would have still been in use in '53 trucks and probably pale green. The 6050 number is simply Ford's standard number for a cylinder head-regardless of engine type.

 

The numbers - 6050 is the number that indicates a head - The OHA indicates a 50-51 Flathead 6 226 head (and maybe a 52)

 

Huh, I didn't know that... I thought all 226 heads were marked with 7HA. Good to know.

I think I've got a weirder setup though. The engine is painted blue, the block number starts with 7HA, and the head is numbered 8MTH-6050-B. For some reason it looks like the original 226 head was replaced with a 254 head.



I've heard (read) of hot rodders going with the opposite setup to improve compression (226 head on a 254 block), but not this way around. Maybe the original block was overbored, or maybe during the head replacement the part that got used was what was lying around and fit... who knows! I guess I'll find out when I pull the head off one of these days.

 

60 years of Ford Flatmotor inbreading is liable to turn up anything

It also occurs in the 300 six - Take two 351 Cleveand heads cut off one front/one rear cyl area and mount them up on the 300 block - I forget what this does - Make power or make 4 cyl babies?

 

Yep, there's that to consider...

cross-flow head maybe?

 

It was the cross flow - This adaptation came about after the Aussies made a cross flow for the 240 A few made it to the states and found there way onto the 300 - These square bores made even more power with these heads and when there were no more someone came up with the split head design

Your making my head hurt with all this stuff squeezing its way out

 

Hey, it's Friday... may as well cure that headache with a nice cold rolling rock!

 

Bronze was the color used for Ford replacement parts, too. So it's the original block with a replacement head, IMO. There's another head not attached that's NOS, and looks brand new. This engine, with the color and 0HA-6050 designation indicates '51, AFAIK. 7HA was used from '47 or '48 until '51, and 1HA was used prior to 1948 (1941). The rebuild tag is proof that it was rebuilt in 1957, .030" over, and would likely be the reason for the bronze head. This engine was a spare that came with a '49 F3 truck (I think that's what he said) and by the looks of the oil pan, it was a truck engine too. It's possible it was an industrial engine, but I guess we won't know for sure. There's other numbers cast into the block, I'll take a closer look at those this weekend.


I'd be willing to bet the fella with the 254 put a 226 head on it for himself, then put the 254 head on the 226 block, so he could sell it.

No reason for the lock washers, as they aren't holding anything, except maybe to keep debris from settling into the bowl of the sparkplug hole.

Also FWIW, Mercury V8's were green, but this is a darker green than that.

 

You have Rolling Rock out in California? Thought it was only an East Coast beer, or am I still living in the 70's???

 

Could be!

It's not too common out here, but you can find it.

 

We have Rolling Rock up here in the great PNW too. I've got some in my fridge. (the get stuff cold kind, not the truck kind) Mmmmmm!