Flathead Identification
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Senior User
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Flathead Identification
How can I identify what year and model car my flathead came out of. I was thinking my 49' truck had the original engine until I examined the oil pan and it looks like one they used in a car, not truck. Serial number location would be nice. Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,867
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From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
You might be able to determine what engine you have by going to one of these links:
http://www.flatheadv8.org/bellhousing.pdf
or
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ifications.htm
http://www.flatheadv8.org/bellhousing.pdf
or
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ifications.htm
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Ashland, KY
If you are looking at your motor from front to back, on the left hand side in between the head and the intake there should be a idenification number and a letter. It may be hard to find at first but look carefully and you should be able to find it. It might be on one of the web sites that Bob gave you. if you can find it on those post it here and I'll help you out.
Scott B.
1951 F1
Scott B.
1951 F1
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,765
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From: Kalispell, MT
If it's not the original engine you'll have to determine that by things like fan belt width. Cars and 53 pickups used 3/8" belts. All other trucks used 5/8" belts. (Course the blocks are the same so often these parts were just moved from one to the other when replacing an engine.) If your heads say 8RT/8BA/8CM/EAB/EAC, etc you probably have the correct style engine in there. There was no such thing as a "numbers-matching" setup.
No serial number on the engine and probably not on the transmission half-bell. That seems to have stopped somewhere between 47 and 48 at most assembly plants. What Scott was describing is the assembly date, right rear corner of the intake flat.
http://flatheaddrag.com/birthday.html
Oil pans came in several different designs. Most truck pans were rear sump and had the large cleanout disk on the bottom of the sump. There's a square bracket welded on the rear that sits almost against the dust shield.
Some Merc cars used a rear sump pan without the cleanout or the bracket. Ford cars tended to have a center sump......but all this is debatable.... just my observations.
No serial number on the engine and probably not on the transmission half-bell. That seems to have stopped somewhere between 47 and 48 at most assembly plants. What Scott was describing is the assembly date, right rear corner of the intake flat.
http://flatheaddrag.com/birthday.html
Oil pans came in several different designs. Most truck pans were rear sump and had the large cleanout disk on the bottom of the sump. There's a square bracket welded on the rear that sits almost against the dust shield.
Some Merc cars used a rear sump pan without the cleanout or the bracket. Ford cars tended to have a center sump......but all this is debatable.... just my observations.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Erie, pa
If it has four big holes on each side, no cast bell housing attached to the back about as close to exact identification as you can get is it's a ford/merc flathead from between 48 - 54 made in North America (Unless it was imported from somewhere else.).
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Ok, I took a look at the engine tonight and the block shows 2 10 A. The heads show EAB. According to the chart listed above A=4. I didnt think they made a flathead in 54'. Whats the deal?
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Post Fiend
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Kalispell, MT
Unless the heads were replaced on another block it would be a 52/53 Ford engine. The EAB has the smallest combustion area so the compression ratio is the highest of any flatheads. That's a good thing!
New User
Joined: Aug 2015
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I have located an old flathead that was mounted on an old welder. I can see no markings on the top of the bellhousing and the only marks on the heads is an A. the motor mounts are integrated into the waterpumps has single barrel carb. Have no pics as of yet. haven't been ablt to see if there are numbers on top of block yet. any help would be greatly appreciated
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,512
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From: W. Central FL.
I have located an old flathead that was mounted on an old welder. I can see no markings on the top of the bellhousing and the only marks on the heads is an A. the motor mounts are integrated into the waterpumps has single barrel carb. Have no pics as of yet. haven't been ablt to see if there are numbers on top of block yet. any help would be greatly appreciated
Detailed pictures from all angles will help ID the engine series. Please realize this thread is quite old. Why not start a new thread, introduce yourself, your approximate location and put up some pictures.
Welcome to the forum.
Detailed pictures from all angles will help ID the engine series. Please realize this thread is quite old. Why not start a new thread, introduce yourself, your approximate location and put up some pictures.
Welcome to the forum.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,916
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From: Houston
I have located an old flathead that was mounted on an old welder. I can see no markings on the top of the bellhousing and the only marks on the heads is an A. the motor mounts are integrated into the waterpumps has single barrel carb. Have no pics as of yet. haven't been ablt to see if there are numbers on top of block yet. any help would be greatly appreciated
If you are looking for information on your flathead and you don't have a truck, this forum probably isn't the best place to ask. While this is a wonderful forum for Ford trucks, it isn't focused on the flathead V8 engine like some other forums are. Here is a thread I helped start about flathead engine identification on the Ford Barn, a forum that is very helpful on flathead motors: Engine block I.D. pictures - The Ford Barn
As Ray said, a new thread is probably a good idea.
Welcome to this forum.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,283
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From: NM
No one, but you haven't said that you do, either. The other site referenced is dedicated to the flathead engines and just has better coverage for what you are asking.
There are no stamped ID #'s on most flatheads. The quickest way to tell if this welder engine is a direct replacement for a 48 - 52 truck is to look at the casting marks on the heads. If they say 8BA, 8RT, or EAB, it is a direct replacement. The intake manifold will also have either 8BA or 8RT cast into it, perhaps 8BA 8RT 6620, right behind the carb.
There are no stamped ID #'s on most flatheads. The quickest way to tell if this welder engine is a direct replacement for a 48 - 52 truck is to look at the casting marks on the heads. If they say 8BA, 8RT, or EAB, it is a direct replacement. The intake manifold will also have either 8BA or 8RT cast into it, perhaps 8BA 8RT 6620, right behind the carb.