8BA
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 418
From: Monmouth County, NJ
On the drivers side. I’ll take a picture tomorrow. Just doing some reading. I’m new. Aren’t the truck engines designated with 8RT, and cars with 8BA? Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,777
Likes: 553
From: Kalispell, MT
No, early heads and some accessories were designated 8RT but the engine series was the 8BA.
First used in the 48 F series trucks, it debuted Jan 16, 1948 in the '48 model year trucks.
We got it one full model year before the cars.
At the time, the model year on trucks was the same as the calendar year - Jan to Dec and continued until Sept 15, 1951.
First used in the 48 F series trucks, it debuted Jan 16, 1948 in the '48 model year trucks.
We got it one full model year before the cars.
At the time, the model year on trucks was the same as the calendar year - Jan to Dec and continued until Sept 15, 1951.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 418
From: Monmouth County, NJ
Ok thanks for the replies! So Mert, my engine has the same stamp 8BA, as yours same color engine too. I have a 1952 f1. Why is it not marked 8RT? If it’s a ”truck”?
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 418
From: Monmouth County, NJ
No, early heads and some accessories were designated 8RT but the engine series was the 8BA.
First used in the 48 F series trucks, it debuted Jan 16, 1948 in the '48 model year trucks.
We got it one full model year before the cars.
At the time, the model year on trucks was the same as the calendar year - Jan to Dec and continued until Sept 15, 1951.
First used in the 48 F series trucks, it debuted Jan 16, 1948 in the '48 model year trucks.
We got it one full model year before the cars.
At the time, the model year on trucks was the same as the calendar year - Jan to Dec and continued until Sept 15, 1951.
Im just confused cause what I’ve read in several places says truck engines are 8rt and cars are 8ba. I know the trucks had 106 hp and cars of the same year had 110hp out of the 239 v8. Right? Maybe I’m not seeing the whole picture? Thanks
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 797
Likes: 3
From: Cape Coral FL
Your engine,like many was probably exchanged for a rebuilt engine some time in its life. The picture shown is another members engine. I can't remember who's.
My engine in my '53 has a rebuild tag riveted to the block near the distributor. Both of the heads on my engine have 8Ba cast in. From what I understand, the 8RT heads are slightly better than the 8BA heads. 239 is the displacement for the late model flathead engine. There was a 355 displacement Mercury flathead built at the same time. The heads on those will say Mercury.
My engine in my '53 has a rebuild tag riveted to the block near the distributor. Both of the heads on my engine have 8Ba cast in. From what I understand, the 8RT heads are slightly better than the 8BA heads. 239 is the displacement for the late model flathead engine. There was a 355 displacement Mercury flathead built at the same time. The heads on those will say Mercury.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 418
From: Monmouth County, NJ
Your engine,like many was probably exchanged for a rebuilt engine some time in its life. The picture shown is another members engine. I can't remember who's.
My engine in my '53 has a rebuild tag riveted to the block near the distributor. Both of the heads on my engine have 8Ba cast in. From what I understand, the 8RT heads are slightly better than the 8BA heads. 239 is the displacement for the late model flathead engine. There was a 355 displacement Mercury flathead built at the same time. The heads on those will say Mercury.
My engine in my '53 has a rebuild tag riveted to the block near the distributor. Both of the heads on my engine have 8Ba cast in. From what I understand, the 8RT heads are slightly better than the 8BA heads. 239 is the displacement for the late model flathead engine. There was a 355 displacement Mercury flathead built at the same time. The heads on those will say Mercury.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,298
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Your engine,like many was probably exchanged for a rebuilt engine some time in its life. The picture shown is another members engine. I can't remember who's.
My engine in my '53 has a rebuild tag riveted to the block near the distributor. Both of the heads on my engine have 8Ba cast in. From what I understand, the 8RT heads are slightly worse than the 8BA heads. 239 is the displacement for the late model flathead engine. There was a 255 displacement Mercury flathead built at the same time. The heads on those will say Mercury 8CM.
My engine in my '53 has a rebuild tag riveted to the block near the distributor. Both of the heads on my engine have 8Ba cast in. From what I understand, the 8RT heads are slightly worse than the 8BA heads. 239 is the displacement for the late model flathead engine. There was a 255 displacement Mercury flathead built at the same time. The heads on those will say Mercury 8CM.
Nope. There are ways to infer that an engine is not original, as there were small changes made in the valve seats (hardened vs not), distributor drives, and connecting rods over the years. These changes can only be seen during disassembly.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 418
From: Monmouth County, NJ
Made some changes (in bold). The 8RT heads had lower compression and some believe they had heavier deck surfaces. There is considerable evidence (all anecdotal) that some trucks came with 8BA engines from the factory. Any difference in HP was more likely to be produced in the Advertising Dept. than by the engines.
Nope. There are ways to infer that an engine is not original, as there were small changes made in the valve seats (hardened vs not), distributor drives, and connecting rods over the years. These changes can only be seen during disassembly.
Nope. There are ways to infer that an engine is not original, as there were small changes made in the valve seats (hardened vs not), distributor drives, and connecting rods over the years. These changes can only be seen during disassembly.
Here’s the new to me truck being loaded up at the pickup location.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,777
Likes: 553
From: Kalispell, MT
Get a copy of the shop manual and other original documents. Do some reading and comparing. That's part of the charm of owning one of these trucks - enjoy the journey!
It sounds like you're trying to verify a "numbers matching" truck. There is no such animal in the Ford line-up. That was a Chevy thing.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 418
From: Monmouth County, NJ
There is a lot of stuff printed that just isn't accurate. Even Ford literature has some errors.
Get a copy of the shop manual and other original documents. Do some reading and comparing. That's part of the charm of owning one of these trucks - enjoy the journey!
It sounds like you're trying to verify a "numbers matching" truck. There is no such animal in the Ford line-up. That was a Chevy thing.
Get a copy of the shop manual and other original documents. Do some reading and comparing. That's part of the charm of owning one of these trucks - enjoy the journey!
It sounds like you're trying to verify a "numbers matching" truck. There is no such animal in the Ford line-up. That was a Chevy thing.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 261
From: East KY
Yes. We've discussed this subject at length here before. There's lots of good evidence that 8BA heads were routinely placed onto trucks in the factory. Ole Henry didn't waste anything. Ross can attest to the fact that I have what certainly looks like the original engine to my truck in my shop. It has original standard bore pistons and 8BA heads. I've seen way too many trucks that were abandoned decades and decades ago sitting in the weeds with 8BA heads.