Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Something you don't see every day

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion << previous || next >>

Posted By Discussion Topic: Something you don't see every day -- page: 1 2     supereal 03-30-2012 @ 9:08 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 If you're happy, i'm happy. My point was that it is unusual, and some healthy skepticism is warranted when the pieces don't fit. I worked for a Ford dealer in the 40's and 50's, and never saw a "crate" engine that wasn't produced by an "authorized" rebuilder, better called a "remanufacturer". These firms started with a bare block and actually did " remanufacture" an engine. We sold and installed lots of them, particularly in trucks, because we could do it in one day and put the vehicle back to work. A good practice is to require proof of any "special" features, particularly if they are being offered as an inducement to pay extra. This message was edited by supereal on 3-30-12 @ 9:11 PM trjford8 03-30-2012 @ 5:50 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4236 Joined: Oct 2009 Stroker, I agree that Ford probably had replacement motors to send out to the dealers. Ford didn't throw anything away, especially if there was a market for the item. Stroker 03-30-2012 @ 4:57 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1460 Joined: Oct 2009 I'm going out on a limb here, but I have a gut feeling that this motor is the real deal. In 1953, I was lucky enough to take a tour of the Rouge. One of the things that impressed this teenager greatly 59 years ago this June, were the acres and acres of flathead blocks stacked upon pallets on top of pallets. The Ford tour guide explained the process of "ageing" blocks by allowing them to go through a freeze-thaw cycle. We have a local foundry here in Iowa that does the same thing with water-works valves and fire hydrants. So...were all those blocks 8BA's? I doubt it, as Ford had a replacement engine program then as now. Let's suppose you are a dealer, and your customer roasted his 48 Ford motor. You don't have a rebuildable core, he doesn't want a rebuilt, and you sure as h*ll don't want the hassle of re-working stuff to accomodate an 8BA. Yes, I'm aware of the Meyer-Welch "Blue Ribbon" authorized rebuilts, as well as other "Blue Ribbon" programs. We know that Ford supplied replacement 4-cylinder engines well into the V8 only era, we know that Ford supplied Model T blocks into the Model A era, so why wouldn't Ford have had replacement engines available in 1953? We had two Towt flathead powered agricultural wind machines that were purchased new in 1950. Both of these had Ford Industrial 59-series motors. Were these back-stock? or were they simply available items in the Industrial product line? I don't know, and it would take someone of the caliber of Lincoln to research this. "Crate motors" even today do not necessarily reflect installed production vehicle norms. Given the unusual "innards", I'd vote for a 59 series industrial engine, built in 1953. deuce_roadster 03-30-2012 @ 4:13 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 284 Joined: Oct 2009 OK, first let me say I respect what Super says, I know he is very knowledgable. This is my last post on this because I don't want to seem like I'm keeping an argument going. In my first post I stated there were unusual things about this motor. I mistakenly thought folks might like to see the crate. It's the only one I've run across. I however didn't stencil the 59A-6011-A2 on the crate nor did I stencil the 1-19-53-2. There is zero debate that everything (block,rods,pistons,crank, etc)is new and not remanufactured. We checked everything with micrometers and a bore guage. Nothing is reground or resized, the bore is 3 3/16 and the pistons are marked Std and measure such. The fact that the rods and crank were newer then the block made us surmise the 1-19-53-2 was a date related number. However these new parts got assembled and put into this crate is unknown but it has been sitting around since the late 50s and the person who purchased it passed away about 7 years ago so I can't ask him. I am very happy to have a new block regardless of what other think so enough said. Sorry I brought it up. supereal 03-30-2012 @ 10:30 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 A "factory rebuild" 59A likely wouldn't replace the original floating rod bearings with the later insert type, and both aluminum and fiber timing gears are widely available. You state the the engine is "brand new, in the crate". I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but assuming that is is a "virgin 59 series block from 1953" is a tough sell. deuce_roadster 03-30-2012 @ 7:34 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 284 Joined: Oct 2009 Super, it is definitely all new parts. Cylinders mic 3 3/16 no taper. It is a 59 series block not a bored out 3 1/16 block. If it is a factory rebuild, they used a new block rods and crank. All bearings are STD. My engine machinist (davetatom.com)is convinced it is new and he has built many hundreds of flatheads. I am going to swap out the crank for a Merc and go with 3 3/16 Ross pistons so I can use modern rings but I'm NOT going to bore any of the life out of it just to increase power. Dave said he has seen the aluminum timing gear on a few new industrial motors, it might be one of those. supereal 03-29-2012 @ 9:01 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 It is more likely that the engine is either a factory rebuilt, or more probably, someone assembled an engine from 8BA parts and put it in a crate that once held a 59A rebuilt. The last 59A new engines were built in 1948. The tipoff is the later rods, etc. These things surface now and then. From your description, it isn't a new engine found in an old dealership. We have been offered similar deals, from time to time. trjford8 03-29-2012 @ 7:56 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4236 Joined: Oct 2009 For those looking for NOS parts there are a couple of sources. Louis Cote' in Fallon , Nevada has a ton of NOS parts and is a V-8 Club member. On my way to St. George , Utah I broke a passenger door latch in my 40. I was in Fallon and called Louis and he brought me a NOS latch. He only carries good used Ford stuff and NOPS parts. The other source is Stacy Brown in Arlington, Texas. He has NOS and NOSR(new old stock replacement)parts.To my knowledge he does not have any foreign made parts. Bill McGrath at the Early Ford Store in San Dimas, Ca. also has a lot of good used and NOS parts. I should add that All Ford Parts in Campbell, Ca, also has a lot of NOS parts in additionn to their repo stuff. Stroker 03-29-2012 @ 5:20 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1460 Joined: Oct 2009 Well, that was a LONG time ago, but as I remember, the parts counterman placed a heavy-duty cardboard box with a Mercury logo on the counter and lifted the top off. I don't recall the heavy oiled paper, but I do remember it was coated in what I would call Cosmolene, and I believe it had some wooden blocking to support the mains inside. Again, it's been many years. I would have never found it had I not known the parts man, and he knew I was building a large motor. Helps to communicate! deuce_roadster 03-29-2012 @ 3:55 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 284 Joined: Oct 2009 Stroker--Yeah, those were the days!! I don't know how this engine got up here (Seattle area) but inside the crate was evidence it came from a Ford dealer somewhere in Texas originally. I think it was purchased in the late 50s though. Like your $50 new Merc crank! I like your idea of a NOS Only shopping site! Was the crank wrapped in paper that looked like it was oil soaked? This engine had paper like this tucked all around it and it amazingly protected it all these years. The "oil" however was on its way to becoming tar.

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

EFV-8 Club Forum Home | Back to Home Page | Contact the Webmaster

Copyright © 2009 - EFV-8.org
Powered by < CF FORUM > v.2.1